{"id":49523,"date":"2019-02-15T11:33:46","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T09:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=49523"},"modified":"2019-02-15T12:03:25","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T10:03:25","slug":"between-atrocities-and-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/between-atrocities-and-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Atrocities and Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Words of encouragement open and close Deuteronomy Chapter 3: \u201cDo not fear\u201d (3:2) and \u201cstrengthen and build up the courage of Joshua\u201d(3:28). In the middle of these verses we read of atrocities committed by our ancestors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rashi extends the psychological pain of confronting our ancestors\u2019 actions, noting that the word \u05d4\u05d7\u05e8\u05dd (hacharem) meaning \u201cdoom\u201d or \u201cdestruction\u201d is in the present tense. My heart drops when I read the words of Deuteronomy 3:6: \u201c\u2026we doom every town \u2013 men, women and children.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of criticizing our ancestors, though, we are better served addressing our own actions. We, as part of a global society, doom every town including men, women and children when we ignore global warming, making our planet uninhabitable for future generations. We doom every town when we fail to respect the convictions of others, allowing our discussions to devolve into echo chambers. We doom every town when we fail to invest in education, health and social welfare to close the growing gap between haves and have nots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy bookends the chapter with hopeful words. How can we also surround ourselves with hope in the midst of so much that makes us weary? Our commentators illustrate the enormity of this challenge with a Talmudic story drawn from this chapter. \u00a0Moses, they say, stood 10 cubits high, wielded a 10 cubit axe and jumped 10 cubits in the air only to cut deep into the ankle of the giant, King Og, but it was enough to incapacitate him and smite him (Berakhot 54b). <\/span><\/p>\n

The challenges facing us today seem as large as a giant standing over us. Yet if we collectively jump as high as we can and swing our heavy burden with all the strength we can muster, we can conquer that which threatens us. <\/span><\/p>\n

In order to do so, we must be willing to learn an additional lesson from Deuteronomy 3. \u00a0Moses pleads with God to let him enter the Promised Land and is refused. Rather, he must pass the glory onto his successor. Like Moses, we may not see the fruit of our labors. Still we must work with faith that if we plant seeds of justice and righteousness and teach our children to help us water and tend, they will reap the harvest of harmony, accord, responsibility, compassion and creativity.<\/span><\/p>\n

image:\u00a0The Conquest of the Amorites (watercolor circa 1896\u20131902 by James Tissot)
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