Painful Concessions

Well today I was at a non-comforting press conference/rally, led by the American Conference of Presidents of Jewish Organizations--an extremely important sounding Jewish organization--directly across the street from the United Nations. The event was attended was closed off to the public, but open to the video cameras. Speeches were given by Mayor Bloomberg, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, New York State Speaker Sheldon Silver, Israeli UN Representative Dan Gillerman, Israeli Ambassador Alon Pincus, Malcolm Hoenlein and a few others.

They all spoke resolutely on the need to confront terror immediately. I felt as though the message was good, but I had heard it before--many times. Mayor Bloomberg read a list of names of some of those murdered visciously at the event. I really wasn't emotionally moved or comforted at any point during the event, until the end, when El Malei Rachamim was recited. Then my heart was touched.

Many times I have questioned the leadership of the Jewish People. Particularly, I have snickered at the idea that our Prime Minister throws around, you know the one where he says the Jewish People will have to make "painful concessions" to achieve peace. Yesterday the Jewish nation made 20 painful concessions, and that doesn't count the scores of maimed and injured. Those concessions are equally painful.

These are not the type of painful concessions the Jewish People can afford to make.

But I realized during the speeches, while staring at the magnificent United Nations complex in front of me, that painful concessions would definately be neccessary in order for the Israel to finally achieve peace.

Should Israel finally take matters into her own hands on this terrorism issue, and deal with our ruthless enemies in a way which will eradicate terror and secure Israeli territory for years to come, Israel will be forced to painfully let go of many of the notions that our young nation has been carrying for years.

We will have to concede the idea that in the future we will be a nation, just like any other, recognized by the United Nations and the international community. We will NOT be a regular modern democratic nation just like the other modern, democratic, secular nations of the world. We will be branded for what we are: as Jews (who did or will do a "not so nice thing" to our refugee neighbors). We will be known only as the Jewish nation, and this will be a painful concession for many secular Israelis. Our perverted sense of morality will painfully shattered.

Our economy will take a strong hit, when we will painfully struggle to replace the billions of dollars of international aid we receive from the United States. Some may argue that the international aid actually handcuffs the Israeli government, and many may suggest we will pick up the pieces of our economy with extra dollars from tourism; but even still, losing billions of dollars from one place may be very painful for some.

(One thing that is nice about writing on a blog is that you can conclude your idea wherever you want, and you don't have to worry about who will publish it. )

But in conclusion, we lost a great deal of manpower this week, and it hurts. It hurts the individuals, families, and friends of all involved. And it hurts the Jewish people as a whole. Mr. Sharon is right. To achieve peace we must make painful concessions, but Jewish lives are too painful, and they are worth much more than anything else we strive for in this world.

My sincere condolences to the mourners of all those lost in terror in Israel. May you be comforted among all the mourners of Zion.