Opinion A MIX OF IDEAS ---Editorials are posted and archived on JNonline.us. George Cantor's Reality Check column will return next week. Dry Bones KING SOLOMON IN OUR DAY... Editorial Too Far Left M embers of the Michigan chapter of the pro-Zionist educational and advocacy organization StandWithUs stood up to help balance a local speech by the national director of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a politically left organization that stands largely opposed to Israeli policy in the Palestinian territories. The Dec. 10 appearance by speaker Rebecca Vilkomerson at Wayne State University's Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium in Detroit was sponsored by the faculty-led Committee for Peace and Justice in the Middle East and the campus-sponsored Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. The event illustrates the necessity for Jewish Detroit to be on guard to assure campus debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not one-sided, especially when faculty sponsorship is involved. The audience was small, maybe 15 peo- ple, most of whom seemed sympathetic to the JVP cause in the longstanding conflict over borders, refugees and even Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Vilkomerson, who currently lives in America, talked about being married to an Israeli and living in Israel for three years. Eugene Greenstein, one the Detroit Jewish community's most respected Zionist watchdogs, told the JN that the two StandWithUs-Michigan members on hand countered some of the rhetoric during the time they were allowed to speak. He said Vilkomerson "acknowledged that she is a committed leftist and that everything Israel did was wrong and evil as to the treatment of the Palestinians. She is not a fan of the United States, either. There were numerous statements made that were not true or out of context:' In a revealing passage in her Activist Profile on JVP's Web site (www.jewish- voiceforpeace.org),Vilkomerson writes: "The more I learned, the more I had to question not just the occupation, but [also] the premise of a state for one reli- gious group" Try to reconcile that thought with JVP's belief in Israel's right to "secu- rity, sovereignty and self-determination:' according to its Web site. The JVP political platform spells out what the Jewish state must stop doing so Palestinian statehood can move forward. JVP seeks an end to Israeli "occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem" as well as Israeli relinquish- ment of "all its settlements, military outposts and bypass roads" Such dras- tic measures would essentially yield a Palestinian state in form, if not in fact. While acknowledging Palestinian sui- cide bombings and other attacks on Israeli civilians must stop, JVP argues that Israel must cease its use of military force against Palestinian civilians" and claims that Israel is guilty of various human rights violations. Further, JVP believes Palestinian refu- gees should play a part in decid- ing whether to pursue "return, resettlement or financial com- pensation." We fear the JVP prescription for peace would make it impossible for Israel to defend its civilians or secure its borders. Ending the so-called occupation short of a negotiated settle- ment would harm Israel, continue to sty- mie peace, elevate llamas and do little to help the Palestinian people. JVP's call for U.S. suspension of military aid to Israel to hasten the end of the "occu- pation" is hollow. JVP insists the occupa- tion devastates Palestinian society and promotes militarization of Israeli society. In " reality, Israel is the only legitimate democ- racy in the Middle East and America's clos- est ally. Enemies surround it. We fervently oppose JVP's call for a divided Jerusalem. JVP's advocacy on behalf of the Palestinian people is admirable. Its posi- tion statements, however, give more cre- dence to the Palestinian government as a force for improving the Palestinian condi- tion and as a partner for peace with Israel than it deserves. Hillel's Open Tent New York/JTA W hen the Jewish people seeks an exemplar for openness and hospitality, we often turn to our patriarch, Abraham. In one fascinat- ing chapter in Genesis, we learn that just three days after his circumcision, an ailing Abraham rushes from his tent in the heat of the day to welcome three passing visi- tors who turn out to be divine messenger's. Our tradition amplifies Abraham's righteousness by teaching that his tent was open on all sides so that he would not miss a single passerby. Following in Abraham's sandal steps, the rabbinic sage Hillel was famous for his patience and openness. When a potential convert asked him to describe the essence of the Torah, Hillel did not rebuff him, but responded, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow; this is the whole law. All the rest is a commentary:' These stories resonate with anyone who is fortunate enough to be involved with the sage's namesake, and to providing Hillel, and to work resources to Jewish with college students. activists. Both Who knows what Hillel's Steinhardt divine spark may lie Jewish Campus within the scruffy Service Corps kid in the baggy program and our sweatpants? Who current Campus knows which words Entrepreneurs of wisdom will Initiative emphasize change a life? That's peer engagement. Edgar M. Bronfman and Randall why Hillel's tents are When paired with Kaplan always open. deeper Jewish Special Commentary Today's Jewish exploration through college students are a more senior more diverse than ever. They come from Jewish educator — helping to find Jewish a variety of ethnic, educational, political answers to life's big questions — this and ideological backgrounds. The children method provides a meaningful approach of two Jewish parents will study with the to Jewish identity building. children of the intermarried. They have Immersive experiences such as Taglit- to be equally accepted and at ease in their Birthright Israel and service learning Hillel activities. trips build social networks, expose young Hillel has spent the last decade-and-a- people to senior educators and teach, half grappling with various approaches concretely, the importance of Israel and to welcoming uninvolved Jewish students tikkun olam (repair of the world). Hillel has enjoyed success with these approaches but, more important, it is con- stantly evaluating their effectiveness while seeking to improve or replace them. Techniques that work in North America are equally applicable abroad. Young people share fashion, food and Facebook. Hillel students and professionals from North America, Latin America, Israel and the former Soviet Union are travel- ing between countries learning from and teaching one another. Their close personal bonds are creating a true sense of Klal Yisrael, global Jewish peoplehood. Throwing open our communities to Jews of all nationalities and backgrounds is more easily said than done. Embracing Jews of divergent and sometimes conflict- ing ideologies challenges us to create envi- ronments in which differences are respect- ed and civil discourse is promoted. Hillel's Open Tent shouldn't just be a metaphor, but a living, breathing forum in which big Hillel on page 30 December 31 • 2009 29