Peace through Strength
US President Joe Biden kneels out of respect before Rivka Ravitz, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin's chief of staff, after learning she has 12 children
Rivka Ravitz, a mother of 12, had achieved a historic milestone as the first woman and religious individual to serve as Chief of Staff for a President of Israel.
During a recent interview, Ravitz reflected on the numerous opportunities she had to meet with world leaders and the admiration they expressed for her unwavering commitment to upholding her Jewish values and raising a large family while fulfilling her duties in a prominent position.
Recounting a particular meeting at the White House in July 2021 with Israel's outgoing president, Reuven Rivlin, Ravitz shared that President Biden warmly welcomed her and extended his hand in greeting.
However, being an observant Jew, Ravitz explained that she could not engage in physical contact with men other than her husband and immediate family. President Rivlin then chimed in, “she is also a mother of 12”. Upon hearing this, President Biden knelt before Ravitz, displaying admiration for her steadfastness and values. He also shared anecdotes about his own mother and her deep affection for large families.
When confronted with a challenge or a situation which tests our resolve or values, whether in business, relationships, or in relation to our Judaism, the temptation to compromise on our beliefs in order to preserve peace and gain favor from others can be strong.
However, true peace and mutual respect are achieved by having confidence and pride in our identity and beliefs.
In Hebrew, the word for peace is "Shalom," derived from the root "Shalem," meaning "wholeness." Peace is not attained through division and fragmentation, but rather through a sense of completeness. Contrary to the misconception that peace can only be achieved by compromising our values, genuine peace can only be realized when it is founded on truth and emanates from a position of strength. When we take pride in our identity and possess confidence in our convictions, we can then respect differing opinions and coexist harmoniously, even in moments of disagreement.
As Israel and the Jewish people are faced with increasing anti-Semitism from various segments of the society, both in the middle east and across the globe, it is vital that we explore the true cause of the hostility in order to properly protect ourselves both physically and spiritually.
While overt anti-Semitism may wax and wane over time, we must be clear that it has nothing to do with geopolitics, the land of Israel, or Israel’s domestic policies. Early Jewish settlers in Israel were murdered and beaten in the early 1900’s long before the War of Independence. Over the years, Israel has made many painful concessions in the hope that it would bring genuine peace that our people so yearn for, but, sadly, it has not yet materialized.
Unfortunately, anti-Semitism has been around since the founding of the Jewish people thousands of years ago.
What is the source for anti-Semitism and how do we establish a long lasting peace? Furthermore, on a personal level, how do we foster peaceful relationships and mutual respect among our friends and acquaintances in our own community, workplace, and neighborhood?
This past week, we celebrated the Holiday of Shavuot, the day we received the Torah on Mount Sinai over three thousand years ago. The Talmud explains that ever since an objective Divine definition of morality was introduced to the world through the teachings of the Torah, anti-Semitism was introduced as well. Those who oppose morality and goodness, see the Jewish people and the Torah as the greatest threat to their ideology. For that reason, anti-Semitism may begin with the Jewish people, but it never ends with the Jews. In essence, a threat against a Jew, G-d forbid, is an attack on all good people.
Our response to anti-Semitism should never be to hide or become apologetic and defensive. Rather, we need to express our Judaism proudly and serve as a positive example of how a Jew should act by learning and sharing the teachings of the Torah, performing Mitzvot and doing acts of goodness and kindness.
In this week’s Torah portion, Naso, we read about the famous priestly blessing given to the Jewish people which concludes with the fervent wish for peace. Many parents have the custom to recite this blessing to their children prior to Yom Kippur or Shabbat: "May the Lord bless you and watch over you. May the Lord cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you. May the Lord raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace (Numbers 6: 24-26)."
Furthermore, in Ethics of our Fathers, Hillel instructs: "Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving the creatures and bringing them closer to Torah."
The Torah is replete with expressions of the importance of maintaining peace both on a personal level and on a global scale. At the same time, Judaism places the greatest value on the sanctity of human life and the need to protect it in case of danger. A nation must do all in it’s power to protect its people. We must not wait until our life is already in danger before defending ourselves, but rather the Talmud (Sanhedrin 72a:) stated a principle: “If someone comes to kill you, rise and kill him first.” By going on the offensive and eliminating the enemy before they carry out their evil objectives, the loss of innocent lives is limited to a much greater extent on both sides of the conflict thereby establishing a lasting peace.
The Jewish people are often faced with condemnation that challenges our very right to the land of Israel. Over the years, Israel has faced great pressure to give away land in the exchange for the promise of peace. Unfortunately, despite painful concessions and withdrawals, the opposite of peace has occurred instead. In order to properly defend ourselves, we must first understand what is our fundamental right to the land of Israel in the first place?
The land is not ours because of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 or because of the UN vote in 1947; it's not even ours because we lived there for thousands of years or because we "deserved" a homeland after the Holocaust. These may all be valid arguments, but others can present counter-arguments to them. The Land of Israel is ours because the Creator declared in his Torah that the Land of Israel is the eternal inheritance of the people of Israel. As stated, “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I assign this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates (Genesis 15:18)”.
Ultimately, this is our only true claim to the Land of Israel. More so, billions of Christians, Muslims and adherents to other religions also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran itself does not dispute the Jews’ right to the Land of Israel. When we state the facts openly and proudly and stand strong in our beliefs, we ultimately bring long term peace to the region.
The Torah teaches us that each and every Jew possesses a portion of the Land of Israel and is forever connected to the land, regardless of where he or she is residing. For the Land of Israel is G‑d's eternal gift to the Jewish people. It is integral to our divine mission as the place imbued with the holiness and special spiritual qualities that empower us to flourish as a people and serve as G‑d's light unto the nations.
The Torah describes the people of Israel as "one person with one heart”. This means that we must not only think about the other, but feel for the other. We cannot view ourselves as separate entities, but must realize that each and every Jew is a vital part of the wholeness of the Jewish people.
When we are aware of this “wholeness” and express our Judaism openly and proudly in our daily lives, we can maintain peace and tranquility in our communities and homes.
May we merit very soon to experience the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the time of redemption when peace will prevail among all nations on earth and all forms of anti-Semitism and bigotry will be eradicated from the world as it is stated: “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not take up Sword against nation; They shall never again know war - Isaiah 2:4”.
