“There is good reason for pessimism”: Adam Keller, Israeli pacifist
by Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik e.V. – An important interview we did last summer with Adam Keller of Gush Shalom, the Israeli Peace Block. A very challening matter in these difficult days of open confrontation in Palestine.
Israel and Palestine. Why do you believe in peace?
and Palestinians in general believe that peace is something which was already
tried but failed, and that the failure is the fault of the other side. Israelis
say “We tried very hard to make peace with the Palestinians, we made
enormous concessions, but the Palestinians continue to attack us. This means
that they don’t want peace, they want to kill us and take our land”.
Palestinians say “We tried very hard to make peace with
the Israelis , we made enormous concessions, but
the Israelis continue the occupation, continue to oppress us
and create settlements. This means that they don’t want peace, they want to
kill us and take our land”. Both sides are right to some degree – if you
define the Oslo Process as actually implemented by actual political leaders as
“peace”, then indeed “peace” was tried and it failed. I hope
and believe that this failure does not mean that peace as such has irrevocably
failed. but that we must learn of the mistakes during the Oslo process.
implemented urgently to work for peace between Israel and the Palestinians?
what was tried in the Oslo process:
the ’67 borders
respected
from the start (instead of letting them wait until the end).
mass movement for peace? ProMosaik e.V. thinks that peace does not come from
the politicians, but from people. What do you think?
for peace would be the best, but at the moment seems impossible (see answer to
question 1). But an international mass movement for Israeli-Palestinian peace
seems to be forming
change in Israel to work for a peaceful solution?
must learn that in the long run peace is not only nice, but existential.
Judaism mean and how can Jewish values help to work for peace?
“Shalom” which means peace. As in any religion there can be found in
Judaism arguments for pursuing peace as well as for fighting wars, but on the
following page you find an abundance of peace inspiration from Judaism.
THE IDEAL OF PEACE IN JUDAISM
Peace is a concept that is central to Judaism. Along with truth and justice, it is one of the three key Jewish values.
Peace, according to the Jewish
sages, is the ultimate purpose of the whole Torah: “All that is written
in the Torah was written for the sake of peace.” Tanhuma Shoftim 18
Peace is what will save the
Jewish people: “God announceth to Jerusalem that they [Israel] will be
redeemed only through peace.” Deuteronomy Rabah 5:15
The
Jewish people’s desire for peace has been expressed for thousands of
years in our prayers and in biblical and rabbinic sources.
In the words of the prophets (Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3)
And
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war anymore.
In the Ethics of the FathersHillel says: “Be among the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace…” (Ethics of the Fathers 1:12)
In the Midrash
Great
is peace since all other blessings are included in it. (Vayikrah Rabbah
9) The only reason that the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world
was so that there would be peace among humankind. (Bamidbar Rabbah 12A)
In the Amidah (Daily Standing Prayer of 19 blessings)
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness, and mercy unto us and unto all Israel, your people.
In Israel’s Declaration of Independence
We
extend our hand to all neighboring states and their people in an offer
of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds
of cooperation … with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own
land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in common effort
for the advancement of the entire Middle East.
In the prayer for the State of Israel
Please
bless the State of Israel…spread over it the shelter of Your peace.
Grant peace unto the land, lasting joy to its inhabitants. Remove from
us all hatred and hostility, jealousy and cruelty. And plant in our
hearts love and friendship, peace and companionship. Speedily fulfill
the vision of Your prophet: “Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
The Hebrew word for peace, ‘SHALOM,’ comes from a root meaning ‘completeness’ and ‘perfection’. So
when there is peace in Jewish terms, that means things are perfect:
there is calm, security, prosperity and a general feeling of physical
and spiritual well-being. It doesn’t just mean there is no war.
In Hebrew, to ask someone how they are (“How are you?”) we say “Ma shlomcha?”
‘Shlomcha’ literally means ‘your peace’, so we are actually asking them
“How’s your state of peace?” This shows how important living in a state
of peace is in Jewish thinking.
The Jewish obligation to pursue peace
Peace is so important a concept in Judaism that Jews have a religious obligation to pursue it. “Seek peace, and pursue it’ ‑ seek it in your own place, and pursue it even to another place as well.” Leviticus Rabah 9:9
We are told that “He who
establishes peace between man and his fellow, between husband and wife,
between two cities, two nations, two families or two governments…no harm
should come to him.” Mekhilta Bahodesh 12
And even that “one may deviate
from the truth for the sake of peace…it is permissible to utter a
falsehood for the purpose of making peace between a man and his fellow.”
BT Yevamot 65b and Derekh Erez Zuta.
Lynda Ben-Menashe 2007
sages, is the ultimate purpose of the whole Torah: “All that is written
in the Torah was written for the sake of peace.” Tanhuma Shoftim 18
Peace is what will save the
Jewish people: “God announceth to Jerusalem that they [Israel] will be
redeemed only through peace.” Deuteronomy Rabah 5:15
Jewish people’s desire for peace has been expressed for thousands of
years in our prayers and in biblical and rabbinic sources.
And
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war anymore.
Great
is peace since all other blessings are included in it. (Vayikrah Rabbah
9) The only reason that the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world
was so that there would be peace among humankind. (Bamidbar Rabbah 12A)
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness, and mercy unto us and unto all Israel, your people.
We
extend our hand to all neighboring states and their people in an offer
of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds
of cooperation … with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own
land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in common effort
for the advancement of the entire Middle East.
Please
bless the State of Israel…spread over it the shelter of Your peace.
Grant peace unto the land, lasting joy to its inhabitants. Remove from
us all hatred and hostility, jealousy and cruelty. And plant in our
hearts love and friendship, peace and companionship. Speedily fulfill
the vision of Your prophet: “Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
when there is peace in Jewish terms, that means things are perfect:
there is calm, security, prosperity and a general feeling of physical
and spiritual well-being. It doesn’t just mean there is no war.
‘Shlomcha’ literally means ‘your peace’, so we are actually asking them
“How’s your state of peace?” This shows how important living in a state
of peace is in Jewish thinking.
The Jewish obligation to pursue peace
establishes peace between man and his fellow, between husband and wife,
between two cities, two nations, two families or two governments…no harm
should come to him.” Mekhilta Bahodesh 12
from the truth for the sake of peace…it is permissible to utter a
falsehood for the purpose of making peace between a man and his fellow.”
BT Yevamot 65b and Derekh Erez Zuta.
