Thoughts

Dry Bones

A MIX OF IDEAS

THE TWO-STATE
SOLUTION WON'T
WORK!

morning's patrol because he was needed on
the farm, the one who still feels guilty that
he didn't clean the machine gun — and it
his year's observance of Yom
jammed in battle, the young widow who
HaAtzmaut (Independence Day)
only knew her husband had been killed
on 5 Iyar (April 29) was particu-
when he didn't come back with all the oth-
larly interesting and thought provoking for
ers (no one would tell her) ... etc.
me; here are some highlights:
It was interesting to contrast that almost
At mid-day on Tuesday, April 28,
pathological restraint with our
Memorial Day (Yom
present invasive media culture,
HaZikaron), almost the entire
which would not have let any
population of Shorashim,
intimate detail escape the public
a few hundred people, set
spotlight. We complain about that
forth in a bus and a caravan
sensationalistic, prying scrutiny
of cars toward the Bet Shean
— but it does have its advantages.
valley. Every year, we do an
Bassi didn't talk about himself.
educational excursion on the
A recognized and respected com-
afternoon of Memorial Day to
munity leader, he was appointed
a historical site connected with
in 2005 to supervise the resettle-
the creation of the state.
Rabbi Marc
ment of the settlers evacuated
This year, we explored the
Rosenstein
from Gaza. He became a light-
area settled by Orthodox kib-
Special
ning rod for the strident public
butzim in the late '30s and
Commentary
controversy over that evacuation
early '40s. A highlight of the
and ultimately was hounded out
afternoon was a meeting with
of his kibbutz by a vocal minority. But we
Jonathan Bassi, whose parents were among
all knew his story (from the news media)
the founders of one of these kibbutzim.
as we listened to him speak so eloquently
Bassi, who was a baby in 1948, recently got
about the battles of 60 years ago and their
interested in researching a pivotal battle
from 1948 that helped set the borders in the meaning for him.
We went on to a nearby park where,
area, in which several of his parents' close
at sundown, we held a brief ceremony
friends and comrades were killed.
— including the sounding of the shofar
He discovered a fascinating history of
— to mark the transition from Memorial
silence, regret, and guilt — that generation
Day to Independence Day and a picnic and
didn't discuss their feelings, and when he
probed, 50 years later, it all came out — the campfire. Baked potatoes in the fire for the
one who was passed over in making up that native Israelis; toasted marshmallows for

Moshav Shorashim

T

THE TWENTY
FOUR-STATE

YOU
MEAN?

50 WHAT
WILL?

Jewish-Arab Bonds

IT'S SIMPLE

the immigrants.
The next day,
Independence Day,
we set out to brave
the crowds at the Air
Force training base
( THE TWENTY
near Haifa, where the
Galilee Jewish-Arab
THREE ARAB
Youth Circus had been
STATES 1ST
invited to perform
RECOGNIZE THE
at the traditional
ONE JEWISH
Independence Day
STATE.
open house (held at
many army bases, all
over the country).
We had wondered
how the parents of the
Arab kids would feel
about this invitation.
DryBonesBlog.com
There was no hesita-
survive as a state, and that the courage to
tion; they were proud
let the other stand on your shoulders may
and supportive. We had actually been a bit
be at least as important as the courage to fly
surprised at the invitation and, indeed, a
an F-16.
few days before, a clueless army bureaucrat
tried to cancel it as it was "not possible
Rabbi Marc Rosenstein, originally from Chicago,
for Arabs to visit the base"; but ultimately
has lived in the Galilee since 1990. He directs
he got it — that these are citizens — and
the Galilee Foundation for Value Education
relented. So there they were, Jews and
(www.eng.makom-bagalil.org.il ). Among the
Arabs, in the shade of a Patriot anti-missile
projects is the Galilee Circus for Jewish and
missile launcher, launching balls, rings and
Arab children and teens. The foundation works
each other into the air, to the enthusiastic
with the Michigan-Central Galilee Partnership
applause of hundreds of who had come
200 program. The rabbi's e-mail address is:
out to show their children Israel's military
hmakom@netvision.net.il . This essay was origi-
might and eat ice cream.
Hopefully, some of them got the message nally published on the Web site of the Union for
Reform Judaism (www.urj.org/educate/galilee).
— that it takes different types of might to

Spring Again

I

t was April 22 when we moved into
the house on Littlefield in Detroit
in 1958. The very next morning, the
apple tree in the backyard burst into blos-
som to welcome us.
Ever since then, I have regarded that date
as the official start of spring in Michigan,
the opening of that time of year when we
feel as if we're living in a garden.
Not too many years ago, much of south
Oakland County was planted in orchard.
Now the remnants of the old farms erupt in
color, the legacy of those vanished settlers.
The time is all too short, though, com-
pared to the relentless, gray winters, espe-
cially the one we've just been through. But
treasured even more for that reason.
I missed the transformation this year. We
were in Florida on a late spring vacation.
When we left in mid-April, the trees
were still bare, the air chill, the dominant
color bleak. But on the ride home from the
airport, not quite two weeks later, it was

all changed into a shimmering
green world, trimmed in white
and pink.
Every year at this time, I recite
to myself a little rhyme by Edna
St. Vincent Millay:
"Oh, God, I fear
You've made the world too
beautiful this year"
It's a time when you simply
want to be outside. So I'm bring-
ing this up as the backdrop for
an event that its organizers hope
will be the annual "Rachel's
Stroll and Roll for Rett."
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is the leading
genetic cause of severe impairment in girls.
The disorder leaves its victims profoundly
disabled, causing problems with multiple
brain functions and requiring assistance
with every aspect of their daily lives.
The late Rachel Kopelman lived for 20
years with RTT. Her parents, Sandy and

Jeff Kopelman, put together this
event, which will be held this
Sunday, May 17, on the grounds
of Oakland Community College
(OCC), Farmington Hills. The
purpose is to raise funds for
research into RTT.
The syndrome received some
welcome publicity recently
when singer Clint Black won
$20,000 on a round of Celebrity
Apprentice and chose RTT as
his charity. He got the chance to
start the next show by talking
about it and why he made this

donation.
Usually, though, RTT is one of those
illnesses that nobody knows about until
someone they love is diagnosed with it.
"It's the first time we've ever tried to
put something like this together," says Jeff,
so we don't know what to expect. But the
response and the help we've received so far

"

has been encouraging.
"We're not calling it a walk because that
sounds too athletic. We just want people
to stroll and enjoy the beauty of the sur-
roundings."
The "roll" part of the "Stroll and Roll" title
is for those with RTT who can enjoy the day
in their wheelchairs.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the
Strollathon gets started one hour later. For
more information, call (248) 242-6909 or
e-mail: Lisa@stroll4retts.com.
This unit of the OCC campus is known as
Orchard Ridge. Orchard Lake Road may be
one of the least lovely thoroughfares in this
area, but here you can get a sense of what
this area looked like before the city came
out and grabbed it.
As well as the sense of what a gift life is
in spring.

George Cantor's e-mail address is

gcantor614@aol.com .

May 14 2009

A23