Much of what transpired during our latest election cycle will probably be forgotten within a few days, and certainly within in a few months. But some events have had more profound, dramatic and ethical implications that will continue to reverberate for some time. One such development was the swan song of Hatzionut Hadatit (the Religious Zionist Party), which joined forces with the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) and Noam (Pleasantness) parties to help it squeeze into the 24th Knesset. Make no mistake, these people are not Zionists, they are not religious, they will not empower Israel, and they will certainly not add pleasantness when they are sworn into office.
This fourth election within two years (coinciding with the exhausting coronavirus pandemic), has had several consequences. One of them is our collective fatigue and perhaps even indifference with regard to Israeli politics. Vanishing expectations have practically eliminated our capacity for disappointment. We have become accustomed to the cynicism and pettiness that have infected so much of our politics, and grown used to the irrationality, dysfunction, lies and character assassination. But the fact that we have become numb to all of the shamelessness, crass populism and incitement that we have witnessed does not make our situation normal or reasonable. We need to wake up.
Religious Zionism, for which the nature of Israeli society and the Jewish State were essential, and for which education was a central concern, is now yet another one of the prime minister’s playthings in his drive to form yet another coalition. The Talmud states that individuals bear responsibility for their own transgressions. Ben-Gvir is a racist who preaches violence. His behavior is unacceptable and cannot become acceptable. We must not normalize such behavior or consider it “just politics.”
I have no expectations of men like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, but I did have some expectations of those rabbis who helped pave the way to the Knesset for Ben-Gvir and his ilk, ostensibly in the name of “Jewish solidarity,” “love of Israel,” and “preserving the identity of the State of Israel.” These rabbis encouraged their followers to vote for a party that promotes desecration instead of holiness, that tarnishes the reputation of both Zionism and Judaism, and for whom Kahanism, racism, ardent hatred and arrogance are fundamental to their political platform. You have taught generations of students. How can you not have reflected more deeply upon your impact on them? You may feel empowered now, but your role in this election will be your own swan song.
Very soon we will be reading the Passover Haggadah, which teaches us that in each generation there are those who rise up against us to destroy us. We need not seek those enemies on the outside; we are doing a pretty good job of it ourselves.