Nuanced Understanding–Not just for the Bible

The current flaring of violence in Israel is leaving me bit despondent (I’m not the only one, it would seem). As an American Jewish person who has lived in Israel for an extended period of time (including the first full year of Intifada II in 2000/01) my understanding of the situation is brackish at best. I am greatly saddened by the loss of life on both sides and the venomous rhetoric that now surrounds us. The following excerpt nails it for me:

A third stream of Jews - perhaps not the widest one, but I believe quite significant - have more complex and uncomfortable feelings on the matter. They care deeply for Israel and understand even why its government felt compelled to launch the devastating Operation Cast Lead, but they are extremely disturbed and hurt by the level of civilian deaths and destruction that almost seems part and parcel of the action. Surely, they say, there must, there has to be another way of doing this. And they live with those doubts, often unexpressed, even among families and close friends because the worst thing they find is that others around them don’t seem to discern between the different nuances, and can’t find in themselves compassion for the dead and wounded on the other side. They begin asking themselves very awkward questions: Are they surrounded by latent racists, or is something wrong with them that denies the feelings of certainty of those around them? Or does everyone have similar doubts but are simply afraid to express them?

Perhaps those in the most difficult predicament are those who work daily in Jewish and community organizations, the kind of august institutes that have already felt the need to issue those meaningless announcements that “the pan-national Jewish forum stands firmly in support of Israel.” Almost constantly, they find their dearest beliefs challenged.

Just like the Bible, Israel requires reading on multiple levels. There are no black and white answers. A resolution written in blood may be a stop-gap solution, but it is still soaked in blood. I’m more and more convinced that, diplomacy and war are futile paths to peace. Mutual economic benefit for both sides is the only path I see. Especially now, we should focus on making money, not making mishugas.

Photo from Daylife.