OTHER VIEWS
Israel Has Captured My Heart
people are getting shot by
the Palestinians."
Wednesday, and I am
Despite these warnings, I
sitting on the terrace
came
anyway. The last time
of my hotel room in
I
was
here was in December
Eilat, Israel. A stiff breeze is
1972
for
my bar mitzvah. I
blowing past me as I look
was
told
that
the country is
out toward Jordan over the
much
different
now:
Red Sea. Lights flicker in
vibrant
and
cosmopolitan,
the distance and I can see
historical in architecture,
JEFF REY
the reflection off of the
yet
modern in business. I
SPIL
MAN
water. A few people, most
find
this all true, yet this
Comm
unity
certainly Israelis, are
description
does not do
Vi
ews
engaged in conversation in
Israel
justice.
front of the hotel.
I was supposed to be here for two
I can hear disco music blaring in
nights and then rush back to Detroit
the background. Israeli soldiers danc-
to the safety of my home. Instead, I
ing and cheering occupy the night-
am
staying for three extra days. I feel
club downstairs. This is the first
safe
in the homeland of my forefa-
night the discotheque has been open
thers.
I feel like I should be here.
in months. It is a private party. I am
The
first three days of my journey
one of only a handful of tourists in
were
spent
in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Eilat during what should be a very
I
wandered
the streets of the Old
busy time of year.
City
and
looked
at my surroundings
My trip began last Friday when I
in
amazement.
I
don't
recall Israel
left Detroit for Tel Aviv on business.
being
this
beautiful.
Yet
something is
I have never done business in Israel
missing.
before, but a good opportunity pre-
I walk into shops and talk to the
sented itself. All of my friends,
Jews
who make a living selling antiq-
Jewish and gentile, told me not to
uities
and artifacts to the tourists. We
come here. They said I was crazy:
talk
for
hours . . . no other visitors
"The country is unsafe . . . innocent
stop by. I feel like I am the only
tourist in Israel. Store after store, it is
Jeffrey Spilman is a Bloomfield Hills
the same story. No tourists, I feel
resident.
compelled to buy things to support
I
t is 12:15 a.m. on
our Jewish state. I do not hear gun-
fire or see violence. All I see are
empty sidewalks and empty hotels.
Are the terrorists finally winning
the war? I pray this is not the case.
With every purchase and visit, the
shopkeepers thank me for stopping
by and for visiting Israel. It has been
days since some of them have seen a
tourist.
My daughter, Jessica, will have her
bat mitzvah next September. We will
have the bat mitzvah in Israel. Israel
needs tourists and what better reason
to come back than for my daughter's
simchah. It is safe here. The only
danger is that the shops and hotels
will be a casualty of this war. How
long can they survive this type of
drought? I hope we do not have to
find out.
My thoughts above were written
before the Dec.1 terrorist acts in
Jerusalem. Notwithstanding these
attacks, Israel is a safe place overall.
The Israeli military and other agencies
take exhaustive steps to ensure the safety
of tourists and Israeli citizens.
Additionally, the stand taken by Israel
and the United States against Yasser
Arafat and the Palestinian Authority,
as well as the financial crackdown on
the Hamas and Islamic Jihad, can only
help but to make Israel more secure. ❑
z.
..:41115f; edit:
Tour guide Moshe Bronstein of Jerusalem
and Spilman's business associate, Geoff
O'Brien of Shelby Township, are among
the few shoppers along the narrow
walkways in the Old City.
What Chanukah Teaches Us About Resilience
Los Angeles
beings are subject to the
same phenomenon —
Iff ore than 30
falling into passivity, feelings
years ago, a
University of
of helplessness and serious
depression — if they give
Pennsylvania
up trying after a series of
psychologist, Martin
painful events in their lives.
Seligman, ran a famous
Chanukah, especially the
series of experiments with
way we are celebrating it
lab rats, which, unfortu-
nately, gave up trying to
DR. LEONARD this year, can be seen as the
story of fighting back
escape from an obstacle
FELDER
against passivity, depression
course because they were
Special
and "learned helplessness."
frustrated from painful jolts
Commentary
Yes, there have been ran-
happening at random times
dom jolts of terrorism that have
they couldn't control.
shocked Israel repeatedly over the last
Seligman named this phenomenon
14 months. Yes, there have been ter-
"learned helplessness." He said human
rible tragedies upsetting all of us on
Dr. Leonard Felder, a former Detroiter
Sept. 11 and ever since that unforget-
and a Southfield High graduate, is a
table day. Yes, the world has felt dark
licensed psychologist whose new book on the and frightening at times this year.
practical applications ofJewish spirituality
And yes, there have been personal
is titled "Seven Prayers That Can Change
losses, disruptions and economic set-
Your Life”(Andrews-McMeel). His e-
backs in many of our lives recently.
mail address is IcfelderOyahoo.com
But Chanukah comes into our
12/7
2001
32
homes and our hearts once again
with teachings about light, resilience
and never giving up on what truly
matters in life. We sing songs and
remember the heroism of our ances-
tors, who said no to the pressures to
assimilate into Greek customs and
who stood up to a frightening king
named Antiochus who was threaten-
ing to kill us if we didn't bow down
to his idols.
At Chanukah, as a way to boost
our resilience, we light candles to
bring in holy energies of courage and
renewal during the darkest days of
December. We remember that our
ancestors were absolutely committed
to doing their part in scrubbing,
painting, rebuilding and repairing
the holy place of worship that the
opposing armies had destroyed. And
we offer thanks that a mysterious lov-
ing Presence somehow made the oil,
which was only enough for one day,
burn for eight days instead.
This year, as you light the candles
with your loved ones and say,
Hanerot halalu anachnu madlikin,
which means "we kindle these holy
lights because of the wondrous sup-
port You brought to our ancestors,"
think about the kind of holy strength
and support you will peed to be
resilient and committed to goodness
in the months to come.
As we emerge from these dark
months into renewed light, may you
be blessed with the creativity, persist-
ence and wisdom you will need to
bring light and healing to the people
and situations in your life that need
what you can offer. Even if it's just
one person or one situation that you
are called upon to help, may the
lights of Chanukah glow within your
heart as you face each day.
May you, your loved ones and the
entire human family have a happy
Chanukah. We definitely need it this
year. ❑