Ariel Sharon
It's unclear right now whether Ariel Sharon will survive his medical difficulties, though most people are pretty sure that his political career is over. That says something about how physical weakness and/or disability is seen in Israeli politics, I think. Anyway, I've been pretty appalled at how much praise has been heaped on Sharon in the past few days, as in for example, this statement from Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism:
January 5, 2006
Reform Jews of North America join with Jews throughout the world in praying for the swift and complete recovery of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from his current illness. Tomorrow you will receive prayers that may be included in Shabbat services this week.
Mr. Sharon occupies a unique place in the hearts of the Jewish people and in the history of the Jewish state. Throughout his life, he has been a strong and determined leader of Israel and a valiant fighter for Jewish interests everywhere. As a soldier on the battlefield, he demonstrated remarkable courage in
each of Israel's wars; later, as a politician, he demonstrated equal courage in the political arena, overcoming voices of extremism with a message of reason and moderation.
As Prime Minister since 2001, Mr. Sharon has been a man from whom we have come to expect the unexpected. A one-time champion of settlement building, he made the daring decision to dismantle settlements in the Gaza Strip and end the occupation of Gaza's 1.3 million Arab residents. A man of the right, he abandoned the rightwing party that he helped found to create a centrist one, and to give Israel's centrist majority a political home. A long-time opponent of a Palestinian state, he embraced the idea of such a state as part of President Bush's Road Map.
The changes that Mr. Sharon has wrought are of historic proportions, enhancing Israel's standing in the world and keeping alive Israel's hope for peace. Deeply committed to keeping Israel strong, military and diplomatically, he has also maintained excellent relations with President Bush and the United States and has responded forcefully whenever Israel's citizens have come under attack.
A master politician who is acutely attuned to the pulse of his people, Mr. Sharon has dominated Israeli politics like no Prime Minister since David Ben Gurion. No other Israeli leader possesses his daring, political skills, and credibility.
Israel is a strong and vibrant democracy, and its fate is not dependent on any one person; it will survive this transfer of power, as it has all others. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister's illness and his likely withdrawal, at least temporarily, from public affairs, are a great blow to Israel's political life. We offer our support to the people of Israel during this period of transition and uncertainty.
There have been honest critiques of Sharon over the past few days, but not much from the organized Jewish community. One exception is a statement by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, a Reconstructionist rabbi in Albuquerque, affiliated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Arab-Jewish Peace Alliance of New Mexico. Lynn says most of what I'd like to say.
Shalom and Happy New Year.
I am having a disconnect with the effort to valorize Sharon. Anyone else?
Perhaps it is the result of visiting Sabra and Shatilla [Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon]* and hearing days of eye witness testimony about what happened there.
Perhaps it is hearing from Israeli soldiers who went to Lebanon and learning from them how many tens of thousands of people died in that war.
Perhaps it is realizing that I do not share Sharon's vision of a life in the West Bank or Gaza built upon the politicide of Palestinians.
Perhaps I see the withdrawal from Gaza in a slightly different light, not as a move toward peace, but as a 'daring' move toward ending any possibility of a viable Palestinian state while, at the same time, wrapping up this move in the illusory talk of peace. Perhaps it is his alignment with the most war like and socially conservative elements in the Bush administration.
Of course we pray for the comfort of Ariel Sharon's family and for those who love him as he passes through this difficult illness. Naturally, we hope he is granted healing in his passage when it comes.
But rabbis valorizing the politician Sharon? Since when do we valorize warriors, much less a man who is being considered for war crimes by the international community? Shall we praise a man who has sewn seeds of destruction in so many places including several massacres? Is a master politician who dedicates his life to his people but has caused thousands to perish in a series of questionable wars to be eulogized as a hero? The conventional wisdom we pass on, such as Sharon's supposed demonstration of courage on the battlefield, or Sharon as the peaceful 'middle of the road' man needs serious critical analysis. Sharon inhabits the middle of what ground? Middle for whom?
We in the Jewish community conduct of our conversations about what is best for Israel without input from 'the other side'. As the community that wields the bulk of the control in 'the situation' known as the Palestinian and Israel conflict, would it not be better if those of us who are seeking peace to engage our partners on the other side of the conflict as we form our assessment of the man Sharon? Unfortunately, like Sharon, we are mostly unilateral in our opinions and decisions.
I believe Sharon's vision of a Palestinian state based on isolated cantons will most likely fail with perhaps disastrous results for Israel in the long run. Sharon's pursuit of 'facts of the ground' have lead Israel to accept the almost total imprisonment of the Palestinian nation behind countless security barriers as a normal part of existence based on the idea that essentially, it's their fault. That is Sharon's legacy. Is that what we want to praise?
Finally, let us not assume Sharon's withdrawal from Israeli political life is a disaster. Perhaps it will be the opposite. Perhaps his withdrawal will allow a new generation to create new forms of peacemaking that embrace a whole new vision of what is possible. I do not believe we have to spout platitudes based on Jewish political correctness in behalf of Israel by valorizing a man who is responsible for so much heartache and death. The fact that he holds office as Prime Minister or has been around a long time, or has disengaged internally from Gaza or is a warrior does not earn him the right to receive praise in Jewish life, even at the moment of his life threatening illness. The prophets and the rabbis were considerably more courageous than our generation in pointing out the barbarity of war and occupation and the devastating impact upon the lives of innocents by those who promote it. Remember the story of Samson, of David not building the sanctuary because of blood on his sword, of Rebbe Nachman's description of war as the last idolotry? Perhaps we should be on the look out for other kinds of heros, heros who promote peace with dignity and hope for all people. With prayers for understanding and hope, Lynn
*If you're unfamiliar with the story of Sabra and Shatila, here's a brief recap: In September 1982, shortly after Israel invaded Lebanon, Lebanese Maronite Christian militias carried out a massacre in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. The militias were sent into the camps by Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon to find PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) members, and the Israeli military guarded the exits of the camps while the militias were inside. There is a fair amount of evidence that the Israeli military knew what was going on inside the camps. An Israeli commission found Sharon (among others) to have "personal responsibility" for the massacre and recommended that Sharon be dismissed as Defense Minister (which he was).
January 5, 2006
Reform Jews of North America join with Jews throughout the world in praying for the swift and complete recovery of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from his current illness. Tomorrow you will receive prayers that may be included in Shabbat services this week.
Mr. Sharon occupies a unique place in the hearts of the Jewish people and in the history of the Jewish state. Throughout his life, he has been a strong and determined leader of Israel and a valiant fighter for Jewish interests everywhere. As a soldier on the battlefield, he demonstrated remarkable courage in
each of Israel's wars; later, as a politician, he demonstrated equal courage in the political arena, overcoming voices of extremism with a message of reason and moderation.
As Prime Minister since 2001, Mr. Sharon has been a man from whom we have come to expect the unexpected. A one-time champion of settlement building, he made the daring decision to dismantle settlements in the Gaza Strip and end the occupation of Gaza's 1.3 million Arab residents. A man of the right, he abandoned the rightwing party that he helped found to create a centrist one, and to give Israel's centrist majority a political home. A long-time opponent of a Palestinian state, he embraced the idea of such a state as part of President Bush's Road Map.
The changes that Mr. Sharon has wrought are of historic proportions, enhancing Israel's standing in the world and keeping alive Israel's hope for peace. Deeply committed to keeping Israel strong, military and diplomatically, he has also maintained excellent relations with President Bush and the United States and has responded forcefully whenever Israel's citizens have come under attack.
A master politician who is acutely attuned to the pulse of his people, Mr. Sharon has dominated Israeli politics like no Prime Minister since David Ben Gurion. No other Israeli leader possesses his daring, political skills, and credibility.
Israel is a strong and vibrant democracy, and its fate is not dependent on any one person; it will survive this transfer of power, as it has all others. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister's illness and his likely withdrawal, at least temporarily, from public affairs, are a great blow to Israel's political life. We offer our support to the people of Israel during this period of transition and uncertainty.
There have been honest critiques of Sharon over the past few days, but not much from the organized Jewish community. One exception is a statement by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, a Reconstructionist rabbi in Albuquerque, affiliated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Arab-Jewish Peace Alliance of New Mexico. Lynn says most of what I'd like to say.
Shalom and Happy New Year.
I am having a disconnect with the effort to valorize Sharon. Anyone else?
Perhaps it is the result of visiting Sabra and Shatilla [Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon]* and hearing days of eye witness testimony about what happened there.
Perhaps it is hearing from Israeli soldiers who went to Lebanon and learning from them how many tens of thousands of people died in that war.
Perhaps it is realizing that I do not share Sharon's vision of a life in the West Bank or Gaza built upon the politicide of Palestinians.
Perhaps I see the withdrawal from Gaza in a slightly different light, not as a move toward peace, but as a 'daring' move toward ending any possibility of a viable Palestinian state while, at the same time, wrapping up this move in the illusory talk of peace. Perhaps it is his alignment with the most war like and socially conservative elements in the Bush administration.
Of course we pray for the comfort of Ariel Sharon's family and for those who love him as he passes through this difficult illness. Naturally, we hope he is granted healing in his passage when it comes.
But rabbis valorizing the politician Sharon? Since when do we valorize warriors, much less a man who is being considered for war crimes by the international community? Shall we praise a man who has sewn seeds of destruction in so many places including several massacres? Is a master politician who dedicates his life to his people but has caused thousands to perish in a series of questionable wars to be eulogized as a hero? The conventional wisdom we pass on, such as Sharon's supposed demonstration of courage on the battlefield, or Sharon as the peaceful 'middle of the road' man needs serious critical analysis. Sharon inhabits the middle of what ground? Middle for whom?
We in the Jewish community conduct of our conversations about what is best for Israel without input from 'the other side'. As the community that wields the bulk of the control in 'the situation' known as the Palestinian and Israel conflict, would it not be better if those of us who are seeking peace to engage our partners on the other side of the conflict as we form our assessment of the man Sharon? Unfortunately, like Sharon, we are mostly unilateral in our opinions and decisions.
I believe Sharon's vision of a Palestinian state based on isolated cantons will most likely fail with perhaps disastrous results for Israel in the long run. Sharon's pursuit of 'facts of the ground' have lead Israel to accept the almost total imprisonment of the Palestinian nation behind countless security barriers as a normal part of existence based on the idea that essentially, it's their fault. That is Sharon's legacy. Is that what we want to praise?
Finally, let us not assume Sharon's withdrawal from Israeli political life is a disaster. Perhaps it will be the opposite. Perhaps his withdrawal will allow a new generation to create new forms of peacemaking that embrace a whole new vision of what is possible. I do not believe we have to spout platitudes based on Jewish political correctness in behalf of Israel by valorizing a man who is responsible for so much heartache and death. The fact that he holds office as Prime Minister or has been around a long time, or has disengaged internally from Gaza or is a warrior does not earn him the right to receive praise in Jewish life, even at the moment of his life threatening illness. The prophets and the rabbis were considerably more courageous than our generation in pointing out the barbarity of war and occupation and the devastating impact upon the lives of innocents by those who promote it. Remember the story of Samson, of David not building the sanctuary because of blood on his sword, of Rebbe Nachman's description of war as the last idolotry? Perhaps we should be on the look out for other kinds of heros, heros who promote peace with dignity and hope for all people. With prayers for understanding and hope, Lynn
*If you're unfamiliar with the story of Sabra and Shatila, here's a brief recap: In September 1982, shortly after Israel invaded Lebanon, Lebanese Maronite Christian militias carried out a massacre in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. The militias were sent into the camps by Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon to find PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) members, and the Israeli military guarded the exits of the camps while the militias were inside. There is a fair amount of evidence that the Israeli military knew what was going on inside the camps. An Israeli commission found Sharon (among others) to have "personal responsibility" for the massacre and recommended that Sharon be dismissed as Defense Minister (which he was).