B"H
Choosing Sides
My eyes witnessed the unimaginable, the reverberating sounds of death still ring in my ears. The animus I now have towards the terrorists defies gravity. Yet, when facing litigants, Judaism demands that we look at both sides before making a decision. I believe the same must be done when analyzing the current catastrophic situation in Israel.
Throughout the bitter news I was comforted by the tremendous global support for Israel. The president of the United States has shown bold leadership. The royal family and the British parliament came out in support, and the Eiffel Tower was lit up in blue and white. Conversely, I was repulsed but not shocked, reading that the Harvard Crimson and many other university publications came out in support of Hamas. I was disappointed when countries that signed the Abraham Accords came out in support of Hamas. I was horrified to see large rallies were held throughout the western world supporting Hamas. And I was angered when members of the United States Congress asked for Congress to defund Israel.
After my initial shock I began to question if perhaps I had missed something. How can someone, regardless of their feelings towards Israel, accept barbarism in the 21st century? And even if they truly believe that Israel treats the Palestinians unjustly, how is it that they can they applaud when Israel’s babies are being decapitated? Is there anything more unjust than the heinous murder of little infants? Is the venomous hatred of the Jew so enmeshed in our global culture that it overrides common sense and the most basic human decency?
After rational (non-emotional) thought, I believe the two sides in this war are not a pro-Israel side versus a pro-Palestinian side. Personally, I love and support Israel, but I am not against Palestinians living in peace and tranquility. The two sides in this war are those who value life versus those who don’t. Those who support the decapitation of innocent Israeli babies, the raping of young girls, and the murder and captivity of children, mothers, fathers, and grandparents versus those who value life. It has nothing to do with protecting the sanctity of the Al Aqsa Mosque or the Palestinian struggle. Hamas knew from the onset that their actions, if succeeded, would cause unfathomable dire consequences to Gaza residents. The rising death toll in Gaza is solely the responsibility of the Hamas leadership who use their people as pawns in their diabolical schemes. Hamas knew it would do nothing to bring a Palestinian homeland or further the road to peace. Hamas’s actions are the personification of evil and emphasizes their mission statement aimed at destroying the Jewish people. Murder, rape, torture and taking Jews captive are merely means of accomplishing their goals. And it is evident that the loss of Palestinian lives is not a barrier to their objective.
I believe we have to look at both sides and have to decide whose side we are on. I believe President Biden was articulate in his overwhelming support of Israel and understood what Hamas truly represents. The president called the strike on Israel “pure, unadulterated evil,” “sheer evil,” and “indiscriminate evil.” Again and again, the outrage spilled out: “Atrocities.” “Sickening.” “Abhorrent.” “Brutality.” “Violation of every code of human morality.” Unlike other presidents and world leaders in previous wars, he stood unequivocally with Israel’s obligation to defend its citizens. He didn’t seek a cessation of hostilities or measured response. He was adamant that Israel had the moral right to strike back with force to ensure this could never happen again. He doubled down by ensuring the United States will stand by Israel and send all the weapons they need. More so, he sent destroyers to the Middle East to display America’s power and flex its muscles to deter other nations joining the war.
I’m all for there being two sides and analyzing both sides before determining who is correct. But ultimately one has to decide, one has to take a side. Straddling the fence is no longer a viable option. I made the decision to follow the guidance found in the Torah: uvacharta bachayim, and you should choose life. Are our academic standards so void of morality that the murder of entire families, the rape of innocent girls and the kidnapping of civilians is not only acceptable but lauded? Sadly, this is a morally repugnant choice that many in western countries applaud.
One of the teenagers in my shul attends North Broward Preparatory School, a school with a large Jewish enrollment. He was told that they couldn’t take sides and could only do a fundraiser that supports both sides. I guess that would mean if they chose to support the victims who were murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped they would also have to support the perpetrators of these heinous acts of brutality. And to add insult to injury, the school further commented that it is not necessary to raise funds for Israel as they don’t need any money. I could well imagine Mein Kampf being introduced as compulsory reading as our students have to support both sides. It could be a farcical skit on SNL if it didn’t happen this week.
I really do believe that looking at both sides is of paramount importance. Yet sometimes it’s also important to realize that both sides can’t always be right. Sometimes one side is so egregious that its mandates are incongruous with humanity, its actions are the personification of evil. It is then that we join together with a resolute conviction and state Am Yisrael Chai - the people of Israel will live because the people of Israel will cherish life over the darkness of evil that has descended upon mankind.
Am Yisrael Chai,
Rabbi Jack Engel
PS: The scene in the south of Israel is heartbreaking and the 1,200 deaths are incomprehensible. I didn’t look and I couldn’t look but the images without looking have left an indelible scar. The Jewish people have rallied to support Israel and its soldiers, but the needs are escalating, and the duration is unending.
