Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Yael Splansky

“Neither Oppressor Nor Victim”

As Israelis are bracing themselves for whatever may come and Jewish communities all over the world are on alert, I would first like to assure you that Holy Blossom Temple security systems – some seen, some hidden from view — have been reviewed and reinforced in recent days.  Our Executive Director, Rachel Malach, our Senior Property and Facilities Manager, Bridgedat Ramcaran, and our very knowledgeable Chair of our Security Committee, Andrew Kirsch, are in constant contact with our local police, Division 13, and with the security department of the UJA.  As we prepare for a beautiful High Holy Day season, many volunteers and professionals – including rabbis and cantors – are receiving expert training.

It is important that we are all vigilant.  When you are walking through the neighbourhoods of our great city, the slogan, “If you see something, say something” is instructive.  Something or someone out of the ordinary can be a reason to call 911.  And yet, I am keenly aware that being safe and feeling safe are not necessarily the same thing.  How do we help one another to feel safe?  How do we keep from spooking ourselves and one another?  The news of the day is frightening enough.  We mustn’t make it worse by spinning anxiety for our children to absorb.  We must not give haters the power to terrify us.

So, let’s take a page from the book of the Israeli Olympiads in Paris.  These young men and women are holding their heads high, representing their country and the Jewish People everywhere, and earning medals.  Despite all that they, their friends, and families have had to face since October 7, or perhaps because of all that, they are laser-focused and seemingly fearless.  Amidst tiers of security guarding them and booing crowds surrounding them, they carry on with their mission.  They do not apologize for who they are nor for the Jewish State they represent.  They do not apologize for winning nor for denying those who chant hateful slogans any victory — because the very definition of an athlete is to go as far and as fast as you can, to be as strong and as skilled as you can be.  Moreover, the very definition of an Israeli is to be “a victim no more.”  The Zionist movement was designed to train “the new Jew” to reject the victimhood, which punctuated so much of Jewish history before.

We know that many wish to divide the world today with the false binary of “oppressed” and “oppressor.”  The Israelis I know and admire say: “I refuse to be either.”  Let us learn to say the same here in the Diaspora.  Let us agree that there is no glory in powerlessness and there is no shame in being powerful, so long as that power is used responsibly and for the good of all, as best we can.

May it be a Shabbat Shalom, a Shabbat of Peace for us, for Israel, and all the world.