The State of Israel has achieved something truly miraculous: the ability, in the words of Daniel Schueftan, Director of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa, to be both Athens and Sparta. Athens was a center for culture, philosophy and democracy, known for its intellectual achievements. In contrast, Sparta was a militaristic society that prioritized discipline and military strength, governed by an oligarchy and possessing a formidable army. It is easy to be one or the other, but to be both, to fight an extended war without becoming warlike, is a profound act. The ability to defend oneself against individuals and movements whose goal is to destroy you, but at the same time to not forget your people’s larger purpose, is an act of true complexity and, I would say, bravery. Israel does not adopt the rhetoric of its Sparta-like enemies. It has remained a country that is creative, that debates about morality and justice and prides itself on democracy and diversity.

I believe this is part of the lesson that God teaches Abraham in the Torah portions we are now reading. It is stunning that the Torah juxtaposes the story of Abraham arguing for the people of Sodom—he worries that in this most wicked place there may be some righteous individuals, which should prevent God from destroying the wicked majority—and yet not long after, Abraham blindly obeys a divine command to kill. And not an enemy in combat, but someone innocent. How is it possible that one man can hold both of these ideas together? This is the bravery of complexity.

It is simpler to see one side or another. When people see only black and white, they can move forward without hesitation. But to see the nuance, the complexity, the truths that lie in antinomy—this is an awesome feat of bravery, one that has wrought today’s Israel. I believe it comes from Abraham, who makes war against many kings but does not take even a shoelace of booty, for such a thing, though far beyond the letter of the law, would be immoral in God’s eyes.

It is easier to be all Athens or all Sparta, all right or all left, all black or all white, all conqueror or all peacenik. But none of that is ever correct. Rather, we must, though a Herculean task, hold opposites together—Sodom and the Akedah, culture and power, Athens and Sparta. Do we believe that our enemies are human beings? Yes. Must we fight them and at times kill them? Yes. To hold both truths together is a profound achievement of Israel, its culture and its soldiers.

In contrast to the Israelis I know, Americans are not good at holding opposites together, and it is to the great detriment of this country. Americans are divided and extreme and, unfortunately, both of these extremes harbor strong antisemitic sentiments. We live in a siloed world. If you live in Athens, to be a Spartan takes courage. If you live in Sparta, to be an Athenian is hard. But it is the job of leaders to teach this. To adopt both elements, not just to agree with their communities’ siloed perspectives but to guide and to challenge.