In the aftermath of 9/11, Rabbi Sheldon Lewis sought solace and a path to reconciliation in Jewish texts. Peacemaking is arguably the key pillar among Jewish values, and his new book, Torah of Reconciliation (Gefen Publishing House), seeks to reveal this primary value in diverse scriptural and rabbinical texts, revealing the rich, wise resources available in Judaism for the crucial task of peacemaking in the modern world.
While there are contradictory messages within tradition, there is an obsession with overcoming conflict and avoiding violence in the service of a world at peace. A people that has known repeatedly the agony of conflict has never stopped longing for and searching for the keys to security and tranquility.
Rabbi Sheldon Lewis received his rabbinic ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He was a student of Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel. After ordination he was a US Army chaplain, and served a year in Vietnam. He is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto, California.
Key themes from Torah of Reconciliation include:
– Letting Go of Hatred, Nurturing Love
– Judging Others with Mercy
– Self-Criticism
– Seeking and Granting Forgiveness
– Nurturing Empathy for the Other
The Torah explicitly forbids hating an Egyptian, emphasizes judging others with understanding, promotes self-reflection, and teaches the importance of forgiveness and empathy toward strangers. The text emphasizes that teshuva (repentance and reconciliation) is fundamental to creation itself.