Our history should give you some hope!

Submitted by Gershon Seif (United States), Oct 11, 2007 at 02:22

Mr. Pipes, You have good reason to worry but take solace in the fact that we have always endured. Perhaps, some (not most, but some) of the problems you listed, are our own fault - and they can be fixed.

You left out any mention of religious zionists who have a strong positive feeling about Israel. They too are growing in number and are starting to appear in the ranks of the army. I'm sure you've read how this is meeting strong resistance. Yes we want enthusiastic Israelis, but they must be "our brand" or else they are shut down. So much of Israeli politics (and army issues) is about the "old boys' club protecting their turf. Perhaps you've followed the goings on of the Israeli Supreme court over the years? Read some of Jonathan Rosenblum's articles on the topic. Know what I mean?

Perhaps the Arab enthusiasm and religious claim to the land is a cosmic result of our own apathy. Perhaps it will soon shake us up and drive us to find real meaning in our history. For how many years did Israeli public schools teach a skewed Jewish history that taught that until the state of Israel was formed, the last thing Jewish to be proud of was the Bar Kochva revolt?

Two thousand years of Jewish education, endurance, and tradition became something to be embarrassed about! That was the galut Jew! Now we are modernized! Now we know better! We speak modern Hebrew, have our own folk songs and dances, and lovely sandals and caps! Well maybe now, that empty version of Jewish history and reason to have a State of Israel has run its course. Perhaps it's time for us to know why God gave us Israel in the first place. And perhaps, since sadly, so many Jews wonder if that is even true, we have the Arabs' claim that God gave it to them, as a wake up call. Perhaps.

I understand why so many young Israelis don't want to enlist. If their notion of Israel is nothing more than being as American as possible, albeit with some falafel and sandels and some other Israeli culture thrown in, what exactly are they fighting for?

We need to do some real soul searching - if we dare!

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