Rabbi Cooper's Letters

On Thursday night, news about the shooting in Tel Aviv filtered through the country. Within minutes, it seemed, the entire country was glued to TV sets, computers and cellphones, watching in real time, as the story of the gunman who killed three and wounded 5 emerged.  As I watched the crowds on television, standing in the street, accompanying the police in their house-to-house search for the gunman, praying that the lone gunman would be found, there was a sense of unity and common purpose which permeated the country.  Everyone knows someone who lives in Tel Aviv.  “Had I been in Tel Aviv that evening, that terrorist could have killed me”.  These shootings and attacks hit hard.  They strike at the heart and soul of this country and challenge the nation not to fight terror  with terror, not to use such an attack as an excuse to act viscerally.  To defend with restraint, maintaining our dignity and humanity even as we cry out in anguish.  These were our thoughts as we retired late Thursday evening. We woke, however, on Friday to a different crisis, a political crisis in the government. 

Idit Silman is a woman whose name you, likely, have never heard.  Yet by the end of last week, she became the focus of news stories and newspaper articles.  Her rise to prominence was the result, not of a political coup or achievement. She became known because of her decision to leave the coalition government, created by now-Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett.  Bennett was successful in building his coalition, 61 of 120 members of the Knesset, a coalition which included Idit Silman, a member of Bennett’s own “Yemina” party.  At the end of last week, she decided to bring down the government.  That is, by deserting her party, and leaving the coalition, the coalition lost its majority which renders it, effectively, unable to govern. And it is the reason for her departure which I find…fascinating.

MK Silman’s decision came as the result of an issue of food on Pesach.  The hospitals in Israel, are open to all Jews, religious and secular, and Arabs, religious and secular, and any others not included in any of those groups. With the approach of Pesach, it was announced that hospitals would be able to serve and/or permit into the hospital food considered to be Chametz/not kosher for Pesach.  Those who sought to extend a ban on Chametz-laced food on Pesach carried their grievance to Israel’s Supreme Court.  The court, citing precedents in which practices seen as religious coercion have been denied, sided with those who would permit the Chametz to be brought into the hospital and/or served to patients who requested it.  Of course, kosher food would remain the most popular option.  The hospital kitchens would remain kosher, but there would now be an option for those who wanted, for whatever reason, Chametz.

In response to the Court’s rejection of the request to ban non-Pesach foods from the hospitals, the defeated MK, Idit Silman, expressed her outrage by leaving the coalition. In doing so, the coalition lost its majority.  Name-calling has begun and, small parties, anxious to exploit the situation, are “reconsidering” their opposition to the current government. Now is the time to make deals, court one’s foes and try to gain power.  And all of this the result of a ruling against requiring all food in hospitals to be Kosher for Pesach. 

As Lori and I prepare for Aliya to Israel, it is the juxtaposition of these two, very different events, which I find strikingly depressing.  In Israel, it seems that tragedy, violence, and terror have the power to unite.  But the observance of a Holiday, which we all share, can create disunity to the point of toppling the government.  I am glad that Israelis can come together, to stand as one against terror and loss.  But should not Holiday celebrations be powerful enough to unite us as well?  And were there no threats against the lives of Israelis, if terror could be defeated, what would bring us together? 

As we contemplate our move to Israel, beyond our plans to be with our children and grandchildren, beyond the comforts of a home with the necessary “amenities”, I bring with me a perspective on diversity and personal autonomy which is not found everywhere in Israeli society.  Perhaps I can express the ideas we have learned in our Jewish Community, that unity will not be found exclusively in uniformity, that divergent opinions do not always detract.  Variety can enhance and enrich.  And it is in a coalition in which divergent voices can be heard, true and enduring strength will be found. 

I wish I had advice to stem the cycles of violence and hatred which exist in so many places in this small country.  But if I, and others can focus on unity in diversity, perhaps we’ll find new sources of joy and celebration.  And, if that message resonates in Israel, maybe, I should run for a seat in the Knesset?  Not😊.

From Lori and me to you and yours, we wish for you a Joyous and Sweet Pesach.

.