July 27, 2006
By Beth Wasserman

This week, Beth Wasserman writes on the need for respectful discussion on Israel.

On July 18, Jews from the Boston area came together for a community rally to support Israel. As an active member of the Boston Jewish community and Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, a national grassroots organization of more than 34,000 supporters, I participated in the rally.

With feelings of fear and sorrow about the current situation and about the suffering endured by Israelis, Lebanese and Palestinians, I proudly added my pro-Israel message, the Brit Tzedek perspective, to the wide spectrum expressed in the Boston Jewish community.

Hezbollah’s kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers was a true provocation. As the crisis escalates, Brit Tzedek believes that the most important way that we as American Jews can support Israel is to encourage the U.S. to join international efforts to bring an end to the violence.

The current deteriorating situation, which threatens to slide into a regional war, puts the people of Israel in grave danger. Brit Tzedek’s message has consistently called for steps to ensure Israel’s security. We therefore welcome the statement from the G8, which calls for a cease-fire and political dialogue. A multilateral cease-fire, including ending the rocket attacks on Israel from all fronts, ending Israeli attacks in Lebanon, and a return of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, is but one step of the many needed to ensure Israel’s security. And it is needed immediately to halt civilian suffering on both sides.

In the wider context of the conflict, there is no military solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Peace and security for Israel will come only through diplomatic means that negotiate a resolution of all outstanding issues.

When sirens are part of the daily routine for Israelis in northern Israel, we must not abandon hope for possibilities of peace. For me, pressing for the U.S. to take the diplomatic initiative is the best way to support Israel.

Even – or perhaps especially – in difficult times, respectful discussion on differences of opinion is vitally important. We are drawn to think of the famous Talmudic debates between Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai. In general, the law follows the School of Hillel “because the adherents of the School of Hillel were pleasant and well-mannered, and taught the opinions of the School of Shammai together with its own” (Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 13b).

This ruling reminds us of our history of respectful debate as well as the value of allowing the presentation of multiple viewpoints. I am proud to be a member of the Boston Jewish community, where open discussion about how to best support Israel is possible. As we are all struggling to come to terms with this crisis, we need to be able share diverse views to chart a path toward a peaceful and secure future for Israel.

Let us all support Israel. Let us all support peace through a fair, negotiated settlement of this conflict.

Beth Wasserman is the community liaison and spokesperson of the Boston chapter of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom. She resides in Somerville.