Va’era: Hear each other’s narratives

By Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman on January 26, 2006 - כ"ו טבת תשס"ו

Every time I read the exodus story and every Passover I always wonder what the Palestinian liberation story might sound like. No doubt it would be one-sided, and I doubt we will like the way we appear. In fact, it will no doubt be offensive, but perhaps it is not too late to have a different ending.

…And new rulers arose over Palestine. And they took the lands and demolished the homes and cut down the olive trees of the children of Ishmael. And they forced the children of Ishmael to do hard labor to build the cities of Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem. And they rose up a bitter cry from the children of Ishmael. And their leaders demanded of the Israelis “Let our people go, and free Palestine”. But the Israelis said “We cannot free Palestine for they are many, and they are terrorists, and they will endanger us.

And then came the plagues upon the Israelis:

1. The 1st Intifada

2. The 2nd Intifada…

Of course reality is much more complicated than the particular narrative of any one group and surely our narrative also sounds one-sided and even offensive to Palestinians. The results of the Palestinian election raise a fear and foreboding for all of us. Even here there will be different narratives between those who see the ascendancy of Hammas as a confirmation of the commitment of the Palestinians to destroy Israel and those who see it as a rejection of the corruption in Fatah and the fact that Abu-Mazen hade very little to show for his efforts. I do know that in the last year or so Hammas has won local elections and that these villages did not all of a sudden become hostile to us or to non-violent co-operative work.

May we, Israelis and Palestinians, hear each other’s narratives, understand each other’s suffering, and respond to each other’s cries.

Rabbis for Human Rights recommends that you read these articles in Shemot / Exodus

Mishpatim: Jury and Beit Din - February 16th, 2007
Yitro: Being sensitive to other's rights and human dignity - February 8th, 2007
Bo: Working for the liberty and dignity of others - January 26th, 2007
Vaera: What we Lose because of Impatience and Hard Work - January 19th, 2007
Va'era: Hear each other’s narratives - January 26th, 2006
Pequde: Maintaining our belief in the goodness of people. - March 11th, 2005

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

Vaera: Peace on Earth Good Will to Men - January 3rd, 2008
Vaera: What we Lose because of Impatience and Hard Work - January 19th, 2007
Va'era: Hear each other’s narratives - January 26th, 2006

Categories: Shemot / Exodus, Vaera
Tags: Bo, fen, human rights, palestinians, Passover, settlers