The City of Bet Shemesh, an example of a diverse city but also stifled by infighting and tense between Ultra-Orthodox and Secular Jews, enjoyed some soothing words by a universal figure who knows a word or two of how to bridge gaps between different cultures. A lesson to be learned by all communities, in Israel and abroad.

Whereas almost every global power had endeavored to attack the Jews, “the only people who truly have the capability to destroy the Jewish people are the Jewish people,” Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the retired Chief Rabbi of the UK & Commonwealth, told an estimated 700 people gathered at the Feigenson shul in Nofei Aviv, a community of English speaking immigrants in Beit Shemesh, Sunday night.

According to a detailed report on the Jewish Press website,  Lord Sacks argued that God’s reputation has been enhanced and glorified through the establishment of State of Israel.

Rabbi Sacks pointed out that “Shem” in Hebrew has two meanings: “Name” and also “reputation”. Hashem is therefore “God’s reputation” – how he is perceived by humans. Chilul Hashem is where God reputation is sullied; and Kiddush Hashem is where his reputation is enhanced in the eyes of people. Rabbi Sacks said the ultimate Chilul Hashem is galut – exile – of the Jewish people. In our defeat, humiliation, degradation, slaughter and dispersion, God himself looked weak, apparently either unwilling or unable to protect his own people. By the same account, the establishment of the State of Israel is a huge Kiddush Hashem.

Addressing diversity at a local level, Lord Sacks raised the challenge to the audience, primarily Anglo national religious, that bridging between the secular, on the one side, and the ultra-orthodox on the other would enhance  the name of G-d in Beit Shemesh.

He drew the parallel to Jacob’s ladder between heaven and earth – and that the City’s residents can be a ladder – even though this involves being stepped upon to make progress, although it is highly uncomfortable.

“Rabbi Sacks urged the audience to avoid getting into conflict with either side in these disputes, even when we ourselves come under attack. Our function should be to inject love, respect and healing, into the community popularly characterized as fraught with dispute and friction,” writes David Morris, who attended the event. “For individual Jews, we make a Kiddush Hashem whenever we do a Chesed (act of kindness) and whenever we respond to attack with restraint, understanding and love for our fellow Jews.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)