This has not been a great week for human rights.  The new governmental coalition has a guaranteed majority for almost anything it wishes to put in the 2007 budget.  The new version of the economic arrangements law which came out this week is worse than ever.  Israeli security forces are trying harder than last year to protect the olive harvest, but again today, for some as of yet unexplained reason, the army oversaw the entry of farmers from Kariyut onto their land and then left them to be attacked.  In Gaza, children are dying day after day, but all is permitted in the name of defense.

I often think that we would be in a much better situation if a fraction of the energy we invest in fighting over the land bequeathed to Avraham and Sarah would be invested in living up to the moral heritage they have bequeathed us.  Neither of them were perfect.  Avraham tries to pass  Sarah off as his sister and is willing to sacrifice his son, while she lets her jealousy get the better of her.   However, we see in Avraham the courage to leave behind the familiar in order to follow God.  He also has the courage to argue with God in the name of justice.  He shows time after time that he is not interested in personal material gain.  He is willing to forfeit both wealth and honor to avoid conflict, and share the Land for the sake of peace.  He fights for justice for all, even those who are strangers to him with radically different values.  Even when forced to fight, he maintains scrupulous ethics.

May our personal and national spiritual journeys bring us to a place where we not only believe in, but fight for a society which puts people before profits, in which rather than fighting over the Land, we bend over backwards to share the Land in peace, in which we avoid crossing red lines, even we must fight to defend ourselves.  May we bend over backwards to insure that we have done everything possible to achieve peace, and may we insist that there be justice for all, even those whom it is all too easy to label as “The Enemy.”   May our journey’s bring us to our personal and collective “Promised Land”  and a place where all the families of the earth will be blessed through us.

Recent Articles by Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman

• Balaq: Human Rights and adhering to a democratic process - July 10th, 2008
• Shavuot: Recognize and do what is right - June 6th, 2008
• Behuqqotay: Reward and Punishment - May 19th, 2008
• Yom HaAtzmaut: What gives me the Strength to Celebrate - May 7th, 2008
• Arik Ascherman: Rabbi-activist for the rights of Israelis, Palestinians, and foreign workers in Israel - June 4th, 2007
• The work that we do is not fun: Tikkun Olam and Human Rights - May 4th, 2007
• Passover, The Omer and Human Rights - April 5th, 2007
• Purim: Acts of justice bring us greater honor than the clothes of kings - March 1st, 2007
• Teruma: Building a human tabernacle united through the inner sanctuary that dwells with each of us - February 23rd, 2007
• Fakhri El-Diab Arrested - February 15th, 2007
• Beshallah: Building a society in which all can sing with joy - February 2nd, 2007
• Darkness has struck again - December 11th, 2006
• Hayye Sara: Needs common to all humanity - November 17th, 2006
• Lekh-Lekha: Living up to the moral heritage that Avraham and Sarah have bequeathed us - November 4th, 2006
• Sukkoth: Symbolic versus authentic homelessness - October 5th, 2006
• Selichot Ceremony - September 29th, 2006
• Tisha Bav: Justice, Law and Righteousness - July 28th, 2006
• Shabbat Hazon: What we must do to improve our situation - July 28th, 2006
• Devarim: Act with tzedakah and mishpat in all that we do - July 28th, 2006
• Tisha BAv: Human Rights and Self Criticism - July 21st, 2006
• Mase: Making an enemy into a Friend - July 21st, 2006
• Mattot: Human Rights and Collateral Damage - July 21st, 2006
• Why I Will Demonstrate - June 29th, 2006
• RHR Wins Court Victory: High Court Orders Security Forces to Protect Palestinian Farmers - June 26th, 2006
• Qorah: Clarity in arguments in defense of Human Rights - June 23rd, 2006
• Nizzavim: For what are we willing to stand up, and how? - May 26th, 2006
• Shavuot: A world based on righteousness, justice, goodness, mercy and faithfulness. - May 26th, 2006
• Bemidbar: Reaching out to the ones we would normally turn away - May 26th, 2006
• Behar: A vision of a just and caring society - May 19th, 2006
• Behuqqotay: Respect the moral order - May 19th, 2006
• Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman - May 12th, 2006
• Emor: Unity and equality between Jews and non-Jews in front of the law - May 12th, 2006
• Shemini: Partners with God - April 21st, 2006
• Va'era: Hear each other’s narratives - January 26th, 2006
• Miqqez: It is not too late to renew and fulfill the promises of old - December 30th, 2005
• Vayyeze: The Image of God in all - December 8th, 2005
• Noah: Knowing how to protest and to effect change - November 4th, 2005
• Sukkoth: Peace, justice, involvement and caring for all people - October 10th, 2005
• Ki-Tavo: Responsiblity to fulfill our Human Rights obligations - September 23rd, 2005
• Ki-Teze: We must stand in the breach and make sure that nobody is left behind - September 14th, 2005
• Shofetim: Pursue justice through mitzvot of commission - September 8th, 2005
• Devarim: You shall not be partial in judgement - August 12th, 2005
• Shabbat Hazon: Misplaced Priorities in Society - August 12th, 2005
• Mas'e: Expulsion, Democracy and Civil Disobedience - August 4th, 2005
• Mattot: Find the formulas allowing all of us to have our basic Human Rights and needs met. - July 28th, 2005
• Balaq: We cannot negotiate for peace on the one hand and violate Human Rights on the other - July 14th, 2005
• Shemini: Quench this strange fire and return to the fire commanded by God - April 1st, 2005
• Preventing Home Demolitions - March 22nd, 2005
• Pequde: Maintaining our belief in the goodness of people. - March 11th, 2005
• There Is A Kippah In The Rubble - April 15th, 2003

Categories: Bereshit / Genesis, Lekh-Lekha
Tags: Bo, fen, human rights, order, palestinians, peace, rest, settlers