Aside from numerous bomb, mortar, grenade, shooting, stabbing attacks and a kidnaping, we are two and a half weeks into the three-month Hudna (truce?) and it appears to be in full swing. The Palestinians indeed seem to be concentrating a portion of their depraved energies in other directions. Terrorism has taken a cerebral turn, as the heads and engineers of Hamas, Fatah, and Islamic Jihad have taken a time-out from the heat of battle to regroup and plot more innovative, deadlier, as well as politically sophisticated ways to maim the ?Zionist aggressor?. Those with lesser brains have taken to the assembly lines, where they are reportedly preparing 1,000 Qassam ground missiles to be launched at Israel following the cease fire. Ahhhhh... nothing like a little hudna to get one?s priorities straight.



What is America up to during these lazy, carefree days of summer? Do you think the powers-that-be are taking some time-off from the rigors of the ?peace process? and immersing themselves in a thinking process? Are they perhaps reviewing past foreign policy mistakes or miscalculations? Or maybe they feel a need to reassess who their true friends are in the Middle East? Do you think that maybe the White House, Pentagon and State Department officials are poring over maps and documents in a somber review of the defected Road Map? Don?t count on it.



I can assure you that President Bush has no time to think, as he?s deeply immersed in the pre-election process. He has a mere sixteen months to polish and spin his image before American voters take to the polls - and no guilty conscience is going to get in his way. American election fever comes but once every four years. Why Israel seems to bear the brunt of this American malaise is something that all Americans and Israelis should think about. Alas, there is no time for serious reflection.



It?s interesting to note that when facing personal or national failures, individuals and nations react similarly. They either a) point an accusing finger at a readily available source and play the innocent victim, b) shrug their shoulders and, with a sheepish grin, move-on, regardless of the consequences, c) totally ignore any blunder and, in utter oblivion, continue on the same wretched path, or d) sit down and, with head buried in hand, say ?My G-d, what have I done?? As a general rule, it is the individuals, leaders and nations that fall into this fourth category that stand a good chance of being granted a reprieve.



Starting this Thursday, Israeli and Diaspora Jewry begin a dreaded three-week mourning period. We will be required to grapple with and lament our historic mistakes on an individual and national level. Nobody really likes to take these critical days too seriously. The observant among us make some symbolic gestures by fasting, abstaining from certain worldly pleasures, letting the laundry pile-up and reducing business activities. However, few people really get into the spirit of things, as it?s kind of a lost art.



To regain our mastery of introspection, we need to understand something that our ancestors knew. The only way for any of us to really move forward is by taking the time to look back and assess where we?ve been, and to then integrate those past experiences into our present and future. By now, we Jews should know that history moves in a cyclical motion and, ironically, those who view world events on a lineal plane are actually caught in a time warp. They become captive to a vicious cycle, where they?re forced to replay their same mistakes over and over again.



Of course, it can be a rather humbling or downright humiliating experience to admit our failings, express remorse and take responsibility through constructive action. The concept of accountability went out of style years ago. Besides, who dares to probe depths and challenge established notions while living in a linear world that keeps pushing forward?



This thinking process isn?t as easy as it seems. If you think too hard and rely too heavily on your intellectual abilities, then you?ll never get anywhere. So, let me give you one more ancient, but helpful, hint: Go beyond reason. Strive to get beyond your intellect and realize that there is something above and beyond us all. When you get there, you?ll realize that man-made, forced solutions in a region that is G-d-given don?t stand a chance.



Times aren?t getting any easier for those of us in Israel and the world at large. So, I suggest that we all take the up-coming three weeks with a lot more gravity this year. As Jews we are not only encouraged to examine historic tragedies and mistakes on a personal, national and multi-dimensional level - it is required of us.

--------------------------------------------------------

Ellen lives on the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She is a painter, writer and founder of helpingisrael.com. She can be contacted through her website http://www.artfromzion.com.