A Call for Mercy during the Jewish Holy Days

 

Summer ends today at about 2:30 in the afternoon and this evening marks the beginning of the Jewish Rosh Hashanah -- no, they're not related but they happen to fall on the same day in 2025. Rosh Hashanah is the "head of the year" in Judaism, so akin to New Year, although with strong religious connections. After these two days there is a period of introspection, repentance, and teshuva—a return to the authentic principles of mercy and goodness lost in day-to-day life— reflection and repentance before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on October 2. 

Already I'm seeing commentary from Jews about what these holy days might entail this year in light of what is unfolding in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Separating the military actions of the state of Israel from Judaism as a religion has been challenging and complicated even more by Jewish extremists within the region, particularly in the West Bank. It has led to a disturbing rise of anti-semitism, including in Canada. 

We must keep before us that the terrorist organization Hamas ruthlessly killed innocent Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 and still holds hostages in terrible conditions. Yet the retribution by Israel has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, thousands of them children, and left Gaza in ruins. 

We also need to be aware that some Jewish genocide experts at Israeli universities and elsewhere have named what is happening as genocide.  There are rabbis who decry what is happening as contrary to the Jewish scriptures. More than 1,000 rabbis and other Jewish leaders from around the globe, including in Israel and the U.S., have signed a public letter urging Israel to allow extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza. They maintain that Israel's actions damage not just the country's reputation, but Judaism itself. 

Some military reservists are refusing to respond to call-ups and even family members of those murdered by Hamas have spoken against the relentless destruction. There are former political and military leaders who condemn the severity of this war on civilians as against the fundamental principles of the state of Israel. What is transpiring is not a righteous cause. 

We need to be clear that anti-semitism is poison, that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and that Israel has a right to exist. Israeli captives must be released. At the same time, the terrible loss of life for civilians, medical personnel, and journalists must end. 

Will these Holy Days make a difference? That might seem like a naive hope but they may open the way for deeper discussion and reflection with the second anniversary of October 7 so close at hand.  I'll be watching and praying for reflective and honest commentary during the days ahead.