OTHER VIEWS

Hope Springs Eternal

L

who would often challenge my faith in
ast week, I received a beautiful
the peace process.
note from a friend. She wrote,
I always said that I have to believe
"I am sure the Middle East
that
peace is possible, as the alternative
crisis is excruciatingly painful
is unbearable. I thought: "Peace will
for all of you. If I am sleepless over it, I
come soon. This is just a bad time, but
can imagine how all of you feel. I hope
it will serve a purpose and it will pass.
there is resolution to the conflict soon.
As
horrible as it is, good must come
"I also hope and pray that you have
from this."
not lost a family member dur-
My friends' pessimism-real-
ing this crisis, although I
ism
is uncharacteristic of
understand, and can appreci-
them.
They are positive peo-
ate, everyone in Israel is fami-
ple
who
approach challenges
ly. I guess my dream of visit-
fearlessly and who view obsta-
ing Jerusalem will not be ful-
cles as opportunities for cre-
filled anytime soon."
ative development. They
My friend is Armenian. She
rarely limit themselves by
and her family had hoped to
what
seems to be obvious
visit Jerusalem, as they did
truth
and usually imagine
Armenia, to connect with
JANICE
possibilities
that most others
their Armenian heritage. I
STARKMAN
wouldn't
see.
had always hoped to be in
GOLDFEIN
So I wondered to myself, if
Israel at the time of their visit.
Community
these friends are hopeless,
I wanted to share with them
Views
what allows me to continue to
the Jerusalem I know and
be hopeful when logic and
love, and to introduce them
reason
defy
that possibility? I wondered
to places in Israel off the beaten path
whether
I
am
unrealistic, or do I avoid
that their children would enjoy, just as
the
pain
of
facing
the truth, or is it my
our children did.
innate
nature
to
be
hopeful?
I was very touched by my friend's
Or,
by
singing
Od
Lo Avda
empathic awareness of my family's expe-
Tikvateynu (our hope is not lost) my
rience of this crisis. Her last sentence
whole life, I truly internalized the con-
saddened me. The hopelessness of her
cept. Those are probably all contribut-
comment reminded me of many con-
ing factors, but ultimately I recognized
versations I have had with her husband,
something else.
Hope and action are symbiotic. Real
Janice Starkman Goldfein is a
hope comes from feeling there is some-
Southfield resident and Young Israel of
thing we can do to make a difference —
Southfield member.
no matter how small. Hope is nourished

Unaccountable Aid

Philadelphia
n the past weeks, Palestinian Arab
towns and cities were the scenes
of intense combat as Israeli forces
fought to track down terrorists
and destroy their hideouts and bomb
factories. The vast stores of armaments,
explosives and paraphernalia of suicide
bombers, as well as the presence of the
terrorists themselves, show that Israel
was entirely justified in attacking these
sources of terror.
But in the aftermath of the fighting,
the devastation of war has left many
of the inhabitants of these places des-
titute and homeless.
For those who think that "Israel has
no right to defend itself against terror-

I

5/3

2002

32

Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor
of the Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia.
He can be reached via e-mail at
jtobin@jewishexponent.com

by action. Conversely, hope provides
showing up and being present that com-
continued motivation and a sense of
municates the feeling. If we can't visit,
goal. It gives the direction towards
we can buy Israeli products whether it is
change. Without hope, we often feel
Israeli cucumbers at the market or buy-
helpless.
ing Israeli products online.
We do not send our husbands or chil-
We can all pray, even though we all
dren to the army, nor do we fear for our
have different attitudes towards prayer
lives when venturing from our homes,
and it's meaning. Prayer may take the
but there are several ways each of us can
form of formal ritual, reciting tehillim
make a difference. Perhaps my friends
(psalms), private prayer or statements of
feel hopeless, as they are observers and
hope for peace that emerge in conversa-
have no outlet for attempts to affect the
tion. It often looks like our prayers are
situation. As Jews, we can act upon the
unanswered, as the situation remains
teaching kol Yisrael areyvim zeh la-zeh
bleak. It is only as things unfold that we
(all Jews are responsible for each other.)
understand the meaning of things.
Each of us can educate others, partici-
Prayer seems to have beneficial effects.
pate in community events — and pray.
• There have been studies about prayer
The need to educate others presents
increasing recovery rates after surgery.
an opportunity for each of us to learn
Even if you doubt this, prayer remains
more about Israeli history so we are con-
important. Our prayers of thanks help
fident in discussion. When people are
us to develop a perspective that includes
presented with the facts fairly and accu-
the positive as well as the negative.
rately, they respond appropriately. By
Prayers of request keep us mindful of
increasing our own knowledge, our own
our goals and, therefore, more likely to
identification is strengthened.
notice opportunities in which we can
The Web site standwithus.com has a
have a positive influence.
list of suggested actions we can take. We
We must also take pride that the
should participate in community events
Jewish response is to be positively proac-
and show solidarity. Each person makes
tive rather than focusing our energies on
a difference. Attending a rally or
the destruction of others. History proves
Shabbat service offers each of us a feel-
that ultimately moral truth triumphs.
ing of connection. This offers comfort
In the Israeli national anthem we sing
at a time when we are besieged, not
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim (our hope
only in Israel, but we watch as anti-
of 2,000 years). We have remained
Semitic acts being committed in Europe
hopeful, even in the face of terrible
once again.
tragedies. We must remain hopeful now
We should visit Israel. When we visit
I continue to hope that I will visit a safe
the sick or comfort the bereaved, it is
and peaceful Jerusalem with my friends
not our words that are important. It is
sometime soon.

ised aid to alleviate Palestinian suffering.
But before the flow of funds to the
area resumes, we should take a good
ism, any . Israeli counterattack was
look at who will administer that aid and
what it will be used for,Over the past
unjustified. In this spirit, the European
54 years, the U.N. Relief and Works
media, the International Red Cross and
various other human-rights
Agency has supervised the
refugee camps (such as the
organizations and the United
Jenin terror base), where
Nations have seized upon the
debris of combat and the
hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians were held
resultant casualties among
Palestinians — including the
hostage to a war on Israel. It __
long ago morphed into the
armed terrorists and those who
social-services branch of
supported them — as proof of
atrocities, even though Israeli
Palestinian nationalism and
forces put themselves at risk to
has helped to facilitate ter-
limit civilian casualties.
JON A THAN S. ror.
Nevertheless, the privations
Nor can we treat the
TO BIN
International Red Cross,
experienced by Palestinians have
Sp ecial
whose former president
evoked the sympathy of the
Corn mentary
Cornelio Sommaruga has
world. While Saudi Arabia
holds telethons to benefit
been appointed to a "fact-
Palestinian homicide-bomber
finding" mission about the
fighting in Jenin, as an honest broker
"martyrs" and their families, who take
here either. The IRC has been a consis-
pride in the human sacrifice of their chil-
tent critic of Israel. It has condemned
dren, even the United States has prom-

❑

every Israeli act of self-defense and done
nothing about the fact that Palestinian
Red Crescent ambulances have been
used by terror groups as transport for
weapons and suicide bombers.
It should also be remembered that the
IRC has blackballed Israel's Magen
David Adorn — the Red Star of David
— from membership in its international
group because it will not accept a Star of
David symbol alongside the already
-
approved crosses and crescents. This pol-
icy, which is opposed by the American
Red Cross, has led to the IRC becoming
a symbol, not of mercy for the sick, but
of the growing anti-Semitism that per-
vades Europe these days.
Even worse, the Palestinian Authority,
has proven to be nothing less than a
criminal terrorist organization mas-
querading as a government. The billions
donated to this entity by foreign govern-
ments, including the United States, have
done nothing to help ordinary
Palestinians, but instead have lined the
pockets of Yasser Arafat's kleptocracy.