Blogs

“Will you indeed sweep the innocent along with the wicked?”

Abraham’s challenge to the Eternal in this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira, echoes through the ages. Faced with the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham questions the justice of God’s actions. Surely, God would not kill everyone? Surely, the architect of humanity would not slay those who could not possibly be responsible for the actions of others in their community. If I can find fifty who are righteous, Abraham argues, will you spare the cities? 45? 40? As few as 10?

Abraham, like so many of us, cannot accept a scenario where the innocent should suffer because of the guilty.

In reflecting on Abraham’s moral dilemma, it would be impossible not to draw connections to the world we are living in today, a world that feels dramatically (and traumatically) transformed since Hamas unleashed its assault on Israel just after dawn on October 7^th.  So many innocent lives have been ripped away—babies, grandparents, fathers, sisters, mothers, sons… So many others kidnapped, their fates unknown; even babies and the elderly were not spared. As their stories continue to reach our ears and our eyes, we struggle to comprehend, and many of us are screaming inside. Babies? Kids at a dance party? Entire families?

In the images emerging from Gaza in the weeks that have followed, the grim truth is painfully evident. Innocent lives continue to be claimed, and images of their small, lifeless forms, wrapped in shrouds, flash across our screens—undeniable testaments to the death of innocents, swept up in the pursuit of the guilty.

The Israeli army, in its desperate bid to eradicate Hamas, faces an unfathomable dilemma. We’ve all heard the reports: Gaza is densely populated. Hamas commanders may be using innocent civilians as shields. The labyrinth of underground tunnels, known as the Hamas “metro,” runs underneath hospitals, mosques, apartment buildings, and refugee camps, so would-be targeted attacks on Hamas leaders lead to tragic consequences and the loss of innocent lives. Emotions run high as people point fingers, losing faith in governments, in peacekeepers, in the United Nations, in basic humanity.

Amidst the profound anguish and the echoing pleas for justice from around the world, it is crucial to acknowledge the nightmarish dilemma faced by those fighting an existential battle against an enemy that hides in the shadows among the innocents. It is equally crucial to acknowledge the rights of the innocent and to keep them at the forefront of our thoughts and our hearts. While the complexity of this situation cannot be underestimated, the call for compassion is more urgent than ever. Just as Abraham argued with God, fighting for innocents to be spared, we must continue to strive with all our might to reaffirm the humanity of those who want nothing more than to live—and let live.

I share my feelings on this neither to stir up conflict within our community nor with the expectation that everyone agree with my words.  As Jews we have always struggled with our sacred texts, plumbing them for the meanings that resonate with us, and Abraham’s plea challenges me on a profound and personal level. As I see it, it beckons us to confront the harsh realities of our world and reminds us of our collective commitment to protect the innocent, to foster understanding, to nurture peace. As we grapple with the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza and its ripple effects around the world, as we fear perhaps for our own safety and that of loved ones, may we heed the wisdom of Abraham’s question, seeking ways to bridge divides, heal wounds, free captives, and advocate tirelessly for a future where the innocent are spared, even as the guilty are brought to justice.

Wishing you Shalom this Shabbat and always,

Rebecca Abbate