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The Charlotte Jewish News -October 2001 - Page 9 Opinion/Editorial In Devastated Manhattan, Jews Sharing Grief of All New Yorkers By Michael J. Jordan New York (JTA) — In the car nage of Manhattan, some Jews immediately placed September 11 ’s terror attacks in the context of the Middle East conflict, while others felt them first and foremost as New Yorkers. On Tuesday night, hundreds of New York Jews joined their Christian neighbors to share sad ness, rage and disbelief at an inter faith prayer vigil with the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew. A decade ago, the Methodist church had opened its doors to the 2,000 families of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun when the conserv ative shul’s roof collapsed one night. The two still share the stone neo-Classical church on the Upper West Side, with BJ, as it is known, holding Friday night and Saturday morning services there. At the church Tuesday, audi ence members sobbed or sniffled, parents squeezed their children tightly and spouses stroked each other’s arms. Christian prayers and hymns, such as “Amazing Grace,” alter nated with Hebrew psalms and songs, separated by long pauses of silence and reflection. The rabbis and reverends spoke before a large cloth banner that concealed a crucifix. In brown-on- beige lettering, the banner read: “How Good It Is When Brothers and Sisters Dwell Together in Harmony. As Rabbi Felicia Sol said, “If s also good when brothers and sis- there^^?^^ together even when “We are respoft^x.*c> a faith community, to explt-^l whatever emotions need to be expressed: our prayers and pain and anger,” Sol later told JTA. “Sometimes, the best response is only to be together!” Outside the church. New York was eerily quiet. Streets mostly were empty, shops had closed early, and police officers were stationed on virtual ly every street corner. On the comer outside St. Paul and St. Andrew, one middle-aged Jewish woman was crying beside her friend. Donna Cohen, the one over come by emotion, focused on U.S. reaction. “I say kill the bastards,” said Cohen, a native New Yorker visit ing from St. Louis, where she now lives. “And I’m the ultra-liberal Democrat, who would never say that.” Her friend, Marlene Altman, said she suspected the terrorist attack was a response to last week’s U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South * Africa, where the United States had walked out to protest the harsh rhetorical attacks on Israel. “There was a feeling that the Palestinians or terror groups would not be happy with this administration because of its sup port for Israel,” Altman said. “It was quick retaliation.” Cohen, though, feared that mid dle America may question why the United States is standing so strongly beside Israel. “I’m afraid that someone’s going to wake up tomorrow morn ing and say ‘It’s the Jews’ fault,”’ she said. But Cohen says she was reas sured by an Italian American friend, who predicted any back lash would be against the Arab world. The friend even predicted that Arab Americans might experience the same type of suspicions as were cast on Japanese Americans after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Much will depend on how President Bush publicly interprets these events, observers say. Bush could seize the opportuni ty to emphasize why Washington stands by democratic allies like Israel, some said, or he could tap Amei/ite isolationist vein in Near Cohen 'aiiu , _ younger Jewish men debated they now would explain to Americans Israel’s actions in its conflict with the Palestinians. “Now you know what it feels like. So I don’t want to hear any more criticism about Israel’s ‘assassinations’ of Palestinians,” one of the men said rhetorically. At PK Furriers in midtown Manhattan, two men also com pared New York’s situation to Israel’s. For those who think this may build sympathy for Israel, Steven Pochtar said, “It’s a terrible way to think, because this is a tragedy. What will hopefully happen is that this will wake up the president, the secretary of state and others that terrorism is a terrible thing and has to be addressed.” Company vice president Larry Kowlowitz, however, was out raged. “Our country has been brought to its knees by terrorists. It’s time for the dog to wag the tail, not for the tail to wag the dog,” Kowlowitz said. “We should use our muscle and make these smaller nations under stand that we have the power. Like the Bible says, ‘An eye for an eye.’ Even if innocent people are killed.” “What will that accomplish?” Pochtar cut in. “Then you’ll have more people hating us.” To which Kowlowitz respond ed, “They’re never going to stop hating us.” Perhaps more than others, Israelis in New York can relate to what happened Tuesday. Three young Israelis, recently finished with army duty and trav eling the world, were speaking Hebrew on Tuesday on the Manhattan subway. They had just arrived last week from Bogota, Colombia, and won dered what effect Tuesday’s cata strophe would have on the American psyche. “I think it will shake up the American citizens so that they will see what our life is like,” said 25- year-old Alon, from Tel Aviv. “Now you’ll understand what it’s like when we kill some Arabs and they call us Nazis. What can you do about terrorism?” But one of his friends, a 23- year-old also named Alon, sug- makeal^3 ^^^®^^^ might not Israel * '^nact here as in He said he was surprised to sc^ some Americans sunbathing in Central Park on Tuesday after noon, just hours after the attacks. “For a short time, it will affect America, but this is American cul ture and everything passes so quickly,” the Eilat native said. “Something else will come along and Americans will go back to their normal lives.” ^ Oslo (Continued from previous page) dignity and security. ...” Special provisions: The Palestinian people shall hold free and democratic elections, with international observers. There shall be a five-year tran sitional period which will begin upon Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area. Permanent status negotiations will commence no later than the third year of the interim period. Arrangements were to be made for the Palestinian Council to set up certain government bodies, fol lowing which Israeli forces would withdraw from the areas specified. Cooperation was called for between the two sides in matters affecting water, electricity, finance, trade, social welfare, environmental protection, com munications and media and other areas. There are further details regard ing establishment of a Palestinian police force and the authority of the Palestinian Council in the areas vacated by Israel. While not in the text of the agreement, it must be noted that Israel presented the Palestinian Authority with 30,000 weapons for the police force. All matters of dispute were to be settled by agreement between the responsible authorities of the two sides. The agreement called for coop eration in regional development in the mutual interests of both sides. It was understood that subse quent to the Israeli withdrawal (from the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area) Israel will continue to be responsible for national security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Following the DOP, several subsequent agreements were reached, as called for in the origi nal document. We cite some of the provisions agreed to: The Palestinians will act to pre vent terror against Israelis in the areas under their control. ... Both Israel and the Palestine Authority may ask for transfer of suspects that fall under their jurisdiction. ... The jurisdiction of the Palestine Authority does not include Jerusalem, settlements and mili tary locations. ...On further rede ployment, the Israel Defense Forces will withdraw from the populated areas of the West Bank, the six cities - Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem, Kalkilya, Ramallah and Bethlehem - and 450 towns and villages. And so it was done. Both sides undertook to strengthen understanding and tol erance, prevent incitement and hostile propaganda and to use the legal means at their disposal to prevent incitement on the part of groups or individuals. Both sides pledged that their educational sys tems will act to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That was Oslo, together with the subsequent ancillary agree ments. But somewhere along' the line something went wrong. Why? The answer is another long story. 4* TIRED OF LOUSY SERVICE? If you want to find great service or if you have a problem with a service company, Angie's List can help! The next time you need to hire a plumber, auto mechanic, painter or any other service company, call Angie's List to see who your neighbors recommend. 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