Israel
Selective Grief, Selective Solidarity
By RUTHIE SOUDACK There are people, beloved friends, who will not like this post, but I have to write it. It has been brewing inside me, along with the grief over the terrible attacks in Paris, the terrible attacks in Israel, the terrible attacks worldwide.
I consider myself to be in the center politically, sometimes a bit to the right, sometimes a bit to the left, depending on the issue. I speak Arabic to an extent, I made Aliyah to Israel because I felt that Jerusalem was my heart’s home, that every step I took was taking me to Jerusalem. However it was the Arab presence here that created a comfortable cultural crossroads for this woman whose soul never felt Western. I say this as a sort of disclaimer for what will come next, which I am absolutely compelled to say.
Whenever a terrorist attack is committed against Israelis, there are many people, in Israel and abroad, who jump to justify it by stating that Palestinians are in a state of such despair that they have nothing to lose, inferring that Israel and the “occupation” are responsible for this terror. First it is because of the settlements, and next it is because of the separation wall, and then it is because imams incite by claiming that Jews want to pray on the Temple Mount (and seriously, why the *&#% shouldn’t they???). I could go on about where this despair could be directed (why not towards Palestinian leaders, who pocket the millions of dollars donated to them to build Palestine, for example), or how it is stoked, prodded, encouraged, imbibed in Palestinian mothers’ milk and in the Palestinian educational system, and sanctioned by the international community.
The latest attacks were supposedly over the Temple Mount. Jews have now been categorically forbidden to pray there, in Judaism’s most holy place, and cameras are being installed to enforce this, but the terror on the streets and in the trains and in the cars of Israel continues. I am not claiming that all is pleasant in the territories nor that Israel is blame-free, however every terror attack brings us further and further from the possibility of coexistence. But this is not really where I want to dwell.
What I want to ask now is this: Are the perpetrators of the attacks in Paris suffering from despair? Is despair what lies behind terror? Does despair excuse terror? Or is despair just the pretext for legitimizing terrorism directed at Israel, while terrorism directed at Paris (or New York, or anywhere-other-than-Israel) is so very rightfully condemned? Why is terrorism horrible everywhere, except when Israel is targeted? Jews have been the target of anti-Semitism from time immemorial, and Israel has been the target of terrorism since its establishment, long before the West Bank and Gaza were “occupied” in 1967, long before there were settlements.
And for weeks now, Israelis have been stabbed or run over in the streets, and the world remains silent. World leaders call only for restraint in Israel’s reactions; the European Union labels products from the territories; and academics, musicians and artists boycott Israel, whose Arab citizens have more opportunities than in any other country in this region. But there are no condemnations of the stabbings, no show of solidarity. No one superimposes the Israeli flag on their Facebook profile picture, and nobody volunteers to “ride with us,” as they did for Muslims, fearful for their lives, following the Charlie Hebdo attack, and the attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris in which Jews were targeted. But the world will ride with the Muslims. And that is EXACTLY what is happening. THAT is the point.
I am not an Islam-basher. I have Muslim friends all over the world, there is much I love about Islamic culture, I majored in Islamic art during my master’s studies, and I am offended by the anti-Muslim emails that I often receive. BUT…
Islam is supposed to be the religion of peace. However, with very few exceptions, ALL terror attacks anywhere are perpetrated by Muslims, and most of the world’s current conflicts involve Muslims as well, and the brutality is utterly unthinkable. I accept that Jihadism and fundamentalist Islam do not represent the views of the majority of Muslims, but where are they? Where are their voices? In Israel, the peace movement is so vocal and present that its representatives have, ironically, even come to blows with those on the right end of the political spectrum. Where are the Muslim peace rallies? Where are the Palestinians who want peace, the Arabs who want peace?
In this current round of violence in Israel, terrorists range from 12-year-old boys to 72-year-old women (the photo in the press showed a sweet, smiling elderly lady in a leopard-print head scarf, holding a bouquet of flowers – anybody’s grandmother). THIS is what makes me despair. What is left? Where is the outcry? Where is the Palestinian peace movement, or the Muslim peace movement in France or America or ANYWHERE for that matter? How can we make peace with a people that doesn’t want peace, that doesn’t cry out for peace?
Terrorism is horrific. Everywhere. The killing of innocent people is unacceptable. Period. It makes no difference whether it is people at work in the twin towers, or fans of a heavy-metal band in the Bataclan theater, or a father and mother shot dead in front of their children in an Israeli car, or young women captured as sex slaves in Tunisia. Terrorism causes people to suspect passers-by on the streets and to question the legitimacy of the refugee status of people whose lives have been utterly devastated by it. Terrorism destroys lives and souls and it is destroying the life and the soul of our world. It needs to be condemned. Everywhere. In Beirut, in Paris, in Nairobi, in Madrid, in New York, and yes, ALSO in Israel.
Let’s all post an image of a suffering planet earth on our Facebook pages. Let’s call a spade a spade and stop pandering to political correctness, to the prejudice of the BDS movement and the rampant apologetics for Palestinian atrocities. The only way to save our world (if it is not already too late) is to stand up unequivocally against terror of any sort, against evil, against the undermining of humanity. To see, but really SEE, truly understand, that the only way that anybody will survive is if we learn to live in peace with one another, and QUICKLY find a way to make that happen.
Ruthi Soudack, originally from Vancouver, arrived in Jerusalem for a short visit three days after the beginning of the first intifada, and has been here ever since. She is a traveller, yoga teacher, writer, translator, editor, storyteller, musician, and occasionally, a stand-up comic.
“originally published in the Times of Israel.”
Israel
Join the Masa Canadian Professionals Volunteers Program!
You are invited on a 4-week volunteer program in Israel from October 14th to November 10th. Help rebuild Israeli society post-October 7th over Canadian Thanksgiving, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. Spend three weeks based in Tel Aviv and one week based in Eilat!
This program is exclusively for Jewish professionals aged 22-50, working at Jewish organizations or remotely in any field.
The cost of the program is $150 USD to the organizer and $50 USD to Masa. Participants will receive a Masa grant of $2650 USD that is applied to participation and to cover additional costs. The cost of the program includes housing, meals while volunteering, transportation on travel days, health insurance, leadership training, and more. Volunteers are required to commit to the volunteer schedule, with the understanding that there will be the flexibility to work remotely for 8 specific days during the program. Flights are not included but you get a 15% discount from El Al.
Sign up here: https://www.masaisrael.org/go/canada-jp/ space is limited!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to make a difference and connect with fellow professionals. For more information, contact Mahla Finkleman, National Manager of Partnerships and Outreach, Masa Canada, atmfinkleman@ujafed.org and/or Sam Goodman, Senior Manager of Israel Engagement, sgoodman@ujafed.org.
Save the Dates for Info Sessions:
- Thursday, September 5th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
- Wednesday, September 11th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
Join us in Israel for a meaningful and impactful experience with Masa!
weeks based in Tel Aviv and one week based in Eilat!
This program is exclusively for Jewish professionals aged 22-50, working at Jewish organizations or remotely in any field.
The cost of the program is $150 USD to the organizer and $50 USD to Masa. Participants will receive a Masa grant of $2650 USD that is applied to participation and to cover additional costs. The cost of the program includes housing, meals while volunteering, transportation on travel days, health insurance, leadership training, and more. Volunteers are required to commit to the volunteer schedule, with the understanding that there will be the flexibility to work remotely for 8 specific days during the program. Flights are not included but you get a 15% discount from El Al.
Sign up here: https://www.masaisrael.org/go/canada-jp/ space is limited!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to make a difference and connect with fellow professionals. For more information, contact Mahla Finkleman, National Manager of Partnerships and Outreach, Masa Canada, atmfinkleman@ujafed.org and/or Sam Goodman, Senior Manager of Israel Engagement, sgoodman@ujafed.org.
Save the Dates for Info Sessions:
- Thursday, September 5th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
- Wednesday, September 11th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
Join us in Israel for a meaningful and impactful experience with Masa!
Features
New website for Israelis interested in moving to Canada
By BERNIE BELLAN (May 21, 2024) A new website, titled “Orvrim to Canada” (https://www.ovrimtocanada.com/ovrim-en) has been receiving hundreds of thousands of visits, according to Michal Harel, operator of the website.
In an email sent to jewishpostandnews.ca Michal explained the reasons for her having started the website:
“In response to the October 7th events, a group of friends and I, all Israeli-Canadian immigrants, came together to launch a new website supporting Israelis relocating to Canada. “Our website, https://www.ovrimtocanada.com/, offers a comprehensive platform featuring:
- Step-by-step guides for starting the immigration process
- Settlement support and guidance
- Community connections and networking opportunities
- Business relocation assistance and expert advice
- Personal blog sharing immigrants’ experiences and insights
“With over 200,000 visitors and media coverage from prominent Israeli TV channels and newspapers, our website has already made a significant impact in many lives.”
A quick look at the website shows that it contains a wealth of information, almost all in Hebrew, but with an English version that gives an overview of what the website is all about.
The English version also contains a link to a Jerusalem Post story, published this past February, titled “Tired of war? Canada grants multi-year visas to Israelis” (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-787914#google_vignette) That story not only explains the requirements involved for anyone interested in moving to Canada from Israel, it gives a detailed breakdown of the costs one should expect to encounter.
(Updated May 28)
We contacted Ms. Harel to ask whether she’s aware whether there has been an increase in the number of Israelis deciding to emigrate from Israel since October 7. (We want to make clear that we’re not advocating for Israelis to emigrate; we’re simply wanting to learn more about emigration figures – and whether there has been a change in the number of Israelis wanting to leave the country.)
Ms. Harel referred us to a website titled “Globes”: https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001471862
The website is in Hebrew, but we were able to translate it into English. There is a graph on the website showing both numbers of immigrants to Israel and emigrants.
The graph shows a fairly steady rate of emigration from 2015-2022, hovering in the 40,000 range, then in 2023 there’s a sudden increase in the number of emigrants to 60,000.
According to the website, the increase in emigrants is due more to a change in the methodology that Israel has been using to count immigrants and emigrants than it is to any sudden upsurge in emigration. (Apparently individuals who had formerly been living in Israel but who may have returned to Israel just once a year were being counted as having immigrated back to Israel. Now that they are no longer being counted as immigrants and instead are being treated as emigrants, the numbers have shifted radically.)
Yet, the website adds this warning: “The figures do not take into account the effects of the war, since it is still not possible to identify those who chose to emigrate following it. It is also difficult to estimate what Yalad Yom will produce – on the one hand, anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews and Israelis around the world reminds everyone where the Jewish home is. On the other hand, the bitter truth we discovered in October is that it was precisely in Israel, the safe fortress of the Jewish people, that a massacre took place reminding us of the horrors of the Holocaust. And if that’s not enough, the explosive social atmosphere and the difference in the state budget deficit, which will inevitably lead to a heavy burden of taxes and a reduction in public services, may convince Zionist Israelis that they don’t belong here.”
Thus, as much as many of us would be disappointed to learn that there is now an upsurge in Israelis wanting to move out of the country, once reliable figures begin to be produced for 2024, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that is the case – which helps to explain the tremendous popularity of Ms. Harel’s website.
Features
Message from a Palestinian in Gaza to protesters: “You’re hurting the Palestinian cause”
A very brave Palestinian who was willing to put his name to paper and write an article for Newsweek Magazine has exposed the utter hypocrisy of all those students – and others, who have been setting up encampments across the U.S. – and now Canada, too.
You can read the article at https://www.newsweek.com/message-gazan-campus-protesters-youre-hurting-palestinian-cause-opinion-1894313
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