Will a New Israeli Left Arise from the Ashes of the Old?
Peace became the left’s byword, and peace had become synonymous with terrorism.
December 14, 2022
“You will give truth to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham.”
In kabbalistic thought, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are associated, respectively, with the divine attributes of lovingkindness, strength, and truth. The prooftext for these correspondences, which eventually became commonplace, is Micah 7:20, which begins (addressing God), “You will give truth to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham.” But, Ben Greenfield notes, Genesis shows Jacob as practicing deceit: first by disguising himself as his brother Esau to take his blessing, and then by outmaneuvering his avaricious father-in-law Laban. Passivity, even weakness—rather than strength—seem to characterize Isaac. And Abraham does at times display kindness, but:
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Login or SubscribePeace became the left’s byword, and peace had become synonymous with terrorism.
The current hierarchy gives the most rights to Muslims, and the fewest to religious Jews.
And 2023 may well be worse.
“You will give truth to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham.”
The caves of the Judean Desert were a refuge for more than one set of Jewish rebels.