Ark

Ar4C.7 "7"

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POINT

NARROW VISION from page 28

U.S. in many ways — powerful, pros-
perous and somewhat arrogant — it
differs from America in attitude and
approach.
The U.S., as powerful as it is, con-
ducts its domestic and international
policies by constantly scrutinizing
them against its moral values and
sense of fairness. It tries continuously
to correct wrongs, even if it takes sac-
rificing and giving.
Israel, on the other hand, and espe-
cially the political Right, is still in the
mode of outsmarting and outmaneuver-
ing friend and foe in order to hang on
to disputed assets and look after narrow
interests. This narrow outlook, especially
with the world's perception that it is
unfair to the Palestinians, is gradually
eroding support and sympathy for Israel
behavior throughout the globe.
Is it reasonable to believe that Israel
will prevail and flourish only with
American and Jewish community sup-
port? I doubt it. Americans in general,
and regardless of religious affiliation,
tend, in the long run, to sympathize
with the victimized and the oppressed
that are fighting for justice and free-
dom.

Reaching Out

The American Jewish community, a
loyal supporter of the Jewish state, has
largely changed its own outlook and
behavior from the historical one dom-
inated by isolation and exclusion of
others. This community, - largely speak-
ing, has added to its prayers "the
blessing of all nations" to "the blessing
of Israel."
The Jews of America are reaching
out to the rest of the American people
with contributions and participation
in all walks of life. They engage in
charity and giving to the underprivi-
leged, regardless of their ethnicity.
They are showing that a Jew can live
in a mixed neighborhood, have,non-
Jewish friends and even spouses, and
still. be loyal and proud of his/her her-
itage.
American Jewish history has gone
through a transition, from anti-Semi-
tism in earlier days to legitimacy and
popular admiration as time goes by.
How could Sen. Joseph Lieberman
become a major-party vice-presidential
nominee without the wide acceptance
of the Jewish community by American
society?
As we see increasing integration of
the Jewish community in American
society, without losing identity and
tradition, there may be a question
about the ability of this community to

1/5

2001

30

reconcile between its own values of
morality, civility and justice, and those
values reflected in Israeli mentality
and behavior.
Before a gap is created and before it
widens, members of the Jewish com-
munity must voice their opinions with
integrity and courage, avoiding the
pitfalls of double standards and twist-
ed principles. Let their voices be ones
of reason and wisdom for the sake of
the eternal survival of Israel as a legiti-
mate, respected and admired member
in the family of nations. ❑

COUNTERPOINT

AMERICAN MODEL from page 28

similar circumstances? What kind of
"sacrifices for peace" would it be will-
ing to make? How would it respond
to the security threat? Would it sup-
port broad autonomy? Would it wel-
come an army of 40,000 "police" into
its living room? How would it handle
citizens who, in identification with the
enemy, violently close down major
roads and threaten the security of
neighboring communities?
What would America do if its
neighbors praised terrorist murderers
and used its media and educational
system to promote rejection and
hatred for America?

America's Past

Let's consider the American experi-
ence:
• Unlike Israeli expansion as the out-
come of a defensive war, the United
States unilaterally annexed Texas in
1845, then sucked Mexico into war
when it rebuffed President James
Knox Polk's offer to buy California
and New Mexico American forces
occupied Mexico City and, in 1848,
Mexico was forced to cede two-fifths
of its territory to the U.S. in return
for $15 million.
America responded to rioting by
African American citizens by imposing
curfews enforced by shoot-to-kill
orders against violators.
The United States has consistently
used massive force to assault and
destroy what it perceived to be securi-
ty threats presented by domestic
groups.
How about "risks for peace"? The
U.S. felt so threatened by an island
nation 90 miles off the coast of Flori-
da that it saw fit to enforce harsh
sanctions that have hobbled Cuba's
economy for two generations.

Please do not get me wrong. I am
not claiming that America is evil, just
that the America itself does not come
close to the ideal some wish to apply
to the Israeli experience.
Israel is far from perfect. And there
is much in it that should be changed.
But it is hypocritical to trash the Jew-
ish state for policies and attitudes that
are considerably more liberal, under
the circumstances, than America
would ever follow if facing something
even close.

Short Memories

I can appreciate the frustration that
American Jews can have with the situ-
ation, especially those who got caught
up in the heady Oslo experience. One
of my sharpest memories of these last
years was meeting with excited Ameri-
can Jewish leaders in a Jerusalem hotel
lobby who accompanied President
Clinton on Air Force One. Some
stood there, beaming with a collection
of identification passes hanging on
their necks — souvenirs of various
signing ceremonies they had attended.
Yes, those certainly were heady
days. But the support that Israel's mas-
sive concessions garnered were short-
lived. We continuously found our-
selves challenged by a "what have you
done lately" attitude.
What relationship can we expect
with American Jewry if we can no
longer serve up periodic Kodak
moments? That's a good question. But
I know one thing: We simply cannot
afford to continue providing this
expensive entertainment. ❑

SPECIAL
COMMENTARY

CLEMENCY from page 29

story no longer in power, it is time to
end the Pollard tragedy. But given the
mood in the White House and the
inability of the current Israeli govern-
ment to exert any leverage on the
issue, it appears that Pollard's latest
application will fail. That means he
will probably spend at least another
four to eight years in jail.
How ironic that Bill Clinton — a
man who has already found it easy
to forgive himself for the moral and
legal crimes he committed — hasn't
the courage or the decency to extend
some forgiveness to Jonathan Pol-
lard. ❑

LETTERS

LETTERS from page 29

and kindness to everyone he met.
As your writers captured so well,
being touched by David Hermelin
made you feel as if you were elevated
to a special place, and, especially for
us adults, that you had met a human
being on a different plane of spiritual
ity.
As I look out my frozen window-
pane in Oslo, I'm looking at David'
back door, the American ambas-
sador's residence, wishing he were
with us — and feeling-that if ever
there was a human being who
embodied the heart and soul of a
living Judeo-Christian ethic, it was
David Hermelin. Knowing him was
a distinct privilege.
James Dillor
Oslo, Norwa

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'

A Note
On Tzedakah

Your very informative Apple Tree arti
cle on tzedakah ("The Gift Of Giv-
ing," Dec. 29, page 81) treated read-
ers to a detailed and extensive cover-
age of this important mitzvah. How-
ever, there is one important detail in
this otherwise wonderful article that
needs correcting.
In seeking to define what consti-
tutes the Jewish obligation of
tzedakah, the article states that
donations ro "Jewish educational
institutions ... do not fulfill one's
obligation to give tzedakah." To the
contrary, Jewish education-is the
highest form of tzedakah (righteous
charity).
Basing itself on explicit texts in the
Jerusalem Talmud, the Shulchan
Aruch in Yorah Deah states that the
mitzvah of tzedakah, when supportin
teaching Torah to Jewish children,
takes precedence over nearly every
form of tzedakah mentioned in the
article.
In conclusion, I would like to
highly commend you for stressing
that "our first obligation to give clos-
est to home." It is vital that our local
charities must be our first priority,
especially those that support teaching
Torah to Jewish children.
Rabbi Shmuel Iron l
Oak Par)

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