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January 4, 2002/20 Tevet 5762, Vol. 54, No. 16
U.S. Jews must aid, align with Israelis
ERROL SWEET
Special to Jewish News
Where were you? What did you do? Echoes of these questions posed by children or grandchildren have haunted many members of the Jewish Diaspora in the years following the Holocaust.
In response, some asserted that they were unaware of the tragic events befalling their fellow Jews in Europe during World War II. There was no television with round-the-clock CNN coverage, nor computers with widespread Internet participation or e-mail. One wonders how many Jewish lives could have been saved if an informed American Jewish community had acted to raise the consciousness of fellow Americans and prevailed upon our government to stop the annihilation of Jews in Europe.
Where were you? What did you do? These questions may be asked again, but this time asked of us about what we did to help our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel during the current crisis. Not many of us will be able to say we attended a rally promoted with the slogan "We Stand Together for Israel," held at Temple Chai on Dec. 18, 2001.
Inadequate publicity for this event may have partially contributed to the poor participation. Those present heard speeches from local leaders of the Jewish community and from Tzvi Vapni, the deputy consul of Israel in Los Angeles. We sang songs led by cantors from four of the Valley's congregations and lit memorial candles for victims of terrorist attacks.
All the while, our eyes were riveted upon the screen behind the podium, where the faces of more than 200 Israelis were continually projected.
The message of the evening was loud and clear and eloquently delivered by Rabbi William Berk of Temple Chai. To paraphrase, "Just as Judah was asked and responded by standing up for his family during a time of great turmoil, so we of the Phoenix Jewish community must stand up and support our beleaguered brothers and sisters in Israel."
The Israeli economy is in shambles; $1 billion has been diverted from social services and allocated to increased security measures and defense; tourism has all but vanished with dimming hopes for peace; and morale throughout the country is at an all-time low.
Support for our "family" in Israel does not necessarily mean that one agrees with the policies of the Israeli government. Instead, with your moral support and dollars, you are bolstering the Israeli people and giving them the psychological boost and financial infusion needed to endure during these most difficult times.
We can support Israel by becoming better informed and monitoring news coverage; writing letters to our congressional delegation and President Bushnnnnnnnnyyyy requesting continued support for Israel and thanking them for past support; and traveling to Israel.
Solidarity missions to Israel are offered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, local synagogues, Jewish National Fund (JNF), Israel Bonds and several other organizations.
We can also contribute to the federation's Israel Now campaign. All donations will go to Israel for bulletproof vans to transport school children, to install security systems in classrooms and to provide for counseling services for victims of violence and their families.
We can share concerns with friends, discuss Israel and the Intifada with non-Jewish colleagues or associates, educate them and perhaps enlist their support.
To avoid missing future rallies, and to keep abreast of how your Jewish community is responding to the events locally and abroad, check the federation Web site, www.JewishPhoenix-.com. Federation can provide telephone and fax numbers of po1itical representatives and media outlets.
The Jewish community in America and the Diaspora needs a strong Israel, and Israel needs a vibrant and united Jewish community in America and throughout the Diaspora. When asked, "Where were you? What did you do?" let us proudly reply that we stood up for and with our Jewish "brothers and sisters" in Israel in their hour of peril.
Errol Sweet is a Phoenix resident.
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