Page 35 - Jewish News_July-2020

COMMENTARY July 2020 35

By the skin of our teeth

On Shavuot we celebrate the rev- By Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, Community Chaplain
elation of the Torah at Sinai. On Sha- arried for 5,000 years, a rious, yet artful title? From the Book he survives only by something that ties testifies to our strength of character
vuot we rejoice that the Torah teaches New Jersey husband and of Job, whose protagonist’s unfaltering doesn’t exist, what he is really articu- and resilience. We are history’s ulti-
us proper behavior and respect and Mwife along with their two faith is permitted by God to be ruth- lating is that it is his sheer will, self- mate survivors.
concern for all. children and maid have, with virtually lessly tested by an ironfisted prosecut- faith and refusal to allow his spiritual But though we appear to have time
no margin for error, escaped a series ing attorney-like figure named Satan integrity to be defamed even in the face and again escaped destruction by the
of disasters from the Ice Age to the (“the accuser”). of terrible suffering that made the dif- skin of our teeth, it was actually our
modern era. Af- Like Wilder’s play itself, the idea ference. teeth themselves, firmly rooted and
ter each one, they of teeth possessing skin is fiction. This Surviving by the skin of one’s teeth forged through terrible trial that was
sought to rebuild explains that, while the Hebrew b’or must have been keenly felt in ancient the crucial factor. Therefore, it mat-
their community she-nai literally means by or with “the times. Imagine how often a famine was ters less today whether Jews believe in
from ruins. skin of my teeth,” many scholars as- avoided only by late-arriving rains, or God or not than whether they continue
In telling the sert the term must either refer to Job’s when a deadly plague that threatened to believe in their figurative teeth, an
story of human- enamel or gums, or that the true mean- an entire society suddenly moved on, evolved bulwark of defiance, resource-
kind through this ing is beyond determination. or times a huge swarm of insects de- fulness and hunger for justice. We have
family’s everlast- But if teeth skin isn’t real, why did scended on fields that had been har- cut them on more adversity than any
Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz ing experience the Book of Job’s author choose such vested only hours before. Yes, God other people, yet still achieved might-
of it, Thornton Wilder’s absurd yet an implausible dental attribute to con- would be thanked for these outcomes, ily. And the world is better for it.
instructive allegory, The Skin of Our vey that life can often include extreme- but so would a people’s own resolve in Like the family in Wilder’s play,
Teeth, features slapstick, burlesque, a ly close calls? How many us of haven’t continuing to sow and reap despite all we remain an eternal people because
Bingo game that audience members had situations when we barely missed the possible tribulations that could be- we possess the power of reinvention.
can participate in and other zany ele- being in a serious accident or made it fall them. Our bite, in the best sense, retains its
water, thought to be linked to Jewish ments. Drawing fantastical connections to a hospital with little time to spare, Jews, especially, appreciate how power for good and the promise of a
practices of ritual purity,” IAA archae- between a seemingly normal suburban or could have suffered serious misfor- near they’ve come to experiencing more enlightened, caring humanity.
ologists said. (Amanda Borschel-Dan, existence and momentous biblical, tune if something hadn’t changed at the decimation. Think of the Roman con- Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as a
Times of Israel) mythological and world events, the last second? How many of us haven’t quest of the Holy Land, the Crusades, Community Chaplain and Director of
play won the 1943 Pulitzer Prize for uttered the words: “There but for the Inquisition, Holocaust, and wars the JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program. His
NEW STUDY: 70 PERCENT Best Drama and continues to be staged grace of God go I?” How do we ac- modern State of Israel has fought just position is underwritten by The Jewish
OF CORONAVIRUS CASES often today. count for managing to beat the odds? to exist. That we emerged again and Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
IN ISRAEL STARTED IN U.S. But where did Wilder find his cu- Perhaps, when Job expresses that again to rebuild devastated communi-
More than 70% of Coronavirus patients
in Israel were infected by a strain that Incorporating Jordan Valley and settlements
originated in the U.S., according to a
new study published by Dr. Adi Stern of into Israel proper
the School of Molecular Cell Biology
and Biotechnology at Tel Aviv Univ. By Harold M. Halpern
The remaining 30% of infections
month ago, rivals Benjamin
in Israel were imported from Belgium A tached to the Plan is a conceptual map as illegal and that it ends the possibil- claims to the contrary. The PA and Jor-
(8%), France (6%), England (5%), Netanyahu and Benny Gantz showing the areas, connecting roads, ity of a two-state solution. In this view, dan will still act with us, as such action
Spain (3%) and 2% each from Italy, the agreed to a coalition govern- etc. More detailed maps are being pre- Israel becomes one state absorbing all also is their protection from Hamas.
Philippines, Australia and Russia. ment. Their agreement provides that pared. the Palestinians and no longer able to Terrorists are our common enemy.
Stern and his team of research- dealing with the Coronavirus is its The PA and Israel are to negotiate be both a democracy and a Jewish state. “The remaining 70% of the West
ers mapped the spread of the virus by priority for six months. Gantz agreed the details of implementation during Polls indicate that a majority of Is- Bank will be under PA day-to-day con-
decoding the genomic sequence of the with one exception. The government the next four years. In the meantime, raelis support annexation. In their mind trol. Peace will come when the Pales-
Coronavirus strain in Israel and compar- could consider from July 1 on, whether Israel may proceed with annexation. It is the PA rejection of past offers of al- tinians recognize our right to be in the
ing it to 4,700 genomic sequences taken to incorporate the Jordan Valley and is not subject to negotiation with the most the entire West Bank followed by Middle East as a Jewish country and
nd
from patients around the world. (Maay- all West Bank settlements into Israel PA, but it may not enlarge or create the 2 intifada and terror within Israel. develop their land into a viable entity.
They have little hope of a peace agree-
Annexation does not mean the end of
new settlements for four years.
proper (annexation).
an Jaffe-Hoffman, Jerusalem Post)
During the three elections of the Netanyahu immediately applauded ment in their lifetime. Their primary two states.”
past year, Netanyahu promised he the U.S. for its support for annexation interest is security. Control of the Jor- I believe that as of today there are
would annex the properties, removing without mention explicitly of a Pales- dan Valley is essential to prevent ter- sufficient votes in the Knesset for ap-
them from any claim of the Palestinian tinian State. Gantz, with a bit of equiv- rorism. proval of annexation. It will not be
Authority (PA) ocation, approved the Plan subject to Some in Israel, including the mili- unanimous. Some may fear heightened
for inclusion in a consultation with Jordan and European tary, oppose annexation. They urge it terrorism, even the collapse of the PA
Palestinian State. nations. isn’t necessary. Israel is in control now and Jordan, replaced by Hamas or oth-
Practically Netanyahu is eager to move as of the Jordan Valley, enabling it to be er extreme groups. Others may fear it
FUNERAL SERVICES speaking, annex- quickly as possible while the window as secure as it would be if annexed. ends a two-state solution and, on the
Why rock the boat? Annexation may
other end, some may fear the creation
of opportunity is open. He wants to
ation could never
take place with- prevent the danger that time and chang- make security more difficult. of a Palestinian State if annexation is
out U.S. explicit ing international politics may close the Netanyahu answers, “The action is approved.
Only history will inform us wheth-
The Area’s ONLY Jewish Owned & Operated Funeral Home Harold M. Halpern or tacit approval. window. lawful. It is our historical heritage. No er a decision to annex or not was a cor-
The PA declared the Plan as dead-
Historically, ev-
other country has a claim to the land.
ery U.S. administration opposed uni- on-arrival, affording no basis to negoti- We acquired possession in defending rect judgment.
lateral action by Israel until President ate. It and Jordan strongly denounced ourselves against the attack of the PA, Harold Halpern is a retired attorney
Specializing in local burial, out-of-state transfers, Trump presented his Peace Plan. annexation as illegal, taking land be- Jordan and others. Under International in Lakewood Ranch. He is a board
Law, those fighting an aggressive war
member of the American Association
longing to the Palestinians. They termi-
The Plan proposes that the Jordan
and burial in Israel Valley and all Israeli settlements in the nated security cooperation with Israel, lose all claims to land gained by the of Lawyers and Judges and of the West
West Bank be annexed by Israel and which helped quell terrorism coming country attacked. Now it is time to Coast Chapter of the American Jewish
that the remaining 70% of the West from the West Bank and Jordan. make it clear that the Jordan Valley and Committee. He also is a columnist with
• REFORM • CONSERVATIVE • ORTHODOX • Bank become a Palestinian State. At- Much of the world sees annexation settlements are ours forever and end all the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Sarasota County Democrats issue joint resolution
• Chevra Kadisha
• Pre-need Trusts condemning local crimes of anti-Semitism

• Cremations By Jayne Wallace for Sarasota County Democratic Party

• Free Burial Plots 2426 Bee Ridge Road alling the horrific defacement white supremacists.” denounce and condemn anti-Semitism for government agencies to “designate
Led by SCDP Chair JoAnne
at Sarasota’s Temple Emanu-
for Veterans/Spouse Sarasota, FL 34239 CEl last month as a part of the DeVries and SCDJC President Jerry in any form. This includes denounc- funding for the special security needs
of Jewish institutions, schools and
ing anti-Semitism politically wherever
“long history of anti-Semitism that ex- Fleischer, the resolution – adopted on it arises…consistent with Democratic service organizations caused by the
tends beyond physical acts of violence, May 13 at SCDP’s monthly member- Party values and principles condemn- increasing number of threats since the
24 Hour Information at (941) 955-1075 Michael, David, Pati and Steven Gross discrimination and even genocide,” ship meeting – was created in reaction ing intolerance, bigotry and racism.” 2016 election,” and “strongly encour-
the Sarasota County Democratic Party to the painting of Nazi swastikas on the The resolution calls for several ac- age social media companies like Face-
HebrewMemorialSarasota.com (SCDP) and the Sarasota County Dem- building. Fleischer said, “We must re- tions to be taken by others including: book and Twitter to allocate resources
law enforcement to “hold the in-
ocratic Jewish Caucus (SCDJC) have
for the monitoring and removal of
spond to denounce and condemn in the
‹
jointly issued a resolution, connecting strongest possible terms any form of dividual that carried out this act posts that advocate, promote or sup-
the vandalism to “the reckless rheto- racism and bigotry based on religion, accountable” port hate crimes, violence and discrim-
ric of…Trump and those in power that race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sex- ‹ public and private schools in Sara- inatory actions against Jews and other
have fanned the flames of bigots and ual identity or orientation, as well as sota County to “implement diver- minorities.”
The Sarasota County Democratic
What do you think? sity…(and) mandatory Holocaust Jewish Caucus was established in Feb-
education”
The Jewish News wants to know! ‹ “the Sarasota County Board of ruary of this year. It is one of several
County Commissioners, Florida
caucuses and clubs devoted to special
Send an email to jewishnews18@gmail.com. Legislature and U.S. Congress (to) interests of the Sarasota County Demo-
draft, pass and enact further hate
cratic Party.
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