Director of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine
Representatives
of Ukrainian Jewish organizations, on behalf of the Jewish community of
Ukraine, are advancing the initiative to make an appeal to the civil society of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In this appeal, we request support for
Ukraine’s entry to an Association with the European Union.
The
united #Jewish_community of Ukraine fully supports Ukraine’s aspiration towards
stability, prosperity and successful development. With all our heart, we wish
for a swift end to political, economic and social crises.
At
the same time, the relations between Jews and politics have always been
complicated, on the one hand, but on the other hand, they have been quite
straightforward. And I would like to express my opinion on this subject.
Historically,
Jews first took part in politics when over 3,000 years ago they decided that
they should be ruled by a king, and created a system of state administration.
From that moment politics took a firm place in the life of the Jewish people.
Today
the majority of Jews live outside their historical homeland. How should they
then feel about the politics of the countries that they live in? In what way
should they position themselves
and their lives?
In
the Talmud, in the treatise of Avot, our scholars warn: “Be wary with the
authorities, for they only become close to a person for their own needs, they
pretend to be friends when it is advantageous for them, but will not help a
person in difficult times.” (Avot 2:3). But on the other hand, the treatise
also states: “Pray for the prosperity of the government – for if it were not
for fear [of punishment], people would swallow one another alive” (Avot 3:2).
How can these two such different points of view be explained?
The answer is simple and lies on the surface: undoubtedly, as
law-abiding and conscientious citizens, we support the course of development of
the country that we live in. At the same time, it is not recommended that Jews
living outside Israel intervene in political processes, with the exception of
cases when the policies of the state are directed towards crimes against
humanity.
Examples of how the Jews tried actively to influence the
politics of the state are quite tragic. The most famous of them, and the
closest to us, is the example of Trotsky (Leib Davidovich Bronshtein). He
fought against state power of Russia, took part in the creation of the Red
Army, was a minister and chairman of the Revolutionary military council of the
RSFSR, then the USSR, and so on. And in May 1940, by the order of Stalin and
with the assistance of the renowned Mexican artist Siqueiros, he was killed by
the NKVD secret agent Grigulevich. As we know, the good intentions of Trotsky
and his colleagues did not end in success, including for the state.
Jews
who consider themselves to be the citizens of the country where they were born
and where they live, whose language they communicate in, should not take part
in any internal conflicts whatsoever. This intervention is fatal for them.
Jews
must assist the spiritual prosperity of nations. Perhaps this is one of the
reasons that they dispersed. For thanks to the Jews, the world learned of such
laws as: thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not bear false
witness, thou shalt not commit adultery etc.
It
is the Torah that gave the world such concepts as mercy and charity, and
fairness towards all living creatures.
Jews,
regardless of their place of residence, must observe their own traditions. A
shift to other values that differ from our traditional ones will always lead
the Jewish people to new sufferings. And
we have observed numerous examples of
this.
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