'No Greater Mitzvah': Israel's Religious Left Finds New Purpose Amid Gaza War
By Judy Maltz
The invitation to the event did not include a dress code. But among the large crowd of proudly left-wing religious Israelis packing Jerusalem's best-known synagogue, a t-shirt featuring the following quote from Maimonides – the influential medieval Torah scholar – seems to be especially popular: "There is no greater mitzvah than redeeming captives."
It is a clear response, perhaps even a rebuke, to the great number of religious Israelis who continue to support the country's devastating war in Gaza at the expense of a hostage deal.
Symbolically, as this Smol Emuni ("Faithful Left") conference is kicking off late Tuesday afternoon, news breaks that Israel had just carried out an assassination attempt on the entire Hamas leadership in Qatar. But rather than serve as cause for celebration, it seems to confirm the worst fears of the religious peaceniks attending this conference: that the Israeli government is intent on sabotaging the latest round of talks on a cease-fire and hostage deal.
Smol Emuni was launched in early 2023, soon after the formation of the most religious, right-wing government in Israeli history. It sought to give voice to the minority of religious Jews in Israel who oppose the occupation, support Palestinian rights and see peace and coexistence as intrinsically Jewish values.
