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Dear Friends,
On October 11, I co-authored an op-ed in USA Today with my Palestinian colleague and friend Dr. Rami Nashishibi with whom I was in Israel when Hamas invaded and massacred more than 1,400 people (most of them Israeli civilians). Most of you know that we were in Haifa on the last day of our trip when we began to get news about the slaughter in southern Israel. USA Today had contacted Rami, asking if we would write something together.
At Beth Emet, some people have expressed dismay or anger that the article appeared online before my note to the congregation, which wasn’t sent until the following day. I had no expectation that the op-ed would appear before my note to the congregation was sent, and I know this poor timing hurt people in our community who felt that their rabbi was not there for them in a time of tremendous grief. I apologize profusely. Irrespective of my expectations regarding the publishing of the op-ed, I realize in retrospect that my focus at that time should have been entirely on consoling and supporting our congregants. Rabbis have the dual responsibilities of offering a moral voice and caring pastorally for members of the community. The pastoral role must be the primary one at times like these, and I didn’t play this role in the way that I should have. I care deeply about this community, and I am so sorry for the harm and hurt that I caused. I want to let you know that I’m here for you, and would be happy to talk or meet with you. You can schedule an appointment with me by clicking here or send me an email.
I also know that there are some who were angered by the content of the op-ed. I fervently believe that Jews and Palestinians need to find a way to live together in Israel and Palestine that respects the dignity, rights, and freedom of everyone. I believe the enemy is not the other, but those who deny the humanity and liberty of the other. I was horrified by the atrocities that Hamas committed–as every decent human being should be–but I was also concerned that the desire for revenge would further inflame the situation and lead to more death and suffering of innocents without bringing an end to the cycle of violence. I co-wrote the op-ed in that spirit.
Since the op-ed’s publication, Rami and I have each received praise from some quarters and vilification from others. Some found it helpful in the midst of so much pain and rage to be reminded of the humanity of the other and of the possibility of peace, however distant it may seem. Others have said that we did not speak up forcefully on behalf of one side or the other. Additionally, our Beth Emet community is diverse in terms of its political viewpoints and includes people who have relationships with Palestinians as well as Jews and are concerned for both. Palestinians have accused Rami of leading with Hamas’ attacks and not Palestinian suffering. Meanwhile, some in the Beth Emet community were upset by our criticism of the blockade of Gaza. These are complex matters, and I have prepared an FAQ that goes into more detail with regard to some of the specific criticisms of the op-ed. I hope you will find my responses there to be helpful.
In our grief and fear, some of us have felt alone and not supported or understood by those not within our communities. In the Jewish community, we have been heartened by President Biden’s strong support for Israel, pledging military aid and visiting Israel in the midst of a war, an unprecedented move for an American president. On the other hand, the fact that the interfaith clergy of Evanston didn’t say anything about the attacks at Evanston’s Vision Keepers Dinner (honoring our own Lisa Levine) on October 8, felt awful. After Rabbi Weiss from JRC and I spoke with our clergy partners, they issued a statement that some felt was good and others thought was inadequate because, in addition to condemning the Hamas attacks, it condemned the blockade of Gaza. I know from speaking with my colleagues, who have provided me personally with a lot of support, that they are very concerned about the safety and welfare of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.
For thirty-six years, ever since my first trip to Israel for a year-long service program, I have been in love with Israel. As I said during my Kol Nidre sermon, my surrogate Israeli father, Jonathan Friedland, challenged me during that life-changing year, asking, “Do you want to sit on the sidelines or be part of the most important experiment of the Jewish people in 2000 years?” I have worked hard to be a part of the flowering of Israel, living there for more than three years, learning Hebrew, traveling there for study and volunteer work and finding ways to contribute.
As I wrote above and have expressed many times to our community, I believe strongly that Israel can only flourish if we understand that the fate of the Jewish people in Israel is bound up with the fate of Palestinians. I support Palestinian rights because I love the Jewish people and feel compelled by the deeply humane teachings of our tradition. I continue to study and learn about the history of the region from the perspective of both peoples because I believe that only through this deep understanding will peace be possible. A one-sided understanding will only lead to more animosity and more bloodshed. I know that holding conflicting narratives in our minds is particularly hard to do at this time when we are in shock and grieving over the atrocities of October 7. People in our community have lost loved ones, have relatives in captivity, and know people who have been displaced and traumatized by those events. We all know of harrowing stories from that day.
This is a fraught and raw time in Israel as well. Friends and colleagues in Israel who work with Palestinians have been vilified for their efforts. Alon-Lee Green, who was at Beth Emet last year and is one of the co-leaders of Standing Together, a grassroots Jewish-Palestinian movement that mobilizes Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in pursuit of peace, equality, and social and climate justice, has been called a traitor because of his ongoing work with Palestinians. Prof. Noah Efron, who visited Beth Emet about seven years ago and airs The Promised Podcast from his home in Tel Aviv was castigated for including a Palestinian on his show who talked about Palestinian grief, fear, and pain at this time. I could go on, but you get the picture.
One of our great assets at Beth Emet is the diversity of our backgrounds and our perspectives. As the crisis in Israel unfolds, the Klei Kodesh, Board, and I are working to find ways to support our community emotionally, provide opportunities to learn more about Israel and current events there, make sure our building security is comprehensive, communicate more effectively, and find ways to contribute to Israeli society.
Finally, I know that emotions are raw and, for some, tempers are flaring. I have been incredibly sad and despondent, and I know that many others have been as well. I hope and pray that we can hold each other in love and support and respect our diversity. This isn’t easy when we are in pain. The leadership of the congregation will do everything that it can to make this possible. Please reach out if you have ideas or opinions you want to share. I promise to you that we will respond meaningfully and as quickly as we can.
With prayers for well-being, healing, and wholeness in these difficult days,
Rabbi London
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