Q&A: The Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day
The Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day
Question
Hello Rabbi,
This isn’t exactly a question so much as a request for help.
I read a bit about the joint memorial ceremony for Israelis and Palestinians, and it stirred up resistance in me.
The problem is that when I tried to think through for myself what exactly seems problematic to me about it, I wasn’t able to define things fully enough to examine my position objectively, or to change my mind if necessary. I’d be glad if you could help me analyze the underlying assumptions in the discussion, and point out whether the questions and the way I’ve organized things (not the conclusions) are correct, or whether there are things that need to be corrected. I’d also be glad to know the Rabbi’s opinion on the subject.
Let me explain what I mean. I thought the first question is what the point of the Memorial Day ceremony is, and why we make an effort to mark it and to seclude ourselves with the memory of the fallen. After that, to try to think whether that idea can also include Palestinians who were killed by Jews (the IDF and the like). If not, then what is the idea that is being marked and remembered in the joint ceremony, and do I object to the message of the ceremony in itself, or to the ceremony’s claim that this is what Memorial Day is about.
Thank you very much
Answer
I assume that what troubles you is the comparison between Israeli and Palestinian bereavement, since they are to blame for everything that is happening here and they murder for no reason, whereas we act only in self-defense. That is certainly true in general. And still, I do not see why one should, or why it would be right to, prevent people who want to hold a ceremony according to their own understanding from doing so, even if they think there is symmetry.