By Rhoda Smolow
The words I'm sharing with you today are one part PSA, and one part plea. And this particular plea is short for please: It's a cry for civility — especially important during this milestone anniversary of Israeli statehood.
The Jewish people are known for being so prone to debate that the phrase "two Jews, three opinions" doesn't feel like an insult, it feels apt. Our tradition is built around debate and discussion, around wrestling with our texts and sparring intellectually with one another. And this tradition is rooted in treating others with dignity and respect. The pro-Israel community — in Israel and the diaspora — can and must do better.
I'm writing now from Israel, with a moment of discord from my last trip this spring still on my mind. I had the honor of being one of a handful of national leaders representing Hadassah — and our nearly 300,000 members, supporters and Associates — at the World Zionist Congress. The WZC, which first met 126 years ago, is attended by Israeli dignitaries, Jewish leaders and Zionist delegates and is convened by the World Zionist Organization (WZO), where I represent Hadassah on the Executive Committee (Hadassah has 32 permanent delegates to the WZO and six seats on the General Council).
Hundreds of representatives from across the diaspora and Israel were in Jerusalem for the congress, united by our shared commitment to Israel. Among us were passionate idealists and pragmatists, from far right to far left, from ultra-Orthodox to adamantly secular, with tendrils spinning off in every direction.
In that room, the discord and vitriol reached such high levels that at least one first-time attendee was brought to tears. Incredibly moved by that person, I found myself compelled to take to the podium to address my fellow World Zionists Congress attendees and remind them of the urgent need to be kind to one another, a plea they met with a standing ovation. When members of the Zionist community model the worst behavior, we run the risk of becoming our own worst enemy — a threat to the bonds that tie us together.
This week, the US House of Representatives moved forward a bill to create a special envoy to advance the Abraham Accords, something Hadassah strongly supports. As the US and Israel push for normalized relations in the Middle East, let's take the sentiment of the accords to heart, especially the part that says: "We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith or ethnicity." This is something I deeply believe and that is worth fighting for, with diplomacy and courtesy.
This is the way forward. At Hadassah, we're a home for like-minded women (and men), united by our passion for Israel and healing the world, even though we don't all share the same politics. There are many ways of being a Zionist, encompassing a broad array of ideologies and perspectives. What we share is key: our belief in the right of Israel to exist as a democratic state that is home to the Jewish people. Our own founder, Henrietta Szold, found herself amid similar debates, including at the Eleventh Zionist Congress in Vienna after she established Hadassah in 1912. Her vast achievements for Israel were accomplished in part because she kept her cool and her vision, despite the dissonance.
Today, the forces of change and the claims of history weigh heavily on us. But we see democracy in action in Israel, with peaceful protests, week after week. Here in the US, we continue to lift up diverse Zionist voices as we celebrate Hadassah & Israel — Together at 75, including the 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know, which we introduced in May, and with our Inspire Zionism: Tech, Trailblazers and Tattoos symposium in late October.
Differing views and voices are important. Essential to democracy, they have the power to inspire new ideas, new ways of moving forward solutions to daunting challenges. As individuals and as an organization, we must help ensure these voices are heard, not shouted down. And at Hadassah, and in the broader community, this is especially true when it comes to Zionism. I hope I can count on you.