T he headline reads “Obama Breaks with Decades of American Policy to Declare Western Wall ‘Occupied Territory’ at the United Nations.” How ought a Jewish columnist to write about this story?
When secular nationalism replaces the G-d of Israel,Telling Us Something,When secular nationalism replaces the G-d of Israel
T he headline reads “Obama Breaks with Decades of American Policy to Declare Western Wall ‘Occupied Territory’ at the United Nations.” How ought a Jewish columnist to write about this story?
A Jew knows that G-d runs the world and a Jewish writer strives to suggest ways in which Jews can see that more clearly. It’s well known that when Rabbi Alexander Rosenberg z”l headed the OU kosher division in the ’60s and ’70s where he reshaped the modern kashrus system he had a favorite question he’d pose when someone would approach him with what seemed like a shady business proposal: Uhn vos zogt G-t? And what does G-d have to say about it?
So in a similar vein let’s dispense with all the standard political analysis opining on the actions and motives of the players in this drama implications for Mideast peace Israel’s future and American politics. From a Torah perspective that’s all largely irrelevant. There are no “implications” — there’s only the Divine will with all else merely a distraction from the lessons we’re intended to draw that are truly relevant to our lives.
In seeking to identify such lessons we begin with two premises about how Hashem interacts with His world and in particular with His chosen people. First that in His great kindness He employs the tool of middah k’neged middah to make it easier for us to discern His message in a world bereft of prophecy and direct Divine communication.
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