Jul 23, 2024
9 min
Reaching global harmony
A summary of TJF Talks Episode #70
In a world often defined by division and discord, the Jewish experience offers a profound narrative of resilience, wisdom, and unity. The history of the Jewish people provides a model that can inspire and guide other societies. This is the core message of Rabbi Leo Dee, a man who, despite personal tragedy, advocates for unity and purpose. In a recent conversation on TheJewFunction Podcast, Rabbi Dee shared insights that illuminate the potential for Jewish traditions to contribute to global harmony and understanding.
The Jewish Story
The Jewish people have faced countless adversities throughout history. Yet, they have consistently emerged as a peaceful and cohesive community, embodying the values of tolerance and mutual respect. Rabbi Dee draws a parallel between the historical experiences of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, highlighting a crucial lesson: societies can evolve from periods of violence to peace, but this transformation requires guidance and a framework of values.
“In my book, I address how Jews effectively created the modern Western civilization,” says Rabbi Dee. “Human rights, freedom, and equality — these are values rooted in the Torah and have shaped the Western world. Our story is not just one of survival but of profound influence on the moral and ethical fabric of society.”
Rabbi Dee elaborates, “If you look at what human rights are, which really define Western civilization, they are basically Jewish values coming from the Torah. Freedom is a concept that comes from the Torah. Martin Luther King, when he refers to freedom, he talks about ‘let my people go,’ because the archetypal story of freedom is from our book.”
The Jewish story is one of transformation. “We, the Jewish people, went through a violent period about 3,000 years ago under King David, where we killed thousands of people. And then we got through that, and we became quite peaceful. The Christians went through the Crusade era, a thousand years ago, killed hundreds of thousands of people and they pretty much got through it, although I don’t quite know how to classify the Holocaust. And now the Muslims are going through their crusade period which they call jihad and they have the potential to kill hundreds of millions of people because the toys have gotten a bit more sophisticated,” Rabbi Dee explains.
He continues, “I think that it is the duty of everybody else, but especially the Jews, to get them through this phase very quickly, because we don’t have the hundred years that the Crusades took or the time that it took us in the era of King David.”
Integrating Diverse Viewpoints
One of the most remarkable aspects of Jewish tradition is the Talmudic dialectic approach, which encourages the integration of diverse viewpoints. This tradition of debate and discussion, where multiple perspectives are not only tolerated but celebrated, offers a blueprint for modern societies grappling with polarization and division.
Rabbi Dee emphasizes the importance of this approach: “If you want diversity, you speak to Jews. ‘One Jew, two opinions’ is not just a saying; it’s a reality. Our ability to differ dramatically within the same people and still remain a cohesive community is an amazing tool for survival.”
This tradition of embracing diversity is exemplified in the Jewish legal tradition, where even opposing opinions are preserved and studied. The famous example of Hillel and Shammai, two leading rabbis whose opinions often clashed, highlights the value of considering and respecting opposing views. This approach fosters a culture of critical thinking and mutual respect, essential qualities for any thriving society.
“One of the greatest things in terms of Jewish debate is to quote your opposition and to discuss it before you explain yours,” Rabbi Dee notes. “Hillel always used to mention Shammai’s opinion before his own. In other words, the greatest thing in terms of Jewish debate is to quote your opposition and to discuss it before you explain yours. Not to just trample over him and badmouth him.”
This approach to debate is not only intellectually enriching but also fosters a deep sense of respect and understanding. “This autonomy, the ability for Jews to differ quite dramatically within the same people and still be the same people, is an amazing tool for survival. Because of diversity, equity and inclusion policies that were basically about getting rid of Jews, Jews are down to 4% at Harvard, and there are only 30 religious Jews. So what they’ve done by getting rid of Jews is basically get rid of the diversity. What they didn’t realize is that you have two or three Jews, you’ve got a huge amount of diversity of opinion.”
A Call for Leadership
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most challenging and persistent conflicts in the world. Rabbi Dee’s perspective on this issue is both pragmatic and hopeful. He believes that the Jewish people, with their rich history of overcoming adversity and fostering peace, have a unique role to play in resolving this conflict and setting an example for the world.
“I’m optimistic,” Rabbi Dee states. “I think that when these guys and girls come back from the battlefront in five years' time, the government will be set up by those people who worked together. We need a government that understands the importance of unity and cooperation, not just within Israel but with our neighbors as well.”
Rabbi Dee’s optimism is rooted in the belief that education and inspiration are key to fostering a culture of peace. He underscores the importance of respecting and valuing every element of Israeli society, from religious to secular, as each plays a crucial role in the nation’s overall puzzle.
A Vision for Peace
“The Jewish people have a unique responsibility in this conflict,” Rabbi Dee asserts. “Our history of overcoming adversity and promoting peace gives us a unique perspective and a unique role in resolving this conflict. We need to lead by example, showing that it is possible to overcome deep-seated divisions and work towards a common goal.”
He continues, “We need to inspire people to want to change. They need to understand what the vision could be as a people. It’s very important that people understand, Jews understand, we wouldn’t want everybody to be just religious in the traditional sense, or everyone to be non-religious, or Haredi, or whatever. Every single element of Israeli society is absolutely critical to the total puzzle.”
Tragedy and Clarity: Rabbi Dee’s Personal Journey
Rabbi Dee’s life took a dramatic turn on April 7th of last year when his wife, Lucy, and his two children, Maya and Rina, were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist during Passover. This unimaginable tragedy has only strengthened his resolve to pursue unity and purpose. His journey from a director of private equity in London to a rabbi and public speaker is a testament to his commitment to transforming the world through Jewish values.
Reflecting on his personal loss, Rabbi Dee shares a powerful insight: “When you go through such a tragedy, your mind is cleared from a lot of the noise. All the rubbish that you deal with on a day-to-day basis, all the hatred that you have for other people, all the white noise that takes place in your mind all the time that you may not be aware of — it gets deleted. Suddenly you see life with complete clarity.”
This clarity has driven Rabbi Dee to embrace and promote the values of forgiveness and unity. He recounts how, during the shiva for his wife and daughters, he was able to reconcile with people he had been estranged from, realizing that holding onto anger was only draining his energy.
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
“One of the strange things that happened during the shiva, because we had many visitors, is that before this crisis I had about four people who I wouldn’t speak to. You’ve got people you’re ‘broigus’ with, you can’t bear to speak to them. Something I did or something they did to me, whatever it was, I can’t remember. If you see them in the supermarket, when they turn around, you go the other way. You don’t want to bump into them, you don’t want to have to look at them in the face,” Rabbi Dee recalls.
He continues, “When this tragedy happened, all four of them came to the shiva and all they wanted from me was a hug. And all I wanted to do was to give them a hug. I didn’t have any capacity for anger, having them in this status, even though they weren’t there. It was just taking energy away from me, which I desperately needed. So when they came to the shiva and I was able to hug them and just say ‘it’s all forgotten,’ it was a tremendous relief for me. And I think they must have felt the same way, because they came, they must have felt guilty for whatever reason.”
The Path Forward: Embracing Purpose and Unity
Rabbi Dee’s message is clear: to create a better world, individuals must pursue their purpose with determination and integrity. He urges people to not wait for a crisis to find clarity but to actively seek and fulfill their potential now.
“If you feel you have a purpose that you’re not fulfilling, go out and fulfill it now,” he advises. “Because if you don’t, and if it happens to be the purpose you’re meant to be fulfilling, God will find ways of making it happen and it won’t be pleasant. Better to not get to that point.”
Rabbi Dee’s journey and message are a powerful reminder of the strength and wisdom inherent in Jewish traditions. By embracing diversity, fostering unity, and pursuing one’s purpose, we can all contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world. The Jewish experience, with its rich history and profound values, offers a beacon of hope and a model for resolving conflicts and building a better future for all.
“Unity is not about everyone being the same,” Rabbi Dee explains. “It’s about respecting and valuing each other’s differences and working together towards a common goal. This is what makes a society strong and resilient. This is what makes a family strong and resilient.”
Rabbi Dee’s insights into the nature of unity are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. “The Jewish people have always understood that our strength lies in our diversity. We have different opinions, different ways of looking at the world, but we are all part of the same people. This is what has allowed us to survive and thrive for thousands of years.”
The Role of Education
Education plays a crucial role in fostering unity and understanding. Rabbi Dee emphasizes the importance of teaching these values to the next generation. “We need to educate our children about the importance of unity and diversity. We need to teach them to respect and value each other’s differences. This is the foundation of a strong and resilient society.”
Rabbi Dee’s approach to education is holistic, encompassing not only academic knowledge but also moral and ethical values. “Education is not just about learning facts and figures. It’s about learning how to live a good and meaningful life. It’s about learning how to be a good person, a good friend, a good neighbor. This is what we need to teach our children.”
Conclusion
Rabbi Leo Dee’s message is one of hope and inspiration. Through his personal journey and his deep understanding of Jewish traditions, he offers a vision of a world where unity and diversity coexist, where individuals pursue their purpose with determination, and where societies thrive through mutual respect and understanding.
“In a world often defined by division and discord, the Jewish experience offers a profound narrative of resilience, wisdom, and unity. This is the core message of Rabbi Leo Dee, a man who, despite personal tragedy, advocates for unity and purpose.”
Rabbi Dee’s journey and message are a powerful reminder of the strength and wisdom inherent in Jewish traditions. By embracing diversity, fostering unity, and pursuing one’s purpose, we can all contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world. The Jewish experience, with its rich history and profound values, offers a beacon of hope and a model for resolving conflicts and building a better future for all.
Share:
In a world often defined by division and discord, the Jewish experience offers a profound narrative of resilience, wisdom, and unity. The history of the Jewish people provides a model that can inspire and guide other societies. This is the core message of Rabbi Leo Dee, a man who, despite personal tragedy, advocates for unity and purpose. In a recent conversation on TheJewFunction Podcast, Rabbi Dee shared insights that illuminate the potential for Jewish traditions to contribute to global harmony and understanding.
The Jewish Story
The Jewish people have faced countless adversities throughout history. Yet, they have consistently emerged as a peaceful and cohesive community, embodying the values of tolerance and mutual respect. Rabbi Dee draws a parallel between the historical experiences of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, highlighting a crucial lesson: societies can evolve from periods of violence to peace, but this transformation requires guidance and a framework of values.
“In my book, I address how Jews effectively created the modern Western civilization,” says Rabbi Dee. “Human rights, freedom, and equality — these are values rooted in the Torah and have shaped the Western world. Our story is not just one of survival but of profound influence on the moral and ethical fabric of society.”
Rabbi Dee elaborates, “If you look at what human rights are, which really define Western civilization, they are basically Jewish values coming from the Torah. Freedom is a concept that comes from the Torah. Martin Luther King, when he refers to freedom, he talks about ‘let my people go,’ because the archetypal story of freedom is from our book.”
The Jewish story is one of transformation. “We, the Jewish people, went through a violent period about 3,000 years ago under King David, where we killed thousands of people. And then we got through that, and we became quite peaceful. The Christians went through the Crusade era, a thousand years ago, killed hundreds of thousands of people and they pretty much got through it, although I don’t quite know how to classify the Holocaust. And now the Muslims are going through their crusade period which they call jihad and they have the potential to kill hundreds of millions of people because the toys have gotten a bit more sophisticated,” Rabbi Dee explains.
He continues, “I think that it is the duty of everybody else, but especially the Jews, to get them through this phase very quickly, because we don’t have the hundred years that the Crusades took or the time that it took us in the era of King David.”
Integrating Diverse Viewpoints
One of the most remarkable aspects of Jewish tradition is the Talmudic dialectic approach, which encourages the integration of diverse viewpoints. This tradition of debate and discussion, where multiple perspectives are not only tolerated but celebrated, offers a blueprint for modern societies grappling with polarization and division.
Rabbi Dee emphasizes the importance of this approach: “If you want diversity, you speak to Jews. ‘One Jew, two opinions’ is not just a saying; it’s a reality. Our ability to differ dramatically within the same people and still remain a cohesive community is an amazing tool for survival.”
This tradition of embracing diversity is exemplified in the Jewish legal tradition, where even opposing opinions are preserved and studied. The famous example of Hillel and Shammai, two leading rabbis whose opinions often clashed, highlights the value of considering and respecting opposing views. This approach fosters a culture of critical thinking and mutual respect, essential qualities for any thriving society.
“One of the greatest things in terms of Jewish debate is to quote your opposition and to discuss it before you explain yours,” Rabbi Dee notes. “Hillel always used to mention Shammai’s opinion before his own. In other words, the greatest thing in terms of Jewish debate is to quote your opposition and to discuss it before you explain yours. Not to just trample over him and badmouth him.”
This approach to debate is not only intellectually enriching but also fosters a deep sense of respect and understanding. “This autonomy, the ability for Jews to differ quite dramatically within the same people and still be the same people, is an amazing tool for survival. Because of diversity, equity and inclusion policies that were basically about getting rid of Jews, Jews are down to 4% at Harvard, and there are only 30 religious Jews. So what they’ve done by getting rid of Jews is basically get rid of the diversity. What they didn’t realize is that you have two or three Jews, you’ve got a huge amount of diversity of opinion.”
A Call for Leadership
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most challenging and persistent conflicts in the world. Rabbi Dee’s perspective on this issue is both pragmatic and hopeful. He believes that the Jewish people, with their rich history of overcoming adversity and fostering peace, have a unique role to play in resolving this conflict and setting an example for the world.
“I’m optimistic,” Rabbi Dee states. “I think that when these guys and girls come back from the battlefront in five years' time, the government will be set up by those people who worked together. We need a government that understands the importance of unity and cooperation, not just within Israel but with our neighbors as well.”
Rabbi Dee’s optimism is rooted in the belief that education and inspiration are key to fostering a culture of peace. He underscores the importance of respecting and valuing every element of Israeli society, from religious to secular, as each plays a crucial role in the nation’s overall puzzle.
A Vision for Peace
“The Jewish people have a unique responsibility in this conflict,” Rabbi Dee asserts. “Our history of overcoming adversity and promoting peace gives us a unique perspective and a unique role in resolving this conflict. We need to lead by example, showing that it is possible to overcome deep-seated divisions and work towards a common goal.”
He continues, “We need to inspire people to want to change. They need to understand what the vision could be as a people. It’s very important that people understand, Jews understand, we wouldn’t want everybody to be just religious in the traditional sense, or everyone to be non-religious, or Haredi, or whatever. Every single element of Israeli society is absolutely critical to the total puzzle.”
Tragedy and Clarity: Rabbi Dee’s Personal Journey
Rabbi Dee’s life took a dramatic turn on April 7th of last year when his wife, Lucy, and his two children, Maya and Rina, were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist during Passover. This unimaginable tragedy has only strengthened his resolve to pursue unity and purpose. His journey from a director of private equity in London to a rabbi and public speaker is a testament to his commitment to transforming the world through Jewish values.
Reflecting on his personal loss, Rabbi Dee shares a powerful insight: “When you go through such a tragedy, your mind is cleared from a lot of the noise. All the rubbish that you deal with on a day-to-day basis, all the hatred that you have for other people, all the white noise that takes place in your mind all the time that you may not be aware of — it gets deleted. Suddenly you see life with complete clarity.”
This clarity has driven Rabbi Dee to embrace and promote the values of forgiveness and unity. He recounts how, during the shiva for his wife and daughters, he was able to reconcile with people he had been estranged from, realizing that holding onto anger was only draining his energy.
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
“One of the strange things that happened during the shiva, because we had many visitors, is that before this crisis I had about four people who I wouldn’t speak to. You’ve got people you’re ‘broigus’ with, you can’t bear to speak to them. Something I did or something they did to me, whatever it was, I can’t remember. If you see them in the supermarket, when they turn around, you go the other way. You don’t want to bump into them, you don’t want to have to look at them in the face,” Rabbi Dee recalls.
He continues, “When this tragedy happened, all four of them came to the shiva and all they wanted from me was a hug. And all I wanted to do was to give them a hug. I didn’t have any capacity for anger, having them in this status, even though they weren’t there. It was just taking energy away from me, which I desperately needed. So when they came to the shiva and I was able to hug them and just say ‘it’s all forgotten,’ it was a tremendous relief for me. And I think they must have felt the same way, because they came, they must have felt guilty for whatever reason.”
The Path Forward: Embracing Purpose and Unity
Rabbi Dee’s message is clear: to create a better world, individuals must pursue their purpose with determination and integrity. He urges people to not wait for a crisis to find clarity but to actively seek and fulfill their potential now.
“If you feel you have a purpose that you’re not fulfilling, go out and fulfill it now,” he advises. “Because if you don’t, and if it happens to be the purpose you’re meant to be fulfilling, God will find ways of making it happen and it won’t be pleasant. Better to not get to that point.”
Rabbi Dee’s journey and message are a powerful reminder of the strength and wisdom inherent in Jewish traditions. By embracing diversity, fostering unity, and pursuing one’s purpose, we can all contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world. The Jewish experience, with its rich history and profound values, offers a beacon of hope and a model for resolving conflicts and building a better future for all.
“Unity is not about everyone being the same,” Rabbi Dee explains. “It’s about respecting and valuing each other’s differences and working together towards a common goal. This is what makes a society strong and resilient. This is what makes a family strong and resilient.”
Rabbi Dee’s insights into the nature of unity are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. “The Jewish people have always understood that our strength lies in our diversity. We have different opinions, different ways of looking at the world, but we are all part of the same people. This is what has allowed us to survive and thrive for thousands of years.”
The Role of Education
Education plays a crucial role in fostering unity and understanding. Rabbi Dee emphasizes the importance of teaching these values to the next generation. “We need to educate our children about the importance of unity and diversity. We need to teach them to respect and value each other’s differences. This is the foundation of a strong and resilient society.”
Rabbi Dee’s approach to education is holistic, encompassing not only academic knowledge but also moral and ethical values. “Education is not just about learning facts and figures. It’s about learning how to live a good and meaningful life. It’s about learning how to be a good person, a good friend, a good neighbor. This is what we need to teach our children.”
Conclusion
Rabbi Leo Dee’s message is one of hope and inspiration. Through his personal journey and his deep understanding of Jewish traditions, he offers a vision of a world where unity and diversity coexist, where individuals pursue their purpose with determination, and where societies thrive through mutual respect and understanding.
“In a world often defined by division and discord, the Jewish experience offers a profound narrative of resilience, wisdom, and unity. This is the core message of Rabbi Leo Dee, a man who, despite personal tragedy, advocates for unity and purpose.”
Rabbi Dee’s journey and message are a powerful reminder of the strength and wisdom inherent in Jewish traditions. By embracing diversity, fostering unity, and pursuing one’s purpose, we can all contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world. The Jewish experience, with its rich history and profound values, offers a beacon of hope and a model for resolving conflicts and building a better future for all.
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