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Equal Rights Started with Abraham and Sarah
A Torah scroll. Photo: RabbiSacks.org.
Few revolutions have shouted louder about equality — or practiced it more selectively — than the French Revolution. As Alexis de Tocqueville later observed in his study of that turbulent era, “The French nation is prepared to tolerate … those practices and principles that flatter its desire for equality, while they are in fact the tools of despotism.”
In 1789, the streets of Paris rang with the cries of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité! It sounded like the dawn of a new moral age, born out of years of indulgent corruption and indifference by the French king and his aristocratic associates.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was hailed by its revolutionary authors as humanity’s most perfect charter of freedom. Except — as soon became painfully clear — the word “man” in the title meant quite literally only men; women were barred from becoming citizens.
To be clear, this didn’t land well. Thousands of women, including the fearsome fishmarket Poissards, all fiercely loyal to the Revolution, had marched to Versailles from Paris in October 1789, demanding bread and justice. As they gathered outside, they presented a petition calling for full equality. The newly formed National Assembly simply ignored it.
A few brave voices did try to challenge the exclusion of women. The philosopher Nicolas de Condorcet and the feminist pioneer Etta Palm d’Aelders appealed to the National Assembly to grant women the same civil and political rights as men.
Condorcet put it bluntly: “He who votes against the rights of another — whatever that person’s religion, color, or sex — has henceforth repudiated his own.” But for all its lofty rhetoric, the Revolution had its limits. Their pleas were dismissed, and the march for “equality” rolled on without half the population.
Then, in 1791, Olympe de Gouges, the scandalous playwright and flamboyant pamphleteer, decided to expose the absurdity of the Revolution’s double standard. She published the satirically pointed Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen, a transparent rewrite of the men-only manifesto.
“Woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights,” she declared. With biting sarcasm, she observed that women could be guillotined for opinions they weren’t even allowed to express: “If woman has the right to mount the scaffold, she must equally have the right to mount the rostrum.”
Her audacity sealed her fate. Two years later, the Revolution that had promised equality sent her to the guillotine.
The man behind this extraordinary hypocrisy was Maximilien Robespierre, known to all — without a trace of irony — as “The Incorruptible.” He had begun as a fierce opponent of capital punishment, denouncing it as inhumane and unworthy of a civilized nation.
But as the Revolution gathered pace, Robespierre enthusiastically embraced the guillotine. First, the king and queen were executed, then anyone deemed a “traitor to the Revolution” — many of them his former allies. The erstwhile champion of virtue became its most zealous executioner, reduced to a despotic murderer.
His “Reign of Terror” descended into the “Great Terror” until, inevitably, Robespierre himself was dragged to the very guillotine he had glorified. The Revolution he had championed finally devoured its own moral prophet.
Every age has its Robespierres — people who loudly preach justice and identify threats, while in reality serving only themselves. The faces have changed, but the pattern remains. Today, they come dressed for television and curated for social media, but they are the same moral frauds who, in every generation, manufacture enemies and thrive on paranoia.
Tucker Carlson thunders about freedom but gushes over autocrats and neo-Nazis. Candace Owens rails against victimhood even as she builds a brand based on grievance. Nick Davis claims to defend the oppressed although he finds every excuse for his favored oppressors.
At the other end of the spectrum, Zohran Mamdani and AOC deliver moral lectures while refusing to condemn the chant “Globalize the Intifada,” while Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker livestream moral outrage for millions, though their moral clarity seems to blur significantly whenever the topic is Hamas.
This week, it hit me just how differently morality is projected in the narratives of the Torah compared to the modern moral code shaped by the ideals of the French Revolution. At the beginning of Parshat Chayei Sarah, Abraham mourns Sarah, his equal partner in every way.
The passage opens with an unusually phrased verse (Gen. 23:1): “And the life of Sarah was one hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years — these were the years of Sarah’s life.” Rashi observes that the repetitive phrasing means all of Sarah’s years were equally good — not because her life was easy, but because her faith, integrity, and moral strength remained constant.
More importantly, Abraham’s reaction to her death — and the Torah’s deliberate framing of her life — make it clear that Sarah was not some kind of footnote to Abraham’s mission. She was his full partner, his equal in every respect.
The Midrash teaches that the beautiful hymn Eishet Chayil — the “Woman of Valor” (Prov. 31:10–31) — was originally composed by Abraham as a eulogy for Sarah. One line captures her essence perfectly: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Sarah was no passive companion; she was a voice of insight, a moral compass, and a spiritual equal.
Together, Abraham and Sarah launched a true revolution — the most revolutionary idea in human history: that God exists, and that all human beings are created equal b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God. Long before France even dreamed of equality, Abraham and Sarah lived it.
The contrast with Ephron the Hittite — the antihero of Chayei Sarah — could not be more striking. When Abraham asks to buy a burial plot for Sarah, Ephron’s reply sounds magnanimous: he insists Abraham take the land for free. But once the crowd disperses, his true colors emerge. “What is four hundred shekels between friends?” he says with faux humility — while shamelessly gouging Abraham.
Ephron’s civility and generosity are pure theater. Beneath the polished manners lies greed and hypocrisy. Like Robespierre’s “virtue,” Ephron’s altruism was all performance. When the mask came off, what lay beneath was ugly.
Abraham and Sarah’s model could not be more different. Their virtue was real. They lived their principles. Their tent was open to all, and their respect for each other sincere. It was Sarah’s wisdom, in fact, that shaped the destiny of their family.
God tells Abraham, “Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice” (Gen. 21:12). In that single line, God affirmed what the French Revolution never could — that true justice rests not on dominance, but on moral partnership.
And when Abraham eulogized Sarah, he didn’t speak of liberty, equality, or fraternity. He spoke of kindness, faith, and valor — qualities that endure long after slogans fade. Robespierre’s Revolution ended in blood and betrayal. Abraham and Sarah’s Revolution endures in blessing. So much for the “Rights of Man.”
The real Revolution didn’t begin in Paris in 1789, but in Hebron three millennia earlier — when a man and a woman stood together as equals before God.
The author is a rabbi in Beverly Hills, California.
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Fundraiser Promoting Antisemitism Raises Over $38K for Suspect Charged for Antisemitic Rant Against Dave Portnoy
Barstool Sports founder and online pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy outside a Starkville, Mississippi pizza shop on Nov. 7, 2025. Photo: Screenshot
An online fundraiser for a former Mississippi State University student, who was arrested and charged after allegedly shouting an antisemitic remark at Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, has garnered over $38,000 and includes antisemitic undertones in its defense of the ex-college student.
Patrick McClintock, 20, was charged on Monday with a misdemeanor of disturbing the peace after being accused of yelling “F— the Jews, f–k you Dave” at Portnoy and throwing coins at him on Nov. 7 outside a pizza restaurant in Starkville, Mississippi. McClintock also allegedly told Portnoy, who is Jewish, “Get the f–k out of Starkville,” as seen in videos from the scene that have circulated on social media.
Portnoy was doing one of his popular “One Bite” pizza reviews at the time of the incident. The Starkville Police Department reportedly processed and released McClintock on Monday on a $2,500 bond. McClintock voluntarily withdrew from MSU that same day, the school confirmed to Fox News.
A fundraising campaign on the website GiveSendGo titled “DEFEND PATRICK MCCLINTOCK” has raised $38, 031 for the 20-year-old as of Friday morning. A description of the fundraiser states that McClintock is an “American patriot, [who] got cuffed and jailed in Mississippi on November 10, 2025, for the ‘crime’ of mean words.”
“This is peak smallhat fragility—turn any insult into ‘hate speech,’ cry victim, and watch the goyim get locked up. THE DOUBLE-STANDARD IS BLATANT,” the fundraiser claimed, referencing the Yiddish word for non-Jews. It also accused Portnoy of “tribal privilege” and “weaponizing the law,” and claimed that McClintock’s ‘F–k the Jews” remark constitutes “protected speech.”
“This is ZOG in action—and Patrick is the scapegoat,” the fundraiser further claimed. ZOG stands for “Zionist Occupied Government,” which is an antisemitic white supremacist conspiracy theory promoting the false narrative that the US government is controlled by Zionists, according to the American Jewish Committee.
Portnoy told “CBS Mornings” he declined to press charges against McClintock because “his face being attached to this for the rest of his life should be punishment enough.”
“I do not think freedom of speech covers throwing s–t at someone you hate and creating a potentially volatile situation,” Portnoy added.
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Hamas Tightens Grip on Gaza as Russia Blocks US Proposal at UN for Peacekeeping Force
Smoke rises in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 30, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
As Hamas intensified its crackdown on the Gazan population, Russia rejected a US proposal for an international force in the enclave to implement Washington’s peace plan, deepening uncertainty for the region’s future.
On Thursday, Russia rejected a draft resolution sent by the United States last week to the United Nations Security Council which calls for the establishment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza to remain for at least two years.
Washington publicly called on members of the UN Security Council to back its resolution to create an international peacekeeping force aimed at stabilizing post-war Gaza, which has been devastated by two years of fighting between Hamas and Israel.
“We urge the Security Council to seize this historic moment to pave a path towards enduring peace in the Middle East by supporting this resolution,” US officials said in a statement.
Under US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, the ISF will oversee the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and train local security forces.
However, the US proposal is facing opposition from Russia and China — both veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council — who have rejected the resolution, citing concerns over the proposed board to temporarily govern the war-torn enclave and the absence of any transitional role for the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Based on the proposed draft resolution, participating countries in the international force would be granted a broad mandate to maintain security and administer Gaza through the end of 2027, with the possibility of extending the mission.
In recent weeks, Washington has been working closely with regional powers to determine the composition of the peacekeeping force.
According to the draft resolution, the ISF would include troops from multiple participating countries and would be responsible for securing Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, while also protecting civilians and maintaining humanitarian corridors.
In addition, the ISF would seemingly be expected to take on the responsibility of disarming Hamas — a key component of Trump’s peace plan to end the war in Gaza, which the Palestinian terror group has repeatedly rejected.
As negotiations over the draft continue, Russia and China are pushing for the full removal of the proposed “Board of Peace,” a body chaired by Trump and charged with overseeing Gaza’s redevelopment, and stronger guarantees for the future establishment of a Palestinian state.
Russia has put forward its own draft UN resolution, directly challenging the US initiative, according to Reuters.
“The objective of our draft is to enable the Security Council to develop a balanced, acceptable, and unified approach toward achieving a sustainable cessation of hostilities,” Russia’s UN mission said in a statement.
According to media reports, the main points of dispute involved the roadmap to an independent Palestinian state and the timeline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
After incorporating some proposed changes, the revised US draft includes provisions stating that once the PA’s internal reforms are “faithfully carried out and Gaza redevelopment has advanced, the conditions may be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
“The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence,” the resolution also adds.
As the US sought support for its resolution, Washington warned that any “attempts to sow discord” would have “grave, tangible, and entirely avoidable consequences for Palestinians in Gaza.”
Countries have not yet publicly committed troops to the ISF, with most waiting for clarity on the expectations and responsibilities associated with such involvement.
On Friday, Indonesia confirmed it has trained up to 20,000 troops to carry out health and construction-related tasks during post-war efforts in Gaza.
“We’ve prepared a maximum of 20,000 troops, but the specifications will revolve around health and construction,” Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said during a press conference. “We are waiting for further decisions on Gaza peace action.”
Meanwhile, the European Union is reportedly considering a plan to train a 3,000-member Palestinian police force to help maintain security in the war-torn enclave, with discussions scheduled for next week at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
If approved, the EU would take the lead in training and supporting a local Palestinian security force, with financial backing from the PA.
Last week, the United Arab Emirates said it will not take part in the proposed international stability force in Gaza, explaining that it does not yet see a clear framework. Officials noted Abu Dhabi would continue to support political efforts toward peace and remain a provider of humanitarian aid.
One major point of contention has been the role of Turkey, a key longtime backer of Hamas. While Turkey has made preparations to deploy a peacekeeping force to Gaza, Israel has adamantly opposed the idea, viewing the presence of Turkish troops near its border as a security threat,
As the international community works to determine the next steps for the ceasefire and Gaza’s post-war future, Hamas is seeking to expand its control and influence across the enclave.
Since the ceasefire went into effect, Hamas terrorists have brutally cracked down on all rivals and dissenters, with videos emerging of rampant torture and public executions in the streets.
Now, the Palestinian terrorist group is tightening its control in Gaza by monitoring all goods entering Hamas-held areas and imposing fees on certain privately imported items, according to Reuters.
Hamas violently seized total control of Gaza in 2007 after being elected to power in parliamentary elections the prior year. Under the current ceasefire, the terrorist group controls 47 percent of Gaza’s territory, compared to 53 percent controlled by the Israeli military. However, the vast majority of the population is located in the half suffering under Hamas’s crackdown.
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UN Rights Council Adopts Fact-Finding Mission in Emergency Session on Sudan as Number of Missing Mounts
Displaced Sudanese gather after fleeing Al-Fashir city in Darfur, in Tawila, Sudan, Oct. 29, 2025, in this still image taken from a Reuters’ video. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Jamal
Members of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution for an independent fact–finding mission to investigate reported mass killings in al-Fashir, Sudan.
At a special session of the Council in Geneva on the situation in the city in Darfur which fell to paramilitary forces in October, the text passed without a vote – a strong sign of international support.
The fact–finding mission will also seek to identify the perpetrators of violations allegedly committed by the Rapid Support Forces and their allies in al-Fashir.
The ambassador of the permanent mission of the United Kingdom in Geneva said the fact–finding mission would document and preserve evidence of violations, which would lay the ground for future justice and accountability.
In an opening address to delegates, the UN human rights chief urged the international community to act.
“There has been too much pretense and performance, and too little action. It must stand up against these atrocities – a display of naked cruelty used to subjugate and control an entire population,” UN High Commissioner for human rights Volker Turk said.
The RSF has denied targeting civilians or blocking aid, saying such activities are due to rogue actors.
UN RIGHTS CHIEF WARNS OF SURGING VIOLENCE IN KORDOFAN
Turk also called for action against individuals and companies “fueling and profiting” from the war in Sudan, and gave a stark warning about surging violence in the central Sudanese region of Kordofan, with bombardments, blockades, and people forced from their homes.
Kordofan is a region comprised of three states that serves as a buffer between the RSF’s western Darfur strongholds and the army-held states in the east.
The fall of al-Fashir to the RSF on Oct. 26 cemented its control of the Darfur region in the more than 2-1/2-year civil war with the Sudanese army.
The UN refugee agency said on Friday that tens of thousands of people who have fled al-Fashir are unaccounted for, raising concerns for their safety after reports of rape, killings, and other abuses from escapees.
While the UN agency has recorded that nearly 100,000 people fled the city since the takeover, only around 10,000 have been counted at arrival hubs like Tawila, said Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet, UNHCR’s Head of Sub Office from Port Sudan.
“A significant number of people on the move [are] stranded somewhere, not able to move further, because of the danger, or because they risk being sent back into al-Fashir, or because there are very vulnerable people amongst the group,” she told a Geneva press briefing.
Their journeys are becoming longer and more perilous as people increasingly shun well-trodden routes to avoid armed checkpoints, she said.
Some have traveled as far as 1,000 kilometers (660 miles) to Ad Dabba in Northern State.
It is unclear how many people remain in al-Fashir, with local sources telling UNHCR that thousands are either prevented from leaving or lacking the means or strength to flee, according to the UNHCR.
The draft text up for consideration by the UN Human Rights Council, seen by Reuters, strongly condemns the reported ethnically motivated killing and use of rape as a weapon of war by the RSF and allied forces in al-Fashir.
Mona Rishmawi, a member of the UN’s Independent International Fact–Finding Mission for Sudan described examples of rape, killing, and torture and said a comprehensive investigation is required to establish the full picture.
She said RSF forces had “turned Al Fasher University into a killing ground” where thousands of civilians had been sheltering. Witnesses also recounted seeing bodies piling in the streets and trenches dug in and around the city, Rishmawi said.
The proposed resolution stops short of mandating an investigation into the role of external actors who may be supporting the RSF, which the ambassador to the permanent mission of Sudan in Geneva criticized, saying that his country faced an “existential war” following the international community’s failure to act.
“We were warning all over the UN … calling for pressure on the rebel militia and the country that is sponsoring it with military equipment – I mean the UAE,” Hassan Hamid Hassan said.
UAE VIGOROUSLY DENIES SUPPORT FOR RSF
Sudan‘s army has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the RSF with weapons, a claim which UN experts and US lawmakers have found credible. The UAE ambassador to the UN in Geneva Jamal Al Musharakh on Thursday categorically rejected claims that it provides support in any form to either of the warring parties.
The United Kingdom, the European Union, Norway, and Ghana expressed support for the resolution, strongly condemning the violence in Sudan, which they warned could threaten regional stability.
The resolution also calls for the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces to allow life-saving aid to reach the many people who may still be trapped inside the famine-struck city.
Women fleeing the city have reported killings and systematic rape while others have described civilians being shot in the streets and attacked in drone strikes.