Winnowing

Separating the grain from the chaff

I have been well aware over the last month and more of the lines being drawn between the different sides in the war between Israel and Hamas. Of course, there have always been relatively clear sides but now it seems to be calling out to people from across the world, and they are making it clear who and what they support.

From my perspective, this is a good thing. It should be clear where people stand. However, it is deeply disturbing to see seemingly normal people, some well educated, supporting Hamas and its atrocities. It is not even that they are calling out Hamas and supporting the Palestinian people. They just put everything into one big basket, everyone on the Palestinian side is right no matter what actions they have taken. 

Over the last few weeks we have (re)read the stories of creation and the beginnings of the family of Israel. In Hebrew you call it a process of “berurim", winnowing, separating the grain from the chaff. In this context, it is best understood as a process of clarification.

After Avraham begins his journey, we are presented with Yishmael and Yitzhak as his heirs. Yishmael moves on and Yitzhak remains. Then we have Esav and Ya’akov, the children of Yitzhak. Esav sells his birthright and moves on and Ya’akov remains.

At this point, the family is consolidated and it becomes clear that Ya’akov’s 12 sons will continue Avraham’s journey and form the foundation of the People of Israel. 

In a way, we are continuing the process of “brurim”. Let those who chose to stand with Hamas and revel in their atrocities do so. Let those who stand with Yisrael stand up and be heard. 

One of the most profound effects that the events of October 7th, and since, have had on me has been an awakening to the words of Psalms. How is it possible that lines written thousands of years ago are so pertinent, speak of what we are going through today and touch my soul so deeply? It is as if I have never really read them before. There is a message in Psalms 83 that reads: 

שִׁ֖יר מִזְמ֣וֹר לְאָסָֽף׃

A song, a psalm of Asaph.

אֱלֹהִ֥ים אַל־דֳּמִי־לָ֑ךְ אַל־תֶּחֱרַ֖שׁ וְאַל־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ט אֵֽל׃

O God, do not be silent; do not hold aloof; do not be quiet, O God!

כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה א֭וֹיְבֶיךָ יֶהֱמָי֑וּן וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֶ֗יךָ נָ֣שְׂאוּ רֹֽאשׁ׃

For Your enemies rage, Your foes raise their heads.

עַֽל־עַ֭מְּךָ יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ ס֑וֹד וְ֝יִתְיָעֲצ֗וּ עַל־צְפוּנֶֽיךָ׃

They plot craftily against Your people, take counsel against Your treasured ones.

אָמְר֗וּ לְ֭כוּ וְנַכְחִידֵ֣ם מִגּ֑וֹי וְלֹֽא־יִזָּכֵ֖ר שֵֽׁם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עֽוֹד׃

They say, “Let us wipe them out as a nation; Israel’s name will be remembered no more.” (Psalm 83: Sefaria, Metzuda Tehillim)

The process of clarification has made it very clear what the true goal of Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and all those supporting them is, the blotting out of the name of Israel. These people are not the first to pursue such evil. However, again the Psalms come to teach us not to despair. That what we see unfolding before us holds paths of redemption:

מַה־גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יְהֹוָ֑ה מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃

How great are Your works, God, how very subtle Your designs!

אִֽישׁ־בַּ֭עַר לֹ֣א יֵדָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל לֹא־יָבִ֥ין אֶת־זֹֽאת׃

A brutish man cannot know, a fool cannot understand this:

בִּפְרֹ֤חַ רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ כְּמ֥וֹ־עֵ֗שֶׂב וַ֭יָּצִיצוּ כׇּל־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן לְהִשָּׁמְדָ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַֽד׃

Though the wicked sprout like grass, though all evildoers blossom, it is only that they may be destroyed forever. (Psalm 92: Sefaria, Metzuda Tehillim)

Meir