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September 13, 2002/Tishri 7 5762, Vol. 55, No. 3
Teshuvah and tikkunEditorialOn Sept. 11, 2001, Arab terrorists attempted to drive a wedge not only between the Western World and the Arab World, but also between the United States and Israel, and between American Jews and other Americans.The diabolical effort failed - miserably. However, the past 12 months have tested our nation's moral compass. While we have steered clear of Balkanization - splintering into defensive ethnic, religious, racial and political enclaves - some of us have expressed our patriotism by scapegoating others. An initial backlash against Arabs, Muslims and those who look "Middle Eastern" - including the shooting death of Balbir Singh Sodhi of Mesa - has subsided somewhat, but suspicion and profiling continue to haunt many of us. When debating ways to maintain our safety and security against an elusive enemy, we must remain mindful of the primacy of preserving the civil liberties and civil rights of all Americans. If overall, our moral compass is directing us firmly toward the democratic ideals of justice and pluralism, fear and suspicion may divert us from following the clear and right path. Sept. 11 has had an added impact on the U.S. Jewish community. The empathic experience of a terrorist attack on our shores lessens the sense of separateness between Israeli Jews and those in the Diaspora. And American Jews feel new affinity with European Jews, who since Sept. 11 have been accosted on the streets and seen their synagogues set aflame. At this High Holiday season of reflection and self-assessment, as individuals we embrace teshuvah - returning, repenting for our sins. And as a community and a nation, we embrace tikkun, an aspect of teshuvah that means repairing, healing. Traditionally, during the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we heal spiritually, step by step. Now, the magnitude of the loss of Sept. 11 leaves a newly painful, indelible mark on our memories, as we identify with the many thousands who just a year ago lost mothers, fathers, spouses, children, friends and acquaintances to terror attack. We have begun to rally as a nation, to improve our security measures, to address the importance of protecting our democratic ideals, and to regain guarded hope and optimism. In the days and years that follow, we have the opportunity to continue healing - personally, communally, nationally - for as long as we must, always reaching toward health and happiness, prosperity and peace. |
