As these tense times in Israel unfold, many different echoes of history are on my mind.
Even before the Prophets, even before Temple times, in the actual Torah of the Five Books of Moses, here are a few: The story of Cain and Abel is a warning; a cautionary tale. G-d forbid that it should ever come to pass. I am skipping it altogether.
Nonetheless, in the dawn of Jewish history, in the Book of Genesis, lies a narrative that is worth thinking about. G-d forbid this should ever come to pass too. But there is a lot of food for thought between the lines. I refer to the story of Abraham and Lot, which includes the phrase “ki achim anachnu, for we are brothers” (i.e., family).
This oft invoked phrase which has recently been recruited as a counterpoint to the current state of contentiousness in Israel is worth seeing in context.
“For we are brothers” elicits a sentiment or scene of unity and reconciliation. However, at closer look, these crucial words are actually uttered by Abraham as a way of parting from Lot, in order to keep peace.
As conflict arises between the shepherds of Abraham and Lot, Abraham suggests to Lot that, precisely because they are brothers, are family — in other words, for the sake of family peace — perhaps it is best for each to go their separate ways. That’s how to minimize the tensions and contentiousness between their respective houses.
Lot takes Abraham up on his suggestion. Thus, this phrase, now oft invoked as a sign of brotherhood, was, in fact originally given as a reason for a peaceful parting of ways.
Abraham offers Lot the upper hand, giving him the opportunity to be the first to choose the land he prefers.
“Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, between my herdsmen and yours, for we are kinsmen . . . Let us separate: If you go left I will turn right, and if you choose the right, I will turn left.”
These words are the inverse of Ruth’s famous passionate declaration of loyalty to Naomi.
Today, Israeli society seems to be at a fork in the road.
I feel strongly in “ki achim anachnu, for we are brothers,” to be expressed as a charge toward finding reconciliation and as a reminder that we are indeed brothers within the Jewish family.
Yet, I thought it was worth bringing attention to the source of these words and their context.
Another narrative from the Torah comes to mind. At the end of the 40-year sojourn in the desert, as the Israelites stand on the banks of the River Jordan, two of the tribes approach Moses. As it was with Abraham and Lot, here too the motivation is related to a quality of life replete with cattle, shepherding and grazing.
The tribes of Gad and Reuben ask Moses not to complete the journey into the Promised Land, not to cross the River Jordan together with the remainder of their fellow tribes. They are pleased with the richly vegetated cattle-grazing land on the East bank of the River Jordan, and want to stay put.
The Promised Land has not yet been conquered. The road ahead is still long.
When Moses hears their request his initial response is: “Are your brothers to go to war while you stay [comfortably] here?”
After Moses completes his lengthy response, Gad and Reuben’s response is along the lines of, not only will we fight together, shoulder to shoulder, with our fellow tribes, our Jewish brothers, to ensure they too will be settled in their own territories, i.e., homes, but we will be the first to be called up.
Twelve spies were sent by Moses on a mission to explore the land of Israel. For a moment let us suspend the Torah’s harsh judgment of 10 of the spies who were punished, versus the two spies who were rewarded. It is interesting to note that 12 people went on the same mission. Saw the exact same places, people and activities, yet interpreted and analyzed the data totally differently. Their perceptions of Israel could not have been more different. Yet, when it came to fighting for the land of Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, all the tribes set their differences aside and fought shoulder to shoulder.
I don’t reference the above Torah texts as solutions per se. But I think it is worth turning to them and considering them — and many others, as a guide, as food for thought, in these challenging times.
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