Desecrating Their Graves- Desecrating Our Souls

By Rabbis for Human Rights on July 8, 2007 - כ"ב תמוז תשס"ז

This last week, as we reflected on 40 years of the Occupation, there were many essays, speeches, panels, exhibitions and demonstrations. Yet, for me, the events surrounding the desecration of graves in Kifl Hares demonstrates more than a thousand demonstrations what occupation is all about. Other than a few fanatics on Arutz 7, everybody agrees that the desecration itself was despicable, truly khilul haShem, a desecration of God’s Name. Public officials and the army expressed their disgust. I spoke to one army officer who could barely speak because he was so angry and embarrassed. One of the organizers who brought worshipers to pray at what they believe to be the graves of Caleb, Joshua, and Joshua’s father called me to decry the incident. It is true that, after personally viewing the extent and locations of the desecration, it is hard to accept the army’s claim that no soldiers saw this happening and, even if they didn’t, the army has responsibility. Equally implausible is the organizers’ claim that there were two youths who did all the damage and that they were chased away but not caught. Nevertheless, nobody wanted that to happen any more than we wanted a war 40 years ago. (Revisionist historians can tell us that we were not as in danger as the national narrative says, but my wife Rabbi Einat Ramon and so many others remember huddling in bomb shelters in 1967 while their fathers were off fighting, living with the terror that Israel was in danger of being destroyed.)

However, the fact that almost everybody decries the desecration sidesteps the question of how we got to the point where even a few fanatics would do the unthinkable? There has been no public discussion about the fact that, as a matter of course, an entire village must stay locked in their houses from midnight – 6:00 am as the army guards 1,300 Jewish worshipers to enter a Palestinian village and keep everybody awake as they celebrate. Even in the army’s desire to make amends they acted as occupiers. Disregarding an explicit request from the mayor, they brought in the organizers of the pilgrimage to paint over the graffiti and to repair the tombstones. Villagers told us that, according to Moslem tradition it is forbidden for non-Moslems to repair a Moslem gravestone.

We are taught, “Guard Your Souls Carefully “(Deut. 4:15, Joshua 23:11) (ונשמרתם מאוד לנפשותיכם). The word “nefesh” can refer both to our physical selves and to our soul. Without a doubt we must preserve our physical safety (”The dead can not praise God”). However, the context in both Deuteronomy and Joshua is that we must not desecrate our souls by adopting the worst practices of those around us, as opposed to the path that God has set for us. Ramban writes, “Be wary that you are not go astray after God’s Voice (to create an image to go with the voice.) and n so doing cutting off the roots of your soul.” (Rambam on Deut 4:15)

I don’t want to say that the problem with the Occupation is what it does to us. It is the Palestinians who have been the primary victims of the Occupation. Israelis too have paid in blood and economically, as well as the desecration of our souls. The desecration of a graveyard is not as terrible as the taking of a child’s life, or so many other things that barely make the news any more. However, this incident is a warning as to how far the Occupation has creeped into our minds. This had nothing to do with security. It had everything to do with a mentality that we can ensure every perceived right and satisfy every whim because we have the power to do so. We did not start out intending to occupy. When we became occupiers we still believed that there are red lines and limits even to self defense. When we became convinced that there are no red lines until we have achieved 100% security we did not believe that the same force could be used to shut a village in their houses for an entire evening or decide arbitrarily to violate the wronged party’s religious principles so that we could say that we made amends. When we demonstrated so little regard for the rights, feeling and humanity of others, some of us reached the “logical” conclusion that it is OK to desecrate their graveyards. A short time before Joshua’s death, the same Joshua whose grave 1,300 Jewish worshipers wished to honor, warned the people that they should guard their souls. Even Joshua, the occupier who, to be honest, still hoped that the children of Israel would occupy even more land warned that military success could lead them to desecrate their souls and lose everything.

Power is seductive. However, our Torah portion Korach teaches us the limits of power. It does not matter whether or not Korach’s complaints were just. Neither the death of Korach and his followers when the earth swallows them up in an overwhelming show of force nor miracles bring peace and an end to rebellion. Only when there is a just allocation of resources meeting everybody’s needs does the rebellion end. In Kifl Hares we were told that Jews were welcome to come and pray as long as they did not come with guns and the army as occupiers. Perhaps we too can purify our souls, free ourselves from the logic of power, and in so doing find the things we really wanted to begin with.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbis for Human Rights recommends that you read these articles in Qorah

Qorah: Human Rights for Heavens Sake - June 26th, 2008
Desecrating Their Graves- Desecrating Our Souls - July 8th, 2007
Qorah: Clarity in arguments in defense of Human Rights - June 23rd, 2006

Rabbis for Human Rights recommends that you read these articles in rhr profile

Our Issues - February 5th, 2008
Rabbis For Human Rights Site map - February 5th, 2008
Rabbi Dr. Baruch Leff - January 2nd, 2008
Dvar Torah – Parashat Metzorah - July 8th, 2007
Dvar Torah – Bamidbar - July 8th, 2007
Dvar Torah - The Value of Peace As a Religious Goal - July 8th, 2007
Dvar Torah – B’Haalotkha - July 8th, 2007
Desecrating Their Graves- Desecrating Our Souls - July 8th, 2007
Dvar Torah – Parashat Pinchas - July 8th, 2007
Dvar Torah – Parashat Balak - July 8th, 2007
Happy are they who maintain justice, and do righteousness at all times - June 27th, 2007
Our Mission - November 21st, 2006
Rabbi Ohad Ezrahi - February 4th, 2005
Who We Are - January 21st, 2000

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