Filed under: Frustrations, Internal Arguments, Israel, Questioning, Thoughts
Edit: This from Haaretz
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that a large-scale Israel Defense Forces operation against Palestinian rocket squads was drawing near. Barak has made the threat before, but this is the first time he’s repeated it since Israel started reducing fuel supplies to Gaza this week in another tactic to pressure militants to halt their rocket fire into southern Israel.
“Every day that passes brings us closer to a broad operation in Gaza,” Barak told Army Radio.
“We are not happy to do it, we’re not rushing to do it, and we’ll be happy if circumstances succeed in preventing it,” he said. “But the time is approaching when we’ll have to undertake a broad operation in Gaza.”
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Sometimes it feels like this mess will stay with us forever. Israel’s story is truly one of not fitting into the neighborhood – if we are not at war with our neighbor to the North, we are receiving rockets from our neighbor to the West (Gaza, not the Mediterranean, duh). The history of trying to find a middle ground is both lengthy and tragic: US Presidents intervene at Camps in the Poconos (Carter, Clinton) to no avail; Israel’s Prime Minister (Rabin z”l) is on the verge of peace treaties, and he is assassinated. Israel pulls – literally, physically pulls – its settlers out of Gaza and the West Bank, and the missiles continue to fly. Motivation to continue on is scarce.
After reading an extremely thought provoking post from The Far Side yesterday, I spent last night and this morning thinking – thinking hard – about Israel’s predicament (uh, to say the least) in Gaza. Israel has ever reason to retaliate when constant injustices (in the form of missiles and Ketyushas) are thrust upon her, but when Tzahal makes it’s move, the international community cries foul – time and again. As David’s post yesterday reported, Olmert is acting, for neither the first nor last time, by cutting oil from Gaza.
Yesterday I was uncomfortable with the idea of cutting the oil flow: “they’re not all bad, right?” Perhaps I had a change of heart: it is Israel’s responsibility to provide for those within her boundaries, of course, but when those same people Israel provides food and water to, bite the hand that feeds them, where in that scenario lies the incentive to turn the other cheek? The UN is quick to slap Israel’s hand for “oppressing her own citizens”, but I am forced to wonder how any other country would handle the situation differently.
The Winter 2007 issue of “Reform Judaism Magazine” contains an article titled The ‘Protocols’ of Hamas, which outlines the guidelines of the ever-growing terrorist group. In the past, RJ Magazine has published articles describing in detail potential peace plans and hopes for a non-violent future, but this article, which, in essence, informs us that Israel is facing a foe which never intends to stop, wears a grim face that I have not seen before in this publication. The article feels like the norm these days: less and less are people recognizing or even considering the potential for peace in the Middle East. Rather, the focus is turned – as in the RJ article – to the impending doom of a completely relentless enemy. I fear that I have become one of those who see less potential for peace every day. Granted, it’s a back and forth feeling, some days (yesterday) I am more optimistic, but those days are becoming sparse.
Some argue, and I am beginning to believe, that a big part of winning this battle is by fighting it with as much conviction as our enemy. Though not literally – I could never imagine adopting principles of Jihad – we must attack this issue with the passion and fervor of those who strap explosives to their bodies. We must exercise our beliefs with the same emphasis as those soldiers stationed in Gaza. This is not the time to argue amongst ourselves, or to be apathetic. No, this is the time to have an opinion, and voice it. This is mine.
עוד לא אבדה תקוותנו,
התקווה בת שנות את אלפים,
להיות עם חופשי בארצנו,
ארץ ציון וירושלים
Our Hope is not yet lost, The Hope of two thousand years. To be a Free Nation in our own land. The Land of Zion and Jerusalem. We keep fighting because Herzl had a dream, a dream that lives in so many of our hearts. If we are to win this fight we must be willing to represent our beliefs in the face of the harshest opposition. I hope with my most sincere abilities that this conflict can be non-violent, but Hamas has shown us repeatedly that that will not be the case. The Jewish People are stong, and must remain so.
Pray for peace, fight for what is right. Am Yisrael Chai!
College is full of too many difficult decisions. Granted, its as close to the real world as we can get before actually entering, but still. Issues taken for granted in the first 18 years of life – money; food; where to live – come smashing into our faces sooner or later, usually during the four, five, six years we spend at our respective Universities. The decisions keep coming, and now I have to deal with my plans for studying abroad: do I want to at all? Where?
My friends are going to Israel, Australia, London, the list is long. A lot of my friends, actually. Never before have I felt the potential to be insecure about being in Indiana, but it feels like my support group is going to be out of the country, thousands of miles away, why wouldn’t I join them in their journeys? Some argue that going abroad looks better on transcripts and resumes. Others insist (and I frequently become one of them) that “We’ve always wanted to study in Israel, this is the time to do it”. It would be an amazing journey, an amazing opportunity, and I almost hate myself for not signing up this very second, but I have grown so completely accustomed to this cocoon of a beautiful campus. I am fitting in and loving every moment of it – why would I want to leave that? I am having attachment issues; trouble letting go. There are things on this campus I still want to do! More groups I want to become active in, more leadership positions I wish to pursue. Coming back after a semester or year abroad hinders me in those attempts.
And yet – past my insecurities and pursuits for other things on this campus – I yearn for a different, foreign place. Where I can capture pictures and memories to cherish forever, to share with my children and family. While in college, my mom studied in Spain for a year and has shared incredible stories – I want that! Throughout my “NFTY experience”, I was fortunate enough to hear – on multiple occasions – a certain URJ staff member describe NFTY’s semester in Israel program as being “nestled in the Judean Hill of Jerusalem.” Of course, this has since become more of a joke than a reality, but whenever I think of my next trip to the Holy land, it is in that context. That whatever part of Israel I am in at a certain point, I am always nestled in the Judean hills. The homeland of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the birthplace of our rich history. For years, I have had the same picture in my head of studying in Jerusalem: of going to classes in this land I cherish, grabbing a laffa full of schwarma from any average street vendor (it doesn’t matter where in Israel you are, the fallafel tastes better simply because it is Israeli!), and then heading into ha’ir ha’yashan – the old city – and davening mincha at the Kotel. Ever since I was thirteen my Jewish identity has longed to be immersed in a place where this scenario is possible. Where being Jewish, and doing Jewish things, is the absolute norm. Where kipot are common place, and not – as in Bloomington – an instantaneous label.
Vayomer Adonay el-Avram lech lecha me’artsecha umimoladetecha umibeyt avicha el-ha’aretz asher ar’eka - Gen 12:1
Abe had it easy. G-d told him to get out! Out of Haran, and into this foreign land. Perhaps, in retrospect, I have a step up on our forefather. I have been there – I know for what I yearn! Avram went blindly, carrying only the promises of haShem. But it was those promises – “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and it shall be a blessing.” G-d goes further: “I am giving this land to your descendants.” Well, hot damn, if I was really looking for a reason, there it is! My internal call to spend time, to study, to dwell in the land of my people has echoed in my head for years. And yet, I doubt it. My comfort zone interferes – is that selfish of me?
College is a time of difficult decisions, yes, but if we cannot fulfill every potential for an amazing experience along the journey, then what the hell is the point? My mind is not made up. I need the guiding words of my friends and family to help me choose this path. So, what do you think?
Filed under: Uncategorized
Reminiscent of past initiatives and omnipresent struggles. We will continue to struggle, but we will – we are – making progress!
-Israeli President Shimon Peres
I had the amazing opportunity today to attend a lecture given by the Dalai Lama. His Holiness, believe it or not, visits this oasis in the middle of corn country fairly often – His brother teaches at IU and there is a Tibetan monastery down the road. Anyway, I bought a ticket this morning after class out of the blue because I wasn’t sure if I would get any other chance to see him (though He is speaking here for the next three days). His discussion was inspiring in ways I imagined it would be, and equally inspiring in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
What struck me the most, I think, was his laugh. Granted, the man is getting up there in years (he’s 72) but when speaking he appears in his prime! He answered questions well and with great thought, but rarely without a joke or laughter. It is something great, which we see far too little of from our leaders today. When our President makes a joke these days, it is often because a) he has no clue how to answer a question, or b) he has already said something stupid. (Excuse my political bashing. If Ann Coulter gets to have her licks, so do I). The Politicians and Leaders of 2007 bear far too many grim faces – perhaps rightly so. We have on our hands, after all, war; poverty; political divide; the list goes on. And yet here is a leader – in exile from a horribly oppressive Chinese Government, and the man keeps smiling! It was quite inspiring.
He talked about his core beliefs – those which resonate of Buddhism 101: Compassion; Love; Peace. One of the things I appreciate the most about Buddhism is that it’s most fundamental principles have less to do with technicalities of daily life – as in Judaism – but rather much more to do with the building of character. I have very little doubt that if we each took a meager percentage of the time that the Dalai Lama takes to think about compassion and love for others, we would not only have exponentially less war and violence in our world and on our streets, but we would smile a hell of a lot more, too.
In Genesis we read the portion Va-yera, in which (among many other “milestone” events) Sarah laughs at the Angels of G-d who tell her she is to bear a child. She laughs because she cannot manage to put her faith into the bigger picture – in God. Today I listened to a man who laughed for other reasons. He laughed because the hardships in his soul; the oppression he has felt; cannot lay a finger to the beliefs he still holds true: that the good deeds and peaceful minds of men will always persevere.
May we all learn a valuable lesson from this scholar, and every day, do as he does:
Smile.
I had a frustrating experience this afternoon, while sitting in Starbucks before a Hillel meeting. I was sitting alone at a corner table, textbook and documents spread out around me as I studied for a History quiz I have tomorrow. The coffee shop was busy, people passing through, others, like myself, studying or absorbed in their laptops, and still others talking with friends and colleagues. This is the beauty of Starbucks: in a matter of minutes one can observe a fair representation of any community pass through those doors. Anyway, two women sit down at the table next to me – obviously college students close to my age. They exchange cordialities and introductions, and then begin their discussion. Allow me to clarify, that while I was hardly eavesdropping (thats a lie, yes I was), their close proximity allowed me to be well aware of what they were talking about. Their conversation was typical, I learn that they are meeting for the first time as they exchange background stories, common friends, you know the drill.
As quickly as it started, their conversation turns to what is, evidently, their common denominator: a student group on campus called Cru – Campus Crusaders for Christ – “an inter-denominational ministry on campus that is here to help students grow in their walk with the Lord.” I had heard of them before – mostly seen their acronym on t-shirts around campus. I returned to my Chai tea and textbook readings on the ’60’s, honestly minding my own business – until I picked up on the following conversation. Allow me to paraphrase:
Girl 1: So, I’m in the process of completing my Mission work around campus, telling people about Jesus, and yesterday I hit the motherload – a group of Jews!
Girl 2: How did you know they were Jews?
Girl 1: They were wearing those green Hebrew t-shirts (damn you, birthright) – I just knew! It was like I hit the jackpot, I couldn’t wait to tell them all about Jesus!
My heart plummeted. For the first time in my life I was glad that my Cubs-hat was covering my Jew-hat. Shattered was my fictional, naive vision of a Bloomington where I could lead my Judaism, undeterred. But now this: there were people on my campus – a place where I (continue to) feel so comfortable, who thought that I needed to be changed; who thought that I had a flaw. Granted, I have been confronted many times by Missionaries and Evangelicals – both in the suburbs of DC and in the suburbs of Indianapolis, and I have answered those confronting me the same way: I’m very happy with my current religious views, Please have a nice day. I left the Starbucks, no longer able to concentrate on my textbook, and with far too many thoughts on my mind.
IU is 10% Jewish. That means 4,000 Jewish faces to remind my kipa that it is not alone. Today I felt the contrary – that I was so very alone, and being attacked at the same time. The many different religious organizations on this campus have fantastic working relationships: In order to accommodate the masses, Hillel holds its High Holiday services at a local Church; A group of Lutheran students use Hillel’s kitchen once a week. I would like to think that IU respects, and holds diversity near and dear (His Holiness the Dalai Llama is lecturing at the Auditorium this week). And yet, out of nowhere, come these two women, ready to call out any Jew they see wearing a Tzahal t-shirt.
All of this comes in the wake of our favorite conservative columnist, Ann Coulter, calling for the “perfection” of the Jews. At times it seems almost too much to handle. I appreciate and hold enormous regard for those who stand strong in their beliefs – I applaud them! However, it is too often in this day and age that people cross the line between following a belief, and imposing it on others. I respect Ann Coulter’s right to imagine an all-Christian society (“it would just be easier”). I even respect her right to write about it. Further, I recognize the right of the Campus Crusaders in their belief that the Jews should be converted (though clearly I disagree with all of the aforementioned). But when these people invade my privacy to humiliate me. To tell me that I am wrong and need to change!? I have neither the time nor patience for that load.
Any Jew, anywhere, should feel comfortable expressing his or her religious identity. Unfortunately, this is not the case. This is a world where European Governments condone Antisemitism. Where a growing population of Americans believe not only that the Israeli lobby is manhandling Congress, but also that Jews were responsible for the attacks on 9/11.
We live in a world alongside those who would be happy without us. It is certainly a difficult reality, but we will persevere, damnitt, because we always have. We are members of a Tribe. Descendants of Abraham. Children of haShem. We are Jews, and we must keep fighting.
Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek – Be strong, be strong, and may we be strengthened!
Filed under: Thoughts
“If we took sports away from the average man, he’d have nothing to do but hang on to his penis and try to figure out how to relate to the world when not on a job. Maybe that’s what most guys do anyway.” –My Grandma
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I’m sure it wont come as a huge surprise to most of you when I admit I don’t really care about sports – or didn’t up until this year. I played little league baseball for a few years in elementary school, but lets be honest, I was never that invested. Whether due to my rounded physique or my heightened interests in other activities, I am to this day something of a sports nincompoop. It dawned on me yesterday when a friend inquired as to which IU defensive football player was best; clutch; whatever. I couldn’t answer. To add insult to injury, the question was within the auspices of the one Sports program (IU, clearly), I feel comfortable talking about! I even own a jersey, for petes sake!
As is true of most things, this can all be drawn back to my childhood: I grew up listening to NPR – not watching Sunday football. In third grade when assigned a book report on any Biography, all of my classmates chose their favorite sports stars. I, in turn, wrote about Anne Frank (in retrospect, The Diary of Anne Frank is a) an autobiography, and b) not appropriate for a third grader to be reading, but I digress). Growing up as a product and participant within all of these youth movements we hold near and dear really served as a blessing throughout my teen years. I was not forced to discuss sports, or participate in them for that matter (with the exception of ultimate frisbee in which I willingly participated). I spent so much more time with my NFTY friends than with people at school, that I could really get away with being an outcast of the sporting arenas. Insult to injury was my mothers constant ideal of rooting for the underdog – something she ultimately ingrained into my head. I have no alliances! I just like the guy who has always sucked!
Zoom into the present. I attend a Big Ten school which puts quite the heavy emphasis on their sporting program. I knew this entering IU, and was almost excited by it. Never before had I had a team with which to affiliate, and suddenly I am handed the Hoosiers (note: Bloomington is a drinking town with a football problem, not the other way around). Though I absolutely choose to root for my schools teams – owning both Football and Basketball season tickets – I would be screwed if I didn’t. A conversation on this campus can start with any topic – you name it – but within 20 minutes the topic will mutate into sports. So I go with the flow. I watch Sportscenter, College and Pro football over the weekend, and can even hold a decent conversation as long as we don’t stray too far off the beaten path.
At this very second, the ALCS finals is in it’s most clutch moment. Game seven: Boston has come back from a 3-1 start, Cleveland is at Fenway – Big Papi is at bat. My neighbors – every one of them avid sports fans – sit on their couches and balconies, nursing (or chugging) their cheap beers, screaming at every pitch, foul ball, and, G-d willing, homerun. But, of course, I have the game on mute. I’m choosing to celebrate this great moment in sports through one of my self-admittedly stronger medians – writing. I rely on the screaming of my neighbors to alert me of a great play or RBI.
I appreciate the role sports play for so many people – really, I do. It’s an entire culture -from tailgating to merchandise to the sports section of any paper. The list goes on. Hell, some people even blog about sports, this just isn’t one of those blogs. A friend just asked me who I was rooting for in tonights game. I gave some answer, and justified it, but honestly, I don’t care.
May the best team win. I’ll leave it at that.
You shall not covet your neighbors house: you shall not covet your neighbors wife, nor male nor female slaves, nor ox nor ass, nor anything that is your neighbors -Exodus 20:14
Yesterday I had quite the figurative wake up call. While instant messaging with my mother (always up with the time, my mother is), she demanded to know how, and why, I had a phone bill of $284. I was rather exasperated myself. Hence, my guilty admission: I like pretty things. The newest technology, DVD’s, digital music, iPod’s – you name it. I have become a slave to my spending. And though I am not in debt, baruch haShem, it’s an all too conceivable possibility. I have become too good at justifying unnecessary purchases, and, in the moment of truth have very little ability to tell myself “No.”
The cell phone I had two months ago worked fine – it made calls, received and sent text messages, even took pictures! Then along came the Treo: a powerhouse of technology! Internet; phone; music; camera; organization; MapQuest, all in one! It’s perfect! I want it! I need it! The Veruca Salt inside of me bears her materialistic, screaming head (think: Willy Wonka).
Wait. What? I need it? Do I?
In reality, the combination of plastic buttons, computer chips, stylus and touch screen do keep me organized. I have my life planned out. Hour by Day by Week by Month. The harsh reality, however, is that it all adds up. Internet service on phones is neither free nor cheap. In fact, AT&T did a great job at putting a $248 price tag on these services. Let me clarify: it’s not AT&T’s fault for providing this wonderful feature, it’s my fault for not being able to say no. I’ve always had trouble admitting this, but, who doesn’t.
My phone can act as a phone. My laptop will connect me to this world wide web. I have everything I need and more. I — we (anyone with the ability or time to read a blog) are completely blessed to live in countries with such wealth and opportunities. Clearly it is time to re-prioritize. Here I am, after all, wearing a kippa by choice for eight plus years. It is certainly part of my identity, but perhaps it does not play a large enough role in my values. I cover my head out of respect for G-d, but I willingly covet what I don’t have – and on a regular basis. Tenth commandment, out the window!
Generally speaking I like to think that I am a happy person. I am blessed to have amazing family and friends, and am fortunate enough not to know the true feeling of need. Need for hunger, warmth, shelter and compassion. And yet so many millions of others lack these basic needs. It’s time to shift our collective attention away from the material – from MTV’s reality programming, from Britney Spears’ latest custody trial. And from my Treo. I’m guilty. Are you?
It’s pouring in Bloomington. Pouring, awe-inspiring rain which reminds you that G-d is truly present. I’m going to light a few candles, lay in bed and think about changes to be made; about the fight that needs to be fought.
I’m ready to take it head on. Will you be joining me?
Shabbat Shalom
Filed under: Uncategorized
After much debate, I decided to join the club and become a member of the blogging community. Certainly, I’ve been reading friends and mentors’ blogs for long enough, most of the time truly appreciating the thought provoking ideas they bring to the table. Before I created this very-public-Journal of sorts, I wanted to make sure I had a valid purpose: are my ideas original? Will they resonate within others in ways so many posts have resonated within me? I guess it’s a risk I’ll (willingly) have to take.
My justification in creating this was much clearer after a conversation I had with family members two weeks ago in Chicago. It is three-fold.
- Why, questioned my aging Aunt and Grandma, would people want to publicize – and on such a regular basis – any and every aspect of their lives. Granted, there is little monetary or material gain to be had in blogging. Rather, I imagine, the gain of respect from peers and strangers based on the quality of my ideas, is much more rewarding.
- These are thoughts I have had for months and years. Though I’ve never been ultimately successful at keeping a journal (for like a month in second grade, it had a key and everything), I always feel completely relaxed and in touch with myself after expressing my ideas – in any medium.
- Finally, A class I am taking on the History of the 60’s has been spending a lot of time discussing the impact and importance of the individual, specifically on the Civil Rights Movement. The feeling of empowerment that young black individuals had as they participated in sit-ins and bus boycotts must have been overwhelming. The concept that one voice can make a difference was truly the fuel of the 1960’s.
Just a few reasons. I don’t plan on starting movements (though I will likely complain about them). I’m just ready to be heard. To join in the fray of voices.
We’ll see where it goes. Wish me luck.
