Us and Them...

Xenophobia: "Deep-rooted, irrational hatred towards foreigners" (Oxford English Dictionary)

The interaction with ‘others’ presents a challenge to all people of all faiths, races and cultures. We are challenged to look beyond superficial differences and to find the inner being, the human part that we all share.

I am not sure whether we in society are becoming more tolerant of each other, or more splintered. I regularly overhear conversations dealing with ‘us’ and ‘them’, where ‘We’ are the preferred lifestyle and value choice, and ‘They’ are to be distanced, excluded and, at times, ostracised.

Racism is born out of a narcissistic sense of superiority. Whether the group is privileged by virtue of birth (colour and culture) or by way of choice (religion), this innate conviction of superiority results from a deep insecurity and self-doubt. The louder I shout, the less convinced I am.

“And you shall love the stranger, for you were a stranger in the land of Egypt.” The Torah demands that we see ourselves in others.

Our common humanity unites us, our pithy insecurities divide us.