•
so angry that he doesn't have a
human life. We continue to teach our
car and how it's the absolute
•children to value life and love other peo-
worst-case
scenario. Then I see
ple and strive toward peace. Our chil-
a
16-year-old
here whose broth-
dren don't throw stones at Arabs. We
Mount
Herzl
and
Yad
Vashem,
Kibbutz Beit Hashita
er, sister and father are all serv-
don't burn the flags of other countries.
Israel's Holocaust memorial.
pril 17 was a special day for
ing in the army right now, and
We don't refuse to do business with
After that, we went to ancient
me. For the first time in my
he worries that he will never see
the anti-Semites in France, and the
Gamla and learned that we were
life, I got to celebrate Israel's
them -again. He is okay with it,
Nazi sympathizers in Belgium. Maybe
standing in the same place as
Independence Day in Israel.
PAUL
though, because they are fight-
we should, but we don't. We judge
people from 4,000 years ago.
There were fireworks, ceremonies, a
ing to protect the Jewish state,
GROSS
each man on his merits, not his
That really showed me how
picnic for the whole kibbutz and an
which is incredibly important.
nationality or religion. And despite the overall great vibe coming from every-
Special
amazing this country is — to be
The most important thing
fact that an Arab tried to kill me and
in
an
area
that
looks
exactly
the
Commentary
one. All of this happening, in my opin-
that I have learned here is not
my husband and children only a few
same as it did thousands of years
ion, in the most beautiful place in the
to take the state of Israel for granted.
weeks ago, I don't hate Arabs. Just ter-
ago.
world: Kibbutz Beit Hashita, where I
When I hear on the news about all the
rorists and their supporters.
After Pesach, things changed a lot for
am spending this semester.
anti-Semitism showing itself around
The other peoples of the world have
us. We could leave the kibbutz only
It seemed like this year, more than
Europe, it makes me proud that we
always seemed better off, stronger, more
with special permission two days in
others with the situation that is going
have a state of our own. I see how will-
numerous. They live in lands that
advance. There are no rides for us to Tel
on, Yom HaAztmaut was really a day to
ing most Israelis are to "go back into the
stretch out endlessly and have treasures
Aviv and Haifa any more and the mood
celebrate and feel pride.
army
to defend this country. It has even
of oil, iron, gold in their hills and lush
in
Israel
is
very
sad.
There
have
been
These past three months have been the
gotten
me to thinking a bit about join-
forests and abundant rainfalls and beau-
weeks
where
people
did
not
leave
their
best, craziest, most confusing and enlight-
ing the army myself in two years. This is
houses. This made me feel so lucky to
tiful rivers.
ening months of my life. Despite the war
truly a magical place.
And we, in our little, tiny, desert land,
be on kibbutz. The staff made activities
here, I have seen some amazing things
A lot of people ask me if I am scared.
care deeply about those among us who
here for everyone, which brought me
and had some amazing experiences.
The honest answer is that most of the
are hungry and poor. We don t waste
closer to the other Americans in my
My first month here, we climbed up
time I'm not. I am in a safe part of the
water, and we eat our fruit with a bless-
class and also to the kibbutzniks. It
Mount Gilboa and looked over the entire
country on a safe kibbutz. With all that
made me happy that the kibbutz would
ing. We glory in the beauty of our tiny
valley. Seeing Mount Tavor was very spe-
is going on here, it almost surprises me
care
enough
about
its
members
to
try
to
Lake Kinneret, and walk along our
cial for my two friends and me, all mem-
that I am really having the best time of
Mediterranean shore on a summer's
still have some fun in this hard time.
bers of the program from Camp Tavor.
my life. I think that has something to
afternoon with joyful hearts as we watch
My opinion about the situation here
During Pesach, we went to Jerusalem
do with this amazing country. Even in
the sun set, our minds empty of hatred
changes daily, to the point where I usu-
and saw the Israeli Supreme Court,
what seems like the worst of times, cele-
and plans for killing. Our minds are on
ally tell people that I just don't know
Paul Gross, a 10th-grader at Ann
brating Israel Independence Day, as I
our family's well being and the future, a
what to say about it. Every day, I hear
Arbor
Huron High School, is spending
write this today, was such a happy and
better future for all mankind when they
an argument for the other side and it
carefree time. I now realize that I have
the semester at the American High
recognize that all the Earth belongs to
totally changes what I'm thinking.
never been prouder to be a Jew, and
School on Kibbutz Beit Hashita in
God; and no one has a God-given right
This situation has put a lot of things
never been prouder that we have a land
to kill others because they want some-
Israel. He is a member of Ann Arbor's
into perspective for me. I see a 16-year-
we can call our own. ❑
thing they don't have. And that to kill
old in the States talking about how he is
Beth Israel Congregation.
someone who is trying to kill you is a
good deed, not an immoral act.
Yes, Mr. Kofi Annan [United Nations
Perspectives on Israel: a continuing series
secretary-general], the whole world can
be wrong and the Jews right. Whether
they are ignorant tribesmen spewing
hate in tents, or sophisticated newsmen,
spewing their hatred and prejudice
through sophisticated cable networks
Day. Today, May 10, we celebrate the
Take Action: Express Thanks
and outer space satellites, they are equal-
reunification of Jerusalem in the 1967
Last week both Houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly to sup-
ly guilty. All those who join with us and
War. We need to be aware that in addition to Holocaust denial,
port resolutions supporting Israel. Contact your legislators to thank
bless us now, at this time, will be
there is now Jerusalem Denial.
them for their support.
blessed. And all those who join our ene-
Senator Carl Levin senator@levin.senate.gov
mies now, at this time, will be cursed. I'll
On official Palestinian Authority websites and in their textbooks,
bet my life on it.
Jerusalem is depicted as wholly Palestinian, and its historical and
Senator Debbie Stabenow senator@stabenow.senate.gov
religious importance to the Jews, as well as its present position as
Thank you, God, for making me a
United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
Israel's capital is not mentioned. In fact, Arafat stirs up crowds by
(202) 224-3121
Jew and teaching me Your laws at this
warning that there is an Israeli conspiracy to "Judaize Jerusalem"
time and in this place, when so many all
Congressman Joe Knollenberg rep.knollenberg@mail.house.gov
(make Jerusalem appear Jewish).
over the world have lost their moral
slevin@mail.house.gov
Congressman Sander Levin
bearings and sunk so low. Thank you for
As Dennis Ross, former head American peace negotiator said in an
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
keeping Your promise to Abraham, for
interview last August, "One of his new mythologies that [Arafat] cre-
(202)224-3121
bringing me, his descendant, back here
ated at Camp David was, 'There's no temple in Jerusalem. It's only
thousands of years later. I will try to be
an obelisk.' When you question the core of the other side's faith, that
worthy of being a Jew, to be worthy of
is not exactly an indication that you are getting ready to try to‘end
all the good you've showered on me and
the conflict."
•_
the Jewish people by giving us back our
homeland, and helping us to defeat our
Jewish :
So as efforts to deny Jewish history and the Jewish future continue,
enemies, the enemies of all good people
remember Isaiah 62:"For Zion's sake I will not be silent and for
Community
everywhere. ❑
Jerusalem's sake I will not rest."
Council Pigliblf.12= ma
A Land Of Our Own
A
'
JERUSALEM DENIAL
Jerusalem
To learn more about how you can become an effective Israel advocate, visit www.jewishcommunitvcouncil.orq
5/10
2002
31