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Israel’s Internal Struggle - A thought on Tisha B’Av
Seated at the airport awaiting my return from Israel, I’m still struggling to comprehend the current situation in Israel. Being an outsider I feel a sense of despair in the tragic, turbulent, and chaotic political divide. I use the word tragic because a democracy is sustained by a diversity of ideas, philosophies, and opinions, yet in Israel this division is weakening the essential elements of democracy. Instead of finding an am echad, a country with a unified spirit, I am seeing a country spiraling into an abyss. Thousands of honored and cherished air force reservists have threatened to walk away from their obligations to serve their country. I can only imagine the sadistic glee of Israel’s enemies salivating over Israel’s internal divide.
The biggest issue involves modifying the status quo of Israel’s Supreme Court. One major concern is the removal of the ability of the Supreme Court to overturn a Knesset ruling with “the reasonable clause.” This clause has allowed the court to render any law unconstitutional, regardless of whether it was passed in the Knesset. Many Israelis, as well as international leaders, believe that the Israeli government is weakening democracy by weakening the court. Others believe elections have consequences and a legitimate democratically elected government is permitted or perhaps obligated to rule according to their mandate. Of course, I’m oversimplifying the political divide, but it’s not my objective to be King Solomon as the country is too small to be cut in half.
I know I’m sounding apocalyptic, but deep down I have full confidence that Israel will not only survive but triumph. Let me fill you in on a little secret. Even in the United States there are those in government who proposed overturning the US Supreme Court. Some even posited extra judges to ensure that their group’s philosophy would be in the majority. And usually before chaos takes hold, both sides join together to resolve the bitter feud. This type of reconciliation never happens in Russia or China.
Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the two temples that stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem but were both destroyed on this sad day. The first temple was destroyed in the year 586 BCE and the second temple in the year 70 CE. (Just for clarification, I didn’t use BC or AD because that goes against my belief.) For two thousand years Jews have fasted and mourned the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. Yet, our sages teach us that the destruction wasn’t a random occurrence, rather it was directed by Hashem to correct a major failure of our ancestors: their inability to treat their peers with dignity and respect.
In Hebrew the idea is known as sinat chinam, loosely translated as hatred without a cause. Can there ever really be hatred without a cause? What it really means is hatred without a justifiable cause, or hatred that is promoted by an agenda. (If you have ever been to a Thanksgiving feast where pro-Trumpers and anti-Trumpers were both invited it will be easier to comprehend.) Sadly, nothing ever changes. Everyone believes they are the only arbiter of reason. Those who wave their Israeli flags through the streets of Jerusalem and the gardens of the Knesset believe with a resolute zeal that they are descendants of Pinchas the biblical zealot. They hold their heads high knowing that only they are the protectors of democracy. At the same time, those who oppose them are equally adamant that they, and only they, speak with truth and integrity. Thousands of years ago prior to the destruction of the second temple, a similar political divide served only to hasten the exile and reduce the Jewish people to secondary status in an alien country. It wasn’t only our democracy that was lost, it was our very essence.
There is a prayer that is recited on Friday Night that states: Talmidai chachamim marbim shalom b’olam, that Talmudic scholars bring peace into the world. How do the scholars accomplish this unattainable quest? The answer is the methodology of how Talmudic scholars navigate the Talmud. They vociferously argue with one another, raising their voices in a cacophony of sound seemingly making it impossible to think or hear what is being studied. However, the contrary is true. In the beit hamedrash, in the halls of study, the noise level serves as a means of solitude and focus. Regardless of any initial animus, the argument is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. Each person has a voice and opinion but they only seek the truth. With passion they advocate their theory, but with a thunderous joy they celebrate a solution.
Interestingly, the word for sage in Hebrew is talmid chacham, translated as a student of wisdom. A student is uniquely different from their professor because the latter believes they already know the answer while the former is open to learning something new. A scholar who stops being a student ceases to be a scholar. One who believes that they know all the answers is no longer in position to seek the truth. A talmid chacham brings peace into the world because they understand that the fundamental of peace is the knowledge that differing views may also be justified.
On my last night in Israel we went to a restaurant called La Piedra, a pizza restaurant recently listed by an Italian food critic as the 38th best pizza restaurant in the world. Thus, we decided to order four different pizzas and we salivated with anticipation. I tasted a bit of each and honestly found each slightly less enjoyable than its predecessor. I was then reminded of a Hebrew saying from my youth “al ta’am v’reach en l’hitvakeach,'' that concerning taste and smell one should never argue. I understood it to mean that there is no definitive qualification that can resolve the issue. One’s preference of vanilla ice cream is no more correct than one’s preference of chocolate ice cream. (As long as it’s not pistachio, tootie fruity, or neapolitan).
I think Tisha B’Av should remind us of not only what happens when we as a people are at polar opposites, but more so how to use those opposing views to create a unified Israel and a cohesive Jewish people. A variety of views is no different than 31 flavors; each individual’s choice is not indicative of what flavor is better or who’s opinions are correct.
I was going to conclude by asking a frivolous question: would anyone really fight over vanilla or chocolate? And then I realized I am on vacation and thus oblivious to reality. Sadly, as I sit 39,000 feet in the air inching closer and closer to home, I vividly remember the answer to that question.
May we all be blessed to see the rebuilding of the Temple in a united and peaceful State of Israel. And may we all know that Israel’s existence was always dependent on miracles so one more shouldn’t be out of the question.
Have an easy fast and Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Jack Engel
