The following opinion piece was published in The Centre Daily Times on October 22nd:
By Rabbi David E. Ostrich, Congregation Brit Shalom
There is sometimes a suspicion that Zionists (supporters of Israel) lack compassion for the Arabs who suffer in the war with Hamas (and Hezbollah and Iran’s other proxies). I cannot speak for all Zionists, but I strongly suspect that we all have compassion. What some Zionists might not be doing is expressing that compassion verbally. When they do, it is amazing how quickly conversations calm down. Once everyone in a discussion agrees and grieves that there are Arab civilians who suffer, many conversations can then proceed with respect and analysis.
Compassion begins with “feeling sorry” for others, but true compassion goes deeper and seeks to understand why they are suffering and how their suffering can be lessened. Are Arabs in Gaza suffering because Israel is unjustly oppressing them, or are they suffering because Hamas is using them as human shields? Or are they combatants, fighting with Hamas against Israelis? Are there ways for Israel to survive its life-or-death struggle with Hamas (et al) while minimizing civilian casualties? Are perhaps some of these humanitarian measures already being used? And who are the potential “partners for peace?” What will it take to get them to make peace?
Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) teaches us that, while compassion is a Divine Attribute, it is one of several that God holds in a delicate balance. A balance: because untethered compassion can bleed the pursuit of righteousness—and doom many to uncompassionate treatment by those without a moral compass. And because untethered justice overlooks mitigating circumstances and treats people with undue harshness. Holiness requires many good values, balanced carefully.
Cries like “Free Palestine” or “From the River to the Sea,” may sound like calls for freedom and happiness, but the fact is that Hamas and the other agents of Salafist and Iranian Islamicism have no intention of granting what we would call “freedom and happiness.” Their goal is a society dominated by their particular understanding of Islam. Women in such societies have extremely limited agency—and face violence for attempting to choose a non-sanctioned path. LGBT+ individuals face assault or execution. “Infidels”—like Christians, Jews, Bahais, Buddhists, Yazidis, and even mainstream Muslims—are persecuted or worse. Free speech and the right to assemble are not acceptable. And, with en masse punishments for villages that do not overwhelmingly support Hamas, voting is anything but free. There is also the Iranian/Hamas/Hezbollah policy of “sacrificing” civilians. How can a leadership that uses civilians as human shields be working in the best interests of those civilians? In other words, if one really has compassion for the Arab civilians of Gaza and the West Bank, supporting policies that allow Hamas to stay in power (or gain power) is not compassionate at all.
Analysis can be a real pain in the neck, but it is necessary to turn our compassion into something that actually helps. Perhaps we should move beyond slogans and generalized “demands for peace,” and work toward practical and long-term solutions. What are the best courses for helping everyone in the region live normal and peaceful lives? And, when solutions are offered, what are the practical possibilities that such proposals will be adopted and effective? Who are the partners for peace, and how can they be motivated into actually making peace?