As Rosh Hashanah approaches, many of us take the time to send heartfelt wishes for a sweet and hopeful new year. This year, I received a thoughtful message from my dear friend Gloria, who expressed her hopes for peace amidst the challenges our world faces.
In our tradition, peace is central to our prayers and aspirations, particularly during tumultuous times. In response to Gloria, I emphasized our collective wish for peace and the importance of holding onto hope, even when it seems distant. Each day, in our communal services, we recite the prayer:
“May the One who makes peace in the heavens bring peace to us and to all Israel. And let us say, Amen,”
This prayer reminds us that while peace may seem far off, it remains a possibility—one we must continually strive toward.
Reflecting on the past year, which has been marked by numerous global crises—including wars, natural disasters, and economic instability—I recognize the impact of these events on our communities. As I’ve listened to various news sources, including CBC’s Q and The Current, I’ve been struck by the complex narratives surrounding conflicts, particularly the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza. There is a notable concern that media coverage can sometimes oversimplify or misrepresent the complex nature of these conflicts.
- Misrepresentation of “Genocide” Claims: When discussing allegations of “genocide” and civilian casualties, some media outlets often concentrate on civilian deaths in Gaza. However, these reports might not fully address the complexities of how militant groups operate and the broader context of the conflict.
- Civilian Casualty Narratives: Discussions often focus on civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, particularly among women and children. However, it is essential to recognize that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah have been reported to target Israeli civilians and use their own populations as human shields. Understanding this context is crucial for fully comprehending the ongoing conflict and its impact on all affected populations.
- Political Motives of Netanyahu: Some narratives propose that Prime Minister Netanyahu may have political incentives to prolong the conflict and fail to point to the substantial support he receives from the Israeli public during times of crisis.
These misrepresentations muddy public opinion, making it harder to achieve a true understanding of the conflict and hindering efforts for peace. Commentators like Bari Weiss, David Hirsh, and Melanie Phillips offer counterpoints to these distorted views.
Bari Weiss, in her Free Press article, discussed the troubling reactions in the West to Hamas’s attacks on Israel. She was especially surprised by the lack of condemnation from elite institutions and student groups, who instead placed the blame solely on Israel.
“As news of the scope of the slaughter was still registering, and the tally of hostages still being made—the final count: 240 people from 40 countries carried off like barbaric spoils of war—progressive groups here at home and across the West began to celebrate.
More than 30 student clubs at Harvard put out a letter holding Israel “entirely responsible” for the massacre. Israel. Not Hamas. Israel. This was on October 8, as Hamas terrorists were still roaming Israel’s south, and Hezbollah began its assault on Israel’s north from Lebanon.”¹
Weiss’s reflections point to a troubling trend: antisemitism disguised as political critique, a pattern that is not new but is now more visible than ever.
David Hirsh, a sociologist who studies antisemitism and its connection to anti-Zionism, echoed this concern. He explains that media bias and public opinion are often shaped by these antisemitic undercurrents:
“Antisemitism has always constructed its own fictional image of ‘the Jews’ which is quite distinct from the diversity of actual Jewish men and women. Antisemitism puts ‘the Jews’ at the centre of all that is bad in the world. Similarly, anti-Zionism constructs ‘Israel’ as being central to all key evils on the planet. Moreover, the antisemitic construction of ‘the Jew’ has been forged over centuries by a succession of distinct antisemitic movements, each adding to the narrative and emotional vocabulary of the demonized other.
It sits there in our culture and we think it is a thing of the past, too vulgar and awful to constitute a contemporary threat, but antisemitic ways of thinking are nevertheless entrenched in our subconscious and are tempting resources because they give material shape to unendurable, abstract, fear and fury.”²
Melanie Phillips elaborates on this issue in a recent interview, noting how deeply ingrained antisemitism among Western elites continues to fuel the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.³
Despite our challenges, our tradition encourages us to continue believing in the possibility of peace. As we enter the Days of Teshuvah, a time for reflection and atonement, we have the opportunity to educate ourselves, challenge our assumptions, and engage in informed discussions about complex issues.
May we work together towards a future where peace is hoped for and actively pursued, benefiting all communities affected by conflict.
May we see peace come speedily and in our times!
Footnotes:
- Weiss, Bari. “A Year of Revelations: We Expected Hamas to Try to Kill Jews. We Didn’t Expect Americans to Celebrate When They Did.” The Free Press, 7 Oct. 2024, www.thefp.com/p/a-year-of-revelations-we-expected-hamas-to-try-to-kill-jews.
- Hirsh, David. “Why Antisemitism and Populism Go Hand in Hand.” The Times of Israel, 30 Sept. 2023, blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-antisemitism-and-populism-go-hand-in-hand-david-hirsh/.
- Phillips, Melanie. “Israel’s Last War.” TRIGGERnometry, 6 Oct. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=link-to-video.