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If you haven't already, please read this message which I shared in this week's Weekly Watch about what has been happening in Israel over the last three months. I look forward to sharing more thoughts tomorrow during Shabbat morning services.
Over the past three months we have seen protests in Israel. We have watched as Israelis defend the democracy of their state, our home. We have discussed during our own Kiddush Conversations the challenges that the proposed Judicial reforms bring, the reasons a discussion surrounding the issue of Israel’s supreme court are needed, and the fact that Israel does not have a constitution making all of this even more difficult.
This past week, we saw upwards of hundreds of thousands of people take to the street to protest. These protests blocked major intersections, broke barricades, included the singing of Israeli national songs, and the waving of Israeli flags. They were not violent. They did not include looting. There was no police violence. Rabbi Daniel Gordis spoke of it as the greatest week in Israeli history.
What we are seeing now is the Jewish people doing what we do best…loving something and each other so much that we fight over it. We know the adage that if you have two Jews, you’ll have three opinions. This is no different. Many agree that a Judicial overhaul is needed. Many also agree that the reforms being proposed would go against the principles of democracy upon which Israel was founded, and which we, as American Jews, have so proudly held up for 75 years.
A statement from the Conservative / Masorti Movement states: "We commend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his decision to temporarily suspend his coalition's controversial judicial reform proposals. We are pleased that this policy has been postponed until at least after Passover, giving time for reflection on the potential ramifications of such an extreme overhaul… We also salute those within the coalition who listened to concerned voices in Israel and abroad and who have pushed for a government responsive to its citizens.”
As we go into the holiday of Passover, we think deeply about freedom, what it means to live in a society with the ability to have our voices heard, knowing that our state is being governed with justice and equality, and that rights for all citizens are being protected. The statement furthers says, “ We believe that the suspension of this proposal is a step in the right direction, and we call on all parties to work together to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all citizens are protected. This is the time to strengthen the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state as established in Israel’s Declaration of Independence…..we aspire to a State of Israel which continues to build a future of stability and prosperity as a Jewish and democratic state.”
As we recite each day in our Prayer for the State of Israel, asking God to
“וּשְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ לְרָאשֶׁיהָ, שָׂרֶיהָ וְיוֹעֲצֶיהָ, וְתַקְּנֵם בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ."
“Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth. Help them with Your good counsel.”
We ask God now to show our Israeli leaders the way through the sea and toward freedom and a renewed eretz Yisrael, land of Israel.
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