Will you say the Shema with the Gaza settlers at 2pm Eastern on Wednesday? Like so many other Jewish symbols and acts — donations to Israeli victims of terrorism, Jewish holiday observance and even political belief/activity in the U.S. – the Shema appears to be the latest core Jewish ritual that the Right is hoping to appropriate by calling for a “mass Shema” on behalf of the Gaza settlers. Or maybe they’re not trying to appropriate the Shema as much as I am being defensive in thinking that they may have more “right” to say it than I do. Or that I am again being like them in thinking that I somehow possess this essential prayer of Judaism.
I used to do so more often (another former habit that I have gladly traded for increased family duties), but every once in awhile, I still log on to various “right wing” Jewish and Israeli sites. Both to educate myself and to steel my resolve to remain active on Israel and Palestine. After all, if liberals in the United States criticize Fox News watchers for only getting one side of the story, I figure it’s only fair to make sure I don’t fall into an analogous “If it’s not in Ha’aretz, it’s not true” trap.
So at the end of the work day on Monday, just before leaving the office, I quickly surfed to a few of my favorite of these sites, including the website of Arutz Sheva, the right wing broadcasting company. And there was the story about the Settler’s Shema http://www.arutzsheva.org/news.php3?id=86808:
“An appeal has been made to every Jew around to world to simultaneously read the first lines of the prayer known as Shema: “Hear O Israel, The L-rd is Our G-d, the L-rd is One” on Wednseday (sic).
“The prayer is intended to ask for Divine help to prevent violence toward the planned expulsion of Jewish residents from Gaza and northern Samaria and for Divine intervention to cancel the plan. The prayer is organized under the motto, United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
“Children around the world also are being asked to pray together the following night…”
At first, as I often do after reading articles on Arutz Sheva, I clenched my fists in defiance. Why would I say the Shema for the settlers? Although I too pray vigorously for there to be no violence during the evacuation, whether that happens will be, to a large extent, dependent on the worldly actions, and not the other-worldly prayer, of the settlers themselves. Yet the settlers (or at least their own press) are setting up their actions by tying together in prayer the prevention of violence and the cancellation of disengagement.
Is this some sort of ultimatum? With whom? God? The government? The rest of the Jewish community? Or is it rather an internal contradiction — a direct threat of violence made under cover of the religious obligation to say the Shema? That is, in the same way Jews are obligated to say the Shema, so too are the settlers almost obligating themselves to violence by couching the prevention of violence within their beseeching of God that the evacuation be canceled altogether.
And as often happens after my fists unclench, I shook my head in resentment. How dare they tie the Shema, the essence of Jewish expression in many ways, to their fate? Their fate is entirely self-fulfilling. Although it is admittedly sad for families, especially children who have known the choice of no other existence, to leave their homes, the settlement project was all along a gamble made by the government and extremist ideologues. “United We Stand, Divided We Fall?” They divided us a long time ago.
And the gamble did not pay off – either along the way (costing thousands of Israeli and Palestinian lives and damaging, literally, millions more on all sides) or now. I doubt the settlers were saying the Shema along the way for everyone else who was losing while they were winning, so why should they have it any other way? That they would resort to involving/exploiting children in this appropriation of the Shema is, maybe not surprising, but certainly condemnable.
And finally, I pinched myself in self-mocking. Calm down and shut up, I thought. Don’t take yourself or things so seriously and get upset over yet another symbolic gesture by people you disagree with. After all, if Gush Shalom or Rabbis for Human Rights announced a worldwide Shema to pray for the end to violence that was tied to an end to the Occupation, I wouldn’t think twice about whether they were tying together their politics with a Jewish symbol. I would not resent either group asking children to pray for peace – I would probably try to teach my 9-1/2 month old the prayer so he could pray along.
So who I am to rule on what is and what is not an appropriate use of the Shema, or any prayer, religious symbol or holiday? I am not a rabbi or Jewish scholar, and even if I was, what would it matter? Judaism is based on disagreement, on interpretation, on struggle, and on faith. That I disagree with their interpretations and struggle with my faith to a different result does not make me more Jewish, or my Judaism more valid.
In a previous post, I raised the issue of “Judaism with an agenda,” or searching for and subscribing to only those aspects of Judaism that support my political beliefs about Israel/Palestine (or other issues). It’s bad enough when I do that on my own, but when I disavow anyone else’s ability to do so, well, although it makes sense on some level, it merely compounds the problem.
So I may feel the settlers are “stealing” the Shema on Wednesday, but who are they stealing it from? Me? Do I really “possess” it? Does anyone?
I guess the real crux of my problem here is what to do when the agendas are less clear, and the symbols more packed with meaning. My Jewish agenda, or the settlers’ Jewish agenda as reported by Arutz Sheva – well, they’re easy to spot. But what about when you are asked in synagogue by a fellow member to make a donation for Israeli victims of terror, or to Magen David Adom? Or to say a prayer for the defense of Israel that uses a variety of militaristic words and images? Or to wave the Israeli flag at an Israeli Independence Day celebration? To attend such a celebration at all?
Yes, the real issue is what to do when your agenda is not the dominant one, such that all of the symbols, terminology and rituals have become linked with an agenda different than yours, so that even when they come to you in an innocent and agenda-less way, you still see them as packed with problems. After all, my main motive for being involved in anti-Occupation work is my Judaism, my love for and belief in the State of Israel. Why should I see its flag or donations to its victims of terrorism as “symbols” of the other side?
I don’t know, but I still often see them that way.
So I am not sure whether I will say the Shema on Wednesday. Maybe I will, to support my fellow Jews in their prayer that violence be prevented. Maybe I will, to assert my right to say the Shema at the same time as they do, to feel that even if I don’t possess the Shema, neither do they. Maybe I will, to get over the fact that, no matter who says it, the Shema is still the Shema, and its words still the essence of my faith.
Maybe I will just so I can shut myself up for a minute and do something.
Very nice post.
Very nice post. Remember what the Shma is though. There is only one God, and no one can steal that from anyone. People all over the world think they can divine God’s intentions from the few words we have. That’s risky — at best a few are right and the rest woefully misguided. But I think we get the general idea, the possibility of peace and a better world based on our behavior, and hopefully we’ll slowly see the world move toward peace.
Obviously everyone disagrees how to get there, but as long as we share the same God, there’s got to be a little hope there somewhere. (And yes, I suspect you and I differ quite a bit on a lot of the details, but I still hope we both get what we want, peace.)
Prayer
I have some settler relatives who are involved in the whole orange movement foolishness. I really am uncomfortable when they are claiming my identity. I hope religious tradition can be salvaged from the grips of fanatics who don’t understand the simple stuff.
-Isaac
The “less clear” agendas
I had the eerie experience of reading your blog and realizing, suddenly, that (totally serendipitiously) it was precisely 2:00 pm. on Wednesday. You gave me pause for thought, but ultimately I felt I could not say a prayer in “chorus” with people who were using it in a way that I found hypocritical and manipulative.
However, I really want to comment on the issue of the “less clear” agendas. I recently received two requests for money; one from Magen David Adom for a general donation, and the other from Hillel for funding to “protect” Jewish students on college campuses from the anti-semitism perpetrated by (according to Hillel) pro-Palestinian organizations. I have taken to answering these solicitations with a letter stating that I cannot consider their requests for money as long as Palestinians suffer the ill effects of the Occupation in regard to their health, safety, economic well-being, etc. I do not hold either Hillel or Magen David Adom directly responsible for the Occupation, but I want them to know that anti-Occupation activities are my priority and that’s where my money will go. I’m sure my passionate letters get read by some underling and are then thrown in the nearest waste-basket, but it gives me some satisfaction to write them. (Of course, I’m retired, and don’t have a 9-month old baby to take care of, so I have time to write such letters!)
In any case, I want to thank you again for taking your time to give the readers of Semitism.org your unique and very intelligent views on these crucial issues.
I just found your blog
I just found your blog today, and have spent a while reading here; I’m really glad to know that this site exists.
After all, my main motive for being involved in anti-Occupation work is my Judaism, my love for and belief in the State of Israel.
It’s so good to hear someone say that. I get so frustrated when the Jewish right presumes that we who oppose Occupation are anti-Zionist or anti-Semitic; it’s good to be reminded that their way of framing the issue isn’t the only one.
- Rachel
***
“Why write unless you praise the sacred places?” — Richard Howard
Israel and Arab residents
Tell me– has North Korea given back any land to South Korea??
Or North Vietnam to South Vietnam? Did Britian give back the
Falklands?
Am I crazy or what?
These Palestenians were offered a homeland in Jordan but Jordan refused. You are welcome in my home, my brother. Not really.
Israel has suffered years and years of attacks by Arab terrorists,
expertly trained in killing Jews. The whole wolrd glamourized these acts by labeling it “suicide bombings”. MORON. Suicide does not involve killing somebody else. That is called Homicide. But the phrase evokes pity. Ah, “he commited suicide” what a shame. Not that ruthless SOB killed innocents.
When do we as Jews say…enough is enough. Hitler killed 6,000,000
Jews there are 6 million Jews in Israel now surrounded by people that
are ready to slaughter as did Hitler. And they have the balls to want
a couple of square miles inside Israel.
I don’t understand….. are we such a threat to civilization that people must attack us throughout history.
STOP IT. LET US LIVE.
You want to feel pity for the Palestinian refuggee. How noble. When he points his AK47 at and shoots make sure you tell him —but I embrace you.
FOOlS
Israel and Arab residents
Tell me– has North Korea given back any land to South Korea??
Or North Vietnam to South Vietnam? Did Britian give back the
Falklands?
Am I crazy or what?
These Palestenians were offered a homeland in Jordan but Jordan refused. You are welcome in my home, my brother. Not really.
Israel has suffered years and years of attacks by Arab terrorists,
expertly trained in killing Jews. The whole wolrd glamourized these acts by labeling it “suicide bombings”. MORON. Suicide does not involve killing somebody else. That is called Homicide. But the
phrase evokes pity. Ah, “he commited suicide” what a shame. Not that ruthless SOB killed innocents.
When do we as Jews say…enough is enough. Hitler killed 6,000,000
Jews there are 6 million Jews in Israel now surrounded by people that
are ready to slaughter as did Hitler. And they have the balls to want
a couple of square miles inside Israel.
I don’t understand….. are we such a threat to civilization that people must attack us throughout history.
STOP IT. LET US LIVE.
You want to feel pity for the Palestinian refuggee. How noble. When he points his AK47 at and shoots make sure you tell him —but I embrace you.
FOOlS
allen finkelstein,florida
Thanks!
It’s great to keep finding other Jews who feel the same way. Do you ever get the impression there are more of us than the establishment would like to acknowledge?
Thanks so much for reading the site. Please come back, keep in touch, and keep the good work you are doing working for peace. Would like to hear more about it.
Andrew Schamess
PS there are other blogs with a similar outlook - I’ve tried to link to as many of them as possible - under “Israel-Palestine blogs” - aggregated above, and also linked from the main page - if you feel like exploring them.
Brad Brooks: Rebuttal and Clarification to your article
Just came across your blog about the Worldwide Shema that was recited on Aug. 3, 2005. Below is the original message that went out. The original message. I hope you’d joined in that day…
Subject Line: United We Stand (a message for Jewish people)
Divided we fall. There’s a lot of meaning in that phrase. Jews worldwide have been divided, sometimes violently, with the approaching withdraw of Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip. This email is not to persuade you to be on one side or the other. Its goal is to unite the Jewish people of the world in a simple way.
Divided we fall.
So what I propose is that on August 3, 2005 (eruv 28 Tammuz), at exactly 9pm Jerusalem time, Jews worldwide say the most central phrase in Judaism: the Shema, to unify all Jews everywhere in the world, showing that we ARE still one nation.
It doesn’t matter what your affiliation is. Or if you don’t identify with your Jewish roots. Come together as ONE to remind those who are on either side of the front lines in Israel that we are still one nation, one people. Don’t just forward this email, also mark the date and time in your calendar and plan to set aside 3 minutes to say the Shema in unison with the world…. then it gave times and where to find the complete Shema.
Thanks for posting this. I
Thanks for posting this. I ended up receiving several e-mails that day from various sources with messages about the Shema but was never sure where and from whom the original came from. After starting from such a point, it’s even more disturbing to me that such an idea and message was “stolen” by some for narrower purposes.
I did say the Shema on 3 August, but a little later in the day.
Now that the evacuation has ended, perhaps we need to say the Shema again, as we need more than ever to be united. In my most recent post, I reference Elie Wiesel’s comment in the New York Times last Sunday that the evacuated settlers are now living “among strangers.” Whatever he meant by that phrase, it simply amplifies how divided we are, and how much unifying efforts like this are needed.