Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs

NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATES

Crusaders for Peace

MENAHEM BEGIN
(1913-92)

SHIMON PERES

YITZHAK RABIN
(1922-95)

(192 3 -)

"...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning
hooks." This message of peace which resonates in the books of Isaiah, Joel and
Micah has lingered in Jewish consciousness for time immemorial. Peace in one's
own land, a dream long unrealized by Jews suffering dispersal and geopolitical
hostility has become more concrete in recent decades. Inch by tortuous inch, peace
has edged forward through strength and diplomacy by Israel" for which only an
honorable peace assures safety and survival. Among those who advanced the
promise are:
Polish-born Menahem Begin studied law and rose in the Zionist hierarchy
before escaping the invading Germans. He joined the Free Polish Army, was
dispatched to Palestine in 1942, and following discharge commanded the Irgun Zvai
Leumi resistance force. Begin headed the nationalist Likkud party and was elected
prime minister in 1977 within a coalition government--soon after engaging Egyptian
President Anwar al-Sadat in peace talks mediated by President Carter at Camp
David. The accords led to a treaty which earned 1978 Nobel Peace Prizes for both
former combatants.
The hero of the Six-Day War in 1967 and army chief-of-staff was as much
a statesman and peace maker as a warrior. Yitzhak Rabin was born in Jerusalem,
fought in the War of Independence and served as ambassador to the U.S. from 1968
to 1973. Rising through the ranks of the Labor Party, Rabin succeeded prime
minister Golda Meir. Resigning in 1976, he was appointed minister of defense in the
Shimon Peres government which he reclaimed in 1992. Tough on terrorism, yet a
staunch realist, Rabin sealed a peace agreement with PLO chairman Yasir Arafat
which won them Nobel Peace Prizes in 1994. Within a year, he was assassinated by
a fanatical right-wing Jew.
A third recipient of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize is among his nation's
consummate political figures--Shimon Peres, a Harvard-trained former kibbutznick
who negotiated details of the first Israel-PLO pact, and twice ruled the country as
its prime minister. The Polish-born statesman played many other roles during his
career: as head of Israel's navy, minister of defense, finance and com-munications,
and chairman of the Labor Party. It was he who withdrew Israeli forces from
Lebanon in 1985 and has vigorously championed a moderate and conciliatory
approach to relations with Palestinian opponents.

- Saul Stadonauer

The oft-repeated word "shalom" in Jewry's holy scriptures evokes what profoundly
distinguishes the bible—its 3,000 years of enduring wisdom with a special reverence
for peace. "Love peace and strive for peace," said the great Rabbi Hillel. One's
heart and spirit must be steeped in peace to be called human. And even in the
Kaddish, Judaism's most familiar doxology, shalom appears three times.

- Walter L. Field

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Irwin S. Field, Chairperson
Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson

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30

Recount's Bum Rap

Florida residents are angry about ballot,
and the way they are being portrayed.

the way they are being portrayed in
the media as older, confused citizens.
Ed Lewis, who lives at the Aberdeen
Golf
and Country Club in Boynton
West PalmBeach, Fla.
Beach, said he carefully studied the
lan David never gave his
sample ballot he received in the mail
ballots a second thought
before the election and mapped out
after voting in dozens of
his votes. So he was shocked when he
presidential elections dur-
arrived at the voting booths and
ing the decades he lived in New York.
couldn't understand the ballot.
Then, after moving to West Palm
"Even though I'm 66, I'm very
Beach two years ago, he voted in Palm
bright," he said. "I voted correctly,
Beach County for the
but I had to spend at
first time last week.
Al Gore supporter Anthony
least 20 seconds or
"I looked at the bal-
DeMatteo, left, argues with
more reading the bal-
lot and said, 'What the
George
W Bush supporter Jose lot. There is no ques-
heck is this?"' recalled
Sotillo, right, during a small
tion in my mind there
David, who lives in
rally in West Palm Beach,
was a problem with
the Century Village
Fla., on Nov. 12.
the ballot."
community "I voted,
The confusion for
but I don't know what
many stemmed from the way the bal-
I voted. It was so confusing."
lot was structured, with the proximity
David isn't the only Palm Beacher who
of Gore's name to the punch hole des-
left the polls on Election Day unsure if
ignated for Reform Party candidate
his vote helped or hurt his Democratic
Pat Buchanan apparently causing
candidate, Vice President Al Gore.
many Gore supporters to accidentally
Even before the polls closed, voters
vote for Buchanan.
were flooding the state's elections
department with angry calls, demand-
ing recounts and even revotes as many
Crying In Kings Point
realized they may have voted for the
Sheila and Ed Levins of Boca Raton
wrong candidate.
had volunteered to help run the polls
Now, as the nation awaits the out-
at the Kings Point community in
come of the legal wrangling and the vote
Delray Beach, where some of the
recounts, residents of this heavily Jewish
worst confusion was reported.
region of south Florida are not only
Sheila Levins said many people were
questioning their vote, they are angry at

JOYCE MOED
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

A

