One of the most necessary attributes for the development of a moral conscience within humans is the ability to judge things and events in a critical fashion. There are naturally certain postulates in life that are accepted on faith, for that is the necessary basis of all societal and individual behavior; However, how to apply those faith-based rules and how to live by them in an ethical and wholesome fashion is dependent upon the ability of the individual and the nation to have independent thought and judgment, to give and, if necessary, receive and assimilate criticism. Judaism demands independent thought and honest self-criticism. All of the Talmud and subsequent halachic literature and practice is based on critical thinking and rigorous analysis of text, on differing opinions and the give and take of scholarly debate and candid discussion. Forced conformity of thought, the weapon of all dictators and tyrants over the ages and especially so in our recent time, was dismissed by the Talmud as being unnatural and unattainable. "Just as all humans have different physical features, so too do they all have different opinions on matters," is the Talmud's assessment of humanity.
Combined with this understanding of the necessity of independence of thought is also the necessity for self-analysis and self-criticism. The ability of individuals to rationalize their behavior, no matter how immoral or reprehensible or foolish it was, is very well known. Most of the "ordinary" Germans and Russians and Japanese and Chinese and Cambodians who participated in perpetrating the major bloodbaths of the twentieth century have been able to avoid judging themselves and their behavior. Tragically, the voice of conscience is easily stifled within us. What our political leaders, and, in fact, all of Israel, needs now is a good stiff dose of self-criticism. That does not mean the type of criticism being showered upon us by our open enemies and covert "friends," not the unfair and unjust words that emanate from the world news media, not the hypocrisy of European governments, certainly not the repugnant words and decisions of the "Oom-Shmoom." Rrather it is an internal soul-searching, a retreat into ourselves and a recognition of our own blunders and failures that is demanded now.
I am saddened to note that at a time when almost everyone in Israel realizes full well that the Oslo Agreements were a bad error and have led only to a dead end (bad pun unfortunately intended) in our relations with our Arab cousins, none of the main architects of that disaster have owned up to their mistake. They are not traitors, nor were their aspirations ignoble. I think that almost all of us felt a surge of hope when Arafat and Rabin shook hands on the White House lawn just a few short years ago. But, sadly and tragically, that hope was a false one, more wish than fact, a mirage in a desert of hate and violence. Most Israelis now realize this mistake and are not willing to pursue that mirage any longer. We are aware that our alleged partner for peace is not a partner and that he is not for peace. Only the almost lunatic fringe on the Left still mouths the nostrums of further concessions and a refusal to demand any measure of reciprocity for our behavior. So why don't the intellectual fathers of Peace Now speak up and criticize their own grievous past error? It will gain them and their cause far more credibility and respect in Israeli society than their current craven silence or their echoing of the disproved shibboleths regarding Arafat's trustworthiness.
There is currently an internet-driven petition being circulated demanding that the Nobel Prize committee withdraw its premature and currently most awkward award of its Peace Prize to Yassir Arafat. Arafat is unlikely to pay attention to any of this. I think that Shimon Peres could do a great service to Israel, himself, his stature as our Foreign Minister and also to restore a sense of balance to world thinking about Israel generally if he would offer to return his share of that same Peace Prize. Peres is to be credited for his vision of peace and for his tireless efforts to reach that goal. However, his greatest diplomatic achievement would be in dramatically admitting the error of Oslo by renouncing the award that Oslo brought him. Then his foreign policies and his future negotiating stance will be much strengthened, because it will have been cleansed by the process of self-criticism and internal analysis that brings strength, not weakness, to those that practice it.
Shabbat Shalom.
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Rabbi Berel Wein, noted author and lecturer, is founder of the Destiny Foundation, dedicated to educating Jews about their historical and ethical heritage (JewishDestiny.com ).
Combined with this understanding of the necessity of independence of thought is also the necessity for self-analysis and self-criticism. The ability of individuals to rationalize their behavior, no matter how immoral or reprehensible or foolish it was, is very well known. Most of the "ordinary" Germans and Russians and Japanese and Chinese and Cambodians who participated in perpetrating the major bloodbaths of the twentieth century have been able to avoid judging themselves and their behavior. Tragically, the voice of conscience is easily stifled within us. What our political leaders, and, in fact, all of Israel, needs now is a good stiff dose of self-criticism. That does not mean the type of criticism being showered upon us by our open enemies and covert "friends," not the unfair and unjust words that emanate from the world news media, not the hypocrisy of European governments, certainly not the repugnant words and decisions of the "Oom-Shmoom." Rrather it is an internal soul-searching, a retreat into ourselves and a recognition of our own blunders and failures that is demanded now.
I am saddened to note that at a time when almost everyone in Israel realizes full well that the Oslo Agreements were a bad error and have led only to a dead end (bad pun unfortunately intended) in our relations with our Arab cousins, none of the main architects of that disaster have owned up to their mistake. They are not traitors, nor were their aspirations ignoble. I think that almost all of us felt a surge of hope when Arafat and Rabin shook hands on the White House lawn just a few short years ago. But, sadly and tragically, that hope was a false one, more wish than fact, a mirage in a desert of hate and violence. Most Israelis now realize this mistake and are not willing to pursue that mirage any longer. We are aware that our alleged partner for peace is not a partner and that he is not for peace. Only the almost lunatic fringe on the Left still mouths the nostrums of further concessions and a refusal to demand any measure of reciprocity for our behavior. So why don't the intellectual fathers of Peace Now speak up and criticize their own grievous past error? It will gain them and their cause far more credibility and respect in Israeli society than their current craven silence or their echoing of the disproved shibboleths regarding Arafat's trustworthiness.
There is currently an internet-driven petition being circulated demanding that the Nobel Prize committee withdraw its premature and currently most awkward award of its Peace Prize to Yassir Arafat. Arafat is unlikely to pay attention to any of this. I think that Shimon Peres could do a great service to Israel, himself, his stature as our Foreign Minister and also to restore a sense of balance to world thinking about Israel generally if he would offer to return his share of that same Peace Prize. Peres is to be credited for his vision of peace and for his tireless efforts to reach that goal. However, his greatest diplomatic achievement would be in dramatically admitting the error of Oslo by renouncing the award that Oslo brought him. Then his foreign policies and his future negotiating stance will be much strengthened, because it will have been cleansed by the process of self-criticism and internal analysis that brings strength, not weakness, to those that practice it.
Shabbat Shalom.
------------
Rabbi Berel Wein, noted author and lecturer, is founder of the Destiny Foundation, dedicated to educating Jews about their historical and ethical heritage (JewishDestiny.com ).