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June 8, 2001/Sivan 17, 5761, Vol. 53, No.36
Go to IsraelEditorialIt's not an easy decision to go to Israel now.The violence of the last seven months continues and the tenuous cease fire in the wake of last week's tragic bombing only adds to the unease. We watch and wait as Israel exercises tremendous restraint, holding off reprisals. As the death toll mounts, the trepidation rises. Will Israel strike back - and when - and how tragic will be the aftermath? So it is not surprising that the Union of American Hebrew Congregations announced June 3 that it would be suspending its youth trips to Israel this summer (see story page 45). Teen trips to Israel have become a rite of passage for many Jewish young people, an opportunity to see and experience the Jewish state, to connect with the past while sowing seeds for the future. Just read some of the excerpts from our own Jewish youth (see story page 11) who have had the benefit of such exposure to understand the tremendous impact these trips can have on Jewish identity. Locally, a group of 22 Jewish adults are currently in Israel, participants in a joint Bureau of Jewish Education and Jewish Federation Israel Office study mission. Ten high school students left yesterday for the Alexander Muss High School in Israel program and another 12 Arizona teens are signed up and ready to go on the AZ-Cool summer trip, due to depart June 14. Nationally, other major denominations have not cancelled their youth trips. Both Conservative United Synagogue and the Orthodox Union say their groups are going. Of course, as one spokesperson noted, parents are concerned about security. "No parent would be a good parent if he or she didn't call and ask," said one OU representative. True enough. Decisions about whether to visit Israel now, especially when it comes to teen trips, must be made by the teenagers themselves and their families. And yet, there could not be a more significant time to travel to Israel, for either the young people or their parents. The Israelis sadly need our support now. And now, more than ever, we must express our solidarity with them. |
