DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 | 7
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Hillel.
So, if a non-Jew can be a
Zionist, it begs the question:
What is a Zionist? A Zionist is
one who supports the national
liberation movement of the
Jewish people, which, in turn,
means a safe and thriving
Jewish state. A Zionist also
embraces the triumph of Jews
rising from the horrors of the
Holocaust to forge the rebirth
of the Jewish state. That the
Jewish state also remains the
only democracy in a region
that would otherwise be
void of democracy makes
the embrace all the more
compelling.
Of course, Israel remains
vulnerable, as the recent attack
by Hamas demonstrates.
Though Israel has established
relations with several Arab
states since the Yom Kippur
War and the war in Lebanon,
these very Arab states have
joined in to blame Israel for
the hospital in Gaza being hit
by a missile, which intelligence
gathering indicates was
actually launched within Gaza
by Islamic Jihad.
For Israel, vigilance is not
an option. It is a necessity. The
Jewish state is saddled with
hostile press and what is at
best indifference throughout
the world. It is the story of the
Jewish people, which can be
vindicated only by Zionism.
So, to paraphrase President
Kennedy’s democratic
proclamation in Berlin in
1963, I, too, am a Zionist.
John O’Neill is an Allen Park free-
lance writer and a graduate of Wayne
State University. He contributes fre-
quent opinion pieces and reviews to
MediaNews Group.
guest column
Our Strength Is in Our Unity
T
he past days here
in Israel have been
the most challeng-
ing time our country has
faced in the last 50 years.
I find myself
torn between
the constant
need to stay
updated with
the news and
the instinct to
create a safe
and innocent
bubble for my daughters.
Just the other day, Ella (4
years old) thought that the
sirens might be just a fire
drill or a tornado alert, like
the ones she experienced at
Hillel Day School.
At the same time, every
unexpected loud noise
makes my heart skip a beat,
and my stomach drops when
more and more friends
share that they have been
drafted to the battle.
Only two months ago,
we left peaceful Michigan
after three wonderful and
meaningful years, where
we became a part of the
community as shlichim. We
were filled with mixed emo-
tions and faced challenges
while reintegrating into
life in Israel. Suddenly, the
war caught us, as it did the
entire country, completely
off guard.
I hear heart-wrenching
stories from my friends on
the kibbutzim in the Gaza
Strip. It is horrifying —
families torn apart, children
kidnapped, houses set on
fire. It is surreal to believe
that all of this is happening
in our homeland. Here,
where everyone knows
everyone, it feels like we are
all part of this war — crying
and mourning together.
I cannot help but imagine
my own kibbutz, with its
beautiful green paths and
serene atmosphere, turning
into a war zone.
During these dark times,
Israelis once again demon-
strate their incredible unity
and determination to help
one another. There are
countless initiatives, with
people donating their time
and money. There is a true
feeling of brotherhood.
Individuals and kibbutzim
in our partnership region
are opening their homes,
and local communities are
embracing more and more
refugee families, trying to
provide comfort and sup-
port.
Since the war began, I
have been receiving messag-
es from friends in Michigan,
expressing their feelings of
love and support. Many also
feel helpless, wishing they
could do more than just
sending letters or donating
money.
I want you to know how
much your support and
actions mean to us, person-
ally and collectively to all
Am Israel. Every time you
send a text message to a dis-
tant relative or friend, give
a donation, inform yourself
with reliable news, attend a
program, advocate, ask an
Israeli in the community
how he is doing — when
you do any of those and
more — it means the world.
By being active, you
strengthen us during these
devastating days. We are in
a critical situation, and I
feel that we are all together
fighting for our country.
Everyone makes a differ-
ence.
It will take time, but we
will prevail. We are a strong
people, and our unity is
making us even stronger.
Praying for better days.
Paz Leket is the wife of Yiftah Leket,
former Detroit community shaliach.
They returned to Israel late summer.
Paz Leket