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Newsletter            June 10, 2010 - 28 Sivan 5770
   

no ears

 
 
 
 No Mirror For Me, Nor Ears For You
He asserted that Israel committed war crimes and came out against the Israel Defense Forces, whom he claimed violated basic human rights. Judge Richard Goldstone forgot just one thing - to look long and hard in the mirror and to do some soul-searching before he rushed to criticize others. It turns out, the man who authored the Goldstone Report criticizing the IDF's actions during Operation Cast Lead, took an active part in the racist policies of one of the cruelest regimes of the 20th century. During his tenure as a judge in the appellant court during the 1980s and 1990s, he sentenced dozens of blacks mercilessly to their death. He approved the whipping of four blacks found guilty of violence, while he acquitted four police officers who had broken into a white woman's house on suspicions that she was conducting sexual relations with a black man - something then considered in South Africa as a serious crime.

I do not blame the rabbi of Goldstone's grandson who did not want "an enemy of the Jewish people" to receive an honor at his grandson's bar mitzvah. Goldstone does not hesitate to justify his actions as a judge, even as he refuses to even consider that the IDF was fighting a war against an enemy that hides in schools and hospitals. Hamas uses the IDF's commitment to morality against them; why else hide as they do, acknowledging Israel's strong moral code. Hamas only survives because of Israel's concern for human rights, the very concern denied by Goldstone.

We read the story of another Goldstone in this week's portion. Korach wants the position currently held by Aaron, the man of peace. Korach is willing for hundreds to die in order for him to win the position reserved for the man of peace! He wants the position and simply refuses to look in the mirror and wonder whether he truly is the right person for the position. I'm sure that he could justify his actions, even as he refused to pay heed to Moses' response. As for Aaron, I suspect that he would not have hesitated to honor Korach at his grandson's bar mitzvah!

People argue. An honest argument will have mirrors and ears. Mirrors for each party to examine himself, and ears to carefully listen to the opposing opinions. Such arguments lead to peace and end in resolution. We will never find a mirror for me to see myself or ears to hear you in a destructive argument.

Israel is under assault by Korach's heirs; Goldstone, Helen Thomas, Reuters, the UNHRC, and countless others. I am so angry and scared that I am tempted to stop looking in the mirror and listening to our critics. Tempted, but I won't. Israel won't block the mirror or its ears. We will not fall into Korach's trap. No matter what we may hear with our ears, we can look in the mirror with pride.


Shabbat Shalom


Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
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