One of the things that we
find so impressive about the Toronto Jewish community is the incredibly
supportive feelings it has for the state of Israel. While our experience in
America has always reflected a highly politicized and complex relationship that
had as much to do with religious affiliation as it does ones politics; here in Toronto
we have found that Israel still manages to transcend the inherent differences
within the Toronto Jewish community. Nowhere was this more evident than where
our children attend school. On the street where their school is located, (which
by the way is a Modern Orthodox Zionist school) exist a Reform day school as
well as a Community based Jewish Day School. Throughout the year, one will
notice enormous differences in the students, in their attire, in the type of
homework they have, their curriculum and the way Judaism is observed in their
homes. However on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, on Israeli Independence day, each school sent
its students who were part of the actual celebration, (choir participants,
dance participants and acting participants) to the other schools in order to
enhance each school’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration. For one day, Jewish Children and very
different communities set aside their differences and came together to support
Israel. Certainly the schools and the families politics might reflect slightly
nuanced disagreements; however Israel occupies a place that of holiness. It
would seem that these three schools look at Israel as an ideal, as something to
aspire to not only from a Zionist perspective but from a
socio-religious/spiritual perspective.
This
morning we read the double parsha of Acharei Mot / Kedoshim. In this double Parshah,
following the deaths of Aaron’s to oldest sons, we learn about national t’shuvah, (repentance) with the scapegoat Azazel
and the national sin offering. This of course is Yom Kippur. We learn how the individual
attains level of holiness in the context of human relationships. Not only is
holiness attained through ritual and the individual’s and the nation’s
relationship to god, but also the individual’s relationship to everyone else. Holiness
is attained by elevating relationships and not turning those relationships
abominations. Holiness is attained by treating people with civility and human
decency, instead of showing favoritism. Holiness is attained to justice and
mercy not favoritism. Also, throughout this double portion we are reminded that
we obey because God is holy and we are a holy nation. We are a separate and
distinct nation. Our holiness is directly related to our separateness from the
rest of the world. Vi’Heyitem Li
Kedoshim Ki Kadosh Ani Adoshem Va’Avdil Etchem Min Ha’Amim Li’heyot Li – You shall be holy for me for I, Hashem, am
holy; and I have separated you from the People’s to be mine.(Lev. 20:26).
After reading and thinking about this Pasuk, I can
appreciate Toronto Jewry’s strong support of Israel and the frequent frustration
with the double standard that Israel is held compared to the rest of the world.
However, it seems that what makes Israel so special is the very fact that it
does hold itself or tries to hold itself to a higher standard than its
neighbors and even the rest of the world.
By holding itself to a higher standard, we and Israel arrive at the
painful conclusion that the “other”, whatever that “other” is, (a person, a
people, an element within our own personality that demeans our holiness), that
“other” must be removed. The problem of
course is that one cannot rid oneself of evil without touching it, without
being near it. We need only to remind
ourselves of how the Israeli Army deals
with the towns and villages in Gaza that foments such hatred. Israel does not have the luxury of the United
States. The United States’ war against terrorism very often means bombing a
country, sometimes using planes with human pilots, and sometimes with drones. The United States aims at military, Taliban
and Al Qaida bases. However even if those bases were in urban populated areas,
instead of risking our soldiers’ lives, the United States bombs first, then it
sends in soldiers. Israel is a very different country. It holds itself to a
different standard and it is aware that it is held to a different standard
compared to the rest of the world. As a result, Israel has a different type of
soldier. Israel deliberately sends its
soldiers into to fight at close range. Israel strategically decides to send its
forces in fighting door to door in order to deal with this evil on the most
intimate levels. Israel confronts evil not from thirty thousand feet in the
sky, but rather 30 feet on the ground. Very often the Israel Defense Forces and
for that matter, Israeli citizens, have seen evil in the face of a child
wearing a bomb vest ready to murder himself and others. This cannot possibly leave the soldiers, the
Israeli people, or us feeling hopeful about mankind’s holiness and spirit.
Yet Torah does offer us hope. Torah does offer us a
framework. Treat others decently because we are a holy nation. We fight in a
holy manner. We do everything we can to preserve life. And if God forbid we see
evil, we must have faith that eventually evil will be eradicated and holiness
will win out, life will defeat death, humanity will defeat inhumanity, and
reason will defeat insanity.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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