“Don’t Blame Obama” Recently, news sources reported a rally in Jerusalem. Demonstrators protested President Obama’s policy to freeze settlements. The intent of the rally was supposed to send a message to PM Netanyahu that the people who elected him to office were extremely uneasy with any suggestion of selling or otherwise negotiating away any part of the Land of Israel.
Speakers at the rally roused up the crowd with rhetoric not about President Obama’s policies but about President Obama himself. More on that later, but for now — well, those speakers were wrong… I mean plain WRONG! for more than one reason. They should have studied the facts before speaking.. They should have looked more closely at the Jewish observance of Tisha B’av which was today.
Tisha B’av is a special day on the Jewish calendar. It is not a holiday, and not a day of celebration. The opposite; it’s a day of fasting and mourning in remembrance of awful things that have befallen Jews on this particular day. In one way of looking at the Jewish calendar, the month of Av is the 11th month. Tisha B’av then is the 9th day of the 11th month, or 9/11. Not to diminish what 9/11 – the 11th day of the 9th month – means to Americans, Tisha B’av has been the host to the most immense pain and loss that the Jewish people have suffered repeatedly throughout history. As the U.S. 9/11 is characterized by the falling of two towers, in Jewish tradition Tisha B’av is most remembered for the destruction of two great and holy structures – the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. That destruction of the two temples occurred centuries apart is less significant than that the destruction occurred at all.	Titus Besieging the Temple of Jerusalem
At the time of the destruction of the Temples, thousands upon thousands of Jews lost their lives, and those who survived would face being captured, being enslaved, eventually being exiled from the land and dispersed throughout the world. The 2000 year Jewish diaspora has not been a good time for the Jewish people. But never, never in the literature or the litany have Jews focused on blaming Nebuchadnezzar or even Hitler for their troubles.
Although evil leaders have caused great pain and suffering that has perpetuated even up to today in the Jewish experience, on Tisha B’av we have a very typical Jewish response; Not revenge. Not violence. Not even trying to talk with our enemies. On Tisha B’av Jews look inward as a nation and attempt to answer the questions: “Where did WE go wrong?” “What did we do wrong to invite this disaster upon ourselves?”
At the rally in Jerusalem, the speakers were wrong to point fingers at anyone. Yes, some U.S. emissaries have shown anti-Israel leanings, and Jews should rightfully demand that they reconsider their positions before they come to Israel And yes, President Obama has put pressure on Israel to abide by policies that would be detrimental to Israel. And yes President Obama has been wrong about this issue. BUT so has Israel; the people of Israel, including Jewish people wherever they live. A former Member of Knesset, a Rabbi Eliezer Waldman called Barack Obama a rascist. (I hope these comments will fade into obscurity quickly. Nevertheless here is the story – for more context. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132612 ) His remarks were not about U.S. policy. They were leveled at the U.S. president and they were confrontational. His remarks drew cheers from the crowd the same as radio talk show hosts in America draw cheers when they say something outlandish.	The Romans Led by Titus Take Jerusalem and Burst into the Holy of Holies in the Temple
Rabbi Waldman was wrong. And so were those who cheered.
For a Jewish leader to publicly call Barack Obama a rascist not only is a blatant falsehood which serves no positive purpose whatsoever, it has the great potential to incite the wrath of anti-semites worldwide. As if all we need now is for the world to point fingers at us – Jews – for insulting, without reason, a very popular world leader.
Rabbi Waldman was wrong, and his statements should be denounced by more learned rabbis and more savvy leaders.
As it turns out, a few days before the rally – but largely unreported – President Obama was reconsidering his policies in the Middle East, particularly in Israel, and was considering changing some of the personnel involved in middle east affairs. Obama reportedly was easing off on some of the things he had said earlier regarding Israel’s right to build in Jerusalem.
I think the U.S. president is someone who will listen to reason. I believe it will take a long time, but that with a proper approach, President Obama will come to agree that the settlements are not the real issue, and not at all a blockage to peace. The operative phrase is “proper approach.”
Confrontational words and gestures are not a proper approach. Reasoning and negotiating would be more effective. Looking within ourselves as a nation, and reflecting on how we got ourselves into our present predicaments, would serve us much better than false and inflammatory remarks.
30 July 2009 Sderot Israel

Of Holidays and Heroes – Will the Red Sea Part Again?

by Jerry Waxman

Friday, 7:00 AM, Beit Haggai near Hevron:  In the early morning hours, a young Arab man came into the town. Armed with a knife and firearm, the first persons he met were two residents on the First Response team. There was a struggle, one of the first response members was wounded slightly.  The Arab infiltrator was eliminated. 

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Recalling the incident of two weeks ago in Bat Ayin, when an Arab killed a 13 year old boy with an axe, a spokesperson for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) praised the actions of the first response team.  Civilians, not the military, saved their town from tragedy.

Two days ago was a holiday in Israel, the last day of the Passover festival, the anniversary of the parting of the Red Sea. 

If you recall, some 3300 years ago, the Israelites left Egypt. Pharoah called upon the whole Egyptian army to chase the Israelites.  The Jews could not turn south for there were wild animals.  They could not turn north for the Phillistines were ready to pounce on them.  In back of them were the Egyptians with their chariots and horses.  And in front of them was the water.

If there was ever a time when the nation of Israel could see the world closing in on them, it was then and there at the edge of the Red Sea. The world would close in on the nation of Israel many more times in the next 3300 years. 

Somehow the Jewish people always survived.  And first response teams have always helped.

America’s got a new hero!  Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama put his life on the line to save his crew.  He deserves praise not only for his bravery, but also for setting an example for everyone – particularly leaders of companies, leaders of cities, and leaders of countries. Until now we have seen too much of so-called leaders sacrificing the people under them for their own gain. Captain Phillips has turned it around.

And we should thank President Obama for taking swift action in authorizing the Navy to intervene in order to protect American citizens.  He has set a precedent for his administration.

Sometimes Israel uses its military to protect its citizens.  When it does, Israel gets criticized all over the world.  In Sderot, where we’ve seen the rockets’ red glare, and the news of the protests against us, we can feel the world closing in.

We’ve had our heroes, too. In the second Lebanon War, Major Roi Klein saved his soldiers by jumping on a grenade. (See video on this page.). Not long after, his bereaved family received an eviction notice.  Their home is on land that the Arabs want. 

We have another hero who was a commander of a bold rescue operation.  33 years ago, Yonatan Netanyahu, older brother of today’s prime minister, led Operation Thunderbolt. They stormed Entebbe airport in Uganda and brought more than 100 hostages to safety. 

Yonatan was killed. A collection of his letters were put in a book (“Michtavei Yoni” The English version is here. ) The book gives us a glimpse into a hero’s mind. And it shows us that 33 years ago and more, there were real concerns about preserving a Jewish state in Israel.  Then, as now, we needed first response teams to prevent the world from closing in too fast.

It’s been quiet in Sderot.  And sunny. And the people seem to have confidence enough to let their kids play outside. We know the weapons have been flowing into Gaza since January.  And we know that some people in Gaza are anxious to use them.  But what the heck, it’s quiet now….

A couple kassams were launched into open fields, supposedly to welcome the arrival of U.S. envoy George Mitchell.  Rather than respond to such activities, he spoke to Israel’s leaders about the creation of an Arab state in the West Bank, led by the Palestinian Authority, side by side with Israel living in peace.

Binyamin Netanyahu posed a correct question: He said that Israel would be willing to talk about a Palestinian state, so long as the P.A. recognizes Israel as a Jewish state. 

Mahmoud Abbas went ballistic.  A Jewish state?!  Never! 

Can we expect the U.S. and the European Union and the Quartet and the Arab League to put pressure on the Palestinian Authority to recognize the Jewish state?  Or is it more likely that Israel will be criticized for making impossible demands?

Durban II gets underway next week.  This is the U.N. sponsored conference on Human Rights and Anti-Racism to take place in Durban, South Africa..  At the head of the conference-Libya. Vice Chair-Iran. Rappoteur-Cuba.

The U.S. has yet to say whether or not it will be represented at the conference.  Durban I, in 2001, turned into an Israel-bashing frenzy.  Secretary of State Colin Powell walked out.  This year some countries, including Canada, are boycotting the conference.   Why is the U.S. vascillating on this?

Israel Defense forces have just determined that everybody in Israel is within missile range either from Gaza or from Lebanon.  Everybody.

So, here we are again. The Arabs have Gaza, we’re supposed to give them the West Bank.  So where are we supposed to go when the missiles start flying.  Can’t go north. The missiles are there.  Can’t go west; Gaza’s got that covered. Can’t go east, the P.A. will make sure of that.  Our best bet – south, to Eilat, back to the Red Sea. 

We can’t expect the sea to part again.  What we need are first responders to prevent  tragedy and injustice..  You see, today we don’t have heroes like Richard Phillips, or Roi Klein, or Yonatan Netanyahu in leadership positions. We really cannot expect much from today’s heads of state without proper advice from us.

Here is what our first responders should do:  They should talk with Obama and Clinton and George Mitchell. And show them a map of the Jewish homeland as described by the Balfour Declaration.  And show them that most of that land has already been partitioned and given to Arab leaders.  And show them how the Arabs have used Gaza since Israel evacuated 10,000 Jews.  And ask what are we to expect if we evacuate 100,000 Jews from Judea and Samaria.

First responders need to ask some very pointed quesions. 

1. If we are talking about human rights, why haven’t the Arabs sent Gilad Shallit home?
2. If we are talking aboutg human rightrs and civil rights, why doesn’t the U.S., release Johnathan Pollard.?
3. And finally, as you look over all the land we’re supposed to give to the Arabs:  IF we’re talking of  peace,  Why Can’t Jews Live There?