COMMUNITY VIEWS
The Israel Connection
Is Deeper Than You Think
I
true, I wish with all my heart that the
srael and I are almost the same
last
one was. Yes, I am one of those peo-
age. We grew up together, sharing
ple who believes that every Jew should
the same infant needs for support
visit Israel at least once.
and nurturing, the same rebel-
And why not? Israel is, after all, the
lious teenage years, the same slow
Jewish
state. It does not discriminate as
growth toward maturity and a place in
to
the
degree
of Jewishness necessary for
the greater world, the same
inclusion.
Despite all that we
struggles with self-definition
hear
about
the "Who is a
and concerns for the future.
Jew?"
issue
raging in Israeli
We are true siblings. We
courts,
Israel
continues to
share a common ancestry, a
open
its
door
to anyone
common bloodline, a common
claiming
any
Jewish
relation-
familial bond. Like the mem-
ship.
Here
is
a
country
that
bers of so many other families,
would
accept
any
one
of
us
we live half a world apart and
as
a
full
citizen
in
a
heartbeat
sometimes seem to be totally
if we wanted to make aliyah.
independent of each other. But
MARTA
Surely such a welcoming
family is family, and we keep
place is worthy of a visit at
ROSENTHAL
coming together at times of joy
least.
Special to
and times of crisis.
Some claim that the open
The Jewish News
My relationship to Israel is
door
policy is a blessed safety
not unique. We are all related,
net
for
those
who
need it, but that it is
all members of its extended family.
certainly
not
necessary
for American
Whether we are Jews by birth or Jews
Jews
who
live
in
comfort
and freedom
by choice, we can and must claim Israel
in
a
democratic
society
that
allows us
as our own. To the outside world this
full
expression
of
our
religion.
I hope
relationship is obvious.
we Americans are doing everything we
As Jews it is automatically assumed
can to ensure the continuation of those
that we have an opinion on each and
freedoms and that we are not resting
every event taking place in the Middle
too
comfortably on that shaky stool of
East. It is assumed that we all have at
assimilation.
I hope that we haven't
least some passing knowledge of
already
forgotten
the fate of another
Hebrew, that we donate money to
Jewish
community
just over 50 years
Israeli causes and that we have all been
ago
that
also
thrilled
to its assimilated,
to Israel at least once. While the first
comfortable
lifestyle
in
central Europe. I
three assumptions may or may not be
hope we remember why and how Israel
Marta Rosenthal is president of the
came to be in the first place. And while
National Council of Jewish Women,
we're working on maintaining our free-
Greater Detroit Section.
doms here at home, let's not forget the
influence we can have on Israel policy
to keep that door open. After all, we
never know who might be the next to
knock.
If we are to have opinions about
Israel at all, we owe it to ourselves to see
what the country is like firsthand. Israel
is not what we see on the six o'clock
news. It is not all violence and discord,
all factional fighting and political dis-
agreement, all terrorism and traffic
jams. Well, all right, the traffic jams are
pretty bad. But Israel is also a fully
modern country with luxury hotels,
beautiful beaches, fabulous restaurants
and nightlife, ancient ruins and unique
venues. We clamor to visit Mexico or
the Far East for the very
same reasons.
Israel is both familiar
in its Jewishness and exot-
ic in its uniqueness. It has
an added spiritual dimen-
sion that touches even the
most secular soul. I defy
anyone to stand on the
Mount of Olives over-
looking the Temple
Mount without feeling
the thrill of history. I defy
anyone to visit the Western Wall as the
shadows of Shabbat begin to lengthen
without a tear welling up or to touch
those mighty stones whose cracks and
crevices hold a million prayers without
whispering or writing one of his own. I
de& anyone to see Ethiopians and Rus-
sians and Australians and Americans
studying together in ulpan without
understanding, perhaps for the first
time, the true meaning of democracy
and inclusion. Who would deny them-
selves experiences as moving as these?
I have made 11 trips to Israel, each
one unique and special, each one
adding another layer of understanding
to my relationship with the Middle
East. Each of my daughters became a
bat mitzvah in Israel. I have been on
seven missions and I will be on the next
one, Michigan Miracle Mission III in
April of 1999, and not just because my
husband Ben is leading it.
My work with National Council of
Jewish Women includes support for
NCJW's Research Institute for Inno-
vation in- Education at Hebrew Uni-
versity in Jerusalem,
out of which have
come countless pro-
grams that improve the
lives of children in
Israel and throughout
the world.
I have no desire to
make aliyah, but my
love and respect for
Israel grows with each
visit. Each visit changes
me profoundly. When I
go to Israel, when I see the changes
made from year to year, when I see the
struggle to find a balance between being
a Jewish homeland and a completely
modern Western democracy, I feel
proud of my connection.
I feel proud to be a Jew, proud to
be an American, proud and grateful ry
that I live in this most amazing half-
century. ❑
Hillel Mission
young adults to meet and become
involved.
There are several groups who
should receive credit for their role irY
this accomplishment. The Hillel of
Metro Detroit Board of Governors
(under the leadership of past presi-
dents Kurt Singer, David Lebenbom
and Paul Rochlen) has demonstrated
a willingness to embrace a vision and
implement change. The Jewish Fed-
eration of Metropolitan Detroit has
been our partner in every sense,
helping us to succeed and pushing us
to grow. The Michigan B'nai B'rith
Hillel Fund continues its generous
support for our endeavors, and the
recently formed Michigan Hillel
Consortium is helping us to develop
our board and expand our resources.
While Hillel of Metro Detroit
received accreditation, the credit must
We owe
it to
ourselves
to see Israel.
LETTERS
we're in total agreement on. And that is,
regardless of our feelings, we should all
share in the joy and celebration of
Israel. We should sit back, put our dif-
ferences aside, and join our hands,
hearts, tears and prayers on this, the
50th anniversary of one of the greatest
miracles of the 20th century. We should
close our celebration with a prayer — a
long life and good health for Israel, for-
ever in our hearts. We pray for peace in
the Middle East and within our own
people as we share a vision for the
strength of Israel.
Each and every one of us is a bene-
ficiary. Our lives are different because
of, and touched by, the miracle of
Israel. Our lives as Jews are what they
are today because there is an Israel.
Let no one mistake that.
David Hermelin
U.S. Ambassador to Norway
5/1
1998
34
Israel At 50:
Celebratory Poem
Continues
You are still young and vibrant.
Filled with the same hopes and dreams
and nurturing you've had since your
birth.
Setting the tone for peace, Israel longs for
a time when all of her neighbors will
afford her the same opportunity.
Amidst the technological advances and
booming marketplaces, the solution for
everlasting peace transcends time.
Oh, beautiful Israel, our true friend and
lifeline of the Jewish people, may the spe-
cial birthday usher in a binding peace.
Rhoda Wallace
Oak Park
Your article of April 17 ("Every-
thing's A-OK") addressed very
well Hillel of Metro Detroit's
recent accreditation process through
our national office, Hillel, the
Foundation for Jewish Campus
Life.
We look forward to continuing
our mission to encourage and assist
Detroit-area Jewish college students
and young adults in developing
their Jewish identity so that they
may become participating members
in the Jewish community. We do
this through programming, engage-
ment, leadership development and
interagency coordination. Our pro-
grams, from hayrides to the Purim
Bash, offer opportunities for Jewish