Siyum of Kiddushin: What's at Stake for the World in the War with Hamas

In this week’s episode of “Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today,” host Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman marks the completion of the order of Nashim in the Talmud, which covers topics related to women, marriage, and gender. Brackman creatively ties this milestone for Daf Yomi participants to an analysis of the current war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

He explains how the Jewish concept of marriage involves a man acquiring intimate exclusivity with a woman, while she relinquishes intimacy with other men. Brackman argues this notion of acquisition establishes important boundaries that protect against anarchy and “might makes right.” He emphasizes how fundamental the Jewish values of property rights and respect for boundaries are.

Brackman then contrasts this with the Palestinian view. He argues they make no counterclaim to the land, lacking the Jewish concept of being granted ownership by God. Brackman states groups like Hamas reveal a worldview completely disregarding boundaries by seeking to eliminate any Jewish presence through violence. He argues they feel entitled to take whatever they wish, lacking Jewish ethics around the sanctity of life.

In closing, Brackman argues the conflict represents a clash between the Jewish worldview that progressed humanity and primitive forces rejecting those values. He contends Israel, with property rights and human life embedded in its identity, must prevail over the darkness of Hamas.

Overall, this episode creatively connects the wisdom of the Talmud around marriage and gender roles with an analysis of the ideological foundations of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Brackman aims to show the timeless relevance of Torah values to making sense of today’s complex world.