The joyous holiday of Sukkot, which provided Jews in Israel a brief respite from our daily tumultuous lives, has come and gone. In my neighborhood, however, the huts that were built so laboriously, and lovingly decorated (many constructed a sight better than the apartments in this area), continue to remain standing. Perhaps, this symbolizes a reluctance by their temporary dwellers to reenter the hostile, Jew-bashing world.

Neither individuals nor nations can close themselves off.

Nevertheless, reality dictates that neither individuals nor nations can close themselves off from ominous dangers that loom on the horizon.


In what undoubtedly ranks as the apex of masochism, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has decided to participate in a so-called "peace conference" in November, at the behest of US President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The Americans let it be known in advance that they want to see serious movement by Israel towards the establishment of a "Palestinian state."


Also scheduled to take part in this "hanging party" for the Jewish State is Abu Mazen, the ostensible "moderate" (sic) Arab leader, who demands that Israel retreat from no less than 92% of Jewish land, including Jerusalem, and that Israel concede the "right of return" for millions of refugees. Note that not one of the myriad of Arab countries scheduled to attend the conference are willing to absorb their own refugees in the same manner that Israel absorbed our refugees from the Holocaust, the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, as well as thousands of Jews who were expelled from Arab countries, where they had lived for generations.
 
Logically, then, you may ask why the Prime Minister of this sovereign country would subject himself and the Jewish people to such a demeaning and serf-like situation, in which the decks are stacked against Israel.


The answer, I believe, lies in the fatal attraction Israel's leaders have always displayed in their willingness, even anxiousness, to be included in the "family of nations." However, this is in direct contradiction to the admonition of our holy Torah, which declares that Jews are to be "a nation that dwells alone."


Never mind that no nation other than Israel is called to task for defending itself, in this case, against a daily onslaught of Kassams and Katuyshas. Never mind that no nation other than Israel has to justify the right to its capital, Jerusalem. Never mind that no nation other than Israel is pressured to concede lands liberated in wars initiated by implacable

No nation other than Israel is called to task for defending itself.

Arab enemies, and to cede those lands to these very same enemies.


The neurotic need to be "loved" and accepted by the world, seemingly, is sufficient reason for Israel's leaders to endure all the slings and arrows (not to mention outright threats to Israel's survival) that will undoubtedly be the order of the day at the November "peace conference."


If Olmert had one iota of Jewish pride and dignity, then he would boycott this and all other conferences that are convened to make Israel the scapegoat in efforts to appease Arab nations and the terrorists they support and harbor. Rather than succumbing to the fatal attraction of capitulating to the "powers that be," Olmert should embrace the words of the great King David, who understood that Jews can only rely upon on our one true ally, the G-d of Israel, blessed be His holy Name:


"Wherefore do nations rage and people meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth raise themselves up and rulers take counsel together against the L-rd and against His anointed. He who dwelleth in the Heavens will laugh... and in His displeasure He will terrify them." (From Tehillim, the Book of Psalms)