JEWS AGAINST ISRAELI TERRORISM-4

Britain's Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' Views on Israel

One very strong criticism from within the Jewish community against Israeli policies has come from Prof. Jonathan Sacks, Britain's Chief Rabbi. In aninterview, published in The Guardian on August 27, 2002, Sacks sternly criticized Israel, arguing that the country was adopting a stance "incompatible" with the deepest ideals of Judaism, and that the current conflict with the Palestinians was "corrupting" Israeli society.

Sacks, who became the chief rabbi of Britain's Orthodox Jews in 1991, and who has been the leader of a Jewish community of 280,000 in the country, is known as a loyal supporter of Israel and a veteran who has worked for the establishment of peace in the region. "I regard the current situation as nothing less than tragic. It is forcing Israel into postures that are incompatible in the long run with our deepest ideals" said Sacks. He added that "there are things that happen on a daily basis which make me feel very uncomfortable as a Jew." He went on to say that he was "profoundly shocked" at the reports of Israeli soldiers smiling while posing for photographs with the corpses of slain Palestinians.a

The chief Rabbi's denouncement of Israeli savagery in the name of Judaism reminds us an important fact: It is not permitted for either a true Muslim or a true Jew to shed innocent blood. All divine religions forbid violence, war, and unjust murder, and command peace and the helping to those in need.

Jonathan Sacks also noted that Israelis, who have lived centuries in dispersion, should very well understand the plight of Palestinians:

You cannot ignore a command that is repeated 36 times in the Mosaic books: 'You were exiled in order to know what it feels like to be an exile.' I regard that as one of the core projects of a state that is true to Judaic principle. b

In the same interview, Sacks also answered the questions about a secret meeting he held in 2000 with Abdullah Javadi-Amoli, one of the highest-ranking clerics of Iran, during a conference of religious leaders, and noted, interestingly:

We established within minutes a common language, because we take certain things very seriously: we take faith seriously, we take texts seriously. It's a particular language that believers share. c

The chief rabbi Sacks' words are an example of the peaceful dialogue that must be established between Muslims and Jews (and, of course, Christians). All three faiths have enjoined justice, honesty, the rescue of the oppressed, and peace and love. The adherents of all the three faiths believe in God, love the same prophets; there should be no hostility between them.

a Jonathan Freedland, "Israel Set On Tragic Path, Says Chief Rabbi", The Guardian, August27, 2002
b Jonathan Freedland, "Israel Set On Tragic Path, Says Chief Rabbi", The Guardian, August27, 2002
c Jonathan Freedland, "Israel Set On Tragic Path, Says Chief Rabbi", The Guardian, August27, 2002

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