Next Year Or Right Now
Israel is not a war zone. Life,
Arad, Israel
though strained, is continuing
srael is your land. It's
here. The parks, natural won-
mine, too, and that's
ders, archaeological sites,
why I am here this year.
museums and other important
A few people tried to
sites of Jewish history are open
dissuade me from coming this
for business, despite major
year. They suggested I post-
budget shortfalls.
pone my plan for a year of
NAN CY M.
When we travel around. the
study in Israel until things "get
LIP SEY
country,
our group is the only
better." While I also hope that
Spe
cial
English
speakers
I hear. A
things will get better, I know
Comm
entary
guest
speaker
once
joked that
that there was no better time,
50
percent
of
the
tourists
in
for me and for Israel, to come
Israel
were
in
his
audience.
back to my country.
Tour guides and bus drivers thank us
I am not a citizen of Israel, though I
for coming.
am constantly considering it, but this
I am not sad for Israel. The country
is my country. The Jewish people are a
Christian and Muslim perspectives.
and
her citizens will persevere and
nation with a homeland. After a long
The Rev. William Gepford, an inter-
make
it through this crisis with their
and ongoing struggle, we succeeded to
faith partner, made this powerful part-
heads
held high. They understand that
make our land a state.
nership for peace connection.
you may not want to come at this
Whether you choose to live here or
I feel so blessed to have experienced
time, There is no blame or guilt by
not, every Jew should know deep in
firsthand the miracles that can happen
Israelis, but they do miss us.
their gut that it is our responsibility to
when we direct our energy toward
I am sad for my fellow Americans.
ensure that the state continues to exist
partnering for peace.
You
have the opportunity to make a
and thrive.
Each one of us can become a- force
stand
for Israel the easy way. Citizens
Growing anti-Semitism in Europe
for good. We are the ones with the
reiterates how important a
power, the answers and the ability to
Jewish homeland is to our
change the world. We are the miracle
personal survival. Israel is not
the world needs.
only a safe haven for those
As Cardinal Adam Maida of the
fleeing persecution, but she
Archdiocese , of Detroit said on Sept.
eagerly accepts the destitute
11: "To turn the tide of evil into rivers
from Argentina and
of peace, we must always be partners
Ethiopia. Israel accepts the
in faith, hope and love." Join us in
challenges of absorbing
partnering for peace. LI
immigrants from all over the
world; rich or poor, educated
or illiterate. You have a home
broker a peace deal between Israel and
in Israel.
here are prepared to lay down their
Palestine with Said. That is interesting
Of course, there have been "better"
lives; I just want you to come for a visit.
because despite their seeming intima-
times to visit Israel and there will be
I am proud to be an American in
cy, it has escaped Barenboim's atten-
"better" times to visit in the future. But
tion that Said actually opposed the
now is the best time for you to visit. Not Israel and I will be proud to have you
join me here. Come to WUJS or go
Oslo accords because he was against
only for yourselves, but also for Israel.
on a United Jewish Communities mi s -
peace with the Zionists on any terms!
I have been in Israel since the end of
sion. While you are here, visit the Old
Barenboim is uninterested in the
June. I am participating in the WUJS
City of Jerusalem, spend time on the
fact that Said has preached hatred for
Institute International Center for
beach in Tel Aviv, hike in the Banyas
Israel and support for terrorism
Hebrew and Jewish Studies in Arad. In
Springs in the Golan, or go snorkeling
(which Barenboim opposes) for
this wonderful program, I am learning
in Eliat. Come for a week, a month,
decades:He chooses to ignore the fact
Hebrew in a highly regarded ulpan,
that, as scholar Justin Weiner detailed
taking Jewish studies courses and travel- for Chanukah or the whole summer
— you won't regret it.
in a groundbreaking essay in Com-
ing all over the country. Arad is a suc
If your friends and family think you
magazine
in
1999,
Said
has
mentary
cessful development town in the Judean
are
crazy for coming now, so be it!
fabricated his biography as a
desert. I highly recommend WUJS to
Relish
in the craziness of supporting
Palestinian refugee.
anyone post-college who has about
your
brothers
and sisters during hard
seven months to spend in the country.
WUJS is the best value for your money, times.
Understanding Wagner
Revive that daring side of yourself
and a great way to get a real feel for the
Also on the site is a lengthy question-
country and her people. If you are retir- when you marched for causes you
believed in as you walk through the
and-answer session between Said and
ing, taking a year off after college, hav-
Old City of Jerusalem to visit the
Barenboim on the subject of Wagner's
ing a mid-life crisis, or are a victim of
music and his ideology, including a
Western
Wall.
layoffs, WUJS is an excellent way to
Find
that
adventurous side of your-
discussion of the composer's anti-
experience Israel.
self that used to do anything for causes
Semitism and whether or not his work
that mattered to you and remember
should be performed in Israel.
Nancy Lipsey is a former resident of
that Israel will be always be here for
Some Jewish observers will quickly
Southfield. She is in Israel for a year of
you. ❑
study. E-mail• nlipsey@hotmaiLcom
TOBIN on page 33
Mohammad Ali Elahi
of Dearborn Heights,
imam of Islamic House
of Wisdom, Brenda
Rosenberg of Bloomfield
Hills, Safwan Badr of
West Bloomfield and
the Rev. Bruce Rigdon
of Grosse Pointe during
an interfaith 9-11
memorial at the
Habitat for Humanity
site in Detroit.
information and events for all groups
who want to stop hate. Another pow-
erful partnership for peace.
On Sept. 17, dedicated Seeds of
Peace volunteers met to continue the
planning process for a Nov. 18 gala
event. Seeds of Peace raises money to
send children, chosen by their govern-
ments from more than 20 war-torn
countries, to a summer camp in
Maine. There, the children learn to
share each other's cultures and co-exis-
tence skills. Another powerful partner-
ship for peace.
Finally, on Nov. 1, I am participat-
ing in "Daughters of Abraham," a
women's forum at Rosedale Garden
Church in Detroit. We will be sharing
how we connect to God from Jewish,
as a musical superstar is undimin-
ished.
Like most musicians, Barenboim
knows a great deal about music and
precious little about anything else. But
that has not deterred him from taking
the task of making friends with the
Palestinians — even as they are killing
Jews and calling for Israel's destruction
— as his personal cause.
Even more curious is the fact that
he has chosen to do so in the compa-
ny of one of Israel's most virulent foes:
Palestinian-American academic Ed-
ward Said.
Said and Barenboim have become,
according to the Times, close friends.
They share a love for Wagner, and have
worked together to create summer work-
shops in Germany for young musicians
from Israel and Arab countries. For that
achievement, the two shared the "Prince
of Asturias Award for Concord" this
year, a Spanish peace prize.
Barenboim's Web site (vvww.daniel-
barenboim.com) treats his fans to
polemics by the conductor on peace
and music. In one essay included
there, titled "I Have a Dream,"
Barenboim fantasizes about helping to
I
Every Jew should know
deep in their gut that it is
our responsibility ensure
that Israel thrives.
9/27
2002
31