Translated from its Hebrew, it means "according to the religion (faith) and the law (secular). A related corollary is, "Dina d'malkuta, dinah". The law of the land, the country, is the law. It is a basic tenet in Judaism, probably one of the reasons why Jews are generally law abiding and sure to relate their actions to the secular laws, those of the nation in which they abide, and the religious laws which govern their personal lives. Generally, there is no conflict, or major conflict between these two guiding principles.
However, should the law of the land become twisted, perverted, antagonistic to the practice of their religion, Jews will often migrate or keep their religion under wraps, as was the case with the Spanish Inquisition or when banned from other nations such as was the case during a period of time under the Plantagenet rule in England. Today there are some countries and religions which are certainly enemies of Jews and Judaism, and there are those in some nations who try to pass laws banning some aspect of Judaism (and incidentally, affecting Moslem practitioners as well).
In this area nations of the world go astray. When Jews argue amongst themselves, the infighting can be brutal, invective highly colored, and great depth of feeling is front and center. It often involves the level of outer observance of certain aspects of Judaism and the differences among members of "the tribe", the family. However, there is a huge misconception here.
First and foremost, is to know, to understand, that this arguing is that of a family, often times quite bitter and shocking, particularly to outsiders. However, as with families, the disagreements, however vehement, can be set aside for the moment should the need be there. Such a need, or time, of re-unification, is the task, the obligation, to rescue any Jew or Jews in existential danger. Then it becomes a national crisis. All, if not necessarily forgiven or forgotten, is set aside for the moment.
The injunction to rescue other Jews, wherever, whenever is a sacred one. Jews of one land or community gave to rescue Jews in foreign lands or unknown communities. They did so for it was a command relevant and upon all Jews, ALL Jews. Those who forget that do so at their own peril. For example, the raid on Entebbe to rescue imprisoned Jews, a whole lot better than the nations of France, America, England did for their captives there. Just as they do today with their hostages in Gaza. Mere Jews, so .....
These rescues are best left for Israel to execute as other nations seem to blunder a great deal in their attempted rescues, particularly of mere Jews, as in the botched 1972 attempt of Germany to rescue the hostage Israeli athletes, resulting in their deaths. The deep internalization of this demand is not etched into their hearts and souls, intertwined with their every cell. In rescuing these Jews, they, Jews too, are rescuing themselves. Only when all our hostages, alive or dead, are rescued, accounted for, our family complete will this war end. Only then.
That principle of rescue of those in need has carried over into a generalization to aid others in need. Hence the strong presence of Jews in the fight for civil rights for all, in philanthropy benefitting those in need, and in the front lines of arts and science, research and inventions benefitting all. All.
Back to the laws of land and religion. Jews will do what is necessary. They will obey the laws of the land and will do their fighting via that route, through activities sanctioned by law. However, the might, the intensity, the determination to rescue their fellow Jewish hostages will never be eclipsed by opposition of those who mistake disagreements for weakness. Even should there be those who try to hide among others they will be rescued when inevitably they are discarded, hostages to erroneous beliefs.
They are Jews. They are family. Always family. WE ARE FAMILY
Send our family home and the war is over.
Send them home. It is the law of the land and the land of any religion.
--------------------------------------------------------------Yitzy, it was not such a merry Purim as you were so missed, your family so sad at your absence. But you were there as well, weren't you, watching from above, sad because we were sad. Your grin, your shining blue eyes, your giggle nowhere, only in our heads and hearts. Not enough.
Be warm and safe Yitzy.
We love you always.
Always and forever. Always and forever.
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