Demonstrations, mutual frustration, and lots of anxiety seem to have been at an all time high this week in Israel. Watching from afar, it has been painful to process and see the amount of discord and lack of understanding between different parts of the population.
I spoke to one couple in Israel, where each spouse has very strong views on the opposite side of the debate and they are navigating this debate together. Another relative I spoke to, was emphatic about the pain and frustration she has right now and described with strong feelings what she is dealing with.
Politics aside, in the week when we marked Tisha B'Av, the most painful day on the Jewish Calendar, and a day whose tragedies are associated with Sinat Chinam, it was a stark reminder of the pain and challenges of discord and how much needs to be done to make society whole, united, and healed.
Ironically in the days that follow the painful and sad day of the 9th of Av, we have one of the most joyous days of the Jewish Calendar, the 15th of Av which is described as the most joyous day on the Jewish Calendar. It is a day when the maidens would borrow each other's clothes and go and dance in the vineyards and many new relationships happened on this day.
Their are multiple reasons for the tremendous joy on this date, notably two of the reasons are associated with unity among the Jewish people. For one, some of the original restrictions on tribes marrying into each other that had been placed on the Jewish people when they first moved into the land of Israel, were finally lifted and everyone could intermarry between the tribes. The other interesting reason, was that the tribe of Benjamin had been banned from marrying into the Jewish people due to a terrible murder that had occurred through their hands. After many years the Jewish people undid this restriction and chose to reunite and become one people again.
Ironically after the lowest and most painful day on the Jewish Calendar, we celebrate the most uplifting and joyous day on the Jewish Calendar. From the depths of sharp pain, destruction and discord, we climb to the heights of unity, peace and intense joy.
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort, based on the Haftorah that we read which describes how G-d will comfort the Jewish people in the wake of the destruction.
May the words of the prophets be fulfilled and we should be comforted by ascending from the tragedies and discord of the 9th of Av, to a place where we can all dance together with the joys and blessings that come with unity and understanding.
Of course, we all have to do our part, to have Ahavat Chinam, love without reason, regardless of views and political opinions that people might have. We also need to do more to understand our fellow, even when they might disagree with us and hold different opinions. In the process of doing so, we can learn to listen to other perspectives and views outside of our own echo chamber, which might not change our own, but yet they might help us have more empathy and respect for the place that they are coming from.
May the messages of these days serve as a reminder and inspiration to all of us, to get to that place of joy, as a result of true unity and connection with our brothers and sisters that comes after healing and overcoming the pain and division.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel