On the Events in Gaza

We write this as Israel completes the fifth day of Operation Cast Lead, which was launched during the last days of Hanukah. The title of this operation comes from an Israeli holiday children’s song and refers to the dreidles traditionally made of cast lead. Hanukah is a time when we celebrate the bravery of those who fought to remain true to our faith and our heritage.

Today is different. Three and a half years ago, Israel made the painful decision to leave Gaza in the hope it would advance the peace process, and that those who were poised against us might take an opportunity to consider the desirability of a negotiated agreement with Israel, improve the lives of the Palestinian population and thus sow the seeds of peace. Instead, rockets and mortars have rained down on the inhabitants of the small Israeli towns and villages in a wide parameter surrounding Gaza. 

 

We stand with Israel in her effort to maintain security for her people and pursue peace with the neighboring nations and the Palestinian People. At the same time, we are deeply saddened and pained by the suffering and the loss of innocent lives, and wish that this sense of compassion and care for human life were guiding the extremist Hamas leadership, which is governing Gaza to the detriment of the Palestinians.

 

We fervently hope that reason and compassion will prevail, that this operation can soon come to a peaceful conclusion, and that the world will recognize that neither Israel, nor any responsible democracy, can tolerate unending assaults on its citizenry.

 

We are, once again, reminded that every day in Israel, peace remains an elusive dream. It is our prayer that in the days to come, we might soon see a way to turn that dream into reality. This year’s Hanukah celebration has ended; may next year’s be one in which we can say, in Israel and throughout the world, “A Great Miracle Happened Here/There.”

 

For those who are interested, we offer a few links for further reading:

 

The Little Town of Sderot – Paul Liptz, the director of education at the World Union’s Anita Saltz International Education Center, writes a poignant article on life in Sderot and the parallels to those who lived in northern Israel three decades ago.

 

RJ.org – Read the statement from the leader of the North American Reform movement, and blog postings from its constituents. You are free to contribute from wherever you are in the world. (See Submissions: http://blogs.rj.org/reform/submissions.html)

 

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