There are a couple of basic Jewish teachings that come to mind, although for the record it should be clear that our organization and this Ask the Rabbi service are completely apolitical. Therefore, the points I will make are universal and not partisan in any way.
Certainly a Jew has a responsibility to actively help in establishing a just society. As our Sages say in Ethics of the Fathers (2:3), “Pray for the peace of the kingdom (government) for if not for the fear of it, people would swallow each other alive.” Prayer for the success of a government that has wisdom to provide tranquility, success and happiness for its people is one way of helping establish a better society, and hence one has a responsibility to do so. Prayer for the “peace of the kingdom” should be on both individual and communal levels.
In addition, we are taught to make efforts to follow in the path of Aaron, the brother of Moses, about whom it is taught: “Hillel would say: Be of the disciples of Aaron — a lover of peace, a pursuer of peace, one who loves people and draws them close to Torah.” (Ethics of the Fathers 1:12)
In his classic commentary on the Mishna, Rabbi Israel Lipschutz (Germany, 18th century) discusses the special expression "pursuing peace" rather than "making peace." Pursuing peace implies to do so even if the two parties do not desire it. Nevertheless, one should go to the trouble of persuading them to come together and bring about peace between them. And this is the reason that Hillel did not say "to make peace" but rather "to pursue peace". A person can often be most effective with soft words, which will help bring peace between them.
For example, Aaron the High Priest would pursue peace in the following manner. Two people had quarreled with one another. Aaron went and sat with one of them. He said to him: My son, look what your friend has done, his heart is distraught and he has torn his clothes (out of sorrow regarding the quarrel), and he is saying: Woe is to me, how will I raise up my head and look at my friend? I am embarrassed in his presence, because I am the one who wronged him. And Aaron sat with him until he removed the jealousy from his heart. And Aaron then went and sat with the other party and said to him: My son, see what your friend has done, his heart is distraught and he has torn his clothes and he is saying: Woe is to me, how will I raise up my head and look at my friend? I am embarrassed in his presence, because I am the one who wronged him. And Aaron sat with him until he removed the jealousy from his heart. And when the two opponents who carried on the dispute between them met together, they embraced and kissed one another.
To follow in Aaron’s path may not always be easy, but if a person tries to “pursue peace” with sincerity and good sense, I am certain that there will be additional help from Above in achieving at least some degree of success.
I hope these suggestions are helpful and “make things better — even if just a little bit”!
