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November 9, 2001/Cheshvan 23, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 9
Real Jewish life is not without its risks
DAVE SHERMAN
Special to Jewish News
Are you crazy enough to go to Israel? Why would you want to go to Israel now? What about your children? It's so unsafe to travel right now. Don't be an irresponsible parent.
I heard plenty of disapproving comments when I told people I was going to Israel Oct. 21-29. They came from good friends, casual acquaintances, total strangers and my own mother.
Did their words change my mind about going? They sure did. They made me more committed to making this trip than ever before.
I went to Israel with 18 young Jewish leaders from around the country, all members of the National Young Leadership Cabinet, a group of 400 men and women ages 25-45, being trained as the next generation of leaders in our Jewish communities.
During our weeklong stay in Jerusalem, we studied Torah at the Pardes Institute, attended a Kabbalat Shabbat service in the Old City, hiked through Ein Ovdat in the Negev, visited Joint Distribution Committee- and Jewish Agency for Israel-assisted sites and shopped.
We met with Rabbi Michael Melchior, deputy foreign minister of the unity government; Dr. Danny Brom, chief of the Psychiatric Trauma Center; Roni Shaked, a specialist in Arab-Israeli relations; Rabbi Danny Landes of the Pardes Institute; Rabbi Danny Gordes and many others.
We learned that politically, Israelis feel they are being left to "twist in the wind" by the U.S. government. Israel is being chastised for doing to the Palestinians what the United States is doing to the Taliban: seeking revenge for terrorist attacks launched against their nation.
Economically, Israel has been devastated. Our hotel was 20 percent occupied. Dozens of other hotels have closed due to lack of business. Our visits to Ben Yehuda Street were depressing. Many stores have closed and the volume of shoppers was small. At many restaurants, we were pretty much the only diners.
Unemployment is at its highest level. Tens of thousands of well-educated, well-trained Israelis are struggling to find work. One friend of mine spent more than a year finding a job. To put it simply, there are no jobs to be had right now.
That said, I felt most concerned about the emotional damage Israelis are suffering. As a result of the recent terrorist events in Israel and in the United States, many Israelis are feeling a lack of hope in the peace process. Their sense of loneliness and isolation is felt in every corner of the country. You see it in people's faces and hear it in their voices.
Everywhere we went, Israelis thanked us for being there and asked us to carry one message back home: Please come to Israel.
When I told friends in Phoenix I was going to Israel, the first question they asked was "Is it safe?" After spending six days and nights there, visiting many sites (including the firing line at Gilo), eating in restaurants and shopping at far too many shops, I can answer a resounding "yes." Are there areas of Israel that are dangerous? Yes. Phoenix also has dangerous areas. But since when is life risk-free?
Gordis said it best on our last day in Israel: "A notion has arisen that you can live a meaningful life without any risk. There are things in life that you have to risk life and limb for. Real Jewish life is not without its risks. People who are not willing to come to Israel for a week now are not a part of Judaism. The U.S. Jews who don't come to Israel are not part of the current Jewish story. People who don't visit Israel are missing out on being turned on to Judaism. Jewish teenagers won't go into Israel's junior year abroad programs, won't be exposed to rabbinical schools and will possibly miss the chance to be great lay leaders back in the United States. There are things in life that we need to fight for. Right now, Israel is one of those things."
What can you do to help? Pack your bags, grab your passport and go to Israel.
For information on missions to Israel organized by United Jewish Communities, visit www.ujc.org on the Internet or call Robin Loeb at the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix at 602-274-1800, ext. 128. Sherman can be reached at 480-860-6100 or by e-mail at Dave@TheNetworkingGuy.com.
We want to hear from you, our readers, about your opinions on contemporary issues. So "speak up" in Voices, either by e-mail to editor@jewishaz.com or mailed submission to Editor Barry Cohen, 1625 E. Northern Ave., Suite 106, Phoenix, AZ 85020.
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