Preparedness for Peace: Greatest Boon to Mankind is Highest Ideal in Judaism

Julius T. Loeb, “Preparedness for Peace: Greatest Boon to Mankind is Highest Ideal in Judaism,” Reform Advocate (Chicago, IL), Feb. 23, 1940. https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/refadv/1940/02/23/01/article/68 

Preparedness for Peace

Greatest Boon To Mankind is Highest Ideal In Judaism

By Rabbi J. T. Loeb

    Peace, the greatest boon to mankind, is the highest ideal in Judaism. The sweetest term in all human language is Shalom. Which, according to the Sages, is the one vessel holding all the blessings of life. With it, one may have everything; without it, one can have nothing at all. 

    Our ancient teachers have thus declared: Great is Shalom, since it is the very name and attribute of God; all the prayers and benedictions of Israel are concluded therewith. And it is the only virtue which man is obliged to seek after and pursue; as it is written, “Seek thou peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34, 15).

    The meaning of this is clearly defined, that man may not be secure anywhere as long as peace is disturbed in any place known to man. And a solemn lesson we may learn therefrom, that in the sad situation of the present time, when the very foundations of constituted society are shaken by incessant warfare and bloody strife, all efforts of humanity should be concentrated upon the restoration of peace. 

    In time of war prepare for peace. Such reverse paraphrase of the popular slogan may well be in order to-day. Because I feel that the making of peace is a task of supreme magnitude which requires a vast deal of thoughtful consideration and planning ahead. 

No Make-Shift Methods 

    No peace can ever be achieved by improvised, easy-make-shift methods and ways. Witness thereto is the Versailles Treaty of 21 years ago, which left behind the bad taste of bitterness and wormwood, covert and open hostility and the nurturing of grudge and cruel revenge. 

    When the 14-point peace-plan of Woodrow Wilson was cast aside, and the United States withdrew from the scene of action ere peace had been completed, the stage was set for a new series of bitter conflicts and upheavals in Europe. 

    I still remember how in that hey-day of the Armistice, in November, 1918, everybody was rejoicing, people dancing in the streets, kissing each other. Gaiety filled the air. But they forgot one thing; and that is, to meet the seriousness of the situation in the readjustment of peace. 

Civilization At Stake 

    Now the situation is a desperate one. Dark and gloomy is the aspect all around. The question that is uppermost in the minds of many to-day is how to save the destiny of civilized mankind; how to snatch the human race from the talons of Satan the destroyer. In America the one problem occupying public attention is how to keep America out of the European war. Sad but true, the average American thinks in terms of isolation, seclusiveness, if not aloofness. A sort of “holier than thou” attitude. O, let them, overthere, fare as they have deserved. Little do they dream of the fact that whatever happens over-there is reacting with shocking force upon the life and destiny of ourselves here, as upon all the indwellers of the earth. Play ostrich is not the wisest thing for America at this critical time. 

    Happily we have a man of broad mind and vision at the head of this government to-day. A man who can grasp the full meaning of the situation, and who has the moral courage to apply the remedy in the best possible way. 

    It was President Roosevelt who foresaw and forewarned the American people against another war in Europe, and who fearlessly pointed to the European dictators as those responsible for the havoc and upheaval in Europe and the spread of horror in all parts of the world. 

    To criticism of President Roosevelt from various quarters for joining the Vatican in the peace-movement, we will say, that it matters nothing as to who is in the lead when the question of peace is involved. I hold that the question of world peace is too important for party politics, or dividing lines between classes, races or creeds. And it is perfectly right and reasonable that the most outstanding personalities, as are President Roosevelt and Pope Pius XII, whose voice and word are reckoned with, and who wield the largest influence over the classes and the masses, that they should take the lead in bringing about peace. 

Religion Unites Mankind 

    It is quite natural that President Roosevelt in his sincere efforts for peace, should have turned to Religion as the one redeeming grace, seeing that diplomacy had failed, and that his former attempts of direct communication with the ruling powers had borne no fruit. 

    Religion is the one bond that unites all mankind under the fold of one universal Father and God. Religion remains the only avenue of escape from the threatening overthrowal of the entire scheme of civilization. Religion is the only power that is apt to curb human passions and furies, and put a stop to wholesale murder and devastation. 

    Our sages of the Mishnah, in the outset of their Code of Ethics, had laid down three fundamental principles upon which the world may exist. They are: Truth, Justice and Peace. The crowning effort of man is Peace. But when man has swerved from the path of duty, and has broken the restraints of the all-embracing Law of Truth and Righteousness, he has torn down the very foundation of Peace. 

Self-Determination 

    With such a man as President Roosevelt at the helm, the matter of peace may be regarded as being in safe hands. Both the President and the Pope of Rome are surely aware that aside from the belligerent nations there is still a third party to the bargain; namely, the small peoples who have been ruthlessly torn away from home and utility, robbed of their possessions, and left to be the helpless vassals of cruel tyrants and self-willed dictators. Those small nations must be restored to an independent national life and self-determination. 

    And with them all, let it not be forgotten, there is that over-suffering Jew, who must once and for all time be lifted out of degradation and captivity. The Jews must be freed from oppression and continuous onslaught of tyrants. The Jews after this war must have a share in the adjustment of peace. They should no longer be regarded as derelict, outcast and alien in the lands of their sojourning. And then, and only then, will the world have peace. For, by a mysterious Providence, it was so destined, that the position of the Jews is intermediary and reflecting the status of mankind generally. Their lot is interwoven with that of all the existing nations and states. 

Pre-requisites 

    Two pre-requisites would be necessary for rehabilitation of the Jewish people, and for the good of the world. First, repatriation of the Jews in Palestine, the land covenanted to them from of old, and newly rebuilt now by the hands of the Jewish pioneers. That land should be theirs to have and to hold, as of right, and not by mere sufferance. 

    Secondly, the safeguarding and fulfillment of minority rights for the Jews on a par with minorities of all other nations and creeds. Without such provision there can be no rest nor peace in the world at any time. Civilized beings from whatever nationality or caste will travel and settle in any place by their own choosing, and there should be no restrictions against the foreign born; no oppression of the stranger anywhere, if for no other reason than his differing faith, race or nationality. 

    The world cannot yield to the Hitler plan of corralling people like so many species of beasts, secluding and segregating the races of man, extolling the Aryan superman, and branding as inferior all those who belong to other races and creeds. Hitlerism, like an evil plague, must be stamped out. 

    In spite of overwhelming sorrows and darkness covering the earth, the Jews still believe in a speedy redemption, still hope for the happy outcome of it all. The time may not be far distant when Jewish aims along with the aims of other oppressed people shall be carried into fulfillment. Jewish individuality, dignity and natural rights shall be preserved everywhere, with the Jewish national homeland restored, and a new era of universal righteousness and peace.