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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

What Rabbi Jonathan Sacks tried to teach us before October 7

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • The article reflects on the lessons of October 7, 2023, ahead of Israel's elections, questioning societal weaknesses that may have enabled the attack.
  • It draws on the teachings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who warned against internal Jewish division as a historical vulnerability.
  • Sacks' lessons are illustrated through historical examples like Joseph and his brothers, the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and the Second Temple era's "baseless hatred."

As Israel approaches another election cycle, the article urges a pause to consider the profound impact of the October 7 Hamas-led massacre and to question what societal weaknesses may have contributed to the conditions that allowed such an attack.

Did we learn anything from October 7?

— AuthorPosing a central question to Israelis as they approach elections.

The piece centers on the enduring teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who dedicated decades to warning the Jewish people about internal division. His message, rooted in historical analysis rather than politics, emphasized that the Jewish people are most vulnerable when they cease to see each other as part of a shared covenant and instead view one another as adversaries.

Rabbi Sacks frequently highlighted three pivotal tragedies in Jewish history as cautionary tales. The first is the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers, where jealousy and hatred led to betrayal and the enslavement of Jacob's descendants in Egypt. This familial conflict ultimately became a national catastrophe.

The Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in modern Jewish history.

— AuthorDescribing the significance and impact of the attack.

The second example cited is the fracturing of the kingdom after King Solomon's reign, which split into rival political entities, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Their internal divisions weakened them, eventually leading to their subjugation by foreign powers.

The Jewish people are most vulnerable when they stop seeing one another as members of a shared covenant and begin seeing one another as enemies.

— Rabbi Jonathan SacksSummarizing a core lesson from Jewish history highlighted by the Rabbi.

The most devastating instance, according to Sacks, occurred during the Second Temple era. Jewish society was deeply fractured into competing factions, a period the rabbis later described as characterized by "sinat chinam," or baseless hatred. While external threats loomed, internal strife ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem and nearly two millennia of exile. Sacks concluded that while numerous empires and enemies have vanished throughout history, the Jewish people have survived, with their near-destruction often stemming from internal discord.

sinat chinam, baseless hatred.

— Rabbis (described by author)Describing the internal divisions during the Second Temple era.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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