After a period of introspection and heartbreaking prayers leading up to the Yom Kippur soonHigh Holy Day 2024 recently concluded and eight days of festive family time were spent in a sukkah, a flimsy hut. In Israel, the holidays of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret culminated in a challenging year. The cycle was complete.
Israel was attacked on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 2023 and continued to fight on multiple fronts as it celebrated Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 2024. As the sun set and the holiday ended this year, a second round of Torah dancing began in synagogues and public squares. throughout Israel. Our losses were mourned, while our faith in the future was fervently celebrated. At the same time, we learned that five soldiers had given their lives in the fight for the future of our people in its historic homeland.
The next day, eight more names were announced. Then four additional soldiers entered Lebanon over the course of another day. Most of the dead were reserve soldiers who left behind widows and orphans. These families will never be the same again. We share the pain of our grieving brothers and sisters. But we remain determined to continue the struggle for our existence.
Sukkot is celebrated by eating, singing, dancing and sometimes sleeping in a temporary home built for the occasion. Moving into the cabin manifests the fragility of life and the lack of control we, as mortals, have over our fate. During this Sukkot, many discussions among both religious and secular people focused on what Israel had experienced and accomplished since then October 7, 2023and the challenges we still face.
A typical list of topics might include: The number of soldier funerals attended. The number of visits to people in mourning. The number of months it took reserve soldiers to serve, while their families, wives and children were left to fend for themselves. The virulent anti-Semitism that Israelis and Jews face in the West. The number of hostages (101) still held by Hamas, many of whom are no longer alive. The level of bickering between Israeli politicians is increasingly causing a stain on the fabric of Israeli society. The selflessness of our brave soldiers. The selfishness of parts of Israeli society that refuse to assume their responsibilities as citizens of Israel.
Jewish worshipers pray at the Western Wall during the priestly blessing of Cohen Benediction on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, October 20, 2024 (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
SUCH DISCUSSIONS are a natural response to a crisis situation that continues to fester and with no end in sight. The IDF’s impressive military achievements include the destruction of Hamas as a fighting force and the elimination of much of the Hamas and Hezbollah command structure, such as Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah. These killings were punctuated by last weekend’s successful attack on military targets in Iran, including air defense systems and missile production facilities.
Normality is absent, but people are resilient
Nevertheless, rockets and drones continue to damage and kill people in northern Israel. Terror attacks involving bullets, knives, cars and trucks occur every day. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are still displaced or living with their eyes on the nearest bomb shelter. Children are kept home from school and farmers are still unable to tend their crops. Normality is lacking in key regions of the country and Israel is becoming increasingly isolated. But history and Sukkot teach us that we are a resilient people and that by staying united, by eliminating internal backbiting, and by focusing our energies on our enemies, we will emerge from this struggle a strengthened nation.
How can such unity be achieved? Remaining united is not easy for Israelis. The Jewish people are depicted in the Old Testament as a stubborn people. The historical sport for our brothers and sisters is arguing. We perfected this sport during the 2000 year exile from our homeland.
Why are we arguing? Because we as a people strive for the truth. In the Talmud, epic disagreements between the learned rabbis are examined from all sides until a final decision is made. Although these rabbis argued vigorously, they maintained their admiration and respect for their opponents and ultimately managed to reach a position that everyone could accept. The key to achieving unity is astute leadership. Leadership that understands that winning an argument is futile if it leads to animosity.
Benjamin Franklin stated in his autobiography that he could gain the trust of his rivals by carefully choosing non-confrontational language in his debates and avoiding the appearance of pride and arrogance.
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A paradigm for Jewish pride and resistance, Menachem Begin refused to attack his fellow Jews even when his own troops were fired upon. He understood that Jewish unity was of paramount importance if a Jewish state was to survive.
Two thousand years ago, Hillel the Elder said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” Seventy-six years after Israel’s re-establishment, its leaders must meet the high standards of Hillel, Franklin and Begin. Our future depends on far-sighted decision-making. It is time for self-interest to be subjugated to the common good.
The writer is a professor emeritus of biochemistry and chemistry at the City University of New York. He lives in Rehovot and has two grandsons in the IDF. The opinions expressed in this article are his own.