Q&A: Israel and Judah
Israel and Judah
Question
Rabbi, what do you think about there being two memorial ceremonies for October 7? The very fact that both are marked by the Gregorian date, that they stand in a certain sense as competitors / “alternatives,” and that this is being done while our political-security situation is still unresolved?
Answer
Nothing here seems fundamental to me. Not the very holding of the event, not the Gregorian date, and not the unresolved situation. If it seems important to people—then let them hold a ceremony.
But one thing is clear: both sides here are doing this for reasons completely different from remembrance and mourning. These are political ceremonies of Israel and Judah, between whom the rift has never been sharper and clearer (precisely on the day when everyone laments the rift and gives speeches about healing it). The media and the various artists stand firmly, and entirely one-sidedly, on the side of Israel of course; you can see this from the ridiculous label “the national ceremony” that was given to a private ceremony of a few people and their supporters.
This only shows that talk of mending and healing is lip service on both sides. This government has to go for many reasons, but the protest against it has gone out of proportion, and it definitely has anarchistic tendencies to bring about a revolution by force and to disintegrate the government and the state. Unfortunately, there are two sides here, and it is hard to decide which is worse, while the silent majority stands in between with no expression of its own.
The security situation is beginning to look a bit more encouraging and to have some horizon, but the internal situation has never been worse. This is undoubtedly an existential danger to the state.
Discussion on Answer
To me personally it’s obvious that a government during whose term and under whose responsibility the massacre happened, that didn’t visit the kibbutzim, didn’t take responsibility, didn’t establish an inquiry committee, didn’t set a date for elections, and didn’t apologize, doesn’t have a shred of legitimacy to hold a ceremony. Zero integrity, shameful.
Michi,
Your fine distinctions are what are out of proportion. From your perspective, yes to publicly humiliating ministers and driving them away, but no to holding an alternative ceremony even if the person appointed to run the state ceremony is Miri Regev, who’s looking for diamonds. Even if that distinction makes sense, it’s not 100%, and so your reaction to the ceremony—which was painful, sensitive, and inclusive—is unclear.
This leads me to something I see a lot אצלך, wild exaggeration in describing reality (“Haaretz is Yated Ne’eman on steroids,” your quote. Yeah right, because in Yated Ne’eman they’d let someone from the other side write a column).
There are of course cases where anti-government elements went out of proportion, but a government that conducts itself while ignoring the victims and shirking responsibility definitely loses its public mandate and can blame only itself.
I definitely agree with your ending: the security situation looks better and more encouraging, and I’m glad Bibi found some courage.
I tend to agree with the Rabbi’s position on this issue. I want to note that in my view,
it’s important to maintain respect in this forum and in general. Certainly on such a dynamic subject.
I truly and sincerely want to understand the position of some of the commenters who place responsibility for the massacre on the “current government.” How exactly are Smotrich, Regev, Gafni, or Deri responsible for the massacre?
As far as I know, the sector is under the authority of the IDF and the Shin Bet, and they are the ones who failed in carrying out their duties.
I have no particular position for or against the government, and so from an outside perspective it seems that those placing responsibility on them are trying to prevent it from being placed on those truly responsible, in order to blame the people they hate most.
Avi,
I doubt how much you’re asking this “truly and sincerely,” and also how much you really “have no particular position for or against the government.”
I do recommend that you ask Bibi and Smotrich, who hurled even harsher accusations at members of the previous government when there were terror attacks.
Eli,
I have no question for Bibi and Smotrich because they are politicians, and politicians say what their voters want to hear, with any connection to reality being purely coincidental.
My question is about ordinary people who write what they actually think. I’d be glad if you explained what you think.
(I truly don’t have any affection for any government, for the simple reason that I don’t have a drop of trust in the entire political system, which is based on lies and populism from beginning to end, regardless of one ideological position or another).
Mr. Joke, my good sir, beyond the politicians themselves in the coalition and the government, how do you explain to yourself the support of millions in the country for the politicians in the coalition and the government? Do you understand their side and disagree with them on a few points, or are they wrong about everything—some of them stupid sheep, some fanatical bandits, and some evil and wicked?