Like most of the world, I have been
watching the news and paying particularly close attention to the current
conflict going on in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Yes, the loss of civilian
life has been absolutely horrible. While the news has tended to focus on the
loss of Palestinian civilian life in Gaza, it has not focused upon the loss of
civilian life in Syria. If anyone wanted to keep track, the average loss of
life in Syria has been, on a monthly basis in the thousands! There are civilians
being killed in Iraq, and Libya as well.
Yet the press and the world focus upon Gaza and the civilian loss of
life. I have started to wonder why the press focuses upon Gaza as opposed to
all these other places where Muslim civilians are being killed. Cynically, of
course, we in the west probably don’t care so much about what one Muslim sect
does to another Muslim sect. After all this internecine war between Sunni and
Shii’a has been going on for approximately 1200 years. For the non- Muslim world, fighting about who
is the rightful heir and authentic interpreter of Mohammed’s words is rather
tedious. However words such as “occupation”, “siege”, and “blockade” are words
that are certainly pithier than words associated with some esoteric theological
disagreement that probably could have been resolve at some madrassa or some
university with an outstanding Islam department. Words such as “blockade” “siege”
and “occupation” are words that could have applied to the British immediately
prior to the American Revolution. Of course when we teach our children about
the American Revolution these words are vital. These words such as “blockade”, “siege”
and “occupation” were words used by the confederacy during and even after the
American Civil War. These words are so powerful, that for several generations
after the Civil War, and even to this day, these words enable many in the South
to see the North as a threatening entity. So is it any wonder that Hamas has
figured out that words such as “blockade”, “siege” and “occupation” carry so
much meaning in the western press and the more frequently Hamas perverts the
meaning of these words, that eventually the words lose meaning and Hamas
becomes more legitimate in the eyes of some in the West as well as among some
of the Palestinian people.
This week we begin the final book
of the Torah, Sefer Devarim, with Parsha Devarim. Traditionally known as Mishnah Torah – or the repetition of the Torah, Parsha Devarim is the introductory
Parsha to Moshe’s formal teaching of the Torah to this new generation. Moshe
Rabeinu, now only a few weeks from the moment of his death, imparts his
teaching and his wisdom upon B’nai Yisroel like a dying grandparent or parent
would to his/her children. Moshe begins with a history lesson, recounting B’nai
Yisroel’s history. Moshe begins with leaving Mt. Horev (otherwise known as Mt.
Sinai). Then Moshe shares with B’nai Yisroel his version of appointing judges,
the mission of the spies and, and his punishment (that he was forbidden to
enter into Eretz Canaan. Moshe then leaps ahead and reminds them of the more
recent history: the avoidance of war with Edom, the war with Moab, the conquest
of Og, and finally the 2 ½ tribes request to remain on the eastern shore of the
Jordan River.
This fifth and final book of the
Torah, makes it abundantly clear that we are hearing a recounting of history
from Moshe Rabeinu’s perspective. Commandment that are re-iterated are prefaced
with the reminder that “God told me (Moshe), to tell you (B’nai Yisroel). Words
are vital and Moshe Rabeinu understands that it is his words that will live far
longer than he will. Eilah HaDvarim
Asher Diber Moshe El B’nai Yisroel B’Eiver Yarden-These are the words that Moshe Spoke to all Israel, on the other side
of the Jordan…(Deut. 1:1). The words that follow are not God’s but rather
Moshe’s. Some of these words, especially those that immediately follow this
verse are harsh words of rebuke. They are words that remind B’nai Yisroel of
some of their national shortcomings. Later, these words will become more
prophetic. In either case, Moshe’s wisdom can only be passed down through
words. Therefore both the speaker, Moshe, and the listener, B’nai Yisroel, must
be on the “same page” in terms of the meaning of the words. There can be no
confusion otherwise the message will become something different than how it was
originally expressed.
Indeed words have meaning. If Hamas
continues to use words like “occupation” “blockade” or “siege” frequently enough when
talking about Israel, and the world doesn’t question it, then it becomes a
fact. However Israel left Gaza in 2005, so Israel cannot now “Occupy” Gaza; Israel is not in Gaza! A “blockade” suggests that the means by bringing goods and services across a border are blocked.
The only “blockade” exists at the Rafa crossing which is the border between
Egypt and Gaza. Goods and services do move across the Israeli and Gaza borders,
those goods include, medicine, electricity, steel and concrete (the same
steel and concrete that Hamas used to build its tunnels). When Hamas complains to anyone who will listen that Israel makes it too difficult to bring other
things across the border, someone might want to remind Hamas that the checking
goods and services prior to crossing a border even occurs at the Canada/US
border; a border between two friendly countries! A “siege” suggest that a
particular group is surrounded and will ultimately be captured, assumes that
Egypt or Israel wants to capture Gaza. When in fact “siege” also means “a
prolonged illness that besets an individual or a group.” Yes the Palestinian
people have been under siege, but it is Hamas, a terrorist organization, an illness, a virus that has affected thought and speech, and has hurt its own people and
continues to do so. Yes language matters. Language can be become perverted,
twisted to such a point that it loses its meaning. Ultimately, when language
becomes perverted enough, it can corrupt, poison and destroy a society.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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