A mighty cliff ... Israel and Hamas at war

 The Torah portion of Matot has within it a story of the tribes of Reuben and Gad who wish to stay on the east side of the Jordan river and not take possession of any land inheritance in the Promised Land of Israel. Why did they want to stay on that side? What does their offer to enter first, help serve as “shock-troops and pioneers” demonstrate? What do we do to show our loyalty to the land of Israel? Whose inheritance is the land? To whom does that land belong? What is the role of the Jew living in the Diaspora? How does Moses get a green light here to negotiate a settlement with seemingly no divine engagement? To whom/what does our loyalty lie? God? Am (people of) Yisrael? Eretz (land of) Yisrael? What does God, the people Israel, the land of Israel want from us right now?

As Israel nearly completes its second week of Operation Protective Edge, I ask us to consider these questions in light of our ancestors who chose not to settle in the Promised Land but made a rather significant dedication and commitment as a way to balance their lack of presence in that sacred territory.

And I ask us to consider the nature of this operation in light of its Hebrew name – not only its English name. In Hebrew, the operation is called mivtza tzuk eitan. Operation Mighty Cliff.

I am certainly not a military strategist but by name alone, the operation sounds rather ominous. But then again, thousands of rockets coming into your country is rather ominous as well. And so are riots held in various places across Europe and Asia condemning Israel and attacking Israel as perpetrators of a genocide, while Hamas calls for the end of Israel and Israel tries simply to keep its citizens: Jews and Arabs alike safe.

The operation has been – like others – an opportunity for a media frenzy in which world opinion trashes Israel.  The fury against Israel’s right to defend herself is all too common. We are witnessing live stream how awful the choices of Hamas in Gaza have been. And sadly, innocent lives are disrupted at best but far worse – destroyed with future incitement essentially guaranteed.

Long has been my mantra – if I was born in Gaza in 1968 instead of California – I would probably be fighting Israel and not defending her. Or more hopefully, I would be advocating peace from that side of the border rather than this side.

All God’s children are suffering here. Mothers. Children. Fathers. Cousins. Brothers. Sisters. Israel recognizes and agonizes over that. It does not matter your blood – God’s creation is being desecrated. Palestinians fail to maintain a truce by firing missiles. Israel retaliates and launches an impossible and frightening ground invasion. And yes, there is a difference between a Hamas-sent missile with no announcement, no direction or goal other than terror and death and an Israeli targeted missile that has been publicized with advance notice.

There is a difference between using supplies given to Hamas to make roads and buildings out of concrete for new industry and the up-building of a state versus using those supplies to build concrete tunnels to bring about the death and destruction of Israelis and Israel.

In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza but provided and has continued to provide infrastructure to the region. Hamas has ruled and made choices to incite behavior and radicalism that call for Israel’s destruction. Rather than building a nation-state on the shores of the Mediterranean, they have chosen to follow a route of violence, hatred, and now war.

Israel again has her existence on the line. We sit comfortably in our air conditioned homes and synagogues and dwell in safety. And thank God we are safe.

But the world stands on three things according to one of the first teachings found in the Pirkei Avot: Torah (study/learning); Avodah (divine service); G’milut Chasadim (deeds of loving kindness). We must learn Torah, understanding as best we can both sides – the many sides of this horrible situation. We must pray and remember what we say and teach, what we advocate and every relationship we maintain is sacred. Finally, we are not on the ground in Israel or in Gaza but we can support groups that are aiding in the humanitarian challenges Tzuk Eitan as brought – to children and elderly, poor and disabled, and more.

Cliffs are mighty. They are strong and ominous. Cliffs are scary and make people uneasy about stability. And once you go over a cliff … there is no going back.

May this operation be short-lived with minimal loss of life but efficacy in stopping the terror of missiles. May Israel be allowed to dwell in safety and security. May Palestinians find the means to build a productive state that seeks not to wipe out another but only become something strong for itself. May the dream of peace be brought to fruition and may we be supporters of those efforts which help all who are suffering on both sides of this bitter edge.