Operation Cast Lead
Silence No Option
-
Interfaith statement calls for end of fighting on both sides.
"The news from Israel and
Gaza is devastating and
heartbreaking for everyone,
but especially for us who are
involved in peace building."
Brenda Rosenberg
L
ocal Jewish voices are among
those publicly calling on Israel
to halt its military operation
against Hamas.
Brenda Rosenberg of Bloomfield
Hills, in her capacity as executive
producer of the play, Reuniting the
Children of Abraham, the Rev. Daniel S.
Appleyard of Christ Episcopal Church in
Dearborn and Victor Ghalib Begg, head
of the Detroit-based Council of Islamic
Organizations of Michigan, are gather-
ing signatures to an interfaith statement
calling for an end to the fighting and
for peace and reconciliation between all
parties to the conflict.
The American Jewish Committee
(AJC), which maintains a Muslim Jewish
Dialogue and is deeply involved in inter-
faith activities, chose not to sign the
statement.
"The news from Israel and Gaza
is devastating and heartbreaking for
everyone, but especially for us who are
involved in peace building," Brenda
Rosenberg said. " [We] felt silence was
not an option, and we must rise to the
challenge of the pressure we were feel-
ing from friends and family to pick
sides ... we wanted to be part of a solu-
tion ... and demonstrate that there are
Christian, Muslims, Jews and people
from all faith traditions who are deeply
committed to finding non-violent solu-
tions to the Mideast crisis."
The statement was published in the
Detroit Free Press on Dec. 30, and is
making its way around the country. It
reads in part, "We understand the state-
ment that we have signed shows that the
interfaith community: is still talking to
each other; is praying for a long-term
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January 8 2009
,114
solution to the problem in the Middle
East; is asking for all to working locally
for the collective good and for peace;
and, denunciates violence on all sides
without finger-pointing at a single side'
The statement calls for an immedi-
ate end to the use of force by all parties,
for the United States to mediate peace
and for "the Israelis and Arabs to reach
agreement on final and secure borders,
to live in peace with justice side by side,
recognizing each other's right to exist
with dignity and security"
As of Jan. 2, the majority of 68 signa-
tors are from the Christian community,
with two other local Jewish interfaith
activists, Sheri Schiff of Birmingham
and Gail Katz of Bloomfield Hills signing
on. Because of the holidays, the state-
ment has not yet been widely distributed
in the Jewish community.
Not Signing
"While we deeply value our interfaith
work, we recognize the incredible com-
plexities that the Middle East situation
presents:' said Kari Alterman, director of
AJC's Bloomfield Township-based Metro
Detroit Chapter.
"It is overly simplistic to call for a
cessation of all violence, a position that
ignores the fact that Israel is doing what
any other state would do under these
circumstances, namely defend its citi-
zens from rocket and missile attacks. We
believe in focusing on what we here can
do — continue to build relationships,
listen to and understand different per-
spectives, educate others about our core
beliefs."
The major interfaith organization
in the community, the Detroit-based
Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and
Inclusion and its Interfaith Partners
project, was not a party to the statement
and does not intend to sign.
Taking a much different tone, "Stop
the Bombing of Gaza" was the title of
a Dec. 28, 2008, statement issued by
American Jews for a Just Peace (AJJP),
which formed a Michigan chapter this
October. The group calls itself an "alli-
ance of activists" made up of autono-
mous chapters and individual members
"working to ensure equal rights, safety
and dignity for all the people of historic
Palestine."
AJJP's statement charged that Israel's
attacks "indiscriminately destroyed
medical and governmental buildings,
homes and other civilian infrastruc-
ture." It called the attacks "cruel and
barbarous" and "inhumane' The state-
ment did not condone Hamas attacks
on Israel, but blamed Israel for breaking
the ceasefire with "unprovoked attacks."
It also calls for an immediate cease-fire
and U.S.-moderated peace talks. ❑
"It is overly simplistic to call
for a cessation of all violence,
a position that ignores the
fact that Israel is doing what
any other state would do
under these circumstances."
Kari Alterman
4.111111101140000ftlitit
Support
Israeli
Soldiers
F
riends of the Israel Defense
Forces has launched an
Emergency Campaign, FIDF
Frontline Operation, aimed at raising
awareness and money to fulfill the
immediate wellbeing needs of IDF sol-
diers on the frontlines of the Gaza Strip.
"As Israeli ground forces enter the
Gaza Strip and launch the second
stage of Operation Cast Lead aimed at
fighting the Hamas terrorist organiza-
tion and its infrastructure in the Gaza
strip, it is imperative that the American
Jewish community stands side-by-
side with these brave young men and
women who are risking their lives to
protect our Jewish homeland;' said
Major General (Res.) Yitzhak Gershon,
national director of Friends of the IDE
FIDF has been there from the begin-
ning, distributing care packages to
IDF soldiers in the field. Care packages
include personal hygiene products; per-
sonal sweet packages filled with snacks;
rest and recreation field tents, where
soldiers can keep warm, relax, watch
cable TV, enjoy food and drinks sta-
tions and play board games; portable
cell phone chargers so soldiers can
contact loved ones; warm clothing; and
heating devices.
FIDF will continue to support the
soldiers and accommodate their
needs wherever they are. Join the FIDF
Frontline Operation to ensure the IDF
soldiers never stand alone:
www.israelsoldiers.org.
FIDF is the official organization
raising money in the United States on
behalf of the IDF for its soldiers. 0
The Michigan Friends of the IDF
Sunday Morning Club will hold
a special briefing on Israel's
Operation Cast Lead at 9 a.m.
Sunday, Jan.11, at Keter Torah
Synagogue, 5480 Orchard Lake
Road, West Bloomfield, by Lt. Col.
Eliezer Toledano, battalion com-
mander in Paratrooper's Special
Forces. Free admission; light
refreshments. Donations accept-
ed. Information: (248) 926-4110.