Government Press Office EAST COAST FINISHERS INC All work done by professional craftsmen Peres shows U.S. President Bill Clinton how to write his first name in Hebrew during the signing of an anti-terrorism cooperation agreement at the White House, April 1996. “Pessimistic and optimistic people end up the same way, so why not be an optimist?” decisive role in Israel becoming a nuclear power. During the course of a politi- cal career that spanned almost seven decades, Peres held numerous cabinet positions, including prime minister — once in a unique, shared rotation with Yitzhak Shamir, and for seven months following the death of Rabin in 1995. The Peres-Rabin relationship was longstanding and complex. Rabin was a military hero and introvert; Peres, though a defense minister, never served in the Israel Defense Forces and was far more outgoing. Like other political contempo- raries, Rabin accused Peres of being self- centered and dishonest, taking credit for the accomplishments of others. But the two men grew close, serving together in the early 1990s, with Rabin prime min- ister and Peres the foreign minister who helped negotiate the Oslo deal. Peres mourned Rabin’s death, and though he could have held elections soon after that traumatic event, and no doubt would have won, he chose to wait so as not to appear to be riding an emotional national wave of sympathy for their Labor Party and its peace efforts. That strategy backfired, though, when a dead- ly round of suicide bus bombings lead- ing up to the national elections in 1996 found Israelis choosing the more hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu as their leader. Perhaps of all the posts Peres held in his remarkable career, the most fit- ting and successful was as president, a non-political office that allowed him to express his views on an international platform. He came to symbolize Israel as Start-Up Nation, a leading advocate of creativity and brain power when natural resources were lacking. His enthusiasm and energy never flagged, and his opti- mistic nature never waned. “Concentrate all efforts on the future,” he said, at 88, at one of his conferences. “You are as young as your dreams …. Let the past rest quietly.” One image we will remember with a smile is the final scene of a clever, cre- ative and humorous six-minute video Peres’ granddaughter made with him two years ago as his outgoing presiden- tial message — rather than “a book no one would read,” she told us at the time. It features Peres job-hunting after retiring from the presidency, with short scenes of him as a gas station attendant, supermarket clerk and pizza delivery man — delivering lines that sum up his career and philosophy. In the last scene, he parachutes from a plane with a frightened young man, telling him, “The future belongs to those who dare.” Shimon Peres was a leader who dared to dream big and, like the country he loved, he helped many dreams become reality. May his memory be for a blessing. * To see the video, go to bit.ly/2ddTySJ. This editorial is from New York Jewish Week. t Painting t Plaster t Rough Carpentry t Finish Carpentry t Drywall Hanging t Specializing in Historical Homes If you are thinking of remodeling, adding an addition, even painting your home, you have come to the right place! At East Coast Finishers, all work is done by professionals who specialize in their trade – all members of our crew and never sub-contractors. We back every warranty 100% !!! All exterior painting has a 5 YEAR WARRANTY CALL NOW!! FREE ESTIMATES!! 248-773-6671 OR 844-366-9966 or email us estimates@eastcoastfi nishers.com We will return your call at your convenience Been in Business over 40 years 30300 Northwestern HWY, Suite 147, Farmington Hills MI 48334 Visit us at: www.eastcoastfi nishers.com 000000 October 6 • 2016 29