‘THOSE WHO SOW IN TEARS, SHALL REAP IN JOY’ - ISRAEL 2023
‘הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ’, one of my favourite lines from Psalms that we sing before benching (Grace after meals) on shabbat, ‘those who sow in tears, shall reap in joy’. Sometimes my relationship with Israel in 2023 is summed up in these words - trouble and strife alongside a hope that one day we will reap in joy in proportion to the sacrifice made.
One of my first memories of living in Israel was at the age of 13, a host of schoolmates went to live in Yemin Orde in the north of Israel just south of Haifa. It was 1995 the very same year that Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s Prime Minister, was murdered. We drew lots and I went with a small group from our children’s village to Jerusalem to pay our respects to his coffin lying in state. My memory is of passing by the heavy mental gates of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) and looking on from afar, the sense of national grief was palpable. From that day forward, I can say that I have lived a life which has always aligned in intimacy with the fate of Israel.
So today is a tough day, in the last month, Israel has sworn in a new government, its most right-wing government to date bringing to high office some of Israel’s most extremist politicians. Today and going forward Israel faces some severe challenges. For our community and all progressive Jewish communities there is an immediate threat which stands to undo the status quo in relation to the religious status of Jewish people across the globe particularly in relation to those who have converted under the Beit Din (rabbinic council) of the Masorti, Liberal or Reform communities. It is not a good time to be progressive in Israel right now, not religiously and not politically.
The second key threat is to democracy itself and similar to some of the trends that have threatened the rest of the democratic world, Israel’s new government stands to undermine its own democracy in fundamental ways – most significantly is the threat to the independence of the judiciary. A minority of Israelis actually voted for the parties represented in this government, but it is that minority which presents a serious threat to Israel going forward.
Almost ten years ago now, I lived in Israel for 5 years and I spent a good chunk of that time travelling in and working with Palestinian partners in areas of the West Bank, primarily around Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah. These were joyful years building partnerships and friendships with good people both in Israel and in the West Bank. The primary learning was that we have more in common that that which divides us. The Palestinian and Israeli community want to earn a living, to live well and to protect and take care of the safety and security of their families.
In 2023 much of this work continues in ever more divided communities. I messaged a colleague who works in Hebron in the last few days, he works incredibly hard providing grants and support for a great many community projects. One arm of his work is extending bursaries to Palestinian students who would not otherwise be able to go to university. Our communal fates are intertwined, Israeli and Palestinian communities might very well wish to see the back of one another but in reality that will not be our future. The sooner both communities see that our care for our young, our furthering of opportunities for young people and our connected benefit and care will mutually benefit the prospering of both communities going forward, the better.
The Israel of 2023 is no less miraculous than the creation of the state in 1948, we face severe challenges today but Israel does continue to survive and thrive. The next generation of our thriving must include all the peoples in our midst, however painful that journey. It is upon all Jewish communities to support and work towards the birth of this new Israel.
SHABBAT SHALOM
