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J. Ohayon: Jewish Perspectives on Human Rights
Written by Johana Ohayon
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Presentation at the Geneva Conference on Interfaith Cooperation
and the Protection of Human Rights and Human Dignity
Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, September 2, 2008
Let me introduce myself. I am Johana Ohayon, 27. I was born in Geneva. My father is a Moroccan Jew and my mother is an Iranian Jew. Thus, we have a Sephardic background — in other words, we’re Oriental Jews. The word Sephardic, meaning “Spanish” in Hebrew, refers to Jews with Spanish or Portuguese descent who have been in exile since the Inquisition throughout the Mediterranean and Eastern nations.
I’m more or less practicing my religion. I do celebrate all the Jewish feasts and I try to study the Torah, or Hebrew Bible, as much as possible. My personal opinion is that the study of the Torah has no direct connection to religion but is relevant to human identity. I distinguish between my religion, my faith, the Torah and my being Jewish. These four elements make up who I am, a Jewish woman.
Now, let us proceed with today’s topic. I would like to start by briefly explaining what Shalom means. This is the Hebrew word for peace, which consists of three letters (not counting the vowels): shin-lamed-mem.
Included in the name Shalom are various notions of peace. It can mean the peace among human beings, but also between God and man. Shalom also means the inner peace, i.e., the well-being of the individual.
This word is also used for greetings, particularly in Israel. It thus symbolizes the beginning and the end of something, its unity.
Actually, if we use the same three letters of the word, but pronounce shalem, it means “complete, wholesome.” We thus observe that all these notions put together make up the meaning of peace.
With this in mind, I would also like to talk about the human values that my religion has taught me. The most important celebration of Judaism is Shabat — the holy day, which means the seventh day of the Creation. It starts on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening. During this day, we live in true contemplation, it is a moment of joy and peacefulness as a family. We forget all our worries, the daily work and the materialistic tendencies, focusing more on spiritual and family values. It is a time of rest, of calm, which induces inner peace as well as respect for others and sharing.
Other feasts such as Yom Kippur or Sukkhot teach me forgiveness, self-reflection and humility. All these celebrations together bring stability and peacefulness into my life, as well as a broader mind.
Another value is central to me for peace to exist — that men and women respect each other. When we study the story of Adam and Eve in the Jewish tradition, we become aware of the connections between them, which are full of symbols and make their relationship so deep and unique. We witness here the birth of the first relation, and thus of intimacy and complicity. Contrary to the generally accepted idea, the couple of Adam and Eve perfectly embodies the notion of gender equality. They complete each step of their common history together. I’d like to go even further and discuss the creation of the world. This is a special moment where the waters and heavens are separated, where light appears and where mankind starts: Adam and Eve are without any nation or religion. They are the first human beings; it is the first love. This is a universal story that everybody can understand, because it is the origin of mankind. This is what Judaism reports, as well as Christianity and Islam for sure.
Yet, despite my passionate belief for this story, I always wondered, “What about other religions? What is the African version? How does the world start for Indians?” I doubt that all have the same explanation.
Because I question this episode, some have contended that my faith is not strong enough and that I have doubts about God. But I disagree. Why would a story which sounds true to me, automatically be true for all humanity? Such would be quite unlikely. Moreover, this would suggest that I alone have the truth and that other people are wrong!
To be able to have a blind faith in the holy scriptures is truly admirable, but leaves no room for questions, or for other opinions. All possibilities of communication and common understanding are then closed. There is no room left for doubt, for choice, for a possible evolution.
Actually, I wish I could also have heard other stories of the Creation, in order to better understand mine.
Finally, who is right? Who understood better? Is it so important?
I think it is essential to preserve one’s own religion, because it makes us who we are. But we should not forget that our faith is personal and does not necessarily represent the truth for everyone.
And that brings me to the central topic. We are gathered here today to talk about universal peace, whatever our religion is. We have the task to open together a road on which everybody may walk when they feel in danger. The question is this: How do we pave this road? What will be our law and our logic?
Since all our religions have different stories and different languages, how shall we understand each other and respect each other? Unfortunately, it is not enough to want to have peace. And I see no need for making a list of the common points among the religions. On the contrary, I believe that we shall make peace based on our differences.
The core of the matter is actually not religion or God. The problem is the human being. What can he do with the tools given him?
It is easy to love oneself, to be proud of one’s nation, to support one’s people, sometimes blindly. On the other hand, it is much more challenging to respect an individual with another culture and another story. We should start right now knowing each other, listening to each other. Let us not seek the truth but unity. Let us keep an open mind and remain humble.
I am therefore deeply convinced that through cultivating difference more than resemblance, we shall arrive at a common understanding where we walk together toward peace, among human beings, between man and woman, parents and children, and together with nature.