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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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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.

Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.

“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”

GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.

“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.

“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.

“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.

After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”

RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL

Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”

Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.

“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”

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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.

“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”

Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.

On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.

Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.

On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.

“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.

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