Special Report

Remembering The Dead

Modest memorial to school bus victims elicits emotional concern
for Israeli life under terrorist attack.

DON COHEN
Special to the Jewish News

T

hey came to learn about Judaism and the
land of Israel, but terrorism in the land
. was heavy on their minds.
The Eilu v'Eilu adult learning program
on June 18 drew 30 learners who divided up into
small study sessions with teachers to explore differ-
ent approaches to understanding the Jewish connec-
tion to the land.
At the end of the session, the group joined together
with an additional 25 people who came to attend a
memorial to the victims of the day's suicide bombing
in Jerusalem that killed 19 and wounded at least 70.
Rabbi Scott Bolton of Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit spoke about the concept of
aliyah (literally, "going up"), commonly used to
describe those who settle in Israel. Rabbi Bolton
said, "Aliyah doesn't end when you get off the plane
. and get your citizenship card." He quoted Rav
Kook, leader of the religious Zionist movement
•prior to the establishment of the state, who said,
" 'Jews must make aliyah each day, whether they
are in the land or outside of it.' "
Rabbi Bolton interpreted this as striving for peace,
enlightenment and elevation of spirit.
But Rabbi Bolton brought everyone back down to
Earth by observing, "When we extend our hand in
peace, others see it as an opportunity to take advan-
tage of us." Everyone knew what he meant.
"Today, we remember the adult victims and chil-
dren who were murdered by homicide killers," he
said, relating that friends of his in Israel told him
"there was extended silence and tears" throughout
the Jewish state.
Allan Gale, assistant director of the Jewish
Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, lit seven
yarzheit (memorial) candles in memory of those killed in
the bombing. The candles represented the seven-
branched menorah that symbolizes the State of Israel.
Those assembled than joined in a niggun
a

—

Ed Klarman reacts to the candlelight vigil.

wordless melody used to set a religious mood — led
by Rabbi Bolton. This led to further study of the
concept of aliyah.
'A Jewish response to such tragedy, to such may-
hem in the world, is to learn, to turn to our Torah,"
he told the group as heads nodded in agreement.

Reactions To Terror

After the memorial, the faces said it all.
When asked for a reaction to the latest suicide
bombing, the first reactions were the same: A cold
stare and a deep breath. The looks said, "Don't make
me say it" and "How do you think I feel about it"'
Then there were the pauses while they gathered their
thoughts and tried to put into words the anguish
they felt. People groped to find some hope, some-
thing positive that could result out of this tragedy.
Then came the look of failure and resignation when

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such thoughts didn't come. In some cases, self-edit-
ing occurred when they didn't want to come off as
negative or as hopeless as they felt. And then came
the gush of words.
"I'm outraged. They're killing kids," said Diane
Baum of West Bloomfield. "Why aren't people
angry? It's a real emotional issue. I was horrified."
Dr. Mitch Parker, the new leader of Eilu v'Eilu,
the Conservative movement's local adult learning
project, said, "I woke up and the very first thing I
heard was about the bombing. My first reaction was
anger, then worry. I worried about whether someone
I knew was on the bus. Then there was aggravation
and frustration. There seems to be no end in sight,
no viable solutions. I pray for an end, but don't
know how it will happen."
Debra Darvick of Birmingham said, "I don't know
how this can be solved peacefully. I think it is tragic
and horrifying. I have to believe there are those in
Israel and among the Palestinians who are tired of
killing each other. But the Palestinians have been
given a chance for 50 years. They could have had a
state, and can still have one.
"I don't think they share the Jews' passion for life,"
she continued. "[Palestinians] have such glee when
they kill us, whether it was Sept., 11 or killing
Israelis. Golda Meir said they'll have peace 'when
they love their children more than they hate us.' It's
not happening."
David Gad-Harf, executive director of the Jewish
Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, said,
"I think this hit me and our community particularly
hard because of the reports of young students who
were killed or wounded in the attack. It was a horrif-
ic display of hatred for Jews. I hope Americans see it
for what it is: an effort to destroy Israel and Jews.
"Coming on the eve of President [George W]
Bush's speech when he planned to reveal his plan for
resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it was a
real slap in the face to President Bush."
Donna Sklar of Farmington Hills found the bus
bombing "appalling and unbelievable," saying, "I
don't know how the Israelis can take it. I don't know
how civilized society can sit by and not rise up in
protest against such uncivilized behavior."
Ed Klarman of Southfield sees Israel's recent
actions as positive. "Israel is on the right track," he
said. "Build a wall, define the borders you can live
with and defend them. If the rest of the world is
angry, including the Arab world, so be it." ❑

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