OPINION: Dear Israel ambassador, this is why I’m standing outside your house

Dear Tzipi Hotovely

I have spent a lot of time near you recently, standing outside your house and your places of work, one of the few UK Jews supporting up to 300 Israelis protesting your government’s judicial changes.

Last week they even gave me a megaphone to read out their prepared statement but what I’d really like to add, from one religious Jew to another, is in this letter.

I was reminded by the last three parashot and last week’s Pirkei Avot, that life sometimes teaches you more Torah, Tzipi, than private study or teachers.

The parashot feature two Jews with different leadership styles, Pinchas (the Zealot) and Joshua (the Consensual Leader). Pinchas (called ‘zealous’ by the text) performs an extra-judicial killing with good intentions. God rewards him with “my covenant of peace” (Numbers 25.7-12).

However, our sages characterise him as someone who overrode due process, acting on “a law we do not teach” (Sanhedrin 82a) and note he next entered battle as priest not leader (Numbers 31.6; Sotah 43a), enjoined to consult properly before acting (Yoma 73a). The covenant in effect ensured no repeat of his Zealotry, binding Pinchas to be, as Pirkei Avot (1.12) says, “a pupil of Aaron, pursuing peace, loving his fellow man, and bringing them near.’

In contrast, it is Joshua who is chosen to succeed Moshe as leader because “he will take (the people) out and bring them in (Numbers 26.16-18).” Rashi’s 11th Century commentary describes him as a “leader who carries each person whatever their opinion.” This is “consensual leadership,” governing, in the words of the American constitution, with “the consent of the governed.”

The late Chief Rabbi Sacks commented (Covenant and Conversation) presciently that, “It is exceptionally dangerous to believe you have access to the mind of God and the right to act on his behalf. That is why legal and political processes exist, and why the zealot, who circumvents both, is a greater danger than the one he wishes to avert.”

The contemporary relevance is striking, for we have two prominent figures in Israel’s current political crisis, embodying the Pinchas and Joshua styles of leadership.

Israel needs more than talks. Why not pause the legislation, and set up a commission, like Canada did, taking evidence from all stakeholders, and agree an effective constitution

Simchah Rotman, the Chair of the Knesset Committee rushing through the legislation, says he is ‘doing what God says.’  Is this not Pinchas? President Herzog this week called for resumption of talks to build a consensus.

Is this not Joshua?

Israel needs more than talks. Why not pause the legislation, and set up a commission, like Canada did, taking evidence from all stakeholders, and agree an effective constitution, based on the Israeli Declaration of Independence, which polls show the vast majority of Israelis want? Indeed, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has called for Israel “to hold fast to the principles upon which it was founded.”

Tzipi, we are approaching Tisha B’Av, when we remember deep hate-filled divisions causing our long exile.

Would it not be timely to announce such a pause and such a commission?

One of Simcha Rotman’s former law professors quotes a study of 162 protest movements which found that when 3.5% or more of the population protested, they succeeded. Israel has reached this point.

Do not assume, Tzipi, that the lack of British Jews at demonstrations, means they support the changes. Many across the religious spectrum do not, but fear demonstrations here fuel antisemitism, although passers-by seem merely interested, and there has been no social media storm.

World Zionist Congress Vice-Chair, Yitzhar Hess, a tenth generation Jerusalemite, asks Diaspora Jews to join peaceful demonstrating Israelis. Perhaps we can take our cue from the London couple in their 80s, leaning on their sticks outside your embassy, Tzipi.

They were there for their daughter and grandchildren in Israel, doing what Jews have always done, looking out for Jews in other countries who feel their rights under threat from a government. Only this time the government is ours.

As we say each Rosh Chodesh, “Kol Yisrael Chaverim!”

Dr Sheldon Stone is an adviser to Stop Uyghur Genocide and a Bochrim b’Democratia supporter