I Cannot Help Replying - 2014 - 08 -11

I Can't Help Replying – 2014 – 08 – 11
 
"Rabbi Michael Lerner told CNN Thursday morning that the Jewish ideals of compassion and empathy had gotten lost in Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, and argued that Jews should have greater freedom to criticize Israel without being labelled “self-hating.”
“Judaism came into the world as a critique of the empire and the view of the world that says that security can be achieved through domination and power over others,” Lerner said. “Unfortunately Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza has been the opposite, it has been a policy of oppression and domination without any serious attempt to negotiate a final peace agreement.”
Lerner called Hamas a terrorist organization, but argued that the larger battle in Gaza was a “people’s rebellion” against the Israeli blockade.
“God taught us the world should be based on love, generosity, caring; this is the essence of the Jewish message,” Lerner said. “That message has been abandoned. Instead people give blind loyalty to the state of Israel. …That’s a tragedy, but the biggest tragedy is for Judaism itself because when Judaism is represented by the Israeli army as though this is what Judaism is about, it’s a desecration of god’s name and an abandonment of our Torah and an abandonment of our highest values.”


e-mail: shul@tikkun.org

Dear Rabbi Lerner:
I can't help keeping silent! Really, I cannot!

As 100-per cent pure  Jewish person, as a proud citizen of Israel, whose sons have paid their duty to the Country by serving for IDF, I must reply to your comments on CNN.

As an American who has never ever heard sirens live, you can hardly realize what the terror of war is. And I can as I have felt it and still feeling that!

As an American who has never ever participated in a military action as a civilian you would never ever understand what an individual feels when a rocket blasts in the air or falls less than a 100 meters away from your dwelling.  And I can since I have outlived it!

In case you consider that as per the Jewish tradition the so-called "tzadaka" (1/18 of the whole income) seems to be enough to feel one's belonging to the Chosen People, you are wrong! The vital issue here is not the money only, it is active support of Jews wherever they are. And, in this respect, please beware that your family and you may feel safe there, overseas, until my sons cover your asses here in this, so-called, "war-prone" area.

Please  beware that the recent wave of anti-Semitism all over the word will reach your quiet and respectful area too and your grandkids might be subjects to anti-Semitic violence as we have recently seen in Sidney, Australia.

Please beware we are at the front-line in war against world terrorism, and HAMAS is nothing less and nothing more than one of those "divisions" which threaten those basic human values  of "love, generosity, caring" you are so concerned of. Don't you remember Benito Mussolini who had built a church as a request for the Almighty Forgiveness? But the Lord had not accepted this gift and no services have been performed there!

And how would you react to the fact that the militants have constructed a network of tunnels to kill or kidnap innocent civilians and their kids? How would you react in case your relatives fall into the hands of murders? 

Unfortunately, you have chosen another position to criticize Israel. Reprimanding this Country and its Defense Forces is allying with our foes. This is what you are doing!

Therefore, I would like to give a good piece of advice: take your kippa off, turn to Islam and become an ardent advocate of the "oppressed" Palestinians who launch rockets from sites located in multiple-populated areas and make populace human shield!  They might have been proud to make you as one of those to protect their acts!

Thank you in advance.

I am,

Sincerely yours

Zalman Vinokur,  a proud citizen of Israel, a dad of two reserved soldiers and  a granddad of two wonderful granddaughters
E-mail: johnpen1954@yahoo.com