Despite (or precisely because of) how terrifying things are, the vision of peace is a very compelling one, especially among perpetually endangered people; thus, peace is also a quintessentially Jewish desire. How can Jews ever give up yearning for peace? As Jews, we must always, and absolutely, defend ourselves--but we must also contemplate why peace is so elusive, both for us and for other vulnerable people.

The Jewish sages have envisioned peace as one of the pillars of this world. And yet, it is also a dream, perhaps an illusion, and almost impossible to achieve on earth. Peace is not unidimensional. It is also composed of--it may literally and mystically consist of--truth (emet), justice (zedek), and lawfulness (din), which, to be realized, require Torah study, service to God, and deeds of loving kindness towards each other.

What does this mean? For example, when one speaks truth to power there is rarely any peace. But lying to keep the peace makes it impossible for lawfulness to enter the world. Administering justice may also provoke discord. Sometimes, a good deed as well as "true" justice requires tempering the law or bending the truth for the sake of kindness. How often do individuals achieve such a balance?

The prophets tell us that Jerusalem is the center of the world and is the world's source of both light and peace. Perhaps this is why the world overly focuses on events here. When David's city of Jerusalem is under siege, when the city of Peace and Wholeness is under attack, when the very source of peace is not at peace, it affects the peace of the entire world.