Some of you may have seen an op-ed piece in the Portland Press Herald a few weeks ago where the authors charged our local Jewish institutions of being “intellectually dishonest, morally abhorrent and spiritually bankrupt” in our public messages on the war.

I knew I wanted to respond, both because I disagree with their core belief that Israel is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing, but also because it’s not clear to me that they have engaged us in a conversation.  Bartenura, the 15th century commentator on the Mishnah, quotes Pirkei Avot 2:4: “Do not separate yourself from the congregation” and offers the advice: “but rather share in their troubles. As anyone who separates from the congregation will not see the congregation consoled.”  These are difficult times for us - on many levels. I’ve listened to some very hard stories from parents of middle and high school age students whose children have had to navigate the anger and confusion of adults caught up in the rhetoric.  The volatile situations in the world are complex and not easily untangled.  That is not an excuse for having a particular opinion, but until we hash out the complexities, and treat one another respectfully, we will continue to have wars.

I sent this to the Portland Press Herald, but I didn’t hear back.

As one of those institutional leaders referred to in the February 7 opinion piece “As we grapple with Gaza, Jewish institutions are letting us down,” I am sorry that Mss. Alfred, Rosen and Kramer feel their community hasn’t taken the stand they would like to see.

I am puzzled though. If the authors had been to Temple Beth El, they could not possibly have missed the anger, the anguish, the confusion, the conflicted feelings, the vigils and the attempts to understand and to support all the victims of this war. I’m not sure where the authors heard us say that criticism of Israel’s policies - even claims of “genocide or “ethnic cleansing” (about which I, personally, dissagree) - is considered antisemetic. Are the large numbers of Israelis demonstrating against their government, both now and since the Hamas attacks on October 7, antisemitic? Perhaps the writers do not know the many effective Israeli left wing, bridge-building organizations who support Palestinian, Israeli-Arab and Beduin causes? Tragically many of the victims of the October 7th massacre were active in these very groups.

My community joins others in wrestling with what it means to believe Israel should exist and to have neighbors who wish it didn’t, and who place non-combatants in the line of fire. Many of us are disgusted by the settlements and those settlers who seem to be above the law as they destroy people and land in the Palestinian territories. The challenge, and the source of our anguish, lies with the people on all sides who want to live in peace and live fulfilling lives. Perhaps contrary to what the writers have heard, this sentiment is echoed throughout our Jewish community.

The writers assert, “Local synagogues and Jewish organizations echo national calls to make conditional any cease-fire on unrealistic terms that put the onus on Palestinians to end the terror being inflicted on them by the Israeli state.” First, the onus is on Hamas, not the Palestinians. Secondly, is it unrealistic to ask that the hostages be returned? The authors might not agree with this last point, but if they were willing to talk we might find that while we do not agree on all points, we have more shared opinions than not. Instead, the writers level the charge that our community is “intellectually dishonest, morally abhorrent and spiritually bankrupt.” 

I would encourage Mss. Alfred, Rosen and Kramer to enter into the Jewish dialogue with us rather than dismiss us. As a spiritual leader and a Jew, I keenly feel the complexity of the situation. As an institution and a spiritual home for Jews and allies,Temple Beth El is responsible for creating a safe space for all to participate, whether we personally agree or not.

While I believe it is better to be one community with a multiplicity of beliefs, I hope Mss. Alfred, Rosen and Kramer find comfort and moral clarity in the community they create.