From the Desk of Deborah Goldfarb
Israel Thrives In Spite of Controversy |
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Greetings!
As worldwide Jewry
observe Passover beginning today, it is important for us to consider our
relationship to Israel, not only in biblical times, but today.
In recent weeks, the
Israeli government has been embroiled in a discussion over the
resolution of proposed changes concerning conversion and the law of
return. And so, we return to a controversy which had seemingly been
resolved.
The proposed bill includes a provision that could prevent a non-Jew who
converts to Judaism, in Israel or in the Diaspora, from receiving
Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return. Our movement, the Jewish
Federations of North America (previously United Jewish Communities) has
taken a firm stance in relationship to the issue, demanding that Prime
Minister Netanyahu respond directly.
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At the same time, controversy continues in Israel over prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. The following remarks from Ambassador Oren, state the dilemma we face well:
Passover 5770 finds Israel and the Jewish people facing some of the most monumental challenges in recent memory. While Iran strives, unimpeded, to acquire nuclear military capability, and its leaders swear almost daily to wipe Israel off the map, efforts to deny Israel the right to defend itself - or even exist - proliferate. Meeting these challenges will require all of us in Israel and the Diaspora to overcome our differences and unite as a people as we have done so frequently in our history.
In addition to the threats to Israel's security and legitimacy, Israel faces the challenges of peace. We have made unprecedented and far-reaching gestures to facilitate the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. Israel has pledged to refrain from building new settlements, from acquiring new territory for settlements, from expanding settlements territorially, and even from incentivizing Israelis to move to settlements. Israel has also frozen all new construction in Judea and Samaria for ten months - a move praised by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as "unprecedented." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has joined with President Barack Obama in calling for immediate renewal of direct peace talks without preconditions, and has agreed to a preliminary period of proximity talks that will serve as a corridor to direct discussions.
On the Jerusalem question, Israel's policy is that all residents, Arabs and Jews alike, have the right to build legally anywhere in the city, without prejudice. This is not the position of the Netanyahu government, but of every Israeli government going back to 1967. It was the policy of Golda Meir, Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin. With that, Israel understands that the Palestinians also have a position on Jerusalem and is fully willing to discuss it at the negotiating table.
Unfortunately, the Palestinians have refused to negotiate or even to prepare their people for peace. The Palestinian leaderships persists in sponsoring the deeply slanted Goldstone report, which accuses of Israel of war crimes, in promoting violent demonstrations, and in glorifying terrorists.
Passover recalls the daunting challenges that confronted the Jewish people on the eve of its birth as a people, but the holiday also celebrates the precious achievement of liberty. In Israel, we see the immense fruits that freedom has brought us. We see a robust economy, a vibrant democracy, and a flourishing Hebrew culture. We have fostered cutting-edge research that has made Israel the world's leader in the per capita number of scientific publications, patents, and Nobel Prizes. And an Israeli, Omri Casspi, is playing in the NBA.
As we gather with our families around our seder tables this year, let us be vigilant of the challenges and dangers we face but also thankful for the extraordinary blessings we have gleaned. The Embassy of Israel joins you, your communities, and your families in raising a glass and restating our timeless hope, Next year in Jerusalem!
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Wishing You and Your Family a
Chag Pesach Sameach, |
Deborah Goldfarb
Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach
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Don't Forget these Community Wide Events!
Yom HaShoah Commemoration April 11, 2010 at 4pm
Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration April 18, 2010 at 6pm
Both Programs will be held at the Alpert JCC
Visit www.jewishlongbeach.org for more information.
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