When Hate Is Consuming

he Talmud recounts the time
that a gentile came to the
two great scholars Rabbi
Shammai and Rabbi Hillel
and proclaimed that he would convert
to Judaism if either could explain the
whole of Torah while standing on one
foot. Shammai, an engineer by trade,
carefully thought over the gentile's
proposition and proceeded to drive
him away with a measuring stick.
Hillel took a different approach.
Perhaps as a woodcarver, he understood
that a good measuring stick wasn't
something to risk breaking. But what-
ever his reasons, instead of chasing
away the brash gentile, he spoke some
of the most compassionate words in all
of Jewish thought. "That which is hate-
ful to you," he said, whittling down
Torah to its essence, "do not do to your
neighbor."
This famous disagreement is cited so
frequently in the Jewish world because
it exemplifies what is at the core of
Jewish thought and ideal behavior.
From Rabbi Hillel to Rabbi Heschel,
Jewish tradition has consistently
emphasized the importance of compas-
sion and empathy.
But while our community so often
lives up to Hillel's ideals, from our par-
ticipation in community service to
daily acts of kindness, I worry that we
sometimes fail in our commitment to
these ideals, specifically when speaking
about the Palestinians.

T

Benjamin Siegel, 18, a 2003 graduate

of Cranbrook Kingswood School in
Bloomfield Hills, is now a freshman at
Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

they realized this was just for them. As
they disembarked, they were quickly
engulfed by the welcoming crowd eager
to meet them. It was an emotional
scene, part of a larger operation bring-
ing Israeli youth to North American
camps. In recent years, the number of
Israelis brought to camps in the U.S.
and Canada as staff or campers has
grown tremendously. The impact is
enormous, both for Israelis and their
Diaspora hosts.

Time To Reflect

At Tamakwa, the Israelis integrated well
into the community despite their lack
of camp experience. "This was far bet-

Anyone who has had a Shabbat din-
ner or taken a look through the pages
of the Jewish News knows that the issue
of Israel and the Palestinians is only
slightly less contentious than, say,
whose bubbie makes the best matzah
ball soup.
There is room in our community for
all sorts of opinions — but in dis-
cussing and debating Israel inside and
outside of our community, we must be
careful to heed Hillel's words.
Language is a powerful force, and the
words that we use to discuss Israel
often say more than the discussions
themselves. I sometimes hear
Palestinians referred to as "Palestinian
Arabs." By using "Palestinian" as an
adjective rather than a noun, this affec-
tation portrays Palestinians as a non-
people; this terminology is no less
incorrect than referring to Israelis as
"Zionists," as we sometimes see in the
Arab media.
Often, the use of the term
"Palestinian Arab" is coupled with for-
mer Israeli Prime Minister Golda
Meir's declaration that the Palestinians
"did not exist." While debate continues
over what Meir meant, I often see her
statement alongside all sorts of "facts"
to convey that Palestinians, as a nation,
did or do not exist. These arguments
often include suggestions that there is
no true Palestinian culture, or that if
there is a Palestinian culture, it has pro-
duced nothing of value.
There are publications that detail the
formation of Palestinian national iden-
tity (notably Rashid Khalidi's
Palestinian Identity), but the larger
point is that by denying a nation or

also are not monolithic, and
our language should reflect
that.
Whether we frame it as
observing the Jewish injunc-
tion against lashon harah (evil
speech), or as merely being
compassionate Jews and
BENJAMIN human beings, our language
when arguing about Israel and
SIEGEL
the Palestinians should respect
Community
the basic humanity of another
Views
people. As we ask for compas-
sion from others, we should
show that same compassion to those
who are our own "others."
There is another lesson to be learned
Speak With Precision
from the debates of Hillel and
The ritual denigration or denial of
Shammai. The Talmud is filled with
another culture is ultimately self-defeat- disagreements between the two great
ing. Just as we would reject anti-
tannaim sages of the Mishnah. Hillel
Semitic vitriol that suggests that the
was always at odds with the more con-
Jews do not exist as a people or have
servative Shammai, and their debates
no true culture, we should likewise
were seen as for "the sake of Heaven"
eschew arguments that claim the same
— not over the nuances of Halachic
of the Palestinians.
(Jewish) law, but over the most spiritu-
I hear and read so often that the
ally important issues of humanity.
Palestinians are "terrorists" who "want
And yet, even though the schools
to kill us." It would be foolish for me
were divided over the most fundamen-
to deny that there are Palestinians who
tal concerns of Judaism, they carne
are terrorists, or that there are
together on simchot and celebrated as
Palestinians who want to kill Israelis or
one people.
Jews. But the same could be said of
In our discussions and disagree-
Jewish extremists, and by painting all
ments about Israel, there is room for
Palestinians as cut from the same cloth, all sorts of opinion. But in remember-
we do an injustice to peace-loving
ing Hillel's words, we should be care-
Palestinians and ultimately help create
ful in choosing our own, respecting
a culture of hate.
another people as we would desire to
The Jews are not a monolithic people be respected, and in doing so, reaffirm
— we argue and debate everything
our similarities with one another as a
from politics to religion to food — so
people, and with others as human
we must recognize that the Palestinians
beings.

ter than I ever expected," says Eitan,
14. "It's been so much fun. There were
so many activities here that I loved
doing and everybody treated me so
well."
Although they missed their families
and friends, the Israelis appreciated the
break from their usual reality. "I feel
better that for one month I could try to
forget the situation back in Israel and
think about something else," says Illil,
12. "Still, I can't really get Israel out of
my mind. After all, it's my country."
"Being in such a peaceful place
makes me feel better," says Shai, 14. "It
let me free my mind from the tensions
of Israel."
Camp also served as a rewarding

challenge. "At first, it was difficult to be
here," says Nofar, 13. "But with the
warmth and support of everyone, I
learned to deal with a new situation
and to enjoy camp so much."
Campers appreciated the chance to
get to know real, live Israelis. "They
taught us to appreciate things even
more," says Alex Budman, 12. "When
we heard from Nofar and Illil about
their life in Israel and how scary and
difficult it can be, we realized how
lucky we are to live in such a peaceful
place. It also made me so happy to see
them have fun and relax in Algonquin
Park."
Based on the success of this summer's
pilot project, Tamakwa's owners hope to

culture's existence, we do a
grave injustice to that culture,
our culture and, ultimately, the
cause of peace. I couldn't imag-
ine it would be tolerated if the
non-Jewish world claimed that
Jews do not exist as a nation or
culture. And as for the claim
that Palestinian culture has not
produced anything of worth,
anyone who has had the bless-
ing to be in Israel and sample
the olive oil and zaatar (spice
mixture) knows that this argu-
ment holds no weight.

❑

continue it next year. "Having this
Israeli presence at Tamakwa has been a
great exchange for everybody," says Vic
Norris. "For a camp community that
has such a strong Jewish following and
tremendous support for Israel, we want-
ed to reach out and bring over some
Israeli kids who.have had to live through
difficult times. Just by being here and
being themselves, the Israelis have added
an important dimension to the summer
for everybody at Tamakwa."
Illil, Nofar, Shai and Eitan know the
impact that their month at Tamakwa
has had on them. I hope one day they'll
realize the impact that they have had
on Tamakwa.
Long may this project continue. ❑

8/29

2003

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