Lies are Louder than Truth

In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" or "the more things change, the more they stay the same." This quote is playing loudly in my head this week as I try to absorb what is happening in the world. As we are nearly at the quarter mark of the twenty-first century and pretend that we are more enlightened than ever, we have more than regular reminders that while time has changed, people are essentially the same. The self-proclaimed judge, jury, and executioner of the so-called International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants to the Prime Minister and former Defense Minister of Israel for their alleged war crimes in managing the current war. It's hard to begin unpacking this development. Real war crimes are going on around the world. In Sudan, in the current civil war, there have been tens of thousands of people killed, including in mass killings, the raping of women and girls, the widespread looting of markets and homes, and the burning down of farms. In Ukraine, at least 2,406 children have been killed or injured since the escalation of the war nearly 1,000 days ago, according to the latest available verified reports. In addition to child casualties, which include 659 children killed and 1,747 children injured - amounting to at least 16 children killed or wounded every week - millions of children continue to have their lives upended due to ongoing attacks. It's essential to be mindful that the attacks from Russia to Ukraine deliberately target civilians. It is unheard of for Russia to send text messages to civilians in Ukraine informing them of any impending attack. I don't know of any military that does this tactic currently or in the past. There have been no arrest warrants issued to the leaders of Sudan or Russia. Israel, of course, does send communications to civilians in Gaza and Lebanon about impending attacks. Although the system is not perfect, it has saved countless lives. The WSJ, in an editorial this week, stated that "whose (Israel) military may have achieved the lowest ratio of civilian-to-combatant deaths in the history of urban warfare." The disconnect between the reality and the arrest warrant issued by the International Court in the Hague could not be more profound. In this week's Parsha, we learn again about how Avraham purchased the Cave of Machpeilah in Hebron. Avraham went to great pains to ensure that all elements of this transaction were above board as he feared that his descendants might be accused of thievery in their claim to its ancestral home. History has confirmed the worst fears of Avraham as his descendants are not only falsely accused of being occupiers and colonialists but also charged with war crimes in defending themselves from hostile and lethal adversaries. As the lies and accusations continue to mount, it's worth reviewing our weekly Parsha to be reminded of the facts. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch