Israel, the MIddle East, Etc.

There's been quite a lot of activity in the Middle East that's worth nothing:

Israeli sources are reporting that Bolivia and Venezuela are supplying Iran with uranium for its nuclear program.  I honestly do not believe anyone really has a clear plan to deal with this profound, existential threat.  Perhaps there isn't really a clear path forward.

I do believe Iran will use a nuclear weapon on Israel (and other likely other countries) when it finally develops a working bomb.  If Israel (or the U.S.) is completely successful, Israel can probably weather the storm of protest (and, let's face it, most of the world, including many Arab states, will be thrilled).  However...

 What if you don't get everything in the first strike?  Let's say your intelligence is not 100% accurate, you don't destroy quite enough and Iran can still bomb Israel.  The problem is that one bomb essentially eliminates Israel (unlike the United States, which by virtue of its size, could absorb a limited nuclear attack).  Or worse, what if your intelligence is wrong, you bomb Iran to smithereens and they had nothing?

Yossi Melman's analysis of this situation is worth reading here.  A recent report by the Jerusalem Post is also worth reading here.

Another question: do you use nuclear weapons to destroy nuclear weapons?  Why or why not? 

Another question:  what if Israel is successful but Arab nations and others use it as a pretext to attack Israel?  Does the United States join Israel?  Is this WWIII?

Next up, is the "Peace Process."  (BTW, horrible name:  at the moment there is no peace and no process.) There is lots of finger pointing to go around...Netanyahu, Lieberman, Obama.  As I see it, here is the most important thing:  What is in Israel's best interest?  The status quo is not in Israel's best interest...if there is no solution over the next 20 years, the demographics go strongly against Israel.  Next, a one-state solution is absolutely not workable...again, demographics mean that in 20 years Israel as we know it does not exist.  Of course the 'two-state' solution is a very difficult proposition, with many thorny issues, but out of three choices (status quo, one-state, two-state) some form/variation/hybrid of the two-state solution is the only way forward and the faster the better for Israel.

Check out the Brookings Institute website  for some superb analysis on the issues.

Stand Up and Be Counted!

This week we begin with the first portion of the Book of Numbers, known in Hebrew as Bamidbar.  Bamidbar is the name of the Book and the first portion...as is the practice for all the books of the Torah.

Many people consider this a 'boring' portion.  The  portion deals at great length with counting the Children of Israel in various combinations:  all the males older than 20; the individual counts of the various tribes.

Why this detailed census?  And why is it included in the Torah?  These are crucial questions and the significance of the portion obscured by its tedium.

I frequently preach that Judaism is about community.  In fact, community is at the heart of Judaism.  And, if you're not willing to stand up and be counted, you're not part of the community.  I encounter many people today who say, 'well, I'm Jewish, I feel Jewish, I'm proud of my Judaism, but I'm not a 'joiner.'" Well, then you're not part of the Jewish community and in a very real sense, you're not Jewish!

Moreover, this teaching applies to the community at large:  are you willing to stand up and be counted here in America?  In what way would you be counted? 

There is also an analogy to be drawn between this portion and the idea of 'being a number.'  The multiple ways in which the census was organized (individuals, tribes, etc.) points to an important Jewish ideal:  you are not just a number!  You participation in the community as an individual is essential for the community to flourish.

So, stand up and be counted!

Jerusalem Post Edidtorial

Check out this editorial in the Jerusalem Post.  It is an evaluation of the Nethanyahu/Obama meetings.

It's the Peace Process!

Bibi is wrapping up his visit to Washington, D.C.  He has NOT endorsed a two-state solution to the problem in the Middle East, although he has managed to affirm that the United States and Israel both share a common interest in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Bibi was able to secure some sort of commitment from Obama to set a timetable with regard to Iran.  I'm not quite sure if that is meaningful or just a bunch of hot air.  We'll see.  My guess is mostly hot air.  Bibi offered nothing in return.

Prime Minister Netanyahu....you have a chance to transform yourself from political mercenary to epochal statesman--do not forsake this chance!  As I have preached many times, there is no viable alternative to the two-state solution, time is AGAINST Israel and yes, you are correct, Iran is truly an existential threat to Israel if they obtain nuclear weapons.  You offer no real viable plan, you make no commitment to address the issue of settlements, you seem to have no substantive vision for Israel's future beyond your administration's bellicose pronouncements...

The Jewish people need a Nachshon...a man unafraid to jump in!  Be that guy!

Bronfman Vision Forum

I just returned from a day and a half seminar with the Bronfman Vision Forum.  A group of people--maybe 30, all with connections to the Samuel Bronfman Foundation (and, of course, Adam and Edgar Bronfman are supporters of Temple Har Shalom).

Leaving aside the many wonderful things we talked about, the gathering is a chance to meet some very interesting people, some of whom I've known and some of whom I haven't.  

I met a man named Gidi Grinstein who is the founder of the Re'ut Institute. (Re'ut means 'vision' or 'looking forward').  I had never heard of the Re'ut Institute or Gidi (who apparently has the same hair stylist as I do, but is much taller and better looking).  I asked him for some information on the Institute and WOW...I was impressed.  

This is the most important organization working on behalf of Israel that you've never heard of.  There work is complicated and defies and easy explantion, but essentially they look for cross-disciplinary solutions to complex problems  (think Palestinian Conflict and economics).  It is basically a think-tank, but rather than just 'thinking' they are providing important...very important...advice to the Government of Israel and its agencies.

You''ll be hearing me talk about the Re'ut Institute again, but for now, spend some time on their website.

Emor

We're reading in Emor this week...there's lots in it, but of interest to me this week is the calendar.  In the listing of holidays, these holidays are listed:  Shabbat, Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succot.  (To be precise, the last day of Passover and Shmini Atzeret Simchat Torah are also mentioned).

These are the Biblical holidays.  And they remain the major calendrical celebrations of Jews in 2009.   These days are considered a Shabbat Shabbaton.  What could that mean? 

Of course, there are many interpretations.  Here's one:  the 'doubling' of the word reminds us us the doubling of manna--an event associated with Shabbat.  What was the point of the manna story?  One point is that each person was required to take only enough for him/herself.  On Friday, God provided two portions of manna since manna could not be collected on Shabbat.

The entire welfare of the community depended on every individual not being greedy, not taking too much, etc.  If one person took too much...someone else got less.  The success of the community was predicated upon the interdependence of the individual.  Each individual relies upon the other to make wise decisions, to be restrained in their actions.

In circling back to the holidays, we must understand these Holy Days in a communal sense.  These are festivals that ultimately celebrate the community which is predicated upon the interdependence of individuals making decisions that benefit the entire community...a message with much to offer us today.

Sad Story

Here is a sad story about sexual abuse in the Orthodox world. 

My guess is that sexual abuse exists to the same extent in all communities.  I believe that the same percentage of people everywhere are bad, crooks, evil, etc.  No community is exempt.

 The problem is that in closed communities and in fundamentalist communities  there is a strong tendency to simply deny that a problem exists.  In addition, these communities often hold themselves up as paragons of virtue, a holier-than-thou, which at least gives off the scent of hypocrisy.

Wassup in the Jewish World

Khaled Mashaal, the political leader of Hamas who is in exile in Damascus, gave a 5 hour interview with the New York Times.  It seemed, on the one hand, to be somewhat conciliatory.  Mashaal said he wanted a two state solution.  On the other hand, he seemed typically belligerent in refusing to recognize the state of Israel.  How, exactly, there could be a 'two-state' solution when one state doesn't recognize the other seems a subtle philosophical point lost of Mashaal, but no matter.  You could read this as progress; you could read this as same 'ol, same 'ol.

Next up is the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.  He offered a very short speech to AIPAC in which he said he wanted peace, wanated to try some new ideas, made the point that nothing so far has worked, so why not try something new?

Unfortunately, Netanyahu has only slightly more credibility than Meshaal if credibility is defined as actually following through with your words, which neither Nethanyahu or Meshaal has done.

Netanyahu also selected a new ambassador to the United States:  Michael Oren.  This is an intriguing pick because Michael Oren is a unilaterilist:  he supported Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and he supports a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank.  Netanyahu deserves credit for this out of the box pick and maybe, just maybe, it indicates he is serious about making a change.

I want to say early in on Bibi's administration:  I will be the first--or as close as I can get to the first--person to recant everything I've ever said about him if he pulls off "a Begin."

Portion of the Week

This week is a double portion:  Acharei Mot/Kedoshim.  We are in the middled of the book of Leviticus.  The double portion (meaning that two portions are read during one week) is dictated by the calendar.

For the past several weeks, I have been focusing on the commentary of Rashi, whose commentaries on the Torah are considered authoritative.  I want to continue to focus on Rashi's commentary on the opening verses of chapter 18.    Verse 4/5 reads:  "Carry out My judgments and observe My decrees to follow them...you shall observe My decrees and My judgements..."  What is the difference between "decrees" and "judgements?"

According to Rashi the 'decrees" (in Hebrew mishpatim) laws that even if not mentioned specifically in the Torah would be followed by man because because they are so obvious and make so much.   An example:  thou shall not kill.

The "judgements" (in Hebrew, chukim) are those things, says Rashi, about which the evil inclination might be inclined to cause us to say, "why should we observe them?"  An example:  the prohibition against eating pork.