The humourist and comedian Jackie Mason used to tell a joke about the late, former president of the USA, Ronald Reagan.
As the joke goes, Ronald Reagan once declared that the USA did not have any deficit. But his advisors contradicted him and said: "There is a deficit."
The president's reply was: "So, there is a deficit!"
Ha, ha, ha. End of joke.
Similarly, we need to get around another difficult notion that is grinding Israel to a potential disaster.
For decades, Israelis and their leaders dismissed the notion that there are such people called "Palestinians". Over and over, they declared that there are no Palestinians. Even former Prime Minister Menachem Begin used to refer to them as the "so-called Palestinians". However, the reality is that there are millions of people who call themselves Palestinians. Perhaps Israel ought to concur and say, "So there are Palestinians!" and get on with building a stronger Israel.
There are realities in life that, no matter how much anyone wants to avoid them, deny them, disbelieve them or refute them, nevertheless still exist. One could deny that the Earth is round, but that wouldn't change the fact that it is round.
People who accept the reality that Palestinians and Israelis cannot live in the same piece of land understand that separation is necessary. Israel's former UN Ambassador, Abba Eban, recommended it many years ago. In fact, in Judaism, Havdalah [separation/division] is a primary and important principle.
Havdalah means celebrating differences: between light and darkness; between holy and ordinary; between the Sabbath and the rest of the week; and between Israel and other nations. Therefore, creating geographic space for the Palestinians is not a reward for their acts of terror. It is Israel's act of self-defence against Palestinian overpopulation that could ultimately destroy Israel, democratically, through the ballot box.
What difference does it make what kind of a spin the Palestinians make of the departure from Gaza? The whole world knows what military power Israel has, with which to defend itself. So do the Palestinians. Therefore, instead of concentrating on the negatives surrounding the departure from Gaza, it would be better to contemplate the benefits. Let us begin by asking: "Where does the Torah demand that the Jews be masters over other people -- to have to take care of all their needs?"
We must be reminded of the brilliant words of the late Chaim Weizmann (who later became the first president of Israel) in a meeting with the then-president of the USA Harry Truman. In 1948, when Truman asked how Weizmann could be happy with the land as partitioned by the United Nations, compared with the territory that the Torah describes as the Promised Land, Weizmann replied that when G-d is ready to give all the Promised Land to the Jews, G-d would find a way to do so. In the meantime, however, he (Weizmann) was quite prepared to accept the rather limited parcel of land.
So, too, today. When G-d is ready to give all the Promised Land to Israel, G-d is powerful enough and great enough to make that eminently possible. How? Perhaps by changing the minds, if not the hearts, of billions of people on Earth -- Moslems and Christians alike -- so they recognize, accept and support the right of the Jewish People to a safe and secure homeland in the Promised Land of Israel.
Until that happy day arrives (may it happen soon), Jews and Israelis (and all people who support Israel) should devote themselves to concentrating on what Israel does have, and is. Israel is an amazing country, with an amazing people. When Israel declared its independence in May of 1948, what trappings of a country did it have? What raw materials? Did it have airports, railways, bus terminals, shopping centres, factories, roads, hospitals, an air force, an army and a navy? Israel had almost nothing! But just look at how far Israel has progressed in the short period of time since 1948. There is nothing material lacking now. Israel is blessed with every technological advantage that we enjoy here in North America and then some. There is no other country in the world that has made such unbelievable progress in such a short time, despite being under the constant threat of war.
With the very little that they had, but with the help of G-d and the valour and courage of a small population of Jews - to which were added survivors of the death camps of Europe - they created a most advanced nation and society. Only G-d could create the world out of nothing. The Jews in Israel created a nation, a state and a people with few raw materials, but with dedication and hope in an idea; and with a two-thousand-year-old dream.
We must be proud of that immense accomplishment, and continue to support and build upon it.
As the joke goes, Ronald Reagan once declared that the USA did not have any deficit. But his advisors contradicted him and said: "There is a deficit."
The president's reply was: "So, there is a deficit!"
Ha, ha, ha. End of joke.
Similarly, we need to get around another difficult notion that is grinding Israel to a potential disaster.
For decades, Israelis and their leaders dismissed the notion that there are such people called "Palestinians". Over and over, they declared that there are no Palestinians. Even former Prime Minister Menachem Begin used to refer to them as the "so-called Palestinians". However, the reality is that there are millions of people who call themselves Palestinians. Perhaps Israel ought to concur and say, "So there are Palestinians!" and get on with building a stronger Israel.
There are realities in life that, no matter how much anyone wants to avoid them, deny them, disbelieve them or refute them, nevertheless still exist. One could deny that the Earth is round, but that wouldn't change the fact that it is round.
People who accept the reality that Palestinians and Israelis cannot live in the same piece of land understand that separation is necessary. Israel's former UN Ambassador, Abba Eban, recommended it many years ago. In fact, in Judaism, Havdalah [separation/division] is a primary and important principle.
Havdalah means celebrating differences: between light and darkness; between holy and ordinary; between the Sabbath and the rest of the week; and between Israel and other nations. Therefore, creating geographic space for the Palestinians is not a reward for their acts of terror. It is Israel's act of self-defence against Palestinian overpopulation that could ultimately destroy Israel, democratically, through the ballot box.
What difference does it make what kind of a spin the Palestinians make of the departure from Gaza? The whole world knows what military power Israel has, with which to defend itself. So do the Palestinians. Therefore, instead of concentrating on the negatives surrounding the departure from Gaza, it would be better to contemplate the benefits. Let us begin by asking: "Where does the Torah demand that the Jews be masters over other people -- to have to take care of all their needs?"
We must be reminded of the brilliant words of the late Chaim Weizmann (who later became the first president of Israel) in a meeting with the then-president of the USA Harry Truman. In 1948, when Truman asked how Weizmann could be happy with the land as partitioned by the United Nations, compared with the territory that the Torah describes as the Promised Land, Weizmann replied that when G-d is ready to give all the Promised Land to the Jews, G-d would find a way to do so. In the meantime, however, he (Weizmann) was quite prepared to accept the rather limited parcel of land.
So, too, today. When G-d is ready to give all the Promised Land to Israel, G-d is powerful enough and great enough to make that eminently possible. How? Perhaps by changing the minds, if not the hearts, of billions of people on Earth -- Moslems and Christians alike -- so they recognize, accept and support the right of the Jewish People to a safe and secure homeland in the Promised Land of Israel.
Until that happy day arrives (may it happen soon), Jews and Israelis (and all people who support Israel) should devote themselves to concentrating on what Israel does have, and is. Israel is an amazing country, with an amazing people. When Israel declared its independence in May of 1948, what trappings of a country did it have? What raw materials? Did it have airports, railways, bus terminals, shopping centres, factories, roads, hospitals, an air force, an army and a navy? Israel had almost nothing! But just look at how far Israel has progressed in the short period of time since 1948. There is nothing material lacking now. Israel is blessed with every technological advantage that we enjoy here in North America and then some. There is no other country in the world that has made such unbelievable progress in such a short time, despite being under the constant threat of war.
With the very little that they had, but with the help of G-d and the valour and courage of a small population of Jews - to which were added survivors of the death camps of Europe - they created a most advanced nation and society. Only G-d could create the world out of nothing. The Jews in Israel created a nation, a state and a people with few raw materials, but with dedication and hope in an idea; and with a two-thousand-year-old dream.
We must be proud of that immense accomplishment, and continue to support and build upon it.