Parashat Shana Tova Erev Shabbat 11 October 2024

Week of 06 -12 October 2024

Theme: Shana Tova

Shana Tova

Dear friends of Sion and readers, Shalom from Israel! These days the Jewish people are living through a very special period in many ways, and for those who live in Israel among these people, this reality is felt very intensely. On the occasion of the celebrations of the Jewish New Year, I would like to share with you a limited reflection that contemplates various aspects of the current situation that are intertwined with the real Jewish existence. Israel and the Jewish people as a whole celebrate the New Year (חדשה שנה). We begin the year 5785 (תשפ״ה), in the Hebrew liturgical count. It is a special time that the Jewish people experience: a time to review life, a time of personal and collective reflection; a time to ask for forgiveness and to forgive, a time to give thanks and a time to trust and hope. In fact, this time that the Jewish people celebrate teaches us that it is not the year that is new, but the people who renew themselves, who strengthen themselves to begin the year. This year Israel has added another difficult, even tragic year to its history, and the celebration takes on a special character. The attack by the terrorist group Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, in the midst of the celebration of Simchat Torah (תורה שמחת), introduced Israel into a new reality as a society and particularly the Jewish people into a new challenge of survival. Many nations have actively participated and others have witnessed the impressive growth of military activity in recent decades by groups whose sole purpose was to attack Israel. The date of October 7, 2023, was not an isolated case, but part of a strategy organised over the years that aimed to wage a major battle against Israel from the South, the North, but also from afar, such as Yemen and Iraq, with Iran as its centre. This tragedy, which has been going on for a year now and there is no indication of how or when it will end, has changed people’s lives in all its dimensions. The population on the borders was evacuated and is still outside their homes, and the population that remained in their homes moved to welcome and help. Many died and are dying in this tragedy, others were taken hostage, regardless of gender or age; some were murdered and others remain in a situation impossible to survive.

חדשה שנה

On the other hand, October 7th triggered the greatest expression of modern anti-Semitism. Significant groups and even countries publicly demonstrate in favour of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah or Hamas and against Israel, while other parts of the world remain silent and do not speak out against it. The spurious political interests of countries neutralise moral values. In the name of a false peace, they collude with crime, death, war, and international terrorism. If Israel were home to anyone other than the Jewish people, we certainly would not have such widespread opposition. There is no protest against the war in Sudan, in Ethiopia, against Russia invading Ukraine, against the wars and blatant injustices in some African countries or in Nicaragua… but against Israel there is a consensus to oppose and protest in the most important squares in the world, because Jews live here, and to spread hatred of Jews wherever they are.

     This loneliness of Israel is not new, but it should challenge us about our position. The lack of solidarity with the Jewish people is in contradiction with the Christian faith. Israel’s vocation to be a light for the Nations is not a theological concept, divorced from concrete reality. This founding element of Israel’s identity is permanent and must be understood in history.

     In these days when the Jewish people celebrate its Tradition that spans time and that protects them as a people and with their mission, renewing their fidelity to God who revealed himself so that the world could know and serve Him, it has a universal effect: all Nations are contemplated in this special time. Therefore, it is time to wish the Jewish people a blessed New Year, bearer of true peace that can reach all humanity. May the hope, confidence and joy that come from God that the Jewish people celebrate and pray intensely during these days be realised within the people of Israel and spread to all peoples. Shana Tova!

This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Elio Passeto, NDS
, Israel, Director

[Copyright © 2024]

Tags:

Comments are closed