I was brought up in the universalist tradition of Judaism. I believe that all human beings have the same intrinsic value and the same Divine dignity, and I believe that tikkun olam is the most important mitzvah Jews can do. At the same time, I don’t feel guilty for being more attuned to the suffering of my own, to be more affected by what happens to Israel than to other countries.
And that’s not wrong.
Solidarity works in concentric circles or not at all. Without caring for your own, you can’t care for others. You may believe you do, but you don’t. Caring for your family helps you learn about caring in general. You care about your children, then about your friends, then about your tribe, then about your people and then about the world. It doesn’t work the other way around.
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