Federation CEO Keith Dvorchik echoed many of my feelings in his recent column (“As we mourn, let us stop the divisiveness about Israel,” Nov. 21). We, the Jewish people, are 0.2 percent of the world’s population. In today’s world, however, it’s easy to feel close only to those Jews who are like us, rather than the Jewish people as a whole, and the divisiveness of which Keith speaks is a product of that. We need to reconnect to Jewish peoplehood in spite of our differences, and fortunately, our tradition guides us in how to do that.
First, we start with love. There is a beautiful mitzvah called “ahavat Yisrael.” It is the commandment by our Creator to behave lovingly toward our fellow Jews. That means all of them — not just the ones who vote like we do, pray like we do, or agree with us on Israeli policy. It may take hard work to love them, but we should do it anyway. The fact that it’s a mitzvah means that the Creator of the world knows it’s good for us.
Once there is love, we can still argue and disagree, but we will do it with respect. Our sages in Pirkei Avot guide us: “Any dispute which is for the sake of heaven will ultimately endure… what is a dispute for the sake of heaven? This is a debate between Hillel and Shammai.”
The students of Hillel and Shammai argued vehemently, but their arguments were for “the sake of heaven” — that is, for a higher purpose of finding truth or arriving at the best logical conclusion. They disagreed, but they did it with respect, without maligning each other’s intentions. That should be our model.
Debating Israel is an argument for the sake of heaven. As a community, we should discuss and argue these issues openly, and we should not hesitate to attend events, view films, or hear speakers that challenge our current viewpoints. If we can internalize the importance of loving our fellow Jew, particularly those with whom we disagree, we can go a long way toward mending the rifts in our community.
Randy Kessler
Mercer Island