Read Daniel Gordis' article, When Balance Becomes Betrayal at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/when-balance-becomes-betrayel/ and then read David Myers' response, Response to Gordis: a simplistic misreading of history at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/response-to-gordis-a-simplistic-misreading-of-history/?fb_comment_id=fbc_553405994676668_6747597_554096031274331#f2b78a346c.
Please post answers to the following questions:
1) What is Daniel Gordis' main point and how does he use the current crisis in Israel to illustrate his argument?
2) What is David Myers' critique of Gordis?
3) Do you think Myers accurately depicts Gordis' argument? Why or why not?
4) Do you agree more with Gordis or Myers? Why?
5) Is there a way to synthesize the two positions?
Rabbi Daniel Gordis wrote this blog mainly to explain how he felt about a message conveyed to a community by Rabbi Sharon Brous. He seems very against it and surprised and upset that this was the message that was given. In the message, Rabbi Brous states that the innocent Palestinians and innocent Israelis should both be given sympathy because they "are also children of G-d". Rabbi Gordis disagrees with this view. He believes that Rabbi Brous was making contrasts of good and evil and that the fine line between them was blurred. Rabbi Gordis believes that the people should except the fact that right now, during these unsettling times, the Palestinians and more specific, Hamas, are the evil enemies and that the Israelis are the victims.
ReplyDeleteDavid Myers firmly disagrees with Rabbi Gordis's view. He believes that Rabbi Gordis's views are based on a more historical form of Zionism and that there should be a feeling of sympathy to an extent towards the fellow victims being attacked in Gaza. I think that this is an accurate depiction of this view while inaccurate as well. I agree with both views in a way, so I think that Myers is correct in saying that Rabbi Gordis's views are a little bit skewed on the universalism aspect, but I also believe that Rabbi Gordis was correct in saying that right now in this situation we should have our focus's primarily on the Jewish people.
I really think I agree more with Rabbi Gordis than Myers, because again I agree that right now we should be focusing more on the Jewish people because their situation was created at the faults of Hamas.
I think a way to synthesize both opinions would be simply to believe that each situation calls for a different response. Of course, a huge part of Judaism is based off the fact of loving your neighbor like yourself, but again it depends on the situation, and right now, the situation calls for a different view.
Rabbi Daniel Gordis speaks of an opinion he feels is dominating the Jewish mindset: universalism. The Jewish people have always been taught to care for others as much as they protect themselves. He disagrees with this particularism, for this universalism prevents a sense of loyalty. He used the current situation in Israel to prove his point. He argues that with universalism, we cannot feel loyalty towards our brothers and sisters suffering from terror because we always feel the need to balance our heart's feelings towards everyone. Rabbi Gordis was especially disturbed from an article written by Rabbi Sharon Brous, who essentially encouraged sympathy towards the Palestinians for their pain, while praying for our fellow Jews in Israel. He believes that Rabbi Brous is incorrect. Hamas will NEVER stop attacking until the Zionistic Jews are annihilated. Rabbi Brous, in his opinion, did not distinguish evil. There is absolutely no compassion we must show to evil people. We must do everything in our power to protect our people, to ensure a thriving Zionistic future in our land, the land given to us by Hashem.
ReplyDeleteDavid Myers completely disagrees with Rabbi Gordis's perspective. He believes that Rabbi Gordis is not "up to date" with the current Zionistic perspective. A major theme he stresses is the importance of sympathy towards the innocent. Myers determines it moral that we feel empathy towards the victims of terror in Gaza. It is not fair-minded to judge Jews who extend understanding and pity past themselves, while still maintaing their Jewish faith and ideology.
I think that David Myers certainly offers his own opinion. However, I do not think he completely spurns Rabbi Gordis's opinion, for he is fully aware of the necessity to have our brothers and sisters in Israel in our hearts. David Myers seems to merely support ideas to feel sympathy towards those in Gaza who have been victims, and thus, encourage expanded tolerance. He still agrees with the argument Rabbi Gordis offers, the argument that we must continue to show support for our brethren.
I have mixed feelings about these two articles. I completely agree with Rabbi Gordis when he remarks of the importance of persistent love towards our brothers and sisters in Israel. However, not everyone in Gaza is evil. I think that this is a misconception that many people have. Anywhere in the world, even in America, if one sees someone who is from another ethnicity or race, we judge them. It is certainly biased, however it seems instinctive. We still have to remember that not everyone in Gaza has a wicked heart; not all of them agree with the ideology of terrorism groups. I think that these are the people that Myers was alluding to. In this sense, I do agree with Myers.
I think there is a manner in which to synthesize the opinions. Although we should continue to express our love and support to our fellow Jews in Israel, I think it is also important to include compassion towards people who are not like us, yet are not evil. This is extremely important in order to portray our morality to the world, for we are showing our respect towards others and our concern towards their suffering.
In Rabbi Daniel Gordis' article, he gives the opinion that universalism is a flawed concept. He very strongly believes that we should care about our own people more than anyone else. Rabbi Gordis quotes a message given by Rabbi Sharon Brous to her congregation. Her message says that we should look at the current situation in Israel with empathy. She says that we must pray for and support the Israelis, but at the same time we must recognize that the Palestinians are feeling pain and suffering as well. Rabbi Gordis completely disagree's with Rabbi Brous's statement. He notes that the only reason we are at war is because of Hamas's deeply embedded desire to destroy Israel and total lack of willingness to negotiate peace, and it is our responsibility to care about our own people, the Israelis, and not our enemies.
ReplyDeleteDavid Myers critiques Rabbi Gordis' article by saying that he is misreading the facts of history, and that his Zionistic view is not up to date. David Myers also says that we should applaud those capable of feeling sympathetic towards a group of people who are not our own, while still being loyal and maintaining a sense of Jewish identity.
I do think that David Myer's article accurately depicts Rabbi Gordis's views. He does not alter his opinions and present them in the way Rabbi Gordis presented them . I do think, however, that Rabbi Gordis' argument can be lost in in David Myers' opposition. We tend to forget exactly what Rabbi Gordis' view is in the first place.
Out of Rabbi Gordis and David Myers opinions, I am more inclined to agree with David Myers, though I find Rabbi Sharon Brous' message to be most accurate and moving. I think it is very important to understand both sides of the story when it comes to Israel and Gaza. We need to understand that the Israelis are not the only ones suffering. There are innocent Palestinians living in Gaza who are in no way affiliated with Hamas. Unfortunately, they have no other choice than to be swept along into Hamas's battle. We, as Jews especially, must be compassionate. We cannot overlook the fact that innocent people are being hurt and killed, Israelis and Palestinians alike. All this taken into consideration, we absolutely cannot rid ourselves of total loyalty to Israel. We will always feel more connected to our own people and support them all the way through. Israel is our home and the Jewish people are our brothers and sisters, and the minute we forget this is the minute we lose everything we stand for.
I think we can combine these two ideas; our deep love and loyalty to the Jewish people, and a sense of compassion and understanding for the Palestinians, and have the best way of looking at the situation in Israel.