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British Jews deeply divided over Israel’s response to 7 October attacks | Letter
Ben Rich responds to the Board of Deputies’ decision to start disciplinary action against members who signed an open letter on the war in GazaWhether the Board of Deputies upholds the complaints against its 36 members who signed a letter to the Financial Times will not change the fact that the UK’s Jewish community is deeply divided by Israel’s response to Hamas’s appalling 7 October attacks (Dozens of members of UK Jewish body facing disciplinary action over criticism of Israel, 23 April).In Judaism, there is a concept of disagreement for the “sake of heaven”. Yeshiva students study in pairs, each taking a different side of an argument to divine the truth of any particular text. Any attempt to deny a voice to one or other side is not only pointless (it will not miraculously unite the community) but deeply un-Jewish. We don’t need to pick a side to applaud those who have chosen to express a counterview as a means to understand a better way forward for both Israelis and Palestinians.Ben RichFormer adviser to the Board of Deputies of British Jews; CEO, Reform Judaism, 2011-13 Continue reading...
Ben Rich responds to the Board of Deputies’ decision to start disciplinary action against members who signed an open letter on the war in Gaza
Whether the Board of Deputies upholds the complaints against its 36 members who signed a letter to the Financial Times will not change the fact that the UK’s Jewish community is deeply divided by Israel’s response to Hamas’s appalling 7 October attacks (Dozens of members of UK Jewish body facing disciplinary action over criticism of Israel, 23 April).
In Judaism, there is a concept of disagreement for the “sake of heaven”. Yeshiva students study in pairs, each taking a different side of an argument to divine the truth of any particular text. Any attempt to deny a voice to one or other side is not only pointless (it will not miraculously unite the community) but deeply un-Jewish. We don’t need to pick a side to applaud those who have chosen to express a counterview as a means to understand a better way forward for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Ben Rich
Former adviser to the Board of Deputies of British Jews; CEO, Reform Judaism, 2011-13 Continue reading...
