The Bible Says What? ‘The Israelites complained, so God burnt down their camp’
Rabbi Mark Goldsmith takes a controversial topic from the Torah and applies a progressive response
“The people took to complaining bitterly before the Eternal. God heard and was incensed: a fire of the Eternal broke out against them, ravaging the outskirts of the camp.” Numbers 11:1
We understand the devastating effects of fire that escapes control. From the recent murderous fire-bombing of a house in Salford to the tragedy of Grenfell Tower, forest fires in California and South Africa and the burning of synagogues on Kristallnacht, fire poses a grave danger to human life and property.
So what is God doing using fire to quell rebellion?
This part of the Torah is the section where the Israelites become desperate on their journey through the wilderness. They are demoralised, hungry and even willing to return to Egypt to slavery. They do what communities do when they cannot seem to find a way through: they begin to fight among themselves, not for the sake of the future, but for the sake of the egos of the community members.
Thereafter rise false prophets aiming to guide the people, spies of the Land of Israel who sap the people’s morale and the challenge to Moses’ leadership from his cousin Korach. Perhaps the fire on the edge of the camp is a metaphor for how the Israelites come close to destroying their own community.
Synagogues and Jewish organisations can easily do the same, when co-operating for a better future becomes complaining and backbiting. If they are not careful they can destroy themselves, making a place that no one would wish to join, or to lead. Perhaps it’s not God here who is the arsonist, but the complainers.
- Mark Goldsmith is a rabbinic partner at North Western Reform Synagogue (Alyth)
Listen to the Jewish Views podcast:
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
