I decided to make Israel important to me some 13 or so years ago when a good friend and Chair of the Social Action Committee at my little shul died way too young. I took over as Chair and determined that both I and the synagogue needed to have a relationship to the political issue of Israel and to do that we both needed to do some heavy learning. I've done mine, read who know's, 20,000 articles in 12 years, taken four trips,(including the last one involving an interfaith delegation I put together), taught Israel/Palestine 101 at Community College and done my share of writing. Israel isn't easy. It's harder for anyone to believe in the Israel that was as we were taught if they were born after 1985. That's not a hard and fast date. But we can learn some highly unpleasant lessons and still recognize that we as Jews are tasked with making the world a better place and that that world includes Israel, its occupation, terror and more as well as enough anger, pain, hate and evil to make any sane person run for cover. We are just beginning to deal with a reality that is horrible for Palestinians on a daily basis and has completely transformed and continues to tranform the Israel of Herzl, Ben Gurion and most of our parents, (OK grandparents) dreams. It is not enough to look away or to see only Palestinian pain. I did the second for a long time and believe that it doesn't by itself bring peace one millimeter closer for anyone.
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On Life After Zionist Summer Camp
I decided to make Israel important to me some 13 or so years ago when a good friend and Chair of the Social Action Committee at my little shul died way too young. I took over as Chair and determined that both I and the synagogue needed to have a relationship to the political issue of Israel and to do that we both needed to do some heavy learning. I've done mine, read who know's, 20,000 articles in 12 years, taken four trips,(including the last one involving an interfaith delegation I put together), taught Israel/Palestine 101 at Community College and done my share of writing. Israel isn't easy. It's harder for anyone to believe in the Israel that was as we were taught if they were born after 1985. That's not a hard and fast date. But we can learn some highly unpleasant lessons and still recognize that we as Jews are tasked with making the world a better place and that that world includes Israel, its occupation, terror and more as well as enough anger, pain, hate and evil to make any sane person run for cover. We are just beginning to deal with a reality that is horrible for Palestinians on a daily basis and has completely transformed and continues to tranform the Israel of Herzl, Ben Gurion and most of our parents, (OK grandparents) dreams. It is not enough to look away or to see only Palestinian pain. I did the second for a long time and believe that it doesn't by itself bring peace one millimeter closer for anyone.