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Rabbi Message: May 17, 2018

May 17, 2018 by Rabbi Andrea Cohen Kiener

Gazans are humans who live under deplorable conditions. Their despair is almost impossible to imagine. Their human waves of assault on the hated border fence must be seen in this context.Israelis are human beings whose country was founded in survivalism and resilience. Their feeling of isolation is almost impossible to imagine. Their defense of their border must be seen in this context.Is it possible to keep the humanity of both groups in front of us?This is from Beth Shuman, American coordinator of Combatants for Peace, who were recently hosted by Temple Israel:I received an email from a religious leader I used to really believe in, saying, “I wish the Gazans would focus their energy on creativity instead of rage.” I ask… how do you expect the mother of those children to feel… or the young men and women with no future? When all of Gaza is blockaded, the borders are closed, trade is restricted and electricity and water are available on only very limited supply, if at all. When air and sea access is controlled and denied, and the people are unable to move freely, when the population is among the highest density in the entire world, and the living conditions are among the lowest…when they are trapped in an open-air prison. How do we expect these people to feel? Their protest is not an assault on Israel. It is a plea to live a decent human life. (end quote)This is the holy month of Ramadan and the sacred season of Shavuot, the time of receiving the Torah. These seasons of hopefulness demand that we rise to the promise of our religious traditions. God is one. God’s people are one. All of us. We cannot, any of us, solve this alone. But we must do our part. Even if that part is as small as evincing empathy and humanity, objectivity and fairness. Our hands, our eyes, our words, our hearts.Rabbi Andrea

Filed Under: Spiritual Life

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