These lines are written before the elections. Whatever the results, one thing is abundantly clear – we are all wounded and bruised from five election campaigns that took place over a period of about three and a half years. Five times during this period we were showered with toxic propaganda, blatant personal attacks, and deepening divisions.
It is impossible to overstate the wounds left in us by these frequent choices. Now we must invest effort in the opposite direction. To seek what is common, what unites, what connects. After all, we are one people and we have one heritage. We saw this just a few weeks ago, on Yom Kippur and Simchat Torah.
Link in the chain
We are surrounded by enemies who think and speak openly about our destruction (it will not happen). Our ability to face the threats depends a lot on internal unity. We have seen well what has happened throughout history to nations that have disintegrated from within.
This year is the 'Year of the Congregation,' a year in which the special occasion of the unification of the entire people was held during the Temple period, to strengthen the fear of God and the connection to the Torah of Israel and its commandments. This year is the appropriate time to create 'Congregation' circles, where Jews from all walks of life meet, connect, and strengthen themselves.
The election campaign is over. Now a real dialogue must open between the segments of the public, based on mutual respect and understanding of the needs, values, hardships, and anxieties of each and every one of the parties.
It has already been proven that when there was a genuine intention to seek solutions, they were found. When there was a desire to understand the other, a wonderful mutual understanding grew. Confrontations and hand-wringing will not bring any benefit. They will only raise the walls of hostility and hatred and cause each side to become more rigid within itself.
Jewish identity is dear to the vast majority of the people. Most of us, like all of us, want our children to be another link in the golden chain of the Jewish people. That they will know their heritage, the weekly Torah portion, the exemplary figures of the Jewish people, our glorious history. There is a basis here for a fruitful discourse that will connect us all.
When you seek – you find
It is not certain that the good news will come from the political and media arena. There they will continue to bicker, to exaggerate statements and expressions, to attack and slander. The correction must take place in public. To meet together, to learn together, to get to know each other and to look for the good in each and every one.
We don't have to agree on everything. Of course, there will be things that will remain controversial. But it is still possible to find more than enough points of connection. Just as in elections, each opponent tries to find the weak points of his opponent, now we must look for the bright spots in the other. And when we search – we find!
The holidays of Tishrei teach us how to adopt this approach. Alongside the perfect etrog, which has both taste and smell, we are commanded to also take species that have shortcomings: the lulav has no smell, the hadassa has no taste, and the willow has neither. But that is precisely the point – look for the virtues, not the shortcomings. And even with the willow, look at its growth 'in fellowship,' as the Sages say.
The people thirst for unity. It depends on each and every one of us!
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