Israel is embroiled in one of the biggest conflicts in its history, the proposed reform of the Israeli Supreme Court and judicial system. Those proposing the reforms argue that it is a necessary correction to give the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) the power it deserves and limit the court’s ability to cancel legislation. Those opposing the reform argue that it is not a corrective but an attempt to neuter the only effective check on the Israeli parliament, enabling it to pass any law it wishes thus pushing Israel closer to an authoritarian regime rather than a democratic one. Wherever one may stand on this issue, this is a moment that reminds us that what happens in the State of Israel matters and we must be engaged with it, at least at certain moments. In this week’s Torah portion the tribes of Reuven and Gad do not want to enter the Land of Israel. They wish to remain on the East side of Jordan River, land which they view as ideal for herding cattle, their primary occupation. Moses gives them permission to do so under the following conditions, “if you go to battle as shock-troops, at the instance of God, and every shock-fighter among you crosses the Jordan, at the instance of God, until [God] has personally dispossessed the enemies, and the land has been subdued,” In other words, these two tribes receive permission to live outside of the Holy Land as long as they commit to fighting with their fellow Israelites to conquer the Land of Israel. This story from our Torah reminds us that all Jews have a stake in what happens in Israel, whether we live there or not. As it says in the Talmud (Shavuot 39a), “The entire Jewish people are responsible for one another.”
Matot-Masei, Numbers 30:2-36:13, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, July 15, 2023
July 13, 2023 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Israel is embroiled in one of the biggest conflicts in its history, the proposed reform of the Israeli Supreme Court and judicial system. Those proposing the reforms argue that it is a necessary correction to give the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) the power it deserves and limit the court’s ability to cancel legislation. Those opposing the reform argue that it is not a corrective but an attempt to neuter the only effective check on the Israeli parliament, enabling it to pass any law it wishes thus pushing Israel closer to an authoritarian regime rather than a democratic one. Wherever one may stand on this issue, this is a moment that reminds us that what happens in the State of Israel matters and we must be engaged with it, at least at certain moments. In this week’s Torah portion the tribes of Reuven and Gad do not want to enter the Land of Israel. They wish to remain on the East side of Jordan River, land which they view as ideal for herding cattle, their primary occupation. Moses gives them permission to do so under the following conditions, “if you go to battle as shock-troops, at the instance of God, and every shock-fighter among you crosses the Jordan, at the instance of God, until [God] has personally dispossessed the enemies, and the land has been subdued,” In other words, these two tribes receive permission to live outside of the Holy Land as long as they commit to fighting with their fellow Israelites to conquer the Land of Israel. This story from our Torah reminds us that all Jews have a stake in what happens in Israel, whether we live there or not. As it says in the Talmud (Shavuot 39a), “The entire Jewish people are responsible for one another.”