Have you seen the news from Israel on local media recently? Neither have I. I was, in fact, struck by the utter paucity of stories from Israel in recent weeks. I wrote in this space last November about how we must greet the stories we see with an appreciation for the perspectives, if not agendas, of those who bring us news of the events of the day. That said, those who report the news also have the option of not reporting the news. They get to pick and choose that which will be conveyed, and that which will not.
As I write this in mid-April, the Israeli Defense Forces have recently discovered a new tunnel from Gaza into Israel. The finance minister of Sweden resigned as a result of remarks he made seven years ago likening Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the treatment of Jews by the Nazis. And a member of the Israeli cabinet was outed as eating bread on Passover, upsetting his more observant constituents. Surprised? You are if you rely solely on American media for your Israeli news. Stories such as these are not deemed of sufficient import to fill the scarce and valuable time or space in the news we are given.
I had the occasion to go to Israel a year ago this month. I can assure you that Israelis are continuing to lead their lives and to get by in the day-to-day. Whether we are told about them or not, they are nonetheless persevering in the face of disdain and enmity for continuing to maintain their right to exist.This month is Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. How might we best celebrate that independence? Well, as noted before, we can become well-informed supporters of Israel by making the effort to get information through sources other than the usual media. Most Israeli media have an on-line presence and, while they encourage you to become subscribers, you can generally scan their home page for free and get a good sense of what's going on there.
Better yet, go there and see for yourself. As Woody Allen noted, ―Eighty percent of life is showing up.‖ See for yourself how their society works. Hear for yourself what Israelis think about the US and the others in the world. Experience the sights and sounds of the extraordinary routine that is life in Israel. Fortunately, this is being made even easier for us in Utica, as Temple Emanuel is sponsoring a trip to Israel next year. If you have the means and opportunity, sooner is better. If not, please seriously consider joining Rabbi Kail and others in our community so that your personal experience may serve as a rejoinder to not just that which is said about Israel, but that which is not said.
Cantor Socolof