Gaza War Silver Linings
As the Gaza War grinds on, as the hostages continue to languish in underground tunnels (a new interpretation of Dante’s hell), as Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel (today), as Hamas continues to use innocent Gazans as human shields (Shifa Hospital), it is difficult to find silver linings. But there are always silver linings…here are some possibilities:
“Israelization of Haredim” – Haaretz writer Anshel Pfeffer observes one of the phenomena of this war is that Israeli Haredim (ultra-orthodox) who were the engines behind the creation of the most conservative government in Israel’s history that spawned the “judicial reform” crisis and quite possibly, the current Gaza crisis, are suddenly “discovering Israel, the State.” Pfeffer, quoting another Haaretz reporter, Aaron Rabinowitz, notes that “the war has brought with it not only thousands of Haredi men asking to enlist, but many more outpourings of solidarity with the broader Israeli society – including many volunteering initiatives for uprooted families and bereft communities. There have also been symbolic gestures such as the reciting in some Haredi congregations of the “Prayer for IDF Soldiers,” which previously was only read in non-Haredi synagogues.” While there are many subgroups within the Haredi community (as in all communities) and while those being “Israelized” are still said to be a minority, it is nevertheless a noteworthy and, in my view, positive development.
“Jewish awakening” among previously unaffiliated – As in previous wars in Israel, there is clearly a group of previously “unaffiliated” Jews, particularly younger Jews, who are experiencing an awakening of their Jewish identity framed in the context of both rising antisemitism and sympathy for Israel considering Hamas’ butchery. Again, this is a minority movement, but in an American (and global) Jewish community that has experienced substantial declines in all measurable forms of affiliation with Jewish institutions, this is another collateral benefit.
Turning a page in Israeli politics – it is possible that Israeli’s longest serving Prime Minister, “Mr. Security” aka Binyamin Netanyahu and his autocratic, theocratic coalition government, may finally lose their grip on the Israeli electorate. While certainly an unintended consequence of the Hamas War, the political crisis around judicial reform that had griped Israel for months, is history and many of Netanyahu’s most ardent supporters (including some of his own Likud Party ministers) are openly conceding that this epic disaster unfolding today is on Mr. Netanyahu.
Finally, from an American political standpoint, there is the remarkable scene of politicians from the far right to the far left uniting to support Israel in the face of gruesome terrorism. To be sure, this phenomenon has a very dark side as well (see campus antisemitism, Elon Musk, and confusion about “good people on both sides”). Nevertheless, at a time where there are precious few “bipartisan” issues, support of Israel at this time of unprecedented brutal terrorism, is a welcome development.
True change only comes in extremis (see an earlier Substack posting). Further, (just about) every cloud has a silver lining. Here are some perhaps positive things to consider as we continue to reel from this disaster.