Our hearts are heavy...
Our hearts are heavy with the news of a gunman killing nineteen children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas. Many of us are furious over the inability of our leaders to pass stronger gun control laws. What will it take for our leaders to wake up? Many have children and grandchildren. Don’t they care? And what can we do?
Pitifully, there are leaders and organizations in the Jewish establishment that endorse and contribute generously to dozens of Republicans, mainly for their support for the Israeli government but, in doing so, for other stances as well, such as resisting better gun control. AIPAC is one example. Do their actions reflect Jewish teachings?
Many of us heard about the recent Israel High Court ruling permitting the eviction of some 1000 Palestinians from an area of the West Bank to be used for an IDF firing zone. Is that right?
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, director of T’ruah, who just returned form Israel and the West Bank and witnessed home demolitions wrote the following last week:
“Forced transfer of people is a direct violation of international law, and is even defined as a war crime per the Nuremberg Charter. This decision is a cruel one, likely to uproot the residents of Masafer Yatta in order to expand and entrench occupation.
This week’s Torah portion includes the warning 'you shall not render unjust decisions' (Leviticus 19:15) as well as the famous verse, 'the gerim who reside with you shall be as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were gerim in the land of Egypt' (19:34)".
This coming Shabbat Parsha, B’khukotai, reminds us that, as a society, we will receive blessings for observing the statutes and mitzvot. The Parsha also vividly describes the consequences for not living these teachings. When will we ever learn? Our actions, whether in Israel or here in America, determine our well being and the well being of Earth.
When we conclude a Sefer, we chant the words “Khazak Khazak V’Nitkhazek. Be Strong, Be Strong and We Will Strengthen Each Other.”
Keyn Y’hi Ratzon, So May It Be So,
Reb David