To mark the beginning of the Jewish new year – Rosh HaShanah, The Next Century Foundation wishes the best to all. To reflect on this, William Morris LL.D, the Secretary General of The Next Century Foundation has released a podcast discussing the significance of ‘atonement’ which is a common practice observed during the Jewish new year. During these critical times faced globally, it would be only right to reflect upon the wrongdoings, injustices, malpractices and atone for them. Atonement and starting afresh to a better world, a kinder world is need of the hour.
Transcript:
Well, here we are again. And I guess it’s while I’m recording this on the 10th of October 2022. When you hear it, it’ll be a few days later, I guess. And I want to talk about atonement and new beginnings, because we’ve just had the Jewish New Year. Now, I don’t know whether you are aware of that. But we have and swiftly followed by the day of atonement for the Jewish people and I like that idea. National atonement, collective atonements, I also like the idea of individual atonement, and nations should atone for their crimes. I think we are obliged to try and love our enemies. And therefore, atonement is quite important. Israel and Egypt should both atone for stealing Gaza’s natural gas reserves. As happy Gaza would be, I suppose, the Singapore of the Mediterranean were to have access to its natural gas reserves, but they’re taken by both Israel and Egypt between them interesting. Is that cause for atonement for national atonement? Or, what would you say? The America, just pick one instance of America’s failings. The sanctions on the innocent in Lebanon, ostensibly, there are banking sanctions that are imposed to stop petitive constrain Lebanese banks that have been dealing with Hezbollah. But they crippled nation. Well, of course, it’s not only that, Lebanon has no government and has many things. But American sanctions on the innocent, not just in Lebanon, Lebanon in particular, I highlight them are one of the cruelest and most vicious acts for which America should atone. Britain should atone for undermining peace in Ukraine in my view, because Boris Johnson certainly insisted that the President of Ukraine, (to) not enter into peace talks with Russia when he was about to do so. And would it have made a difference? It mattered to Boris, I think despite the tub thumping of the world, I don’t think there’s going to be a swift and painless end to the Ukraine conflict. Well, forgive me, but I think the major international broadcasters and others journalists and so on, have something to atone for, for not reporting from the Russian side of the darnedest. But we don’t, and who’s to say we’re getting a full picture.
In my view, Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should atone for the war in Yemen. And millions have suffered near starvation as a consequence of that war. Iran should atone for undermining government formation in Iraq, which it is doing to this day. Turkey should atone for oppressing the Kurds. Within Turkey, towns like the Abacha are still under curfew and have been for a generation you can’t go out after 6pm. Turkey is the one of the but not unique, but one of the few nations that bombs its own people.
And the United Arab Emirates and Italy should atone for supporting General Haftar in eastern Libya. (No, we should.) We have all the nations of the earth actually have something to atone for, in my view. But then there’s the personal atonement. We should atone for failing in our duty to love unconditionally. We make love transactionally, I will love you if you love me and It’s natural, it’s human, but love should be unconditional. That’s, what it is when it comes from God. Covenant love. There is no greater failing and our failing to offer unconditional love. And we all fail in that regard. Because it’s the most difficult demand. But it’s nice that we spread joy to the maximum, like the old song. You got to accentuate the positive, limb man needs to negative latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mr. In between. He got to spread joy, up to the maximum bring gloom down to the minimum. Keep faith less pandemonium liable to enter on the scene. You know that one… To illustrate this last remark, Jonah in the whale Noah in the ark. Why did they do just when everything seems so dark? Well, they said you got accentuate the positive with unconditional love and compassion to enabling joy. That’s a great act of atonement. God doesn’t leave you. He’s always there ready to catch your hand and lead you on through your difficulty. So too, should we be with others who depend on us. We should want to walk with them through their joy and sorrow, and show them that we are with them and will not leave them and that we will be here for them. Wanting to rescue them in their time of trouble. And then we can walk forward into the new year, or at least the new year for Jewish people. We can walk forward into the new year. Fresh as the sunrise cleansed of our sins and start again. And that’s what is expected of you and of me as we strive to make a difference in these dark, difficult days. Thank you. God bless you all.
