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Kehilaton: 8/29/09
Dear Friends, We’ve all heard the term "Social Justice", but what is it, really? In my mind, Social Justice has much in common with the concept of ensuring a "right and equal" society - a society where we respect one another and can, hence, achieve the goal put forth by Rabbi Akiva of "Loving our neighbor as ourselves". Question: "Why is it so seemingly difficult to achieve Social Justice and mutual love/respect in today’s world?" A phrase from last week’s Parasha of Shoftim might give us a hint, and that phrase is: "Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof"..." Justice, justice shallt thou pursue". (Deuteronomy 16:20) From the added emphasis given by repetition of the word "justice", I believe that G-d is trying to tell us that social justice was, is, and will be -- a difficult goal to achieve; and that corruption, hatred, and inequality will be adjectives that we’ll most likely have to live with. And this then begs the next question: "Isn’t there anything we can do to accomplish Social Justice and make it - together with Rabbi Akiva’s verse - into a reality?" Or is Rabbi Akiva’s verse simply utopian - that is, a concept that can never become reality? I believe it is critical to understand that "if it is to be, it’s up to us". Each action counts and each silence also counts. As an example, last week the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, appointed Ahmad Vahidi as Defense Minister of Iran’s government. Who is this person? Maybe you know it or maybe you don’t, but Ahmad Vahidi is one of those wanted by Interpol and the Argentinean Department of Justice in connection with the terrorist attack on the AMIA (Argentine Jewish Mutual Association) in 1994 - an attack that killed 85 innocent people. Israel condemned the Vahidi appointment, as did many other countries around the world, but Iran’s answer to all was, "This is our territory, and we can appoint whomever we want." So, if Social Justice and brotherly love are "to be", we need more involvement from "all countries" and not just some of them. We need a united commitment front from "all of us". The bottom line, then, is that Social Justice does not have to be just a utopian concept if we work hard enough together to achieve it. It is not too late to make it happen! Shabbat Shalom! |
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