Lost and Found in Gaza

The evacuation of Gaza is now completed, and the world has been watching closely. As a proud member of the Jewish People, I have nothing but admiration for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, for the humane way they carried out this most difficult military assignment. Most soldiers train to fight against their enemies; the Israeli army was specially trained to evacuate their own families, friends, and sometimes even their own rabbis and teachers. In fact, there was nothing easy about this assignment; according to the NY Times, an Arab reporter on the scene asked his anchor in Dubai, "Did you see the soldiers crying?" Yes, we all saw the soldiers crying and anyone with a heart and soul had to be moved by their compassion coupled with their calm discipline under exceedingly trying conditions. More tears were shed than blood, and that speaks volumes about the talent and the humanity of the Israeli Defense Forces.

I believe that on both sides, something precious was lost and something precious was found. On the Israeli side, what was lost were the hopes, dreams and aspirations that the settlers had for their future in Gaza. Some settlers had lived in Gaza for over thirty years; they were encouraged to build their homes there by Ariel Sharon himself. They showered their love onto the land; for them, Gaza was a gift promised by God, and the sadness of leaving overshadowed the pride they must have felt at making the dry land bloom. This land which had started out uninhabitable, became a land rich in crops and vegetables and flowers and food. Losing their homes, and their Divine sense of mission, brought palpable grief to those who had to leave. And who can blame them?

And what did they find? The Israelis gained the respect of the world community. Or at least they should have, but the sounds of the world's nations' applauding have been muted, to put it mildly. What other nation could have pulled of what the Israelis did, with so little violence, and with no loss of life? In addition, the exit from Gaza is yet another step toward Israel gaining back its Jewish majority. With the rising Arab birthrate, the demographics had begun to work against the State of Israel retaining its Jewish majority. The Jewish State is entitled to have a Jewish majority and so now it will.

On the Palestinian side, what was found was new land to settle, for the new country they hope to create. In the nascent Palestinian State, Gaza will serve as the living laboratory. Here is where the Palestinian nation will birth itself; here is where the societal norms will be created, where true freedom for all, women as well as men; where quality education for the next generation, which will recognize the State of Israel as a neighbor not an enemy; where the creation of jobs and a fair economy, will all take hold. What a find!

What have the Palestinians lost? It seems to me that they have lost forever the ability to blame Israel for all their problems. For now, it is all up to them; they must be the ones who will begin to translate the harsh words of their prayers into the hard work of their hands. They must be the ones who will begin to lay down their armaments and their harmful rhetoric in favor of publicly proclaimed peaceful intentions and the desire to live in peace with Israel.

Lost and found-we only learn anything important about ourselves by how we respond to the losses in our lives. Both Israel and the Palestinians have suffered great losses this past week. Perhaps these losses will lead to a greater realization that what has been found will contribute to a world of peace. What a find that would be for the whole world.

Rabbi Mel Glazer
Temple Israel of the Poconos
Stroudsburg, PA
570 421-8781
http://www.templeisraelofthepoconos.org

---

Lets Call A Spade A Spade

Much of our personal and cultural perspective on the world... Read More

Recycling The Mentally Ill

30 years ago, California, later followed by other states, decided... Read More

Dealing With UK Water Rates Debts: What You Need To Know

UK Water RatesYOU CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED FOR WATER RATES DEBTSWater... Read More

Netanyahu: Too Late For A Fight-back?

The resignation from cabinet yesterday, Sunday, by the Israeli minister... Read More

Bush and Kerry Differ on Immigration Policies

Up until the final debate at Arizona State University, the... Read More

Cloning; The Possibilities and Advantages of Thought Swapping

We can all see the issues involved in the cloning... Read More

The Wall of Honor

Many Americans have children, fathers, mothers, grandparents, other family members... Read More

The New Goo Review is Coming Right At You

Non-lethal Goo Concepts have been tossed around by many war... Read More

National ESRI Policies

Many are very impressed with the NIMA (National Imagery and... Read More

Government Backed Fraud in Academia

Contrary to the Hobbesian prediction of anarchy (freedom) and brutish... Read More

Debt Relief and Reality Check

The United States and other first world nations have been... Read More

Howard Deans Big Fat Mouth

"The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More

Delta

As you know Delta Airlines is close to bankruptcy. Their... Read More

Screening Trucks and Containers Coming Into Our Country

We presently have adequate sniffer devices in this country to... Read More

Ethanol, Water, Pollution, North Korea and Free Trade

Ethanol is a great way to produce fuel, great fuel... Read More

Self Destruct Strategies in UAV Construction

All UAVs Need a Self Destruct BLOS DeviceWhat do you... Read More

CBM?s Indo-Pak Peace Process

Will a bus running across the borders bring cordial relations... Read More

Global Entrepreneurs, Mining and Raw Materials

There are many mines around the world, which are owned... Read More

Environmentalists Say GM Seeds are Bad News

Environmentalists say GM Seeds are bad for the environment, dangerous... Read More

Political Correctness got you down?

I hear it all the time; you can't say that.... Read More

Quality of Life and Freedom, Unilateral Discussion

City Governments is their quest for; "quality of life" often... Read More

Ex-CIA Folks are Problematic

Those who are above the law or act as such... Read More

Tax Attorney? You Might Need One; The City of Portland is Going After Small Businesses

The City of Portland is going after any small business,... Read More

Anyone Awake Out There?

As we reel from the news of the recent bombings... Read More

WiMax Election Strategy

So you are ready to run for public office are... Read More

The Cost of the COLD WAR

Many people who are expert in the issue of the... Read More

Some Farmers and Organic Growers are Upset at Monsanto

The organic farmers are angry that Monsantos terminator GM seeds... Read More

Workmens Compensation Lawyers, Lets Raise Minimum Wage; No Lets Not, Say We Did, We Have

The debate to raise minimum wage in California is totally... Read More

Israel Termed A ?Nuclear Power? By US Officials

In the last two weeks, two non-senior US officials indirectly... Read More

Internet in Russia and Ukraine - Part 1. General Information and Statistics

User BaseThe non-US and non-English Web segments have been boosted... Read More

Mother Russia and Poland

When Boris Yeltsin spoke about an experiment that 'they' wrought... Read More

Counter Intelligence: Accurate Words to Describe Our Dealings with Islamic Terrorists!

Introduction:Although politicians and so-called "Intelligence Experts" are the ones appearing... Read More

Workaholism, Leisure and Pleasure

The official working week is being reduced to 35 hours... Read More