EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK THE Contrasting Dreams J ennifer Rosenthal, a senior at George Washington University, is determined to do her part so more Jews of her generation , exude pride in Judaism and the Jewish state. "In order for our children and our chil- dren's children to enjoy Israel," she expressed five days ago, "it is up to this generation to protect the state and the stability of the Middle East." Reem al-Reyashi, a young mother, served the Palestinian cause by indulging in terror 16 days ago. She blew herself up at a workers' passage to an industrial park on Gaza's northern edge, killing two Israeli soldiers as well as a police officer and a security guard. Until the Jan. 14 blast, the Erez Industrial Zone had been one of the few places where Israelis and Palestinians coexisted. In a Hamas-released videotape after the bombing, al-Reyashi said, "It was always my wish to turn my body into deadly shrapnel against the Zionists and to knock on the doors of heaven with Zionist skulls." ROBERT A. The two women chose dramatically differ- SKLAR ent paths at the tender age of 22. Their sto- Editor ries punctuate the gulf between Judaism and radical Islam. Al-Reyashi was from a middle-class family in Gaza City. She had a 3- year-old boy, Obedia, and an 18-month-old girl, Doha. Her husband, Ziad Awad, is a battery factory owner dependent on Israeli business. Marta and Ben Rosenthal ofFranklin instilled in their daughter Jennifer a Zionist passion that grew as she attended Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit. Later, she headed the youth group at Jenny Rosenthal right, with Congregation Sha2tey Lindsey Anthone, 21, of Boca Zedek in Southfield and Raton, at the 2002 Israel rally. led social action for the Central Region of United Synagogue Youth (USY). I found Jennifer to be focused, caring and thoughtful. In Washington, she has interned at the White House and for Michigan's senior senator, Carl Levin. She's majoring in political communications. She plans to seek a master's degree in political management after graduating in May. Israel remains dear to her .heart. She and her sister, Rachel, 25, each celebrated their bat mitzvah there. In 1999, Jennifer visited Israel twice, studying at Alexander Muss High School there and joining the USY Poland/Israel Pilgrimage. Rosenthal is adamant that she and her peers can't let cam- pus tumult obscure the role that Israel plays on the world . stage. "It is imperative," she said, "that Jewish college students fight for the only democracy in the Middle East." After the attack by al-Reyashi, Hamas released a video showing her with a rifle in one hand and a Koran in the other — and flanked by Hamas flags. On a desk in front of her was a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. She said, "God gave me the ability to be a mother of two children who I love so. But my wish to meet God in paradise is greater, so I decided to be a martyr for the sake of my people. I am convinced God will help and take care of my children." Reports say al-Reyashi sacrificed herself for Allah to clear her name and restore her family's honor after she was adulter- ous with a Hamas member. Her husband, with ties to the Islamic terrorist group, urged her to carry out the attack. Her children are victims, too. They'll be indoctrinated to 4 ,-2 hate Jews as oppressors and occupiers. Their mother's death will be blamed on the "the Zionist scourge." Deception per- meates Palestinian classrooms, newspapers, TV shows and music videos. While al-Reyashi was readying to become a suicide bomber to satisfy a societal debt, Rosenthal is poised to be a press offi- cer or campaign consultant in Washington as she chases her dream of becoming the presidential press secretary. The contrast between the two women is chilling. In April 2002, Rosenthal was one of 100,000 people on the Israel Solidarity March in front of the U.S. Capitol. 'As I walked onto the lawn that was filled with signs, singing and Jews of all denominations," she said, "I instantly began to cry. It was beyond.words to see that Israel meant so much to so many peo- ple." She felt immediate oneness. "It reminded me of the same feeling I felt in the Old City of Jerusalem," she said. "Being a college student and standing up for the State of Israel was a way that I was fighting anti- Reem al-Reyashi, wielding weapons Serriitism." in a pre-attack video. I'm impressed she's trying to impart her love for Israel in-Jews who may know or care little about their her- itage. It's never easy outwrestling the pull of assimilation that's rampant on campuses. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's official radio station called al-Reyashi a hero. She faked a limp and having a metal plate in her leg to divert attention at the Erez security checkpoint. Her attack temporarily idled 6,000 Gazan workers, escalating the tension in a territory with a 50-percent jobless rate. Al-Reyashi embraced being Hamas' first female "martyr," or Shahid. "I always wanted to be the first woman to carry out a martyr attack, where parts of my body can fly all over," she said, smiling on the video. "That is the only wish I can ask God for." We must condemn Palestinian terror, the killer of at least 923 Israelis and foreigners since September 2000. But at the same time, we must understand its impact. Rosenthal does. "This year, I have been through a lot of stress with work, my thesis and applying to graduate schools," she said. "But the stress I go through every day does not compare to the stress a girl my age living in Israel faces. I could not imagine being in the army and facing terrorism all the time." Her toughest challenge as an Israel advocate is confronting the political, cultural and economic forces that power Arab hatred for "the Zionist entity." I pray she doesn't lose hope. And I don't think she will. As she put it: "Jews throughout the world are all in this together. Soon, it is going to be up to my generation to make sure Israel thrives into the future." ❑ SALE EVENT OF THE SEASON WOMEN'S • EUROPEAN & AMERICAN DESIGNER CLOTHING COLLECTIONS ACCESSORIES & SHOES THE SALE AT TENDER 271 WEST MAPLE DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM 24•.258.0212 STORE HOURS: SUNDAY 12-5 MONDAY—SATURDAY 10-6 THURSDAY EVENINGS 'TIL 9 6 ,;,. 1/30 2004 242370 5