OSEH SHALOM – In every synagogue on earth, Jews are praying for peace. But what is the peace they are envisioning with a big Israeli flag in their synagogues? Before 1948, it was considered idolatrous to have any nation’s flag near the bima. Peace does not come through militarization, domination, ethnic cleansing, and suppression of free speech. Repression is not a recipe for lasting peace.
The Jewish religion has always sought peace within ourselves, in our families, in our jobs, and in our communities. Jewish tradition yearns for peace on earth, to unite heaven and earth. That’s what the Star of David used to represent! One triangle points up from the earth, the other points down from heaven, and the two come together in harmony. From the Book of Proverbs and the Torah service: Derachecha Darchei noam v’chol netivoteha shalom – all the Torah’s paths are paths of comfort, and all its ways are peace.
Rosh Hashanah offers an annual opportunity to think about who we are and where we’re going. Here at V’ahavtah, we are seeking to distinguish ourselves and our religion from Zionism. While Judaism beyond Zionism represents a big tent for anyone critical of Israel, and all who are in this tent are welcome at V’ahavtah, we want to clearly define who we are. As V’ahavtah moves into our second year, we are developing a viable alternative to Zionist Judaism. We are showing that it’s possible to be Jewish and to oppose all the needless bloodshed, starvation, and utter destruction that we’ve witnessed over the last 3 years. Unlike other Jewish people who assist in carrying out or who openly support a genocide – we embrace peace, justice, equality, liberation, diasporism, and safety through solidarity, which entails anti-zionism. An ever-growing number of Jews and non-Jews are coming to understand Zionism as evil – settler colonialism, ethnosupremacy, racism, domination. These are not the Jewish values of our ancestors nor are they ours. We are reclaiming Jewish wisdom and ethics and developing a Judaism rooted in love and solidarity. Thank you for being part of this project! We’re in this together, and we don’t have to be ashamed or fearful of expressing our yearning for peace, justice, and equality for all peoples. We understand that none of us will be free and safe until all of us are free and safe. May we meet this historical inflection point with moral clarity and vigor, with love and peace as our guiding principles. Shana tova u’mesukah – may it be a good and sweet new year.
