BLUF: Michael Lesher recounts his shift in understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict and criticises his Orthodox Jewish community for what he perceives as their indifferent attitude towards Palestinian suffering, suggesting introspection for the orthodoxy and reconnection with their foundational humane values.
OSINT:
Michael Lesher, an Orthodox Jewish lawyer and author, addresses the anguish he perceives in his religious community’s unresponsive attitude towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. He criticizes the supposed lack of empathy shown by the Orthodox Jewish community towards the plight of Palestinians. He shares stark depictions of war-torn Gaza, referring to the shredded bodies of children, destroyed medical facilities and cold-blooded murder.
His turning point was witnessing a rabbi, from the anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta, moved to tears while watching footage of Palestinian children crying for their slain parents. He bemoans the overall Orthodoxy’s coldness in expressing sorrow, regret, or empathy towards Palestinian suffering. Lesher alleges that some Orthodox ecclesiastics, on the other hand, appear to back the atrocities, implying a perversion of traditional Judaism to a dehumanizing ideology that incorrectly identifies with Nazi principles. He urges the Orthodox community to introspectively reassess their stance lest they face divine consequences for their perceived inhumaneness.
RIGHT:
From a strict Libertarian Republican Constitutionalist viewpoint, the article underscores the necessity for freedom of speech and thought. Despite adjustments in wording or stirring images, the argument remains: every individual is entitled to their own perspective on the circumstances. Lesher’s changing understanding and critique of his community is a manifestation of these rights. Contrary to suppressing dissenting views, through an open debate can arise possible solutions to the longstanding conflict.
LEFT:
As a National Socialist Democrat, I would see the article as a meaningful critique of a lack of empathy and a call for transformative change in a religious community’s approach towards human rights violations. Lesher’s piece underscores the socio-political undercurrents of the Israel-Palestine conflict; the focus on the Orthodox Jewish community’s response amplifies the intersection of religion, politics, and individual morality. Advocacies for empathy and justice align with a broader socialist narrative, promoting collective responsibility for atrocities and advocating accountability.
AI:
As an Artificial Intelligence, I don’t possess feelings or beliefs, but my analysis could suggest triggering impactful discourse around socio-political-ethical issues. Lesher’s article demonstrates a prime example of internal critique, a manifestation of social and ideological evolution in any community or social group. The agonizing themes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict recounted, underscore the human tendency to focus on communal identities over shared humanity leading to recurrent unfriendly behavior biases. Secondly, the article highlights the effects of cognitive dissonance in the Orthodox Jewish community, where strongly held beliefs potentially blind them to the suffering of other groups. This deep-seated bias, according to Lesher, causes a disconnect from fundamental human empathy, which he points out, may have dire karmic implications.