WHO DID YOU THINK HE MEANT?

The recent reformulation of US policy towards Israel especially regarding growth within its settlements is not directed just against the Jews of Beit EL, Hevron or Jerusalem’s post 5727 boundaries. Please ponder this, the. Demonstrators in Iran protest against Islamic tyranny receive from the White House a “we don’t meddle in another country’s internal affairs” response whereas if a young parent were to build a swing set or if this couple were to have additional children akin to a crime against humanity, the right to marry and procreate being fundamental human rights.

Now then, is the President Obama’s fatwa against natural expansion of Jewish settlements is applicable only to the current residents of Yehsa’s communities and greater Jerusalem or did he have more in mind? After all President Obama is most likely aware of the Israeli Law of return Therefore, maybe the President or Secretary Clinton wishes to include all who could possibly take up residence in Yehsa i.e. The decree applies not just Lea Bat Zion’s, parents, friends and neighbors but to Jews living in Antwerp, London, Buenos Ares , Sherman, TX, Wayne, NJ, The Five Towns, Willamsburg and even Lakewood!!!

Most likely Ms. Clinton has no immediate designs on including all Jews as potential settlement expanders but the possibility that this is indeed what the American Administration intended to communicate. Therefore, the requirement that an Israeli Prime Minister call the white House or State Department for a hall pass each time he or she needs the facilities is hardly anything new. What is new is that the administration wishes to hang a “NO JEWS ALLOWED ” sign on Yesha and Jerusalem.

This is not all, this policy of ethnic and religious discrimination applies not just to the Fleisher family but to myself as well, true the actual place where you live is in immediate danger but this is just the beginning if Jews do not belong in Beit EL why do Jews have any greater right to be in Tel Aviv or Los Angeles?

Recently a survey taken in the United States found that since January 20, 2009 public support for Israel has declined as well there having been several high profile Hate crimes/ terrorist activities directed against Jewish institutions and Jews

What adds insult to injury is the apparent atmosphere of hostility and bias against Judaism in general and Settlement activity particular that exists in the Israeli Judicial System especially President Benish and the Supreme Court lends a Hechsher to the positions articulated by those who advocate animus to Israel, Zionists and Zionism to mask bold face anti-Semitism.

Now before the national mourning of the three weeks between the breeching of Jerusalem’s walls on 17 Tamuz and the Temples’ destruction on 9 Av it is the time to overcome from within by Jews strengthening their identity and true national interest.

THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS APPLY, AS TIME GOES BY

Whether intended or not film has a unique quality to capture a snapshot of history. Part of this snapshot is capturing the philosophical/ ideological zeitgeist. Therefore periodic revisiting films especially those dealing with historical events is a significant whether tinseltown’s insights are enduring or part of the passing fancy that is pop culture. The semi-official Hollywood treatment of the Zionist struggle and birth of the modern State of Israel would be the 1960 movie EXODUS.

First the tension between Haganah, the military arm of the Jewish Agency/Zionist Committee, forerunners of Israeli governments until Menchem Begin A’H AND Likud were elected in 1977 and Irgun forerunner of Likud was quite real and persisted till the balance of political power shifted in 1977. Haganah was portrayed as responsible, progressive freedom fighters seeking to forge a new Jewish identity. Irgun were portrayed as part of the Old World steeped in ritual and ideology as well as an unwillingness to play by the nations’ rules.


Next throughout the film the only kipa wearer is a Rabbi supervising the Kitchen in Acre Prison, a far cry from today’s demographics.

The diffrence in attitudes between Pual Newman’s character Ari Ben Canan and John Derek’s Taha is telling. Newman the prototypical sabra straddles the paradox between the beliefs in Eretz Yisrael being Jewry’s ancestral home and post holocaust destiny, which can simultaneously be a democratic state offering equality to both Jews and Arabs. The Israeli it would seem would be willing to hollow the meaning of what exactly would be Jewish in a Jewish state in order to facilitate co0existence.

In fairness it should be noted that the originally proposed borders of Israel before Statehood was viewed by Ben-Gurion et. al. as only a half a loaf but by no means what was preferred or aspired to.

In contrast John Derek’s character Tha the Muktar of the nearby Arab village despite being raised along with Ari Ben Canan cannot align himself with the Jews fully even though he knows the forces opposing new born State of Israel embody evil. Even though he is killed for defying the Mufti’s Ex-Nazi trained thugs he still could not and would not fully sell out or betray his faith or heritage.

Though it is only Hollywood, the fact the two cultures secular and religious speak past each other without communicating without understanding each other remains to this day.

Maybe that is the key to cross cultural dialogue and understanding begins with Jews and Arabs side to believe in and be loyal to one’s own faith and heritage. The common language of faith may not solve the problems but offers a common language that acknowledges a higher authority all are answerable to.

A PRE PASSOVER THOUGHT

Recently a Google video search under Zionism yield a film from www,shofar.org concerning Judaism and Zionism. The film was disquieting and inspiring at the same time. The film took quotes from Hetzel, Nordau, Jabotinsky as well as others in the Zionist Pantheon.

Each of these leaders the film quotes had either said or written things hostile not just Judaism but to the validity of a distinct Jewish Identity. The Jewish state was envisioned as a conduit for Jewry embracing values and mores of Western Civilization. The Jewish state was envisioned as being devoid of its own heritage and values. The new Jew to be forged in the new state was envisioned as one unshackled by the baggage of the past whether imposed by hostile host countries or by G-D Himself through Torah.

What these visionaries envisioned was indeed shortsighted. The concept of Zionism did not take hold until it was marketed as a redemption movement. As a Professor interviewed in the film put it The Zionist Leaders believed There is no G-D, but presented Zionism as fulfilment His promise. The flag has two blue stripes reminiscent of a prayer cape’s stripes. Blue was selected as it is symbolic of the tehelet, the blue dye applied to Zitzit fringes during Temple times and while now lost will be restored in the Messianic era. Zionism was to be the herald of a Messianic era.
A return to the land absent the yearned for redemption would not nor could not be accepted by the Jewish nation.

This contains a fantastic lesson. A perception of a Jewish future, a Jewish fulfillment and a Jewish utopia stripped of Jewry’s identity, stripped of the Jewish Heritage and Jewry’s worldview is a non starter.

Certainly, there are Jews who consciously run away from who and what they are, but these are the exceptions. Rank and File Jews may or may not be particularly observant, that is a function of education, but to abandon Jewish identity and heritage or destiny is unthinkable. Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker-The Eternity of the Jewish people will not be rendered false.

As Passover approaches this comes in to focus. Departure from the Exile is not for Israel to takes its place in the family of nations. Rather redemption is the freedom to be who one was meant to be to fulfill one's destiny to realize G-D's promise in totality with Mashiach in our lifetime.