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The Peace Flotilla
“Israel raids… Israel kills… Israel boards… Now Israel must…"

A large belligerent vessel heads defiantly for the Gaza war-zone. Hastily stocked with expired medication and similar supplies of compromised quality, along with a veritable factory of cement and other material for Hamas fortifications, and, of course, dozens of metal bars, wooden bats, combat knifes, firebombs and the like for the sake of enforcing "peace" in the land of the Wall and Dome. The latter weapons in particular are readily accessible along the vessel's top deck. After all, what are these sea voyagers who are broadcasting jihadist chants to Al-Jazeera as they approach the Israeli coast from the Mediterranean, if not "peace" activists?

"Negative, negative." Its captain refuses to divert to the Ashdod port, where Israel will transfer their compromised cargo to Gaza under the activists' own supervision. That option is far too peaceful.

Israeli commandos rappel onto the vessel to redirect it to Ashdod, expecting insults and an occasional fist. Chilling video evidence records lone soldiers landing on deck only to be set upon by a bloodthirsty lynch-mob wielding clubs and knives. As their lives are being beaten out of them, the Jewish soldiers radio an urgent query: Are we to die at the hands of these savages, or do we have permission to open fire? G‑d had pity on them and put it into the minds of Israel's commanders to permit live fire as a last resort.

Now media, politicians and populations the world over are (again) baying for Jewish blood. The web brims with sanitized versions of Itbah Al-Yahud! in practical every imaginable tongue, shrieked by otherwise composed leaders and speakers across the globe. What a far cry from the biblical account of ancient Egypt; here it seems that not a single dog has failed to whet his tongue against the children of Israel.

In an unhealthy alliance, Pakistan's green n' white and Iran's red "Allah" are joined by the Union Jack and the Tricolour. Together they snap in a fierce gale of public condemnation, whipping the air into an anti-Israel frenzy, straining at their tethering as if wishing to fly free from the documented evidence, those sobering facts-on-the-ground.

The drama ended many hours before I opened my computer. At first, my blood boils:

"Israel raids… Israel kills… Israel boards… Now Israel must… Israel should have… Israel should now… We expect IsraelIsrael needs… Israel should not have… Israel may no longer… We will not allow Israel… Sanction Israel… We demand Israel… UN condemns Israel… International reactions to Israel..."

Each nation must have its noisy say:

"France's Fillon demands… Britain's Clegg commands… Turkey's Erdogan beats the war drum… Russia's Lavrov accuses… New Zealand's McCully condemns… EU's Van Rompuy blames… Spain's Garrido condemns… South Africa condemns… Ireland charges… Pakistan denounces… Greece breaks ties… Belgium summons… United Nation's Ban Ki-moon condemns, criticizes, deplores, accuses, commands and beats his well-beaten chest."

The list flows on like the Gulf Coast oil spill and there are protests in practically every country on the globe, large and small alike.

My mind starts to numb from such a ferocious barrage of heavy words against pint-size Israel. Condemnation rains down from each direction like so many metal batons on the deck of a peaceful flotilla.

Then, through the wordy swirl on my screen, I notice a rather comforting pattern. From every site, from every page, from every location, I behold a name I adore and believe in: "Israel… Israel… Israel… Israel…" The Holy Land, homeland of our ancestors and our own as well, is once again on the lips and pens of every people on earth.

As when Joshua split the Jordan, felled Jericho and stopped the sun in Ayalon, the eyes of all nations are transfixed on our land. As if compelled by some involuntary wonder they murmur incessantly "Israel…! Israel…! Israel…!" It is clear that the post-modern world has adopted a sacred mantra, and a most biblical one at that.

Repeat after me, O ye nations, and kindly march in step: "Israel must! Israel should! Israel, Israel, Israel!"

In the eyes of twenty-first century humanity, Jews seem to be far worthier of attention than others, and the Jewish homeland far outweighs any other real estate on the globe. Consider:

Thousands are maimed, burned and killed in Darfur while the nations are entranced by Israel. Mexican drug wars, nomadic hostilities in Sudan, Pakistani battles against the Taliban, India's war with the Maoists, religious purging in Egypt, and a heartbreaking etc., are deemed insignificant compared with the mere fluttering of an Israeli leaf. A ship with its full crew is sent to the seabed by North Korea, barely ruffling the occasional feather, while an act of Israeli defense against jihadists bent on murder (and supplying terrorists) elicits Hiroshima style condemnation from the gritted teeth of every nation.

Israel's ancient sages present a fascinating theoretical exchange between the Messiah and the Jews at the time of the dawn of redemption. G‑d's anointed informs his brethren, "Prepare! The era of your redemption is upon us!" In true Jewish tradition, the Jews reply with a series of logical challenges, among them, "Are we indeed about to be redeemed? What of our ancient prophetic tradition: during this lengthy, Roman-instigated exile, we are to be oppressed at the hand of every nation on earth? Only then can we expect redemption! Tell us, King Messiah, most nations have already supplied their share of tyranny—but surely there are peoples whose yoke we have not yet borne!"

To which G‑d's anointed rejoins, "G‑d is merciful and wishes to redeem you no matter what. If even a solitary Jew winds up in some region and is oppressed by its inhabitants, G‑d in His mercy considers as if you had all suffered there! If a solitary member of a given nation stirs trouble for the Jewish people, G‑d in His mercy considers as if the entire nation to which he belongs participated in your oppression! You can be certain that the ancient tradition has been more than fulfilled."

Back to the worldwide flotilla-fury. Check your map—has New Zealand perhaps been supplanted somewhere between Syria and Egypt? Since when did they have a say in Israel's every affair? For that matter, the name Ban Ki-moon fails to have that familiar Hebraic or Arabic ring to it (unlike the rabble of ruthless rulers he represents). What of that sleepy Emerald Isle to England's left? Ireland demands that Israel extend an ear halfway around the world to consider their impolite outrage as well.

Could the maddening chorus of anti-Israel voices encircling the globe and beaming to and from space be a sign of the times? An unpleasant indication of a splendid fact: representatives of every nation under the ozone-free sun feel irrationally compelled to clear away one of the final obstructions to Israel's redemption. Let no nation claim they missed out on Israel-bashing before rays of redemption have risen! Let their mantra ring loud, as it undoubtedly will – until G‑d's anointed makes his presence felt – "Israel…! Israel…! Israel…!"

Reason will yet return to the nations. Contemplating their millennia of bias in the light of truth for the first time, they will be astounded at themselves and astonished at G‑d's mercy in frustrating the full extent of their plans, mitigating their verbal, physical, economic, or other attacks against the children of Israel.

In that imminent future, every human will passionately sustain their mantra. Not Israel should, Israel must, Israel cannot. Rather, they will pass joint resolutions of admiration and loud declarations of restored faith.

We will encourage them—and just for once, they will listen. In the words of another ancient prophetic tradition, we will address them:

"Praise G‑d all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For His kindness has overwhelmed us [the Jewish nation, mitigating your attacks throughout exile]; and the truth of G‑d['s promise to sustain us through suffering and ultimately redeem us] is everlasting [resulting in our ultimate restoration]. Hallelujah!" (Psalms 117)

Scream, flotilla-agitators. I'm all ears. I want to compare it to your Hallelujah!


39 Comments Posted  |  Post A Comment
Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Feb 25, 2011
re: ms. housman's last remarks
if, as you say, the problem with the koran is only in the interpretation of it then i guess the only thing that is objectively left for us to go on are the resultant ACTIONS of the followers of these interpretations- actions that don't need to be "interpreted." they are,if one is to be objective, straightforwardly blatant. which of the actions against israel, jews and other religions ,as per " uninterpreted" talk from the koran, do you find innocuous/ acceptable?with all due respect, to quote Tevyeh the milkman, there are times when we simply have to face the fact that there is no "other hand".
Posted By rachel, brooklyn, ny
via chabadyorktown.com

Posted: Aug 15, 2010
back to the future
I have just returned from a trip to Greece where I visited so many museums, within and without, and pondered the ancients, those incredibly amazing people, who came before us, who created such great art, such beautiful works and I say, we haven't come that far. We are not that advanced. Go backwards and see.

As to the Middle East, this ongoing conflict, that continuously spits out rhetoric of being special on both sides, and rhetoric about the enemy and the other, I am saying it will not change till we ALL get this right.

As to Allah, it's the same God, we all worship. As to the Koran, I studied this, and I spoke to many intellectual and deeply sensitive people, so I am not so clear about how this is about hate but rather how people interpret and then reinterpret words.

Our God is ONE God, that One God is God of all, meaning Jews and non Jews, alike. ECHAD.

As to Lebanon, Yes, study and weep for what we did there, for our part in a terrible massacre of innocent people.
Posted By ruth housman, marshfield hills, ma

Posted: Aug 12, 2010
Why Israel acts
Recently we had the bitter taste of terrorist attack by a false religious cult. They chopped off the hand of a college professor for using the name 'muhammad' in a question paper. Their aim was to cut off one hand and a leg from opposite sides as written in their religious book.

One can understand how difficult and dangerous life would be when constantly surrounded by such evil people. Unless Israel is constantly on the look out, Jewish people will be mercilessly attacked and murdered. There is a book called koran made by an ancient illiterate man named Muhammad. I have read this book. He has stipulated many instructions in it for killing those who donot believe in a god called alla and him. Killing of Jews is a declared aim of this book. Its first chapter itself calls Jews and Christians cursed and wayward respectively. One can only pray to G-d Almighty to open the eyes of those who follow this evil book.

With deep sorrow, from Kerala, India
Posted By Anonymous, Cochin, Kerala, India

Posted: June 15, 2010
Fortitude
This is perhaps the most powerful essay I've read at Chabad.org. My rabbi said something like this a couple of weeks ago. G-d reminds us how special we are, how special is our role in the human story by hearing "Israel" resounding with every event that unfolds. Everyone has an opinion because Israel is deeply entrenched in the world. First to be condemned because Israel's standard must be higher than any other.

Thank you for this awesome perspective. It turns frustration and despair into fortitude.
Posted By Happyminyan, los Angeles, california

Posted: June 12, 2010
Right to survive
Israel has the ultimate right to survive. Any efforts to strengthen the terrorists must be minimized. Can the world stop terrors (campaign) to Israel rather than blaming her ?
Posted By Amin Wahyudi, Rembang, Indonesia

Posted: June 10, 2010
Peace
I remember Lebanon
Posted By Greg, merritt Island, fl
via jewishbrevard.com

Posted: June 10, 2010
Inspiring
After all the outrage I felt at learning of the world's response to this event, it's really nice to get a different perspective. Yet this is clearly not the first time that such injustice has befallen Israel and people yearned and cried for G-d to redeem us and deliver Mashiach. May he come soon and in our days and may the Jewish people be finally united and return to G-d so that the final redemption is a peaceful one.
Posted By Eliana, beachwood, oh

Posted: June 9, 2010
The Peace Fotilla by Yaakov Paley
I am a Christian but we seem to be more furious by the world's reaction and condemnation of Israel, although I know we must forgive others. I just don' get it; how dare the world condem Israel for defending themselves. Israel has shown much more restraint than other nation's would and do under similar circumstances. Israel is G-d's chosen nation and people. G-d bless you, we pray for you and know as the scripture teaches that G-d will bless the nation that blesses Israel and will curse the nation that curses them. We know how much G-d loves you and His promises are true!
Posted By Sharon, Blanchard, OK/USA

Posted: June 9, 2010
Video with common sense
Glenn Beck isn't someone I watch ... but his take on the Peace Flotilla makes sense!!!

Too bad that the media doesn't give all the information . . .

Go to YouTube and Search: Glenn Beck Israel and see how he describes the various groups.
Posted By Marl, San Diego, CA/USA

Posted: June 9, 2010
Zion
I think that Israel belong to the Jewish people and we need to defend Zion cause G-d gave us that land to the Jewish people, Gaza is infected with terrorist (Hamas) we need to protect our borders.
Shalom!
Posted By Anonymous, Somewhere, USA


 



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