Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This week's Parsha of Shoftim contains a blueprint of wartime ethics, should the potential of war ever occur. The very first line of this moral code states, " When you draw near to a city to wage war against it,  you shall call out to it for peace (Deut. 20:10)."

The Etz Hayim Torah commentary says, "Peace is always the preferred option. War may be necessary, unavoidable, and morally justified, but it can never be 'good.' In war, innocent people always die and lands are devastated."

In 1919, a young Rabbi Benzion Uziel spoke to a conference of rabbis in Jerusalem. He stated, "Israel, the nation of peace, does not want and never will want to be built on the ruins of others.  . . Let all the nations hear our blessing of peace, and let them return to us a hand for true peace, so that they may be blessed with the blessing of peace."

In 1939, as Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel,

Rabbi Uziel, appealed to the Arab community, "We reach our hands out to you in peace, pure, and trustworthy.  . . Make peace with us and we will make peace with you. Together all of us will benefit from the blessing of God on His land. With quiet and peace, with love and fellowship,  with goodwill and pure heart, we will find the way of peace."

Around the time the State of Israel was being recognized by the United Nations, the two Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbis Benzion Uziel and Yitzchag Herzog wrote "A call to the leaders of Islam for peace and brotherhood."

The various outreaches for peace still reflect the wishes of Israel and the Jewish people today. Everyone wants genuine secure peace without the specter of war and terrorism.

Just before Shabbat, it was announced that Israel has established full diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates. It takes courage and wisdom to establish and maintain peace and respect. May others follow.

How appropriate that this week's Torah portion points to the ideal now being achieved with part of the Arab world.

(Inspired from an essay by Rabbi Mark D. Angel, Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals)

Rabbi Howard Morrison