July 19, 2010

It is pretty hard to write about the topic of “senseless hatred,” known in Hebrew as “sinat chinam,” when I am so angry! Anger is a healthy part of our emotional structure, allowing us to release tension, express feelings and emote in a way that our mind and body truly need. In life, if we are honest with ourselves, there will be people, actions and situations that make us angry, perhaps furious, and we all need constructive outlets with which to deal with them in a meaningful way. Suppressing anger, or pretending that you are never angry, is unhealthy and renders us prisoner to our unexpressed feelings and emotions. It is from this place, from this depth, before the lowest, saddest day in the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’av, the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av, that I come to share some thoughts on the events of this week in Israel, events that, sadly, are all too common these days, and that have nothing to do with the conflict with the Palestinians or the wider Arab world. No, these events involve just us, the Jewish people, as we continue to struggle with how to live in a religious structure that doesn’t honor, validate or appreciate the varieties of practice and holy expression that our people has been blessed with achieving.\n