Acute Angles: A Real Deal?
Dear Rabbi Ingram. There is so much division, anger and pain around this weighted hostage deal which nevertheless has seen, so far, seven hostages returned safely to their families. I would love to hear your thoughts. With blessings. Amanda
Dear Amanda,
Firstly I must make it clear that this column isn’t a halachic forum. The halacha regarding hostage deals, and in particular disproportionate exchanges, is very complex. The respective chairmen of the Charedi UTJ and Shas parties received a rabbinic directive to vote for the present deal. On the other hand, it was reported that 100+ rabbis from the Dati Le’umi (National Religious) sector came out against the deal. This reflects one highly significant aspect of the division in Israel that you cite.
You have, moreover, summed up very well the emotional maelstrom churning within the soul of every sensitive Israeli as a result of the present bitter-sweet hostage/exchange/ceasefire deal.
The human psyche is capable of holding on to a welter of emotions at the same time. On the one hand, we rejoice at the release of, so far, seven female hostages – who thank G-D appear in remarkable health considering their ordeal – while, on the other, we feel sick to the pit of our stomach at the fact that 30 Palestinian Arab criminals are being released for every Israeli civilian woman, elderly man or child while 50 terrorists are being released for every female Israeli soldier. (As for the non-aged males being held, nothing has yet been agreed in this first phase of the ceasefire.)
We are laden with happiness and with tears.
The release last Shabbat of four female soldiers, rather than civilians, (in violation of the agreement which demanded at least one civilian) took many by surprise but the cynical reasoning of Hamas is surely plain – they get more “bang for their buck”; with the release of female soldiers, they secure the freedom of more of their criminals!
Hopefully, the world, seeing how Israel has released so far nearly 300 violent radicals for seven innocent Israeli captives will appreciate the value Jews place on even one human life. “He who saves a single life … is considered by the Torah as if he saved the whole world!” (Sanhedrin 4:5).
Regarding the deal itself, however bitter we feel about its disproportionality, it is not for us in the Diaspora, to pass judgement. We cannot imagine the degree of pressure that must have been exerted upon Netanyahu by Trump who is used to getting exactly what he wants. No doubt, though, Bibi has gained some leverage out of the new US President as well. I am disappointed that some with whom I share an ideological affinity have seen fit to condemn from afar the Israeli Government for making the deal without knowing all the facts.
Truly it is still too early to comment meaningfully on this deal, particularly seeing as Hamas are, even at this early stage, testing the waters to see how far they can deviate from the agreement without repercussions.
I would not have dealt with this question at all at this stage were it not for the striking relevancy of a famous rallying call in this week’s Sidra. When, after seven devastating plagues, Pharaoh’s servants urge their monarch to consider at least releasing a section of Bnei Yisrael to worship G-D, the ruler cynically asks Moses (Exod. 10:8): Mi va-mi ha-holkhim? Who and who will go? Give me a very select list of names and I might consider your request. Moses (10:9) responds unequivocally. Bin’oreinu u-vizkeineinu ….bevaneinu uvivnoteinu, be-tsoneinu uvivkareinu. Our young and our old, our sons and our daughters and all our belongings!” No Jew will be left behind!
This deal will have proven real if, with the help of G-D, it can proceed to its three-stage conclusion whereby every remaining living hostage, young and old, son and daughter, woman and man, will be returned to the bosom of their families at long last.
As for the thousands of murderers and gunmen that Israel will, leda’avoneinu, be releasing in exchange …… well, to paraphrase a memorable saying attributed to the late Golda Meir, we are Jews and we value the lives of our captive brothers and sisters more than we loathe and fear those monsters.
May G-D protect us!