Violence, Cruelty, Injustice

 

Noach

Gen. 6:9-11:32

 

Précis: The story of Noah (Hebrew: Noach) and the Flood appear in this parasha. Noah, called by God, builds the Ark and collects the animals. It rains for forty days and nights. Noah and his family are saved, and afterward leave the Ark, build an altar, and make sacrifices to God. God sets a rainbow as a promise not to destroy mankind again. Noah plants a vineyard, makes wine, and becomes drunk. An odd incident with sexual overtones takes place with his sons. The story of the Tower of Babel is included in this parasha, and it ends with a genealogy of the ancient peoples of the Bible, concluding with Abram.

 

Gen. 6:13 “God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with lawlessness because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.”

             The word “lawlessness” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “hamas.” It has also been translated as violence, wrong, cruelty, and injustice.

            We are all much too familiar with another use of the word. The ​group known as Hamas drew its name when formed in 1987 as an Arabic acronym for “Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyah” (“Islamic Resistance Movement”). It chose this acronym because an Arabic translation of the word hamas can be zeal, justice, and bravery. It is beyond ironic that the name does not match the horrors committed by this lawless group.

            Some will cite Biblical verses as justifications for improper actions. In this case, God’s decision to destroy mankind (and even their animals) because of “hamas” should be a solemn reminder of the need to destroy the current holder of the title. It is not only because of their actions against Israel and Jews, but as is increasingly obvious, it is necessary to safeguard the lives of those Palestinians who oppose their lawless rule.

One final thought: where are the protests and voices of outrage against Hamas’ joyous execution of their fellow Palestinians? Crickets.  

Starting Again, with hope

 Bereshit

Gen. 1:1 - 6:8

 

Précis: The first Book of the Torah, Bereshit (Genesis, literally “in the beginning” or “When God began to create”) begins with the familiar story of creation. The world is created in six days and God rests on the seventh. The stories of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden are included, as is the story of Cain and Abel.

 

Gen. 3:22 “And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever.”

 

Rabbi Dan Moskowitz (10 Minutes of Torah 10/20/19) points to this iconic scene of Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden after eating of the forbidden fruit from the Tree of knowledge.

Before partaking of the fruit, they did not know that death existed. God has expelled them from the Garden, which we can easily see as a punishment. In fact, Moskovitz argues, it was a blessing. Why? If one has eternity, there is no urgency. Citing German existentialist Martin Heidegger, to truly live authentically we must confront death head-on. But even though we know that we are all going to die, we don’t always believe what we know to be true.

            Our tradition has a different take. Instead of denying death, we are instructed to live each day as if it is our last because we don’t know, it very well may be (BT, Shabbat 153a).

            Considering the freedom of the hostages from Gazan captivity this week, this thought has added poignancy. The hostages did not know whether they would survive another day, let alone reach freedom. We thank God for their release and offer our prayers for their refuah schleimah. We mourn with those who lost their loved ones to baseless hatred.

            As Moskowitz asks, where is the true paradise? Is it in the Garden of Eden where no one ever dies and time is limitless? Or is it East of Eden, outside the garden, where every moment is precious, every decision is life changing, and the fruit, sometimes bitter, compels us to appreciate the sweet? Above all we can seek the sweetness of peace.