Letter to the Editor: A Chance for a Resolution

The Philadelphia Inquirer

January 19, 2008

By Rabbi Marcia Prager

I was very happy to see Sen. Arlen Specter's commentary regarding the possibility of an Israeli-Syrian peace accord ("Israel-Syria treaty the key to Mideast peace," Jan. 14).

The senator correctly notes that peace with Syria would bring enormous benefits to Israel and the United States, as well as serving the broader interests of peace throughout the region. An end to Syrian support of Hamas, for instance, would be a great boon to Israeli-Palestinian efforts at reconciliation, making it far easier for the leaders of both peoples to move forward on the kind of difficult compromises they will have to make.

As an American rabbi who cares deeply about the future of Israel, I welcome the senator's efforts, and hope that President Bush follows his suggestion to open direct talks with Syria. My congregation recently endorsed the efforts of the grassroots organization Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, with the understanding that actively pursuing negotiated peace is the most pro-Israel stance we could possibly take.

We hope that more of our elected representatives and all of the presidential candidates understand that the American Jewish community wants peace, and will support strong U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Mideast.

Rabbi Marcia Prager

Jewish Renewal Community
Philadelphia