April 10, 2019
Dear Friend,
How do we maintain hope in times of uncertainty, or even despair?
One midrash (rabbinic expansion) offers a surprising suggestion about how Moses inspired the Israelites toward freedom:
“Moses would bring the Book of Job and show it to the elders of Israel enslaved in Egypt so that they would listen and learn that there is hope for those who trust in God — that good can follow bad.” (Otzar Midrashim, Megillot Shonot, Introduction)
The Book of Job is one of the most painful books of the Bible! And yet, this challenging text seems to have offered the elders the hope to move forward, and to lead their people out of Egypt.
After yesterday’s elections, it is almost certain that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be able to form a new right-wing government to push forward his anti-peace, anti-human rights, pro-occupation agenda, and may even move forward with annexing settlements. Some of us may have woken up this morning in despair. Some of us might even feel ready to give up on fighting for human rights for Israelis and Palestinians. I’m writing to ask you not to lose hope.
The Passover seder places us within the long arc of Jewish history — with its very low lows, and its periodic highs. No matter how long the low points last, we have always retained hope that redemption remains possible.
While it seems that we’ve been waiting a long time to achieve peace, and to ensure the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, slavery lasted much longer. One hundred years ago, few believed that it would be possible to establish the State of Israel. And yet, we achieved this historic feat. The occupation has lasted 52 years — much, much too long, with far too many lives lost — and yet, in the scope of Jewish history, this is hardly long enough for us to give up. The dangerous Trump-Netanyahu alliance is less than three years old — and neither leader can stay in power forever.
Crucially, those who are pushing a far-right agenda that entrenches occupation and justifies violence toward Palestinians will never give up. Nor will those seeking to destroy the State of Israel altogether. Those of us who are committed to a peaceful solution that ensures the self-determination of both people cannot give up either.
In this moment, T’ruah commits to bringing an even more powerful rabbinic moral voice to standing up for the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, and to recommitting to the long path toward peace. This means bringing the power of 2,000 rabbis and cantors and their communities to fighting any attempts to annex the settlements, and to ensuring that U.S. policy does not destroy hopes of peace. It means training the next generation of rabbis to insist on the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, through T’ruah’s leadership program for rabbinical students during their required academic year in Israel.
When the Israelites stood on the edge of the Red Sea, pursued by the Egyptian army, God admonished Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward!” Rabbi Ovadia Sforno (16th c, Italy) suggests that Moses was not afraid of the Egyptian army, whom he already knew would be defeated. Rather, he worried about the resolve of the people, lest they refused to listen and to enter the sea. God reassured him that the people would not lose faith, but would move forward. (comment to Exodus 14:15-16)
No matter how difficult the path forward seems, we cannot afford to lose hope.
Thank you for your partnership in this struggle,
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
Executive Director
