Statement of Need
1. ISRAEL
Before October 7, 2023: Prior to October 7, 2023, several rabbis issued warnings regarding the societal schism resulting from the judicial reform strife. In his new Sefer, (“The Jewish State, Vision for Unity in Israel and Why the World Needs It,”) Rabbi Doron Perez offered visionary insights: ”the need to find a recipe for Jewish unity... is of critical importance;” .... “It is impossible to separate the external historico-political circumstances of the Jewish People from their internal moral and spiritual state.”
After October 7, 2023: our Israeli sisters and brothers rallied around the common cause of helping one another cope with the loss of soldiers and the fate of the hostages. The most common question was “What can we do to preserve the current unity (Achdut)?” A recent study from the Menomadin Center for Jewish and Democratic Law, reported that (i) “72% of participants believed that internal divisions in Israeli society increased the chances of the Hamas attack on October 7;” (ii) “an increasing number of Israelis see a critical need for unity.”
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2. USA
Recently, a US historian wrote that “the Idea of an ‘American Jewish Community’ is a Myth.” Also, a Chair in Jewish Studies wrote: “Oct. 7 has revealed long-held divisions between American Jews and Israeli Jews... Within national politics, Jewish communal debates and even around our own dinner tables, we experience divisions and fractures that cause deep and persistent pain. The trend of American Jewish disaffection from Israel must be addressed urgently for the sake of world Jewry.”
Addressing Sinat Chinam through education and collaboration.
PATH TO BUILDING JEWISH UNITY
The proclivity toward building Jewish unity in Israel and the Diaspora creates a historical opportunity to confront the notorious Jewish disunity disease which our Sages identified as "Sinat Chinam" (baseless hatred) after the destruction of the Second Temple. Since then, for several centuries, Jews had no diagnostic tools or treatments for Sinat Chinam which turned into an intractable ailment. We just could not overcome an enemy we did not understand. Fortunately, that is no longer the case.
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The two books “Jewish Unity In An Age Of Sinat Chinam,” and its Hebrew version “Hamasa LeAchdut Israel Al Yedei Tikkun Sinat Chinam” introduced novel teachings, such as:
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Existence of two types of Sinat Chinam: Personal and Group Sinat Chinam which have distinct origins, treatments, and consequences. While personal Sinat Chinam which destroys families and friendships, group Sinat Chinam destroys whole communities in the Diaspora and has the potential (Hass VeShalom!) to destroy our people in Eretz Yisrael.
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Hidden Hatred: Contrary to common belief, by focusing on “hidden” hatred (Vayikra 19:17), the Torah commandment puts a person in a “bein-adam-laMakom” situation. This fact opens the path to a BediAvad method to repair the corrupting effects of hatred on three avenues of Avodat Hashem: Torah study, Kabbalat Ol Malchut Shamayim, and Tefillah.
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Prevention: The book introduces also the Lechatchilah method to prevent the evolution of “hidden” hatred to Sinat Chinam and protect us from chronic violation of the Torah prohibition.
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Yetzer Hara: The book provides guidance on how to deal with the strategies of the Yetzer Hara.
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Prevention of Antisemitism: Conclusive historical evidence shows that when group Sinat Chinam erupts and spreads, it triggers Antisemitism.
WHY A WOMEN’S INITIATIVE
Educating requires understanding our learners. With the advent of social media, the Torah world became fully aware of the distinctive attributes of women’s teaching and learning which are uniquely suited to overcome obstacles to curbing Sinat Chinam: (i) Because hatred erupts subconsciously, acknowledging “nascent” hatred in our lev requires introspection and self-awareness, and “women have a natural mastery of this inner level of life.” (ii) As soon as it erupts, “hidden” hatred destroys human empathy making a person insensitive and “achzar” (cruel). Population studies indicate that women exhibit more empathy than men.
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In addition, women’s teaching and learning encourages participation, creates learning communities, and promotes life-long education. These attributes are essential to a stepwise approach to overcoming personal and group Sinat Chinam.