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Parshat Naso: Finding Peace By Working Together Towards Common Goals
A Torah scroll. Photo: RabbiSacks.org.
In this week’s parsha, we find the three-part blessing of Birchas Kohanim, which culminates in a blessing of “Shalom” — peace. We find the blessing of peace to be a culminating one in a number of places across Jewish liturgy. It is the final blessing in Shmoneh Esreh, the silent conversation we have with Hashem three times a day, and it is also the way we end almost all versions of Kaddish (aside from the half Kaddish).
Clearly, peace is important on a national level. Not having enemies actively attacking us and calling for our destruction has been hard to come by at many times in our history, and our present. We certainly want to be at peace as a nation, but is this all that this blessing of peace means?
Instead, we should ask what peace is on the individual, family, and team levels. The ending words of Kaddish give us a clue.
As we finish Kaddish, we say “oseh shalom b’mromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu” — “He who makes peace in the heavens should place peace upon us.” What peace is made in Heaven? Are there potential attackers that need to be quieted? Is there divisiveness in heaven that Hashem needs to adjudicate?
This phrase comes from the book of Iyov (25:2) — from one of Bildad’s speeches where he is waxing poetic about the awesomeness of Hashem. Rashi, in his second explanation, says that the Shalom needed in Heaven is because the elements of fire and water are present, and Hashem orchestrates them working together in peace rather than the water putting out the fire. The Targum also explains that there are different angels that have the force of these elements, and Hashem helps them work in unison. Shalom, in this understanding, may be better translated as harmony.
Rav Yitzchak Arama, in explaining this concept says, “Peace and harmony are trademarks of G-d’s creation and handiwork. Nothing is functional or endures in this universe unless it represents the successful merging of a variety of elements.” Instead of a level of unity that we might imagine is closer to the oneness of Hashem, we find that Hashem specifically has opposing forces working together towards a similar goal, and this is the hallmark of heavenly harmony — Shalom.
In our current reality, avoiding the echo chamber is hard. Our phones and technology are programmed to track our preferences and give us more of what we like and agree with. Debate in the political arena (and many others) has become so emotional and personal that many would rather just not bring up an opposing viewpoint instead of risking awkwardness, embarrassment, or anger. But this is not the way Hashem runs Heaven. It is not the way of Shalom.
This concept of Shalom should also influence our leadership. A number of the school leaders I work with have been very excited by the book, The 6 Types of Working Genius. It lays out a construct for recognizing the different steps needed from initially generating ideas to executing the best idea. In breaking down the process, the author also recommends identifying which steps are areas of strength and weakness for each team member, to better understand how to involve team members in projects so that they will enjoy their work and add maximum value.
These leaders have found this system to cultivate a sense of teamwork, and help facilitate people working together towards a common goal. It seems that part of the power of the construct is that it acknowledges that everyone has areas of natural talent and enjoyment, as well as areas they find frustrating when working on a team. Instead of being embarrassed or hesitant to share that I dislike some of the work I know needs to get done, it becomes an expected preference that I am encouraged to share with my team so we can play to everyone’s strengths. This construct leans into Rav Yitzchak Arama’s concept of Shalom — nothing will be successful unless it includes a variety of team members with different strengths and weaknesses. Accepting this premise and assuming that team functionality will be strongest when such harmony exists, is critical for leading teams well.
There is also another place where peace is the final blessing. It is the way that Rav Yehudah HaNasi ends the Mishna. His epic work encapsulating the skeletal structure of all of Jewish law ends with a final Mishna in Uktzin: Hashem found no better utensil to hold blessing for the Jewish people than peace. As it says, “Hashem gave strength to His nation. Hashem blessed His nation with peace.” Perhaps here as well, the ultimate blessing is the Shalom, not from an external threat, but that of the Jewish people working together in harmony toward the same goal.
May we be given the wisdom to create this peace in our own leadership and life, and may Hashem grant the Jewish people the strength and the gift of peace, from external enemies and from internal divisiveness, speedily in our days.
Maury Grebenau is the director of JNTP’s Administrator Support Program, coaching dozens of school leaders each year. Maury publishes and speaks widely on topics of leadership and education.
The post Parshat Naso: Finding Peace By Working Together Towards Common Goals first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Hezbollah Says Lebanon Move on Army Plan Is ‘Opportunity,’ Urges Israel to Commit to Ceasefire
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and members of the cabinet stand as they attend a cabinet session to discuss the army’s plan to disarm Hezbollah, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, September 5, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati told Reuters on Saturday that the group considered Friday’s cabinet session on an army plan to establish a state monopoly on arms “an opportunity to return to wisdom and reason, preventing the country from slipping into the unknown.”
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday welcomed a plan by the army that would disarm Hezbollah and said the military would begin executing it, without setting a timeframe for implementation and cautioning that the army had limited capabilities.
But it said continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon would hamper the army’s progress. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lebanese information minister Paul Morcos stopped short of saying the cabinet had formally approved the plan.
Qmati told Reuters that Hezbollah had reached its assessment based on the government’s declaration on Friday that further implementation of a US roadmap on the matter was dependent on Israel’s commitment. He said that without Israel halting strikes and withdrawing its troops from southern Lebanon, Lebanon’s implementation of the plan should remain “suspended until further notice.”
Lebanon’s cabinet last month tasked the army with coming up with a plan that would establish a state monopoly on arms and approved a US roadmap aimed at disarming Hezbollah in exchange for a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Qmati said that Hezbollah “unequivocally rejected” those two decisions and expected the Lebanese government to draw up a national defense strategy.
Israel last week signaled it would scale back its military presence in southern Lebanon if the army took action to disarm Hezbollah. Meanwhile, it has continued its strikes, killing four people on Wednesday.
A national divide over Hezbollah’s disarmament has taken center stage in Lebanon since last year’s devastating war with Israel, which upended a power balance long dominated by the Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim group.
Lebanon is under pressure from the US, Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah’s domestic rivals to disarm the group. But Hezbollah has pushed back, saying it would be a serious misstep to even discuss disarmament while Israel continues its air strikes on Lebanon and occupies swathes of territory in the south.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem last month raised the specter of civil war, warning the government against trying to confront the group and saying street protests were possible.
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UK Police Arrest Dozens at Latest Protest for Banned Palestine Action
Demonstrators attend the “Lift The Ban” rally organised by Defend Our Juries, challenging the British government’s proscription of “Palestine Action” under anti-terrorism laws, in Parliament Square, in London, Britain, September 6, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
British police arrested dozens more people on Saturday under anti-terrorism laws for demonstrating in support of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned by the government as a terrorist organization.
Britain banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged military planes. The group accuses Britain’s government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Police have arrested hundreds of Palestine Action supporters in recent weeks under anti-terrorism legislation, including over 500 in just one day last month, many of them over the age of 60.
On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near parliament in central London to protest against the ban on Saturday, with many holding up signs that said: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
London’s Metropolitan Police said officers had begun arresting those expressing support for Palestine Action. Police did not say how many arrests were made but a Reuters witness said dozens of people were detained.
Palestine Action’s ban, or proscription, puts the group alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS and makes it a crime to support or belong to the organization, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
“I can be unequivocal, if you show support for Palestine Action – an offense under the Terrorism Act – you will be arrested,” Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said on Friday. “We have the officer numbers, custody capacity and all other resources to process as many people as is required.”
Human rights groups have criticized Britain’s decision to ban the group as disproportionate and say it limits the freedom of expression of peaceful protesters.
The government has accused Palestine Action of causing millions of pounds worth of criminal damage and says the ban does not prevent other pro-Palestinian protests.
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Macron’s Meeting with American Jewry ‘Won’t Happen’ Amid Palestinian Recognition Drive, Surge in Antisemitism
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Paris, France, June 12, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
i24 News – French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to set up a meeting with American Jewish leaders later this month on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
i24NEWS has learned that the meeting won’t happen, firstly because Macron was only available for the meeting ahead of the UN General Assembly during Rosh Hashanah, and yet, a person invited to meet with Macron and who has knowledge of the discussions told i24NEWS the sit-down simply wasn’t going to happen, anyway.
“I think the organizations, for the most part, would not have participated,” the person said, adding that AIPAC, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee would have likely received invitations, among other entities.
“The guy has a 15% popularity rating in France. It’s not our job to help him out,” the person said.
Asked by i24NEWS whether Macron’s push for greater Palestinian state recognition or his lack of action in tackling antisemitism at home led to the stance of organized American Jewry, the person said it’s more of “the climate” which allows one to say ‘Look, the American Jews met with me,’ regardless of the content.”
The person said they are sure, if a meeting would have happened, that everybody in the room would have taken a hard line with Macron, including his “statements on Israel, the failure to respond to antisemitism” and France’s announcement this summer that it will recognize a Palestinian state later this month, and is leading an effort to get more countries to do the same.
But, the person told i24NEWS they are convinced that, in the end, while no final decision actually had to be taken, there was enough pressure that a consensus would have been reached to decline the meeting.
Of the timing of Rosh Hashanah allowing for leadership to not be forced to officially say no to Macron, the person said “G-d saves us every time.”
Another source familiar with the matter noted that it cannot be ruled out that Macron may eventually succeed in arranging a meeting with certain representatives, as the organizations are not a single unified body. However, he is unlikely to be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of groups representing American Jewry.
i24NEWS has also learned that French President Emmanuel Macron explored the possibility of visiting Israel ahead of the convention, but was advised by the Prime Minister’s Office that the timing was inappropriate. The message came as Macron continues to push for recognition of a Palestinian state, a move Israel strongly opposes. Sources further told i24NEWS that Israel is weighing additional retaliatory measures against Macron, including the potential closure of the French consulate in Jerusalem, which primarily serves Palestinians in the West Bank.