I have this friend who likes to come up here and visit me. We sit on the swing and discuss both personal and world issues, as we watch the Golan eagles glide through the heavens and master the sky. Sometimes I feel so transported, it?s as if I join them in flight. So, this friend brought me plummeting down to earth when she asked me to provide some practical solutions with regards to our conflict with the palestinians.
I responded, ?You know, I like to soar and view the world from a vast panoramic perspective. I hate to get down and dirty with practical details. Do I have to think of everything? You figure it out!?
But then I got to thinking...
Not paying attention to details and a reluctance on my part to ?get real? has, at times, turned my personal world upside down. On a far grander scale, the international attempts to impose sloppy solutions on Israel and the denial of basic truths has thrown the world into crisis. From my microcosmic world view, Arab terrorism has gone global in a big way because the world community and Israel endorsed, legitimized, justified, capitalized and has given voice to the original founder and CEO of the terrorist enterprise, Yasser Arafat. Once again, we see how the influence of one individual has the power to create or destroy worlds.
How naive of us to think that we can just deem him ?insignificant? or ?irrelevant? by replacing him with his partner in crime, Abu Mazen. He is deeply entrenched and the plague has already spread. I would, however, suggest that we utilize this same strategy with quick precision and declare the road map ?pointless?, before it becomes as ?irreversible? and damaging as Oslo or Arafat.
Scratch Madrid. Scratch Oslo. Scratch the Road Map. Next...
With all due respect to Minister Benny Elon, I do have some reservations about his spirited strategy to promote the Jordan-is-Palestine solution. That assertion may be both historically and demographically valid, but I sincerely doubt if King Abdullah or his pretty palestinian queen are willing to abdicate any of their kingdom to the over 70% of the people who live there. And, even if the benevolent monarch agreed to such an arrangement, we would still be facing the prospects of a hostile palestinian state on our border - because, as most of us have figured out by now, the real issue for the palestinians has more to do with their insatiable lust for blood, rather than any territorial aspirations.
I am also wondering how responsible it is, on Israel?s part, to encourage statehood for a population ingrained with a set of values that are the absolute antithesis of everything a nation should hold dear. Along these same lines, our very tarnished ?light unto the nations? image will sink to new depths if we deceptively foist the onus of a, G-d forbid, newly-formed rogue/welfare state onto the already overburdened international aid agencies (we already know that the Arab states are unwilling to accept any responsibility for their brethren?s plight). Under these circumstances, the assembly of nations at the U.N. may then have reason to lodge their first legitimate complaint/condemnation against the Jewish State. Yes, as much as the international arena is a constant thorn in our side, we still have an obligation to uphold the truth and sanctify G-d?s name when dealing with the world at large. By the way, this means doing what we know to be right and not necessarily yielding to any distorted renderings of international law, peace proposals or resolutions.
How can I be so sure that my brand of truth is preferable to any other version drafted by the ?Quartet? or any other international body? Simply, because justice becomes inverted and erratic when global economics, power politics and security issues cross lines and become entangled with one another; whereas, the Truth found in the Torah is constant, clear and carefully delineated with boundaries. The greatest and straightest ?road map? ever designed.
It?s the time of year when we Jews traditionally study Pirkey Avoth (?The Ethics of the Fathers?). It?s a time in history when all good people in this chaotic world should strive to reclaim their common ethical sense, values and honesty. I found the following to be particularly timely:
?Rabbi Eleazer ben Azariah said: ?If there is no Torah, there is no worldly path...?? (Avoth 3:17)
I wouldn?t write-off Minister Binyamin Elon?s plan in its entirety, as it has merit as both an educational and public relations tool in that it forces the world community to review the facts and confront the origins and history of the Middle East conflict. By going back to the source of the struggle, any thoughtful individual, world leader or community should come to realize that the palestinian issue is hardly the crux of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This, in itself, is an endeavor worthy of pursuing.
Perhaps we are at a loss for real solutions because of our reluctance to ask the right questions. There are not enough voices asking the essential questions, like, ?Why is this happening to us?? or ?Where did we go wrong?? The political Left has tried to address these issues, but they always manage to come up with asinine answers, probably because, as that same phrase in Avoth continues, ?...if there is no reverence, there is no wisdom...?
Going back to the source of a problem through internal examination is probably the only way to regain some clarity. Of course, it?s so much easier to point fingers elsewhere. It is an accepted and common Jewish axiom that if we cannot resolve our internal issues on both an individual and national level, then we can all but forget about solving external issues and securing our borders.
So, the Ellen Plan, as opposed to the Elon Plan, starts at home:
1) We must reassert our absolute belief that the Land of Israel is ours. We must show a readiness and willingness to accept this G-d-given gift and we must reaffirm our commitment to care for it and keep it for our posterity.
2) We must recognize our uniqueness as a People and accept our mission as Jews.
3) We must strive for unity. Unity does not imply tolerance for a variety of views, but rather it means a collective effort to uphold what is known to be right and true. Truth being defined according to Jewish tradition.
4) The common denominator for establishing policy for the Jewish State must be entrenched in Torah. This does not mean establishing a fundamentalist theocracy. However, it does imply that the Jewish People, regardless of their level of observance, recognize the values inherent in our tradition and that they strive and aspire to those standards.
When the Jewish People show a willingness to grow-up and we have the spiritual strength to say ?Enough!?, and when we make a concerted and unified effort to assume our responsibility as a nation, then remarkable things will happen and the most difficult part of this battle will be over.
--------------------------------------------------------
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.
I responded, ?You know, I like to soar and view the world from a vast panoramic perspective. I hate to get down and dirty with practical details. Do I have to think of everything? You figure it out!?
But then I got to thinking...
Not paying attention to details and a reluctance on my part to ?get real? has, at times, turned my personal world upside down. On a far grander scale, the international attempts to impose sloppy solutions on Israel and the denial of basic truths has thrown the world into crisis. From my microcosmic world view, Arab terrorism has gone global in a big way because the world community and Israel endorsed, legitimized, justified, capitalized and has given voice to the original founder and CEO of the terrorist enterprise, Yasser Arafat. Once again, we see how the influence of one individual has the power to create or destroy worlds.
How naive of us to think that we can just deem him ?insignificant? or ?irrelevant? by replacing him with his partner in crime, Abu Mazen. He is deeply entrenched and the plague has already spread. I would, however, suggest that we utilize this same strategy with quick precision and declare the road map ?pointless?, before it becomes as ?irreversible? and damaging as Oslo or Arafat.
Scratch Madrid. Scratch Oslo. Scratch the Road Map. Next...
With all due respect to Minister Benny Elon, I do have some reservations about his spirited strategy to promote the Jordan-is-Palestine solution. That assertion may be both historically and demographically valid, but I sincerely doubt if King Abdullah or his pretty palestinian queen are willing to abdicate any of their kingdom to the over 70% of the people who live there. And, even if the benevolent monarch agreed to such an arrangement, we would still be facing the prospects of a hostile palestinian state on our border - because, as most of us have figured out by now, the real issue for the palestinians has more to do with their insatiable lust for blood, rather than any territorial aspirations.
I am also wondering how responsible it is, on Israel?s part, to encourage statehood for a population ingrained with a set of values that are the absolute antithesis of everything a nation should hold dear. Along these same lines, our very tarnished ?light unto the nations? image will sink to new depths if we deceptively foist the onus of a, G-d forbid, newly-formed rogue/welfare state onto the already overburdened international aid agencies (we already know that the Arab states are unwilling to accept any responsibility for their brethren?s plight). Under these circumstances, the assembly of nations at the U.N. may then have reason to lodge their first legitimate complaint/condemnation against the Jewish State. Yes, as much as the international arena is a constant thorn in our side, we still have an obligation to uphold the truth and sanctify G-d?s name when dealing with the world at large. By the way, this means doing what we know to be right and not necessarily yielding to any distorted renderings of international law, peace proposals or resolutions.
How can I be so sure that my brand of truth is preferable to any other version drafted by the ?Quartet? or any other international body? Simply, because justice becomes inverted and erratic when global economics, power politics and security issues cross lines and become entangled with one another; whereas, the Truth found in the Torah is constant, clear and carefully delineated with boundaries. The greatest and straightest ?road map? ever designed.
It?s the time of year when we Jews traditionally study Pirkey Avoth (?The Ethics of the Fathers?). It?s a time in history when all good people in this chaotic world should strive to reclaim their common ethical sense, values and honesty. I found the following to be particularly timely:
?Rabbi Eleazer ben Azariah said: ?If there is no Torah, there is no worldly path...?? (Avoth 3:17)
I wouldn?t write-off Minister Binyamin Elon?s plan in its entirety, as it has merit as both an educational and public relations tool in that it forces the world community to review the facts and confront the origins and history of the Middle East conflict. By going back to the source of the struggle, any thoughtful individual, world leader or community should come to realize that the palestinian issue is hardly the crux of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This, in itself, is an endeavor worthy of pursuing.
Perhaps we are at a loss for real solutions because of our reluctance to ask the right questions. There are not enough voices asking the essential questions, like, ?Why is this happening to us?? or ?Where did we go wrong?? The political Left has tried to address these issues, but they always manage to come up with asinine answers, probably because, as that same phrase in Avoth continues, ?...if there is no reverence, there is no wisdom...?
Going back to the source of a problem through internal examination is probably the only way to regain some clarity. Of course, it?s so much easier to point fingers elsewhere. It is an accepted and common Jewish axiom that if we cannot resolve our internal issues on both an individual and national level, then we can all but forget about solving external issues and securing our borders.
So, the Ellen Plan, as opposed to the Elon Plan, starts at home:
1) We must reassert our absolute belief that the Land of Israel is ours. We must show a readiness and willingness to accept this G-d-given gift and we must reaffirm our commitment to care for it and keep it for our posterity.
2) We must recognize our uniqueness as a People and accept our mission as Jews.
3) We must strive for unity. Unity does not imply tolerance for a variety of views, but rather it means a collective effort to uphold what is known to be right and true. Truth being defined according to Jewish tradition.
4) The common denominator for establishing policy for the Jewish State must be entrenched in Torah. This does not mean establishing a fundamentalist theocracy. However, it does imply that the Jewish People, regardless of their level of observance, recognize the values inherent in our tradition and that they strive and aspire to those standards.
When the Jewish People show a willingness to grow-up and we have the spiritual strength to say ?Enough!?, and when we make a concerted and unified effort to assume our responsibility as a nation, then remarkable things will happen and the most difficult part of this battle will be over.
--------------------------------------------------------
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.