Pag«3-THE NEWS-November, 1902
Focas On Israel
By Kenny Gross
O Ye 0£ Little Faith!
UJA Israel Mission
We have in the past month
marked the Days of Awe dur
ing which we subjected
ourselves to merciless cross
examination. Having
clarified our thoughts we
seek forgiveness for
numerous transgressions.
“For the sin wherein we
have sinned before Thee
unwittingly; And for the
sin wherein we have sin
ned before Thee with
utterance of the lips; And
for the sin wherein we
have sinned before Thee
in presumption, and in
error; For the sin
wherein we have sinned
before Thee by a breach
of trust."
Only each one of us knows
in their heart of hearts to
what extent these pleas for
forgiveness apply to their
own sittitude in the recent
Phalangist Lebanese
catastrophe. All accept that
it was an unforgiveable act
of murderous decimation.
But how many of you
blamed Israel, perhaps not
for the slaughter itself but
for opening the gates of the
Abattoir? Did you really
believe that Jews were
capable of encouraging such
cold blooded murder? Well,
some of us did. Some infer
red that Israel opened the
gates with the intention of
allowing the vengeful
Phalangists to wreck their
vengeance in full measure.
There were those who
write for a living on the na
tional newspaper level —
Jews or near Jews; those
who write or draw with
sharpened pencils dipped in
vitriol, on the local level.
One depicted General
Sharon sitting in the
“Eichman” glass booth,
claiming that he was only
obeying orders (ala Nazi).
This goes beyond belief and
truth. I have listened to a
number of speeches by Arik
Sharon. He has consistently
accepted full responsibility.
Where does “only obeying
orders” come in? I wonder.
And on the political level
in Israel itself...Shimon
Peres making all sorts of in
sinuations and twisted hints,
for political capital. Even
after the establishment of a
judicial commission he could
not resist (inspired by the
power of the American news
med'* i) a final shot “we know
which two leaders will be
found guilty.” He has much
to learn from the previous
leader of the opposition in
regard to Hadar (refinement
and grace).
And all this without a
shred of evidence against a
man who, for the love of his
people, has lived through the
hell of Russian prison camp
in the Arctic, who walked
round and round the gallows
erected by the British in pre
state Palestine, with a dangl
ing noose readied for his
neck, for four long years;
against a man who served his
country so loyally and
faithfully in opposition, as
its leader in the Knesset for
twenty-seven years and who
has been a symbol of
strength since his election as
Prime Minister. All this per
formed selflessly and
without personal profit.
And all this without
established evidence against
an Israeli-born General, who
turned the tide on his own in
itiative and risk, in a
precarious time in the Yom
Kippur War.
•
And “we kept quiet and
allowed this to happen”. We
listened to the rantings of
“mighty mice” on our T.V.
networks. 1 was in Europe in
August. I listened to the
news in German and French
— no raving — objective
reporting. I returned in early
September. I did not
recognize some of the quiet
guys. A former anchor-man •
turned commentator,
blasting sanctimoniously at
Israel at an unbelievable
speed — his spittle did not
have time to clear his mouth
— I was amazed. And then I
learned. He had been to
Beirut and been conditioned.
The boys had a ball.
And the veiled threats
issued by “aides” (those
mysterious “come and gone”
talking machines) —
somewhat in the style of the
“his master’s voice”
phonograph of old with the
dog listening.
All our friends on the
bandwagon, Jesse Helms
had his penny’s worth (pick
ed up by his “new friend” in
a cartoon in our morning bad
news).
And what did we do?
Mourn, grieve, write a few
hopeful letters. In the cool of
the Fall air, how does your
conscience shape up? Did
you sin unwittingly by keep
ing quiet or believing in
Menachem Begin’s guilt of
being an accomplice? Did
you utter of the lips by
criticizing in doubtful
evidence? Did you presume
or err? Did you break trust?
Only you can know.
•
But contrition and
penitence will earn
forgiveness! The greatest
penitence is proven by a
change of heart and by
avoiding repetition of
previous errors. And the
time to prove yourself comes
soon. There will be a pro
tracted, judicial commission.
The dogs of war will be howl
ing at every tittle of evidence
of weakness or error on the
part of Israel’s leaders or Ar
my.
This time let us reply with
strength! But even more con
structively! We are now cam
paigning for UJA and Israel
Bonds. Let us show the
detractors of Israel what
faith means. Let us show
them the strength of our love
for Israel. Give and invest in
amounts that mean extraor
dinary support in time of
trouble and need. Rise to the
occasion. Give until it hurts.
A sacrifice cleareth the soul.
Dear Friends:
I write you this letter with
joy in my aart.
I have returned from Israel
and Lebanon. I will be
returning February 6
through 16 with the
Charlotte Jewish Federation
- U. J. A. Mission.
I am urging you to take ad
vantage of this wonderful op
portunity to learn through
personal observation and an
understanding heart. Israel
is a remarkable country. My
eyes are opened. There is no
better way to be sensitized to
the truth than through per
sonal observation.
I viewed Lebanon. 1 saw a
country in ruin, decimated
as a result of seven years
under the P. L. O. A country
without taxation, internat
ional smuggling port of the
world, Mercedes Benz roam
through the streets smuggled
in from Europe and sold to
the Arabs.
A country with electricity
and water - free, because
there is no one to enforce the
payment. A country of
seventy armies, many intent
on exacting vengeance from
the other.
There is so much to tell
you about Israel, however,
your eyes and your own ears
are the best teachers.
Please consider going with
me. You understand the
wonderful and unique
opportunity the Federation
is affording you. The trip
cost is $1600, but, is payable
over eighteen months.
Secuxity Measures
PARIS (JTA) - Tight
security measures were
taken around and in
synagogues in France during
Yom Kippur. The most close
ly guarded area was the Rue
des Rosiers Jewish quarter
in Paris. Barriers blocked
access to the street and
passers-by.
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Avi Rocklin, RMbbi Richard Rocklin, Richard Klein
(Federaton Prea.} and Israeli soldier at the top of Beaufort
cmatla.
Iflll Wl*w
Richard Klein with Israeli youth. One of many the three
Charlotteans (Rabbi Rocklin, Ron Katz and Mr. Klein) met
and shared with.
I promise to be with you
during the entire ten days. I
will show you the land and
you will hear from Govern
ment officials; you will come
back inspired. I can never
write on paper the joy in my
heart.
Let’s travel together and
as one candle can light a
thousand - you will be able
to light a thousand more and
inspire others - Jew and
Christian to understand the
righteousness of the State of
Israel.
Please call me. Israel is
waiting for Us.
Blessings,
Rabbi Richard K. Rocklin
announca the aaaition of
Steven N. Alper
as an associate
General Practice
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