A Righteous Fight, Done With Hate, & Bamidbar

Two big things happened for my family this week.

First, over the weekend, there was a wedding.

A young cousin on my husband’s side of the family got married in Pennsylvania.

Of course, they’re my family, too, now, for over three decades.

I love them.

Every time we go out there to the Ecuadorean family, so different from my Jewish family, it’s like another world.

We belong there in that we love them, yet we are not a part of their world.

Oswaldo’s cousin was so grateful that we made the trek for her son’s wedding.

It meant a lot that it meant a lot to her.

I want—I think we all want—them to know that for us, they count.

Even if we live very different lives.

And we had a beautiful time.

Then, my daughter Rebecca graduated from college.

Another incredible family event.

It was emotional to be among thousands of families, the majority of whom are like my huband’s:

First generation immigrants.

And from all over the world!

It felt like such a gift.

For Rebecca to get an education among so many people who are struggling just to make it.

To live in a place where you experience the incredible diversity of the world—and of our country—all in one place.

To be surrounded by families that couldn’t even imagine, perhaps, that one day they would have a child who graduated from college!!

In the United States!

Students that maybe had to hold two—or even three jobs while making it through college!

And for them to be honored for their accomplishments despite all odds!

Just like my husband had.

And that he could proudly then help his own children get through college.

For him and all those people to be recognized as counting in our society.

So, yes, it was very emotional.

And a beautiful celebration.

(You can see photos here on my Facebook page if you haven’t yet.)

The main speaker, a Black Judge, Carlton W. Reeves of Mississippi, invoked the Civil Rights Movement.

This was easy, in a way.

Easy to talk about and easy to hear about.

We’ve been there already.

We look back on its historical struggles for justice and equality with gratitude, and even fondness.

A righteous fight fought by brave young people on university campuses.

An example of how to be in the world in order to effect change.

But then.

Then the Hunter College president spoke.

And when graduating students walked out in protest of the war in Gaza, she ignored them.

Her microphone was turned up, and she spoke louder in order to drown out the cries of protest.

She pretended it was business as usual, never acknowledging their cries.

It was like those students didn’t count.

Their concerns didn’t count.

The civilians dying in Gaza didn’t count.

She talked about her ancestors’ survival in the Nazi camps, and their rescue at the end of the war.

She talked about how, when given the chance for revenge, with guns placed in their hands, they put them down and walked away.

Instead of shooting the Nazi guards that had been their torturers, they said, “Enough. We’re done with hate.”

It was an emotional thing to hear.

But its meaning was lost when it couldn’t be applied to innocent lives being lost today in Gaza.

Its meaning was lost when the student protesters became insignificant in her eyes.

When their voices didn’t count as part of the historical strength of students fighting a righteous fight.

In this week’s Parsha, as we begin the book of Numbers, Bamidbar, or In the Wilderness, all the Israelites are counted.

Each tribe.

Each and every individual within each tribe.

The heads of the tribes are named, and on and on.

I only wish we could take this lesson into what’s happening in the world today.

I know we’re living in unprecedented times.

I know it’s a wilderness of uncharted territory.

But then again, is it?

Don’t we know about the cycle of hate and revenge?

And can’t we, also, decide to be done with it?

I want to bless us that we may live to see a world—and a country—in which we can be done with hate and revenge.

May we live to see a world and a country in which we can celebrate diversity, and help everyone achieve success—without working three jobs.

And be done with war.

Please say Amen.

And Shabbat Shalom.