WHO AND WHY I AM WHO I AM

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I went rambling through the archives on this Blog today and wanted to give you all a pretty good picture of who I am …. So be sure to click on all of the links and then you might have a better understanding of WHO AND WHY I AM WHO I AM.

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A post from yesterday began with ….

Growing up in my Jewish family, it was a given that Jews supported civil rights, opposed the Vietnam War and believed in education, science and progress. This didn’t make it easy to be a teenager in a small working-class town in central Pennsylvania, an area not known for either diversity or liberal views at the time. Israel was a distant place where survivors of the brutal European Holocaust struggled to live in peace, occasionally beset by terrorists and attacking armies from the surrounding countries.
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Except for the part about growing up in Pennsylvania, I could have written those opening lines. In an open letter that I wrote to Neil Sedaka four years ago, asking him to cancel an upcoming concert in Israel, you can read a bit about my own personal background. (The letter was ignored)
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I am thankful that there are many of us, Jews that oppose the ethnic cleansing and genocidal policies sanction by  the State of Israel. Most are no longer silent, they are quite vocal and active in their beliefs as can be seen in THIS post.
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THIS link will take you to a post from the archives that is long, but it is a must read for anyone who is Jewish. It explains the Arab position on many problems still facing us today. It could be an eyeopener for many who refuse to look at the ‘other side’.
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For the non Jew to speak out against Israel, there could be ugly consequences. The truth hurts, especially if it is muttered by an ‘outsider’ as in the case of Helen Thomas. The truth has always been the greatest enemy of zionism.
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Yes, Jews suffered …. but that does not give them licence to inflict suffering on others. NEVER AGAIN means just that! NEVER AGAIN …. to ANYONE. There are others today with identifying tattoos on their arms as well …
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As can be seen in THIS post, not all Palestinians agree with my own personal beliefs. There are various opinions, but hopefully we will all be able to live together as family. I can’t think of one Jewish family I know where all of the members are in agreement (on anything).
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So, why do I Blog? Why open myself up to attacks? THIS POST  might explain that. 
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There are many people who might wonder why all Jews don’t come to live in Israel … THIS post might explain why. As for those that do live in Israel, there are the GOOD as well as the bad …. never forget that. This is also recognised by many a Palestinian …. one example can be found HERE. Some might wonder why I myself live here … THIS should explain that.
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Bottom line is that PEACE IS POSSIBLE. It is not a distant dream that will never be. Living in Israel for 30 years has only strengthened my convictions about that. HERE’S a glimpse of my own neighbourhood in Jerusalem. 
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I will end this by posting a thread that I wrote eight years ago …. it is as valid now as it was then.
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A MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW JEWS

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IF YOU LOVE ISRAEL SPEAK UP FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE!

* I have often said that it is very difficult to remain objective towards something when the subjective circumstances seem to be stronger.
* The case of Israel and Jews is one of the cases that comes to mind. Many Jews outside of Israel support Israel blindly. The attitude is very similar to the American attitude during the Vietnam War… “My country right or wrong”..
* That concept alone is wrong. If you really love something than you let it know when it is wrong… this is not happening in the case of Israel. If you really love Israel then you must treat it as you would treat your own child. Not to do so will only make a very bad situation that much worse. As a result, Israel will think it has a ‘green light’ to pursue its policies of occupation, apartheid and most recently, brutal aggression towards its neighbours. Since the war started in Lebanon, the aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza has not subsided. Do not let our brothers in Palestine think we have forgotten them..
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If you support these policies and actions, then you do not love Israel as you claim you do. You are, in effect, helping Israel self destruct. In order to survive and flourish, Israel needs peace. There is no other way. The Torah is the Law that governs the lives of observant Jews. Rabbi Hillel said the following regarding the Torah…

“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour.  That is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary.”

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Answer the following questions….

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DO YOU BELIEVE THAT… *Peace in the Middle East will only come about with mutual recognition and respect and must be seen as just by both sides.

* *Peace requires the end of illegal occupation and settlement.

* *Violence against civilians is unacceptable.

* *Israel’s policies in the West Bank and Gaza are breeding hatred and resentment.

* *It is crucial that Jews speak out for Palestinians’ human rights.

* *The values of Israeli society have been corrupted by the Israeli State’s human-rights abuses.

* *A lasting peace must be seen as just by both sides.

* *Britain, the EU, the USA, Russia and the UN must be persuaded to implement UN resolutions on Palestine.

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If you answered yes to all or most of the above questions then you must act on the situation. To remain silent is to be as guilty as the government of Israel is. To remain silent is to witness the very destruction of the State of Israel… from within. 
* Show your support for justice by speaking out against the wall of apartheid. Speak out against the occupation of Palestine.
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Boycott Israeli goods until Israel becomes a State worthy of your support.
* Show that you truly love Israel and fight for PEACE and JUSTICE… nothing else will do!

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