The unifying force of peace

At ASH (Abrahamic Study Hall) we are convinced that life without war is the primary international requirement for the mental and material well-being of humanity, for the development and societal progress of every country, and for the full realization of the fundamental rights and freedoms of human beings.

Fundamental rights

Every just nation proclaims:

1. That the peoples of our planet have a sacred right to peace.
2. That safeguarding the right of peoples to peace and promoting its implementation constitute a fundamental obligation of every state;
3. That it must be ensured that the policies of states are directed toward the elimination of the threat of war, the renunciation of the use of force in international relations, and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means
4. That all nations and international organizations should make every effort to contribute to the implementation of the right of peoples to peace through the adoption of appropriate measures at both the national and international levels.

This is not a privilege of some, but must be a “human right” acquired at birth. Human rights can be defined as those basic standards without which people cannot live in dignity. They are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace, and their observance enables the individual and the community to develop fully.

Respect for human life and human dignity, can be found in every true religion and philosophies of the World.

Characteristics of human rights

1. Human rights do not have to be acquired, earned or inherited, they belong to people simply because they are human – human rights are inherent to each individual.
2. Human rights are the same for all human beings regardless of race, gender, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin. We are all born free and equal in dignity and rights: human rights are universal’.
3. Human rights cannot be taken away; no one has the right to deprive another person of them for any reason. People still have human rights even when the laws of their countries do not recognize them, or when they violate them (for instance, when slavery is practiced, slaves still have rights even if those rights are violated). Human rights are inalienable.
4. In order to live with dignity, all human beings are entitled to freedom, security, and decent standards of living at the same time. Human rights are indivisible.

In Holy Scriptures

In the third month of the year, Sivan, the third son of the family, Moses, originated a nation that could be divided into three parts: Kohen, Levi and Yisrael. The Torah, too, includes three parts: Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim ( Shabbat 88a), but what is the symbolism of the number three? Three represents unity.
If the number two represents division (two opposing forces, opinions or ideas), when a third “element” is added, we can “unite” the “two,” just as a mediator does. GOD gave us the Biblical Law in the third month to remind us that even though we see a world of contradictions, chaos and opposing forces, Scripture can give us the strength to unite spirituality and physicality.

The Talmud also speaks of two academic institutions that lived around the same time as Jesus, known as Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. These two schools of thought differed sharply on many issues, and the Talmud is full of their disagreements, yet these students were known to have such mutual respect that they could honor each other’s opinion while maintaining their own.

The natural human approach (or one might call it more animalistic, and less “elevated”) is that if I firmly believe that my opinion is true, there is no room for my friends to disagree. If I have evidence that something is bad for one’s health, and I sincerely care about the “other,” I do not want him to “fall” into that error, and I warn him firmly. But the way of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai was different, and unique; they did not compromise on their opinion, and they did not have to announce a “winner.” They were able to stand their ground in total mutual respect: This is true peace. This is true harmony.

These two very famous schools of thought of the past were able to maintain their position, albeit in total mutual respect: This is true peace. This is true harmony.

Conclusion

Even in our depths, we often feel that we have two opposing parts of us: the spiritual part and the materialistic part, the happy part and the sad part, the more serious part and the sillier part, and sometimes we feel as if we have to choose one.

Yet the lesson of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai is that true peace can only occur when we give space to both sides, with our love and respect as the third unifying force. We can honor both of these parts of us and let them coexist without belittling the other, without forcing them to yield to the other.

True peace can exist despite all the opposing forces that may exist simultaneously. Even within your unique being, there can be unity in the midst of diversity. On this Christmas Day of Jesus for Christians, this thought should be remembered, preserved and applied, to every “form” around us.