“People have beautiful things to say about you, but you must die first.”
The above quote is attributed to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the great Russian philosopher, novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist, who devoted the major themes in his writing to life in 19th century Russia.
He was an outspoken critic of materialism and the inability of the society at large to become united, irrespective of social standing, wealth and peasantry.
Of course, herein lies the basis of Communism, which is a failed form of government. But the statement by Dostoevsky may also have a more generalised interpretation which could be of note for Israel.
When attending funerals and hearing eulogies we never hear bad things about the person being buried.
We hear about the good deeds, the legacy, the contribution to family and society and so forth.
Never a bad word, not even a criticism, never a comment about well-known undesirable acts during their lifetime.
As Dostoevesky wrote, people were too interested in their own welfare at the expense of the community.
It led to troubled, political, social and spiritual life in Russia, having a regressive effect.
We might interpret the words of the great Russian writer in a different, but meaningful way.
Dostoevsky spoke about life and death and the ultimate words at the time of death to personal growth and achievements.
Of people who dedicated their life to individual wealth and position, often at the expense of the community.
And this was why Russia was in a state of decline.
When people are far more intent to push their own personal welfare at the expense of society, the gap widens between rich and poor, religious and agnostic.
Can we learn from this example of how divisions in community beliefs and practices create the failure of a country to unite and thrive?
Here in Israel
In Israel, indeed throughout the entire Jewish world, we are experiencing extremely difficult times.
Israel has regularly been described as a country with varying values which often clash, yet when under military siege the entire country binds together.
This may be appropriate when the occasion arises, but it is a formula that faces a similar fate as experienced in 19th century Russia.
Here in Israel we live under a common umbrella applicable for all occasions.
The love of Judaism is the greatest asset we have so fiercely defended and preserved over thousands of years.
Not everybody follows the identical form of observance, but we are all Jews and are blessed to live in a Jewish country.
Given the disturbing threat of antisemitism spreading its ugly wings around the world, Israel today is probably the safest place on earth for the Jewish people to live.
But the attraction to come and live in Israel is somewhat diluted when we analyse the divisions in our community.
Mutual respect is of far greater benefit for Israel to continue to grow and to become the safest haven for Jews of all different levels of observance.
When we are prepared to find a way to live together with mutual respect for others with different values we become the living magnet for Jews living under pressing conditions elsewhere in the world.
Since the State of Israel was formally created in 1948, the bulk of Jews making aliyah came from oppressed Jewish life in numerous countries, but today the call is not to escape from being tortured or murdered in their homeland, but to experience the very best Judaism can offer in whatever form of observance they wish to follow.
Clearly, this is our sacred mission.
Unity of the Jewish people in Israel is the path to prosperity.
