I am deeply, deeply troubled by the state of our collective and individual souls.
Witnessing violence without serious, subsequent ritual (or at least emotional and psychological) mending, can scar the soul.
Abetting violence without serious, subsequent ritual (or at least emotional and psychological) mending, can scar the soul.
Committing violence without serious, subsequent ritual (or at least emotional and psychological) mending, can scar the soul.
Committing violence beyond that which is necessary further can scar the soul.
Giving in to a desire for revenge can scar the soul.
Denying one’s shadow can scar the soul.
Denying another‘s humanity can scar the soul.
Closing the eyes and ears and hardening the heart to suffering can scar the soul.
Being utterly complacent about one’s own righteousness can scar the soul.
Being part of a collective that abandons living compatriots to suffering and death out of fear of possible future consequences of saving them, can scar the soul.
Maybe this seems like a frivolous concern to a lot of people, especially compared to all the suffering so many have and are experiencing now. It is not. This is what perpetuates patterns of suffering and harm that echo throughout society and down through generations.
I don’t have to be a political or military expert to know there are times when violence is called for, and that preparedness on all levels – practically and psychologically – is vital. No animist can honestly advocate for complete nonviolence. But that means we must learn to mitigate its repercussions.
To the vast majority of people here, it looks absurdly naïve to suggest we have an obligation not to close our eyes and hearts to the suffering we are causing, even more so to strive for peace. I’m saying this upfront so people don’t think they have to inform me of it, or explain why, or explain how other souls are clearly in worse shape. Soul damage on both sides of a conflict doesn’t cancel out; if anything it’s cumulative.
Nothing that has happened over the past year, or is still happening on the collective level with no end in sight, distresses me as much as this. As a people, Jews – one of the collectives I’m part of – have not been in the position of inflicting so much harm in living memory, even as we have been on the receiving end of far more violence. We are in deep, dark waters here. I don’t have any brilliant suggestions to end with, just saying that it bears consideration, particularly now, as we enter the High Holiday season and the beginning of a new year. I pray we tend to this with all the gravity it is due.
*Photo: Final crescent of the month of Elul at sunrise.