A Colour Orange
One of my grandsons is afflicted with a love for the colour orange. Why do I say afflicted? Well, if he visits Israel in today’s police-state climate, he might not be permitted to enter. At the very least, he would be subject to forceful questioning about his love for that colour, which, according to the simple-minded police mentality now prevalent, clearly signifies support for the Jews of Yesha, and opposition to disengagement.
I say this because of what happened to members of the group that recently came to Israel with Dov Hikind. Mr. Hikind is apparently an Assemblyman from the State of New York. Reputedly, he is also a staunch supporter of the State of Israel. Thus he assembled some 40 New Yorkers, including Supreme Court Justices, educators, and business people, all of whom came to Israel at their own expense to show solidarity with the inhabitants of Yesha.
Now the purpose of the trip was no secret. Indeed publicity was the point of the exercise. On arrival the vast majority of the group was unceremoniously taken to an interrogation area and subjected to questioning which was clearly intended to intimidate. Passports were seized, and the police lied to them by telling them that Gush Katif, where they were intending to go to show solidarity, was a closed military area. When one woman spoke up to ask why she was being honoured with such a display of heavy-handedness, she was informed that the orange t-shirt she was wearing clearly branded her as a person who was against disengagement. Hence my concern about my grandson’s affliction.
Are these guys for real? The group came for the express purpose of showing solidarity with the inhabitants of Yesha, and to voice their disapproval of Sharon’s disengagement lunacy. In a democracy the concept of l’etat c’est moi does not exist. The people are free to express their opinions, and those who agree with them are free to demonstrate that agreement.
I realize the members of the New York group were probably not Israeli citizens. But they are the people to whom Israel turns for support in times of need. And they are clearly Jews who love Israel and the Jewish people. Just because Aipac will not permit anti-disengagement voices to be heard, does not mean that there are not large numbers of North American Jews opposed to disengagement. They are just as entitled to be heard, both in and out of Israel, as are the so called ‘leaders of the Jewish community’. And the latter are not really leaders at all. Rather, they are a collection of followers falling into step behind the dictates of a formerly great general, now a wholly befuddled and anti-democratic Prime Minister.
This past Saturday we read the special Maftir, Zachor, which is read annually before the festival of Purim. It is an obligation on every Jew to hear this reading, to remember it, and, as best he can, to try and achieve its fulfillment. We are told to remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people on their way out of Egypt. We must never forget, and we are commanded to wipe out the memory of Amalek. Was Sharon in the synagogue to hear the reading? Did any of his anti-democratic minions hear it?
They have another chance to learn the lesson. Thursday evening and Friday morning they can hear another reading, Megillat Esther, in which the lesson is basically the same. But somehow I don’t think they’ll be there.
On the other hand, I think a good many of Hikind’s group heard Zachor. They will likely hear the Megillah. But they got the point long ago; they remember, and they want others to remember as well.
As I write this I am looking at a painting of Queen Esther that my wife did in 1979. It so happens that the Queen is dressed in orange. More and more I’m beginning to like that colour.
I say this because of what happened to members of the group that recently came to Israel with Dov Hikind. Mr. Hikind is apparently an Assemblyman from the State of New York. Reputedly, he is also a staunch supporter of the State of Israel. Thus he assembled some 40 New Yorkers, including Supreme Court Justices, educators, and business people, all of whom came to Israel at their own expense to show solidarity with the inhabitants of Yesha.
Now the purpose of the trip was no secret. Indeed publicity was the point of the exercise. On arrival the vast majority of the group was unceremoniously taken to an interrogation area and subjected to questioning which was clearly intended to intimidate. Passports were seized, and the police lied to them by telling them that Gush Katif, where they were intending to go to show solidarity, was a closed military area. When one woman spoke up to ask why she was being honoured with such a display of heavy-handedness, she was informed that the orange t-shirt she was wearing clearly branded her as a person who was against disengagement. Hence my concern about my grandson’s affliction.
Are these guys for real? The group came for the express purpose of showing solidarity with the inhabitants of Yesha, and to voice their disapproval of Sharon’s disengagement lunacy. In a democracy the concept of l’etat c’est moi does not exist. The people are free to express their opinions, and those who agree with them are free to demonstrate that agreement.
I realize the members of the New York group were probably not Israeli citizens. But they are the people to whom Israel turns for support in times of need. And they are clearly Jews who love Israel and the Jewish people. Just because Aipac will not permit anti-disengagement voices to be heard, does not mean that there are not large numbers of North American Jews opposed to disengagement. They are just as entitled to be heard, both in and out of Israel, as are the so called ‘leaders of the Jewish community’. And the latter are not really leaders at all. Rather, they are a collection of followers falling into step behind the dictates of a formerly great general, now a wholly befuddled and anti-democratic Prime Minister.
This past Saturday we read the special Maftir, Zachor, which is read annually before the festival of Purim. It is an obligation on every Jew to hear this reading, to remember it, and, as best he can, to try and achieve its fulfillment. We are told to remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people on their way out of Egypt. We must never forget, and we are commanded to wipe out the memory of Amalek. Was Sharon in the synagogue to hear the reading? Did any of his anti-democratic minions hear it?
They have another chance to learn the lesson. Thursday evening and Friday morning they can hear another reading, Megillat Esther, in which the lesson is basically the same. But somehow I don’t think they’ll be there.
On the other hand, I think a good many of Hikind’s group heard Zachor. They will likely hear the Megillah. But they got the point long ago; they remember, and they want others to remember as well.
As I write this I am looking at a painting of Queen Esther that my wife did in 1979. It so happens that the Queen is dressed in orange. More and more I’m beginning to like that colour.
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