It is said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. When philosopher George Santayana wrote a version of these words in the early 1900s, he was hoping to write a treatise to convince people to act with morality without the need or influence of a divine or supernatural being. And yet, this week (and every week), our learning of history is deeply rooted in the divine.
Genesis 1 tells us that “In the beginning, God created…” and then details all of the acts of creation for the next six days. It seems like God had a relatively predictable system. God would speak, and the object of God’s speech would be created; the sea and land, fish and birds, all flora and fauna came into existence at God’s command. Then, with God’s last act of creation, God changed the pattern. God spoke human beings into existence and then addressed them. God says “p’ru ur’vu u’malei et ha-aretz…” “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28). From the very beginning, humanity was different than the rest of creation, because it was only humanity that was given a mission, a purpose for being by our creator. Everything else was simply created, we were animated.
Like a fairytale puppet or an engineered robot, we were created with a purpose in mind. For the most part, the purpose is well known (if not widely accepted). “Be fruitful and multiply” is another well known phrase throughout our culture. But I wonder how many people know the end of the verse. “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and master it; and rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the living things that creep on earth.” Our job is not just to inhabit the earth, but to “master” it, to “subdue” or “conquer it” and every other part of creation.
This week especially, it is hard to hear or read such extreme and aggressive terms. With the attacks and violence happening in Israel and Gaza. It has been hard to separate fact from speculation, see the videos, and to wonder what might come next. Jews and people everywhere are watching the unfolding situation with sadness, confusion, and anger. And at times, with rockets flying and Israeli reservists donning their uniforms, the question arises: will there ever be an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? What does peace even look like?
Perhaps, some of you share my morbid speculation, wondering if we have taken our divine purpose too far. When God instructed the first humans to master the earth we began with curiosity and protection. Unfortunately, we know that conflict is inevitable in our world. And we strive to resolve that conflict with coalitions, accords, and cooperation. But what happens when words and partnerships are not enough? What happens when the need to protect becomes the need for aggression? Have we lost sight of our true purpose?
Terrorism, murder, senseless violence, and philosophies of hate are never okay, never acceptable. These actions and their perpetrators must be answered, that in no uncertain terms we will not stand idly by as the blood of our brothers and sisters in Israel cries out. And I pray, that this new war is over swiftly. I also pray that every combatant, every military and political leader, every person experiencing and watching the violence remembers the humanity that is too often caught between a bullet and its target. Civilians, children, festival goers, the injured and the innocent are not simply collateral damage. They are our fellow human beings. They remind us of our own humanity. They remind us of our own divine spark that calls us to justice, compassion, and peace. They remind us that the goal is indeed peace, not vengeance. And they remind us that when we lose sight of that goal, we lose our humanity.
As we find ourselves in this moment in history, we pray that it is the last war, the last act of terrorism, the last time when we question if peace is achievable. We pray that a moment like this will never be repeated and that our common humanity will always be at the front lines.