Erev Shemot 5769 Dialogue speaking and hearing in times of conflict Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 16 January 2009

Moses looked, and the bush was aflame, yet it was not consumed. Then God called to him out of the bush: ‘Moses, Moses.’ And he said: ‘Hineini, Here I Am.’

Why was it necessary for God to call out twice to Moses before he paid heed? In many ways, the seeming reticence from Moses to respond can be readily understood and has been by our Sages. Moses was a fugitive with difficulty communicating, living as a simple shepherd in the employ of his father-in-law who may not have known his past: and, in the words of Rabbi Norman Cohen, “An Israelite who fled Egypt having killed one of the taskmasters and having been ostracized by his fellow Israelites.”

Rabbi Cohen goes on to suggest that sometimes, “We, too, feel like imposters who cannot countenance the possibility that anyone will believe us, trust us, or follow us. The call of the other is frightening, and we know how Moses feels when he hides his face from God, afraid even to look.”

How difficult it has been to enter into conversations these past few weeks; or to have the confidence to look the other in the eye as we might easily have done in the past. For our young people, who have gone back to school facing questions from classmates about why the Jews are killing children in Gaza. When our students return to their university campuses, they are sure to be met by campaigns to boycott Israel, to ban the Jewish Societies and motions that describe Israel as an apartheid State and worse. All these happened in more peaceful times, I dread to think what is to come this term.

In workplaces, colleagues ask questions or make statements depending on what paper they have read on their commute, or what the BBC has said on its evening and morning bulletins. In our local shops, in our leisure centres and all areas of social interaction with those who are not Jewish, we are challenged by words spoken. Also, by silence when others who would readily discuss current affairs do not know what to say to us or worse, even not want to speak to us.

Then there are conversations amongst ourselves. We do not know how each other feels about the situation in Gaza. I have witnessed many heated arguments about the approach of the IDF to this conflict and it is uncomfortable. This past week has shown the true diversity that exists in Anglo-Jewry in relation to our feelings towards this conflict. I am grateful to my teacher and mentor, Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh, for pointing me in the direction of an insightful article in The Guardian by Keith Kahn-Harris, a researcher and writer of growing repute in the Jewish Community.

Kahn-Harris suggests that, previous dissent during Israel’s various conflicts has, “generally been secular voices, relatively small-scale, dominated (although by no means exclusively) by secular Jews who were marginalised by the mainstream Jewish community. Since Zionism became a communal orthodoxy in the post-second world war period, and certainly since 1967, the vast majority of British Jewish communal bodies have stressed the need for communal unity in demonstrating solidarity with Israel…Jewish communal leaders have frequently argued that their unwavering support for Israel reflects the views of the majority of British Jews and they have generally been right, at least with respect to those Jews who are affiliated in some way with the organised community.” But now, diverse opinions are certainly evident and they are not without intellectual foundation. It may be uncomfortable for us to be engaged in this conversation but it is like the call, that repeating to gain attention, it is there and beginning to be recognised by Jewish communal bodies.

Kahn- Harris continues: “But it is becoming clear, certainly in the case of the Gaza conflict, that the Jewish community is not unified and that Jewish representative organisations are going to have to respond to this fact. Last Sunday's rally in support of Israel in Trafalgar Square superficially looked like a mass demonstration of "Israel right or wrong". But if you look closely it is clear that the organisers of the rally needed to make some gestures to keep those discomforted by the war on board: the rhetoric was overwhelmingly one of peace and a collection was taken in aid of hospitals in Israel and Gaza. Gesture politics maybe, but gestures that reflect efforts to keep a diverse range of institutions and individuals on board.”

The Jewish communal bodies are beginning to realise that, if we are to remain Am Yisrael, a unified People, the banner under which people can unify and say ‘Hineini, Here I Am,’ will have to change. If we accept that there is a Divine Voice within each one of our People, we too may need to hear messages twice before we hear the validity in the opinion of a fellow Jew.

That may be difficult enough, but what of those around us in the wider Community we live? My colleagues who have a track record of inter-faith dialogue, particularly with Muslims, have found that their calls have been unanswered. It is a truly difficult time for us to reach out to others, for them to hear us and us to hear them. However, there are voices that reflect the Divine Voice within humanity. In our local Borough, the Hillingdon Interfaith Network has issued a statement that comes from peoples of all faiths.

“The Inter Faith Network exists to promote understanding between people of different faiths in the UK and works to help create good inter faith relations in this country.  Violent events overseas of any nature can, inevitably, have repercussions here in Britain.

This understanding seems essential to us, at the present time of crisis in Gaza. The Hillingdon Inter Faith Network will not detract from the work we have been doing to improve relations between all faith communities in the Borough. We call on all faith leaders in Hillingdon to pray for those communities affected by the current crisis and for everyone to work together in a spirit of peace and mutual respect and understanding.

At times of tension, it is particularly important that we continue to seek ways to handle the local impact of overseas events. We will continue working together in ways which increases understanding and the promotion of community cohesion for everyone in Hillingdon.”

Moses looked, and the bush was aflame, yet it was not consumed. Then God called to him out of the bush: ‘Moses, Moses.’ And he said: ‘Hineini, Here I Am.’