The call for Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria …

Peace and international law

have nothing to do with it

By RALPH DOBRIN

It’s easy to be fooled into thinking that Israel is indeed a pariah state. After all, not since Nazi Germany began seizing neighboring countries for herself in the second half of the nineteen thirties, has any one nation been so widely vilified and condemned as the State of Israel. And maybe all that condemnation is understandable. After all, the general impression that most people around the world get from what they see on their TV screens, is that Israel keeps bombing helpless Arab refugees, causing terrible death and destruction – all this after the Jews had stolen Palestine from the Arabs and chased them out of their own country.

Unfortunately, there is very little credible background appended to the images that people see on their TV screens or read in the newspapers and blog sites. Little is ever mentioned about the Arab intentions and attempts, at the outset, to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Full-scale invasions against Israel and terror attacks aren’t considered relevant factors in the ongoing conflict. Neither are Israel’s repeated withdrawals in order to facilitate peace in the region. And when any background material is actually presented, it is invariably the slanted Arab narrative that is told – sans the provocations against Israel but with lots of hyberbole and outright lie.

But two facts are indisputable. Firstly, Israel has indeed waged a number of full-scale wars and military campaigns against Arab states and terrorist organizations (deemed liberation organizations by many). Secondly, Israel occupies lands that were once under Arab rule. No doubt about this. Thus the perennial call of most leaders – Arab and non-Arab alike – as well as public figures, political commentators and journalists throughout the world, that Israel must withdraw from all these said lands as quickly as possible. Also, there is a broad consensus that Jewish settlement in any of these areas is totally unacceptable and in fact illegal.

However, when considering all this less-than-favorable focus on Israel, one would expect her detractors and other well-meaning observers to look around at what’s happening elsewhere and ask themselves why is Israel constantly singled out for condemnation, when at this very moment there are a dozen dreadful situations of warfare or the imposition of intended deprivation on whole populations in many parts of Africa and Asia, while hundreds of unresolved conflicts between neighboring countries or ethnic differences simmer on all continents of the globe. There are killings numbering in the tens and even hundreds of thousands of non-combatants.

One would also expect all the good folks from Western Europe and in other democracies around the world, who are so intent on pressuring Jews to relinquish Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. West Bank or “the occupied” or “conquered territories”), to question their own record of human rights. For hundreds of years the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Belgians sent ships to the other sides of the world and appropriated the lands of other nations, in many cases accompanied by terrible acts of cruelty and ruthless mass killings, and in the case of Britain and Spain – whole continents! So it seems like extreme hutzpah for these people to single out Israelis for criticism, especially when Judea and Samaria constitutes the Jews’ ancestral homeland, and bearing in mind that Israel’s adversaries have launched wars of intended genocide against her!

The hutzpah is more blatant when one considers the general complacency regarding continental-sized countries like China, hungry for ever more territory, annexing placid Tibet. Or Russia, with the largest national land-mass in the world, stretching over almost half of the length of the northern part of the globe, but nevertheless insisting on holding onto lands of many other nations, including in the east – the southern Kurile Islands, formerly belonging to Japan, while on the country’s extreme west, it keeps Karelia which it captured from Finland in 1939, as well as Chechniya and a whole array of other ethnic areas.

Who among all those concerned folks around the world, who refuse on principle to buy Jaffa oranges, are doing any demonstrating or boycotting against Russia or refusing to buy any “Made-in-China” products, that are often manufactured under the harshest, most exploitive and inhuman conditions.

We could go on and on about the millions of square kilometers of land that many scores of additional countries on every continent have grabbed from other nations. Indeed, there are very few borders in the world that were not drawn up (and redrawn) as the result of armed conflict at one time or another. At the moment there are over 200 territorial disagreements all over the world. Whether they are dormant or the scenes of armed conflicts, the territories in question are almost always termed by the media and in various international forums as “disputed territories.” But Judea and Samaria are called “occupied” or “conquered territories” – which are denigratory, politically loaded terms, expressing a flagrantly double standard with regard to Israel.

Countries have seldom lost any international trade or diplomatic standing by grabbing some neighboring or not-such-neighboring territory – especially when such land-grabbing had no global implications or bearing on power bloc manipulations. In the last generation, apart from international intervention in a few strategic trouble spots, or demonstrations accompanying torch bearers to the recent China Olympics and the boycott of Apartheid-era South Africa, censure, if forthcoming, might be limited to a few debates in the U.N. general assembly or security council. Usually even that is absent.

While the recent, well-attended conference to combat Anti-Semitism in London, indicates that many democratic governments are beginning to understand Israel’s plight, probably because of suicide bombings and growing Islamic unrest in their own countries, their continuing pressure on Israel to keep making concessions towards its hostile neighbors, expresses the double standard traditionally pinned onto Israel.

It’s a unique phenomenon. Israel, one of the smallest nations in the world, sitting on a scrap of ancestral land – 20,000 square kilometers in size, with the sea or a border to a hostile zone never more than about an hour’s drive away from any point within it, faces the enmity of one of the largest nations on earth, over 600 times larger in land mass and 50 times larger in population than Israel, and backed by yet another billion fellow-Muslims. Probably in all history there has never been such a disproportionate ratio between two conflicting sides. There has never been such an unfair expectation of one of the sides by the rest of humanity, nor such pressure, politically and economically imposed on any one side of a conflict. Even Israel’s major friend, the USA, continually limits Israel’s scope to defend herself. Seldom in history has any one nation been so thoroughly, unjustifiably and unfairly condemned by a large part of humanity, nor hampered over and over again in its struggle to defend itself militarily.

There are a number of logical reasons for all this. It’s Israel’s bad luck to find herself in a territorial confrontation with a nation that constitutes over 20 independent states controlling most of the world’s known oil reserves, while being backed by over a billion co-religionists, who also happen to share a large portion of the remaining oil reserves. Together, these two enormous groups constitute almost half the states in the world and therefore have tremendous political clout in the United Nations. All this means that any major outbreak of warfare in the Middle East jeopardizes the global supply of oil and can send prices to unmanageable levels. This alone can explain the readiness of many countries to please the Arab and Muslim world, or conversely not to flagrantly oppose it. Is it any wonder that Israel’s standing in international affairs will always be shaky? Indeed, one should admire those countries that don’t always capitulate to the strident demands of the anti-Israel line-up.

It is important to understand that this is the background to the hype about Israel’s conquest of Arab lands and the determined international quest to truncate tiny Israel even more. The legality of Israelis living in Judea and Samaria has nothing to do with moral rightness or wrongness; it has little to do with international law, even though legality is invoked all the time in international debate on Israel. If you have any doubts I suggest you visit the websites of the United Nations Organization, click “U.N. Charter”, and find “military occupation”, “occupied territories”, “international disputes”. Also click “Resolutions 181, 242, 339” as well as the “British Mandate of Palestine” and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any solid material to incriminate Israel. Also a visit to the official English-language websites of Hamas and Hizbollah will provide you with a candid perspective of their aims, not only against Israel but regarding the fate of the whole world. You will be able to understand very clearly why Israel cannot dare relinquish Judea and Samaria.

It is imperative that all who care about Israel and indeed the future of the world, keep contesting the big lie about “Israeli occupation” or the “conquest” of the “West Bank” or the “Territories.” All media outlets and personalities and ordinary people everywhere should be reminded over and over again that the region in question is called Judea and Samaria and that it is the Jews’ ancestral home, where Jews have always lived and where they have every right to live today. People should be reminded that seven-eighths of Palestine had already been alotted to the Arabs, and that rather than accept an independent Jewish state in the Jews’ ancestral land, they sought to obliterate it – over and over again – thereby actually casting doubt on any legitimacy for yet another Arab state in this region.

Another point that must be acknowledged is that even total withdrawal of any Israeli presence from formerly Arab-held territories does nothing to foster real peace. This has been expressed by the Arabs themselves time and again. Israel has withdrawn from Southern Lebanon, Gaza and parts of Judea and Samaria a few times.Yet the attacks on Israel continue from these areas. And the promises to destroy Israel get ever-more shriller.

While many Israelis and well-meaning friends of Israel might consider partial or full withdrawal from Judea and Samaria expedient for pragmatic, demographic reasons, it has nothing to do with its moral and legal right to these areas. Indeed, if Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria were deemed illegal by international law, then half the countries of the world have built up illegal cities, towns and farming communities in areas that had once been ruled by another ethnic or national entity.

The fact is that few people yearn for peace as much as the Jews. They would be mad not to yearn for peace after all they’ve been through as a people, and especially in the present ongoing confrontation against such a large part of humanity. But seldom has there been such a just struggle waged by any one people. Seldom has the Big Lie and Selective Omission been used against any nation by its friends and enemies alike, like it is in Israel’s case. That is what people all over the world must be told over and over again – until sanity and common decency prevail.

See also www.israelandtruth.org

 

How to ensure a better future – Part II

We’ve got to stop lying to

 ourselves

By Ralph Dobrin

Future generations – if there are any – will have every right to condemn present-day humanity for stupidity and cravenness in the face of greed and evil. That’s if we continue our present course of allowing global warming and pollution to worsen, while failing to develop cleaner energy sources and adequately combat militant religious fundamentalism. At the moment, judging by attitudes and actions of world leaders and humanity in general, it seems that the best we can hope for in the not-too-distant future is the beginning of a grim Dark Age for humanity, far worse than the last. Another distinct possibility is a totally lifeless planet.

But there is still time to stop this steady slide towards catastrophe. A major player, of course, is the USA. But even if the newly-elected President Obama keeps all his noble-sounding election commitments, the threats to life on this planet as we know it will continue unless humanity as a whole learns a very important lesson – the meaning of truthfulness. This might sound like a glib yet naïve claim, but think about it. Rogues, tyrants and would-be-saviors have always fed on the inability of most people to recognize falsehood – which is the antithesis of truthfulness. (We are not talking about “Truth,” which though related to truthfulness, is too abstruce and controversial a subject for the purpose of this article.)

Any ten-year-old child can tell you that truthfulness means simply not to lie, nor exaggerate (too much), and not to hide facts and details that are relevant to any issue. Furthermore, everything has its opposite, and the opposite of truthfulness is falsehood. Falsehood means not only lie or exaggeration, but also the shrewd omission of relevant details (selective omission).

To be able to recognize falsehood we have to first ask ourselves: how we relate to what we hear, observe or read? Do we accept as a fact, everything that we read in black and white, if it happens to appeal to our personal mood or world view? Do we automatically believe everything we hear on the radio or see on TV, that tallies with what we want to hear? If we do, then we probably enable falsehood to flourish.

To trust everything we read, hear or see would indeed be fine if the world was inhabited only by benign, completely honest people, governed by wise, selfless, ethical leaders. But it isn’t. There are too many shysters posing as nice guys and too many shysters among the leaders. And they are all leading our world towards a grossly unhappy future.

We should always try to keep an open mind. For instance, when we first heard that the earth was heating up, we needed to take seriously the reports that substantiated this claim as well as those that refuted it. It’s easy to get relevant information. Just surf the internet. Relevant statistics and reports from dozens of official sources, as well as the palpable poundings from ever-worsening storms, increasingly numerous floodings and killer droughts – are very convincing that there are indeed critical changes in weather patterns. All this evidence begs the questions: What is causing all this? And what can be done to reverse the process?

MAKING VALUE JUDGEMENTS

While it seems that most scientists claim that ground, sea and river pollution, carbon gas emissions and rain forest depletion are the cause, there are those who say that global warming is part of a regular planetary cycle and they tend to downplay the urgent need to find alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. Granted, these detractors represent a small minority. But minority opinions have often been proven correct in the past. So, in the interests of truthfulness, I choose not to dismiss these claims outright.

As a concerned citizen I need to come to a personal conclusion on how to contend with the question. Yet how do I, an ordinary guy with very limited background in meteorology, chemistry, physics or other environmental sciences, make a value judgement?

The answer is to gather as much pro and con information from different sources. So, it’s back to the internet to collate material. I must use my common sense and be as objective as possible. The conclusions that I come to, whether scientifically proven or not, or whether based on a complete understanding on my part of all the scientific parameters, must lead to an uneducated conclusion that there is a very strong likelihood that gas emission pollution is the main cause of global heating and alarming weather patterns, as well as the rising incidence of many dreadful illnesses. Therefore I must do whatever possible on a personal basis to participate in overcoming the problem. So I check out what I can do, and again the internet can provide a wealth of information, that was totally unavailable to previous generations.

To combat falsehood we need to be able to recognize demagoguery and glib propaganda, and withstand the charm of smooth speakers. We must be wary of the pernicious comfort lurking in any wishful thinking that we ourselves might have. We must be critically honest with ourselves and recognize the difference between really knowing the truth about something and just believing it or wanting it. These guidelines are especially important for national leaders and parliamentarians.

A good example of political gullibility is the story of Neville Chamberlain, Britain’s Prime Minister between 1937 and 1940, who faced a dreadful dilemma with Germany’s growing military power and the bellicose statements and demands of its leader Adolf Hitler. Hitler had made his aims clear in Mein Kampf, as well as in his rabble-rousing speeches. He had built up an unprecedently powerful army and his ruthlessness and brutality were obvious from the way he had annihilated all his political rivals and his savage treatment of the Jews, gypsies and other despised groups in Germany. Any child could have known that there was serious trouble ahead. Yet Neville Chamberlain, together with most of the leaders of the other powers in Europe and America, as well as the media, opted to downplay the obvious, imminent perils. It is, however, easy to understand the prevailing “let’s-hope-for-the-best” attitude because the terrible memories of the First World War were still painfully vivid. Nevertheless, wishful thinking won the day and led to the most dreadful slaughter and destruction in history.

 JIHADIST CANDOR

 One of the most serious current issues is the rising influence of global Jihad. It is quite probable that a Muslim who firmly believes the Koranic demand to spread Islam to all the peoples of the world, while fully accepting the more militaristic strictures in his holy book, might have no problem justifying the bombing attacks, causing mass slaughter of ordinary people in places like the Twin Towers in New York, London, Madrid, Bali, Mumbai and other places. Also the believer in this credo sees that the State of Israel must be dismantled – by any means possible, even by nuclear bombs, and even if in the process millions of innocent Muslims are killed.

 The Jihadist bases his belief on the Koran, which repeatedly promises delightful rewards in the hereafter to the believers who actively participate in spreading Islam, especially for those who die for the cause. But who is to say that the Koran is less valid as the authentic word of the Almighty, than the New Testament or the Torah? After all, it boils down to a question of belief and it’s hard to argue with belief because for most people, belief is too deeply-felt, visceral and personal to allow sufficient objectivity.

It is quite plausable that whenever a Jihadist has suddenly plunged a knife in the back of some placid Jew somewhere in Israel, while yelling “Allah hooa Akbar” (God is Great), he (or she) feels as certain of the absolute righteousness of this action in the eyes of God, as the religious Jew or devout Christian would be when donating a kidney to a stranger on dialysis.

This last paragraph, which might raise stern protest from many a good person, concerned about even-handedness or unfair racial profiling, is nevertheless based on reality. Think about the countless times Jews have been stabbed by devout Muslims, or blown to smithereens by a suicide bomber in an Israeli town. Then think about the number of times that the reverse has happened. Not often! Also think about the number of towns in Europe and Great Britain that have suffered suicide bombings in the name of holy jihad, or the countless suburbs being taken over by Muslims. Think about the violent demonstrations and riots staged by Muslims in what was once regarded as Christendom. Think about the Iranian quest for nuclear weapons.

A natural response to this might be to allude to Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza. One could deduce from the devastating scenes appearing on our TV screens that this was utterly reprehensible and unforgiveable. But the pictures on our TV scenes omitted almost entirely the background to this episode in the Israel-Arab conflict. Failure to understand the background is really pandering to a gross distortion of history.  

Here’s a useful website on the subject: http://www.israelandtruth.org/peace_1.htm

PATTERNS REPEATED

Human events seem to follow a pattern. Today the disturbing signs of the nineteen thirties are in evidence again. Hitler wanted to rule over half the world, Jihad aims at the conquest of the entire world. Hitler used crude lies about the supposed evil of Jews as part of his campaign to gain the leadership of Germany. The Nazis taught that the Jews were responsible for most of the woes of mankind. The idea that Jews were vermin to be tramped upon (and at a later stage to be exterminated) resonated readily in the hearts of a large percentage of the people of Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

Chillingly, again the Jews are being used in this same harrowing role by the Jihadists. Again, the Jews are said to be responsible for the woes of humanity. But this time the censure is far more voluminous than ever before, swamping cyberspace, as well as in college forums all over the world, in parliaments, city councils, churches as well as in the mosques and Muslim religious schools. But this time the Jews are also represented by a very tangible entity – the State of Israel. In Hitler’s day, the Jews were a helpless entity, unable to defend themselves. Today, Israel can fight back against attacks on its people and its territory, albeit always suppressed by warning strictures of its purported friends among the more enlightened nations of the world.

And each time Israel defends herself against its attackers, the forces of Jihad gain ever-more international support – ironically from the very people in Dar el Harb (the non-Muslim world) that the Jihadists aim eventually to subdue and conquer. And as always, the use of falsehood to condemn the Jewish state abound – the lies, half-truths, distortions and selection omission characterize most of the anti-Israel censure.

If you think that all this is paranoid, I suggest you go straight to real sources. Find out what the Jihadists themselves are saying. Just access a search engine and type out words such as “hamas” or “hizbollah” and enter their own websites. They will inform you exactly how they feel about their quest to conquer the world as well as your future as an “infidel.” In less than 20 minutes any average person caring about his or her freedom will be able to understand just how precarious that freedom really is, and stop taking it for granted. Other readily available information can be found by typing keywords such as El Khaida, Taliban and Iran.

While the Jihadists are all candid about their intentions regarding the destruction of Israel and the conquest of the entire world, their censure regarding Jews, Israel and the USA, as well as other western countries and ideals, is based largely on myth, mendacious hyberbole, selective omission and outright lies. Therefore the dire need of the moment is for people all over the world to recognize falsehood in all its various guises. This applies not only to religious fundamentalism, but also to the other imminent perils such as pollution, climatic changes, the need for cleaner energy sources, over-population and starvation in many parts of the world.

All these perils have been allowed to remain and get worse by shrewd, self-serving people in politics, international power struggles and big business. The apathy and frivolousness of too many ordinary people all over the world are equally to blame. The keywords to combatting all this are truthfulness, the perception of falsehood and appropriate action.

For more on falsehood click: http://www.israelandtruth.org/truth_1.htm

For part 1 of this series click: http://truthandsurvival.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/things-used-to-be-really-bad/

THINGS USED TO BE REALLY BAD

How to ensure a better

future – Part I

By Ralph Dobrin

Not so long ago – in our grandfather’s great grandfather’s day – this was a world where a tiny proportion of well-connected sycophants lived in pomp, luxury and indolence, while the vast majority of people endured a grim, precarious existence, either in stench-filled towns and cities, where sewage often flowed outside people’s doorsteps, or on farmland that demanded unceasing, herculean efforts to eke out a living, while fending off merciless creditors and the vagaries of nature. It was a world where many seven-year-old children worked fourteen hours a day in the most grueling jobs and the average life expectancy was about 30. It was a world where you could have your head chopped off at some stupid duke’s whim.

Life has undoubtedly improved immeasurably in the last few generations – at least in the westernized, developed countries, because many of the conventions and concepts were discarded. Each change showed how stubborn, stupid and nasty people had been.

For example, in the mid-nineteenth century Dr. Ignaz Semmelweiss created a furor in the general medical profession because he urged doctors to wash their hands with disinfectant before treating their patients. For daring to question the authority of the luminaries of the time, he was ousted from his position as chief of obstetrics at the Vienna General Hospital. It took decades before his ideas were commonly accepted by the medical profession. And not too long after that, the first horseless buggies generated great amusement and ridicule among everyone, until suddenly it dawned on people that here was a good, swift alternative to the modes of transportation of the time. And voting rights for women was still an outrageous concept in much of the western world less than eighty years ago. This is just a tiny, tiny sampling of the countless ideas and changes that were initially rejected by the elites and by the general populations.

And now, as we face immense, multiple global challenges and perils, the validity of many time-honored concepts and conventions has to be seriously questioned, and many bold changes are needed.

A REAL EDUCATION

Clearly, the standard and nature of education everywhere will be a vital factor for the future of all humanity, but especially for Israel, which faces demonic challenges.

A main consideration when considering how to improve the level of education should be the fact that most pupils don’t like going to school. They aren’t interested in what’s taught and spend their classroom years in resentful boredom. The natural curiosity that all toddlers display and the eagerness to learn about the world and to ask questions, is quickly knocked out of them once they begin school. That means that for many pupils, the type of schooling imposed upon them could actually be self-defeating.

Yet surely, schooling is something that should build on the natural curiosity and eagerness to learn things, that the child is born with! Here are a few suggestions to maintain and nurture that curiosity. Some of these ideas might seem drastic, but the situation calls for vigorous change.

The present kindergarten system catering for small children up to the age of five or six should continue. It is usually a fun enviroment with lots of interesting things to do, and where many basic skills are learned. However, good eating habits should be encouraged at this stage. Lunch boxes with junk food, white flour products and sugar-doused drinks should be strongly discouraged, if not forbidden. Parents should be coached in the vital importance of sensible nutrition, at least for their children. This is not an overzealous health-food freak’s attempt at missionizing. Many surveys all over the world have shown that decent nutrition contributes, not only to more energy and good health, but also to better concentration and a far lower chance of hyperactivity. Coming to kindergarten or school with a decent lunchbox should be as imperative as coming with clean clothes. It goes without saying that all meals provided by kindergartens and indeed, the entire school system should follow the principles of proper nutrition.

A smooth step from kindergarten to school

What usually happens when children progress to the first grade, is that they start with enthusiastic anticipation. But the sudden change to a more serious, disciplined regime, often in a larger framework, leads to astonishment and then disappointment. Stern teachers, a set curriculum including subjects that are often not of much interest to the pupils, limited attention spans and tests that lead to pressure as well as humiliation for the less successful pupils, all readily lead to disinterest, dislike and boredom, setting an unfortunate pattern for the rest of their scholastic careers.

This situation can be changed by providing a more gradual transition from kindergarten to grade or primary school. For the first two years of regular school, the style of teaching should continue to reflect the fun and joyfulness that is characteristic of the kindergarten. It could begin to change gradually into a more conventionally pedagogic mode at the age of seven. Pupils would learn reading, writing, arithmetic and nature studies and be introduced to other subjects such as history and geography. But, as much as possible, everything should be taught in the context of something topical. For instance a popular TV children’s program or book could be used as a the basis to introduce the pupils to the geography of some country where the program took place. Arithmetic skills could be honed by asking questions regarding the number of actors, how many children, how many other countables, etc.

Good, sensible education for young children demands imagination on the part of the curriculum designers and the teachers. (More on the quality of teachers later.)

Towards the end of the second grade, at the age of eight, all children would begin to do a daily one-hour work shift – cleaning the premises and the areas around their classrooms, keeping the pavements around the school clean and working in the neighborhood public gardens. Thus, already at an early age they would begin to learn how to work together, how to share duties, a stronger awareness of being part of a community and the meaning of responsibility.

Two separate programs from an early age

At the age of eight or nine, upon entering the third grade, schools would offer a choice of two different programs. There would be a program that emphasizes study and knowledge (it can be called “academic”), while in an alternate program (can be called “practical”), the pupils would go out to work. Yes – work! It would still be within the framework of the education system. Children in this program would begin by working one or two hours a day, with the shifts getting progressively longer as they got older, and culminating in a six-hour work day when they reached the age of fourteen.

Pupils in this “practical” stream would continue to receive lessons (one or two hours a day) in writing, arithmetic and the ability to express themselves properly. In addition, there would be sessions discussing general topics connected with their lives, society, the country and world events. There would also be talks connected with whatever field they work in. For instance a group working in a factory would participate in talks supervised by a factory manager, on subjects such as the products being manufactured, the various jobs of the staff, marketing, transport of merchandise to outlets, costs, salaries, labor unions, etc. This would be a wonderful way to build up general knowledge and encourage curiosity. This alone would open the children up to numerous subject on the regular school curriculum such as arithmetic and geography. Compare this to the situation prevailing today, where many pupils know very little about the world around them. Most know hardly anything about their parents’ work.

Pupils in this “practical” stream would also spend an hour in the school library, during which time they could read books or other periodicals, play chess or participate in a debating group. Also at least another hour every day would be spent on sport, or lessons in music, art and handcrafts. By the time they reached the age of thirteen or fourteen they would be spending less time on lessons, sport or other activities and more time on actual work. The daily working shift would reach six hours. A year or two previous to this point they wouldbegin to be paid a nominal wage for their work.

These pupils would be given opportunities to work in as many fields as possible – including hotels and restaurants, factories, offices, building construction sites, garages, workshops, factories, plumbing and electrical work and agriculture, etc. They would be rotated between a wide variety of jobs. At the age of fourteen they would be able choose an occupation or profession that they might want to specialize in. They could go on to a vocational college or join the work force.

However, at any point during this whole period, they could opt to join the academic stream – even at the age of fourteen or later. (Even after they had started a regular job they could request to go into an academic mode.) Their request to change to the academic stream would be checked for intention and aptitude. But once in the academic stream they could be returned to their previous program if they displayed any disruptive behavior or an inability to study properly.

There should be no disgrace or humiliation attached to the non-academic “Practical” stream. It should not be considered inferior in any way. Indeed, in a future world, manual work must become regarded as respectfully as any other kind of work.

In the academic stream, learning would be a lot more different than today. Firstly, only pupils genuinely eager to learn would be admitted to this stream. Therefore there would be less need for tests and examinations, because the teachers would know that the pupils are not laggards. It is important to realize that apart from classroom boredom, tests and examinations are the bugbears of the modern school system. While the pupils would all be very proficient at reading, writing and basic arithmetic, they would also acquire a sound general knowledge of all the usual school subjects as well as current events. However, those not particularly interested in certain subjects, like the sciences or mathematics, would not have to study these subjects in undue detail. They would receive only introductory tuition in these subjects and be able to concentrate on other subjects that really interest them. Similarly, pupils who find little interest in history or literature, but are fascinated by science or math would touch on the main points of world history and culture and be able to concentrate on the sciences.

The entire education system, academic or practical programs alike, would have four main goals – (1) To be a supervised framework for the young during the hours that their parents are at work or study (as it is today). (2) Developing the natural desire for ever-more knowledge, as well as good communication skills and preparing the young for a life of personal satisfaction. (3) Providing a broad general knowledge, as well as the ability to objectively analyze situations and think for themselves. (4) The means to become decent, honest, caring, productive citizens and participate in the growth and stability of the nation.

All pupils would be taught values, common decency and good manners as well as civics. Religious instruction would be available, with consent of their parents. In Israel pupils would be taught their historic roots and receive a comprehensive, objective overview of the Israel-Arab conflict. All Jewish pupils would study Arabic.

In addition, all pupils would receive lessons in health, nutrition and how things work. In both programs the pupils would learn how to do basic maintenance in the home, such as basic plumbing, and carpentry, etc. All pupils would learn basic computer skills as well as touch-typing. Serious first aid courses and self-defence skills would be part of both programs. Pupils in the academic program would also spend some time working in hospitals, municipality and government offices as well as on farms.

It is quite probable that under the system suggested here, many pupils would be ready for university education by the age of 15 or 16. The matriculation or final school-leaving exams could be abolished. Those wanting to study at universities would do special university entrance exams. Furthermore, today’s demand by many work places for a matriculation or equivalent 12-year-schooling certificate by work applicants is not necessarily a suitable criterion for job suitability. Preparation for these exams does not provide a good, comprehensive education nor a love of learning. Yet these are two of the criteria that should be expected by job applicants. Plus spirit and dependability. That’s precisely what the system being suggested here would inculcate.

 Teaching – A Unique Profession

Teaching would be regarded as an especially prestigious profession. Salaries would need to be a lot higher than they are now. Aspiring teachers would need to have special talents and characteristics. Erudition and intelligence alone are not enough to be a good teacher. Teachers would also need to be able to empathise with pupils and parents. They would need better than average communication skills, have an abundance of patience and be readily cheerful and friendly. They would need to be imaginative and have acting skills in order to keep their lessons alive. Finally, they would need to be thoroughly decent people with no hint of nastiness or malice, and an attitude that teaching should be a mission in life. Only people with the above-mentioned qualities should be accepted for teachers’ training colleges.

Until sufficient numbers of such people have entered the teaching profession, there would be a need for volunteers, probably from among suitable pensioners from various walks of life.

WHO’S GOING TO DO THE MENIAL WORK?

Two factors prompt this question. Firstly, the aging of societies in the developed countries and the fact that the locals aren’t interested in taking menial jobs, thus necessitating the need for the import of foreign workers. And secondly, the cynical unfairness of a system, whereby a large segment of the population is fated to spend their entire lives stuck in low-paying and undeservedly unappreciated jobs. The unskilled factory worker, security guard, stevedore, agricultural worker or street sweeper, to mention a few such discriminated workers – are largely invisible to the rest of society, who obtusely fail to realize that these people are performing vital, indispensable tasks for society. They spend five years, twenty years, or their entire lives doing jobs that most people shun because they are too boring, too arduous too unpleasant and far too unremunerative. The chances are almost nil that they will ever earn a decent wage or even enjoy an average standard of living. Often they got themselves into these jobs in the first place, because of the socio-economic situation in which they grew up, and their children will quite possibly follow the same unrewarding path. In Israel it’s largely Arabs and immigrants from Ethiopia who hold these menial jobs.

It is easy for people fortunate enough to have acquired an advantageous education, well-paid jobs and a respectable position in society, to say something like: “This is a free country. Everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. All they need to do is work and not waste their money on booze and drugs.” And true enough, many people are stuck at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder because of their own laziness and self-indulgence. But many got stuck there in the first place because of the environment in which they grew up. The socio-economic set-up in most western countries is based on the large difference in salaries between the different classes. It’s a cynical exploitation of disadvantaged people by the more privileged, better connected and more fortunate members of society. I don’t think it’s something planned by the leaders. It’s just a fact of life – a grim, self-perpetuating, cruelly unfair situation that enables one fortunate class of people to acquire wealth and luxury at the expense of those at the bottom of the sociological heap. That such a situation still exists even in the so-called enlightened world, is a blot on all decent society and it can be solved without too much upheaval or cost.

There are two possible solutions. The first is simply to pay wages to those doing menial work on a level with other more fortunate members of society, and even add extra compensation for job tedium or arduousness. It is quite probable that most societies would be economically unable to make such a change. In the interests of fairness, however, one should remember that many professionals invested significant sums of money and time in their university training. Therefore higher wages for them is justified. But it’s all a question of proportion.

The other solution lies in the system once used in all the kibbutzim in Israel. Everyone used to share in the all menial tasks. From the kibbutz manager to an army general home on leave, and to the most ordinary of people, every few months every able-bodied kibbutz member had a turn doing communal chores. That included peeling potatoes and washing dishes in the community kitchen, cleaning the public latrines and garbage removal. People on the kibbutz did these duties quite willingly because that’s how their society was run. True, most kibbutzim stopped functioning in that quintessentially socialistic form over two decades ago. But it presented an example of egalitarian fairness. No one was demeaned or humiliated by the system. It engendered a community spirit and kept personal ambitions and self-assessment in a healthy perspective

Translating the kibbutz model into practice, here is how general society’s menial tasks could be handled: The work could be done on a roster basis. It could be a form of national service, for those not already doing army reserve duty. Everyone would be called up for a week or two every few years to work in those menial tasks. It would be seen, not as something demeaning. On the contrary it should be regarded as a form of national loyalty. Everyone would receive the same remuneration for their week’s work. Tasks could also be rotated if desired – e.g. one year in sanitation, the next year repairing roads and infrastructure, the following year in agriculture, and so forth. After something like five or six weeks of national service, one would have completed one’s civil duty for life. This duty could be done in one complete stint or on consecutive years or every two or three years or more. University students, not doing army reserve duty, would be exempt until they graduated.

Except regular or reserve army personnel and hospital doctors and nurses, no able bodied or able minded person one would be exempt. It would do society good to see the millionaires, company directors, members of parliament or congress and other high echelon folks sweeping streets, working as unskilled laborers in a factory, planting vegetables or shoveling cow manure. The Prime Minister and his ministers as well as the President, would not be expected to be called up while in office.

What would happen to the people already employed permanently in menial jobs. They would be trained to oversee or manage the projects and be paid higher wages. Also, those who wished and who had an aptitude, could be given the opportunity to train for other less menial jobs.

Most western-style democracies are having very slow or even negative population growth rates. Also very few people are willing to do the menial jobs, often preferring to go on welfare, thus costing the state huge amounts of money. This suggested system would lower or even end the need to import foreign workers. Furthermore, it would be marvelous for the personal image of any company director, senior politician, sports or entertainment celebrity to be seen rolling up their sleeves and sweeping, digging or shoveling for the benefit of society.

BEING SENSIBLE ABOUT THE LAW

Nowadays jail – which should serve as a deterrent to law-breaking – is often a seminary for ever more crime. Also jail is often a place where violence is at its most vicious – even worse than on the street.

On the other hand, the very laws, which are supposed to protect the safety and the rights of all citizens, often prevent the police from arresting dangerous criminals. Also loopholes in the law are used by shrewd lawyers to evade appropriate punishment for their nefarious clients, thus enabling them to continue their mayhem.

These two anomalies must be changed. Police must be allowed more empowerment, especially when crime becomes more rampant. And loopholes in the legal system must be closed. This doesn’t mean an assault on democratic principles or human rights. On the contrary, it means giving what every citizen is entitled to – more personal safety from ruthless criminals. It’s a question of common sense and reviewing principles that might have been totally valid a few generations ago, but are no longer sensible, given the influence that organized crime has nowadays on the establishment and on society. Changes must be made in laws that enable known gangsters to remain free.

Also, prison systems in many countries need serious overhaul. It should be remembered that the purpose of jail should be more than mere deterrence and punishment or “payment of a debt to society.” Jail should be regarded as a center of learning – not of how to be a sly criminal – but a place where the occupants learn about decent values, increase their general knowledge of the world, acquire training in order to hold a decent job once they finish what should really be their period of rehabilitation.

Jails should not be dungeon-like cells with a slop bucket in the corner. While they needn’t resemble a three-star hotel, jails should be clean and offer decent shower and toilet facilities. No one, not even the worst criminals should be treated as though they are animals. Every person should be treated with a basic level of respect. That means no malicious teasing or cursing on the part of the prison wardens, no nasty sarcasm or pushing and certainly no violence. Also, all prisoners should be fully protected from the other inmates. Furthermore, convicts should not spend most of their time lying on their bunks. They should be kept occupied with work, study or lectures in common decency and civics.

There should be two kinds of prisons: One kind of prison for first-time offenders or for detention before hearings before trial. Here, most of the time should be spent on lessons, cultural activities as well as different kinds of work. Any unacceptable behavior should result in a conversation with a specially trained warden who would try to probe the source of any untoward attitudes. The warden would also issue a clear explanation of dire consequences for any future infringements.

The purpose of this type of prison would be rehabilitation that would enable the prisoner to enter or return to normative civilian life and avoid sliding back into any form of lawlessness or perversion. This procedure should help drastically lower the number of prisoners who keep returning to jail over and over again.

The second kind of prison would be for those who keep breaking the law as well as for people sentenced for serious premeditated crimes. While the conditions of imprisonment should always be humane, the daily routine in this stricter kind of prison should include daily 10-hour shifts of hard labor, as well as occasional sessions dealing with values and common decency and vocational training for those without any work skills.

Also, jail sentences should be longer, especially in Israel, where terms are often ridiculously short and with time off for acceptable behavior as well as periodical furlough, even for murderers. This is truly stupid. There should be no time off for any kind of behavior. In order to encourage acceptable behavior, prisoners should know that any untoward behaviour could lead to prolongment of their sentences or a removal of some of the comforts and privileges. Also, there should be no furlough under any circumstances.

All jails should serve nutritious meals. Not in order to mollycoddle the prisoners, but as part of their rehabilitation. Research has shown that diet has an influence on behavior. The extra expense involved in providing better food would probably save funds by preventing future crimes. See:
http://larryjamesurbandaily.blogspot.com/2007/06/nutrition-and-behavior.html

Certain heinous crimes should carry the death penalty (when there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever of guilt). Crimes carrying the death penalty would be acts of terror, premeditated murder, repeated acts of violence that led to permanent disability, including especially brutal cases of rape.

Too many cases of crime are exonerated because of a supposition of mental or emotional disability. This loophole should be drastically reviewed. The main consideration should be society’s safety.

In cases of violent kidnapping, hostage-taking, drug dealing, protection money extortion and cynical embezzlement or theft of money or assets from pensioners, repeat offenders should also be faced with the death penalty.

Many travesties of common sense are committed in the name of political correctness or liberalism. For example, freedom of speech, one of the basic principles of democracy, should nevertheless be severely penalized either by fine or imprisonment, whenever it is abused by the media. Journalists, editors and publishers must be reminded of their great responsibility to society. Cases of disingenuous libel or false reporting by the media should not be allowed in the name of freedom of expression.

Laws must be modified in order to enable swifter apprehension of scoundrels. Also, lawyers, defending a lawbreaker, should themselves be liable to prosecution if it is found that they knew at the outset that their clients had in their testimonies.

Ordinary citizens needing legal counsel should not be prevented from getting effective counsel because of limited budget. In the same way that many countries have sick funds that offer medical care, there should also be such funds for legal care.

Terrorism, drug cartels and other types of organized crime have made alarming inroads in our lives. Society must be able to defend itself against all types of violence and plunder. As the 21^st Century gets under way, society will need to marshal its human and financial resources in order to counter the many serious economic, environmental and jihadic challenges ahead. We cannot afford the drain on our economies imposed by crime and by criminals who are not properly challenged because of legal systems with too many loopholes and channels that enable the scoundrels to continue wreaking havoc.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW ISSUES THAT NEED THOROUGH REVIEW.

Other issues that need rethinking are health, governance, coping with old age and dying, religion, the environment and energy sources. Interestingly, all the issues are connected with each other. We will deal with them in future blogs.

This is the first part of a series on ensuring a better future for us all.

A light unto the nations

… and two nice ladies at a

felafel stand

 

By RALPH DOBRIN

I was feeling great and it probably showed. I had just ridden eight kilometers into Jerusalem’s city center on my bicycle, so I felt that surge of energy and joy that can come from physcial exertion. I went into my favorite felafel stand near the top of Ben Yehuda Mall, where the felafel is especially deep-fried on an individual basis. There’s always a crowd of people waiting to be served but it’s worth it.

So I’m standing there waiting. Two nice-looking middle-aged women are standing next to me. One of them says to me: “Hello, I sometimes see you here.” Now, I’m at that age where in my eyes a middle-aged women is really a youngster. I don’t recognise this particular lady, but we begin to chat. She tells me that she’s from Fort Worth, Texas. She introduces her companion to me. She’s from a small town in Western Australia. They’ve been in Israel for about a year and they love being here.

I try to sum them up. New immigrants, I wonder. Naah, they’re too enthusiastic about Israel! Ordinary tourists, maybe? But ordinary tourists don’t stay for a whole year. They ask me about myself. I joke a bit and ask them about themselves. “Oh we are here to help people,” says the lady from Fort Worth.

Immediately I have them pegged as part of those misinformed contingents that come to help the downtrodden Arabs in Gaza or Judea and Samaria. They look the type – kind-hearted, concerned, middle-class westerners. I enjoy verbal sparring with people like these – apologists for the Palestine cause. Most of them have a one-sided view of the Israel-Arab conflict and its background, and for me personally, meeting such folks is always a good opportunity to help set the record straight.

So, I prepare the stage for an interesting conversation while we wait to be served. I ask how they help people. “We give food parcels and clothes,” is the smiling answer. “Yeah, that figures,” my mind registers.

“Do you work for some organization?” I ask.

They hesitate. I can imagine their minds wondering who I am. Can they trust me, they ponder? Am I in the Secret Service, perhaps? Their permanent smiles freeze somewhat.

I take another tack. I talk about the Arabic language and how similar it is to Hebrew. I talk about the Arab skills as stone masons and builders. I talk sincerely because I have always admired Arabic as well as the hardy diligence of Arabs engaged in building construction. But the two ladies just listen politely and there’s no smile on their faces.

So, what are they doing in Israel, I wonder, and with which organization are they connected.

So I ask them outright. “Do you distribute food and clothes to people living in Gaza or the West Bank?”

“No!” they both blurt loudly. Then quietly, the Fort Worth lady says, “We help mostly new immigrants.”

“Gotcha!” I say to myself. Obviously they are missionaries. Not that I care. What counts for me is common decency and national loyalty of my fellow-Jewish Israelis and not whether they have two separate sets of dishes for meat and milk or whether they believe in the divinity of Jesus or whether they are agnostics.

Anyway, I say: “That’s interesting. So, you help new immigrants? Who else do you help?”

I can see on their faces that they are wary of me. They know about Israel’s concern regarding the erosion in Jewish loyalty that missionary work might cause.

The Aussie says in a low voice, “We are not missionaries. We are connected with a group that has no interest in missionary work. We just love the Jewish people and want to help Israel.”

“That’s great,” I say sincerely. “Which group are you connected with?”

They tell me. It’s a very pro-Zionist Christian group that takes great care not to spread the Gospel among Jews. I won’t mention their name because there are people who mistakenly lump all Christians in the same missionizing mold. I have known this particular group for about twenty years now. As a writer I have occasionally met the founders and some of their associates over the years; I have also met other Christians who care about Israel, who come here for a few months or years and who work in one of the splendid Christian associations that supports Israel in whatever way they can. I know these people and I have no doubt that they are among the finest people who walk God’s earth.

And I expressed these sentiments to the two ladies. They looked relieved and I could feel that we were striking up a fine rapport. Meanwhile, the three of us were served and sat on the bar stools, munching away at our felafel with informal gusto and a nascent sense of camaradie.

They told me about their families and their respective professions. They were educated, intelligent, charming people and they had twinkling eyes that beamed at me and made my heart do a little jig. That’s one of the great things about being a guy – no matter how many years you’ve rambled on this planet, the attention of fine looking women always makes your heart do that little jig.

AN EMBARRASSING BIBLICAL QUOTE

But then the Texan said something that broke the mood for me. We had been talking about the readiness of the international community to condemn Israel exclusively for the plight of the Arabs of this region and she paraphrased, “People must realize that Israel is actually the light unto the nations.”

My heart stopped doing that little jig. I find it hard to contend with praise or positive remarks directed at me, especially when unwarranted. So personally, this light unto the nations thing regarding Israel sounds unbecoming and inappropriate. Furthermore, lots of nations have been a beacon in some field or other. These same nations also have a lot in their pasts that is pretty shameful. Actually I don’t think that the Jews have much reason for any deep national shame – not like the British, Spaniards or French with their exploitative imperialism or the Germans with the Nazi era. Although each of these nations, in common with the ancient Greeks, Romans and Chinese, as well as the Mohammedans, also gave immensely to humanity in the fields of philosophy, science, technology and the arts.

Nowadays people in Israel have centered their lives on becoming an independent nation again, against demonic odds. But much of the present effort is fraught by stupidity at all levels and selfishness and conceit at the higher levels. Nationally, at this point, I feel there’s not much justification to reckon that we are a light unto anyone. Actually, in many ways some of the nations can be a light unto us. After, we are still learning basic moral stuff like how to stand in a queue or get into a bus or an elevator without a scuffle. And at any given time about a dozen Israeli parliamentarians are being investigated for corruption, embezzelment or sexual offences. Also, moral wrongdoing is not limited to secular people. Our religious public officials have proven just as prone as anyone else to stray morally.

So please don’t give me any of  that “Light unto the nations stuff.”

Apart from which, anyone who claims to be a “Light unto the nations” reveals a huge conceit. That alone negates any claim to luminariness. 

The Texan must have noticed a frown on my face, so she repeated her quotation about Israel being a light unto the nations and added, “That’s what the Prophet Isaiah said. Chapter 42, verse 6.”

“Yes, I know,” I said, taking a bite of my felafel. She bit into hers and some tehina dripped off her chin. The Aussie lady noticed and dabbed it clean. Embarrassed smiles.

“Actually there are many interpretations to this quotation,” I said. “Just like in many other parts of the Bible.”

They nodded.

“Personally, I just cannot accept that Isaiah meant that the Jews are such a fine people that they will teach the rest of the world morality. 

“What about monotheism?” the Texan interjected.

“You’ve got a point there,” I admitted. “Nevertheless, half the world has no idea who Abraham or Moses were or what they really represent, or even Jesus for that matter. Take all the Buddhists and other eastern religions, for instance. When I visited Thailand and Singapore, I swear I had never seen such common decency and patience anywhere else in the world. I had never seen such deep respect and consideration for others, as well as kindness and gentleness. Certainly not in this land of the chosen people.”

“Yes, but the Jews brought monotheism to humanity – the idea of one God, as opposed to the dozens of deities in eastern religions,” the Texan emphasized.

“So what?” I responded.

They both looked shocked.

“One God or a hundred gods – what difference does it make?” I asked. “No one really knows anything about what you call God.”

One of them said to me, “Don’t worry. I can see that you are a good man and one day you will see the light.”

“The light that I am supposed to spread among humanity?”

We all laughed.

I continued, “Look, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression about me. While I might be embarrassed when people say that the Jews are a light unto the nations, I can entertain the notion that what Isaiah meant was that the existence and sovereignty of God will be proved to all the nations through the Jewish people.”

“A very apt sentiment,” said the Texan.

“That’s not my idea,” I said. “A French guy called David Kimhi who was also known as the Radak, came up with this idea. He lived in the twelfth or thirteenth century.”

I took another bite of the felafel and continued. “Many serious Jews accept this interpretation, together with the call for a high standard of personal morality. They understand that what the Radak meant was that all those prophecies regarding Israel’s redemption would come true, including the wars of Gog and Magog, and thus the nations of the world would recognize God and repent.”

The two ladies nodded enthusiastically. One of them said, “And then we will see the advent of the Messiah.”

“Yours or mine?” I laughed.

“Both of ours,” they chorused.

BELITTLING THE ALMIGHTY

“Well, I don’t like it,” I said. “I think this is a terrible indictment on what you call God and what I am for a lack of better word, prepared to call the ‘Creator of the universe’.”

They looked perplexed. The Aussie said, “I am sure that you can see what is happening in the world today. You can see how the nations are arraying themselves around Israel. Can’t you?”

“I can’t ignore it,” I said.

“Well that’s been predicted in the Bible,” she said.

I nodded. “I know and it’s absolutely amazing to see stuff that was written thousands of years ago unfolding before our very eyes. It’s uncanny.”

“It’s prophesy coming true,” said the Texan. “It’s God manifesting Himself.”

The Aussie looked at me and shook her head. “How can you deny it?”

“I don’t,” I said. “But I just find it hard to accept that the Creator of all this inexpressively incredible and wonderful world has to go to such lengths just to get some attention from the beings He himself created … in his own image.”

They both sighed and shook their heads. One of them said, “Don’t be such a skeptic! You yourself said it’s amazing to see what was written in the Bible unfolding before our very eyes.”

“A lot is coincidence and a lot is grist for contention.”

“It’s all the Truth!”

“If it’s all the Truth, then surely Truth should unite people rather than drive them to war against each other, as religion has done over and over again, up to the present day.”

“That’s so as to tally with prophesy,” one of them said.

“I told you what I think of that idea,” I said. Then I repeated: “I can’t accept that the Almighty, the unfathomable, ineffable Creator of this wonderful world, has to go to such lengths just to get some attention from the foolish creatures He himself created … in his own image.”

They didn’t have an answer. So I continued. “The fact that I am an agnostic doesn’t make me a complete non-believer in the existence of what you call God,” I said. “Billions of people all over the world believe in God and nobody knows what the hell they are talking about.”

“Oh yes, we do,” said the Aussie.

I lowered my voice because I didn’t want to sound too offensive. I said slowly, “What you know is what you’ve read or heard from other people who had read or heard going back in time to what was probably the rantings of some overly imaginative or opinionated recluse, village dreamer or lunatic.”

They both shook their heads. By now we had all finished our felafel. I didn’t feel comfortable that our conversation, which had started off so pleasantly, had taken this confrontational turn. These were two very good people and I had no right to upset them. So, I said, “Look, I’m sorry to have been so outspoken about belief and religion.”

“Oh that’s all right,” they said. “We found talking to you very stimulating.”

I replied: “Well I found talking to you very stimulating too. But I would like to add just one thing to what I had said, and maybe we can part having agreed with each other.”

“Go on,” they said.

I continued. “Whether what’s happened in the last seventy years with Israel and what is happening now, is the result of some divine hand or purpose, I am not prepared to accept or reject. But what I can see is that we in Israel, and in fact the whole world, are facing a very perilous future. Muslim fundamentalism, pollution, weather change, economic havoc. And here in Israel, we face a dreadful line-up of nations preparing to annihilate us. What all this means is that firstly we in Israel have to face the truth of the situation. In order to survive, we have to gather all our resources and work wisely together. This means, for Israel, the highest possible level of integrity and a strong personal dedication on the part of every Jew to the cause of national survival. It means respecting each other and accepting our differences of opinion without forcing ours on others. It means honest pragmatisim. On the individual level it means being a thoroughly good person, with or without the trappings of religion. Can you accept that?”

They thought for a moment. The Aussie shrugged her shoulders and said, “You could be a good diplomat.”

Her colleague added, “After Gog and Magog, if we meet again, we can compare notes.”

“It’s a deal!” I said.

We shook hands and parted. I got on my bicycle and pedalled up Ben-Yehuda Street towards Bezalel Street. A car behind me brought me back to reality as it honked loudly and the driver glared at me as he passed, while his exhaust fumes momentarily constricted my breathing. A few minutes later another car almost knocked me off the road and I was actually forced to stop so as to avoid crashing into the pavement. Fairly typical on Israel’s roads and not a good harbinger for the future. Why on earth should the Lord of the Universe want to help this obtuse, self-centered people? Why were we given this incredible opportunity to renew our sovereignty in our ancient Land once again? A crucial question we should all be asking ourselves if we want to survive – whether one is religiously observant or not.

Actually, Israel has a cosmic opportunity to show that good can prevail over lies and evil. We are living in an age when Israel faces impossible, diabolical odds, compounded by a global blood libel that supports her many mortal enemies. The only way that tiny Israel can prevail will be by forging a lifestyle for all its people that could really be a light for others to see. But we ourselves should allude to it very, very rarely – so as to avoid the pitfall of conceit.

Riding a bicycle in the center of Jerusalem is a good way to gauge where we stand at the moment. 

For more see: www.israelandtruth.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bungling election system …

Who should choose the

best system?

Definitely not the politicians!

One way of arriving at the most suitable electoral system for Israel’s government and Knesset, would be to create a public forum consisting of a dozen trustworthy individuals – large enough to form broad, workable and intelligent proposals while not becoming too cumbersome. Members should meet certain professional criteria and be chosen for intelligence, general knowledge, honesty and concern for Israel and the Jewish people. These people will be from disciplines that will have enabled them to gain wide knowledge of political systems. They will be political scientists, sociologists, historians, journalists and people who had once been politicians. There will be certain personality requirements such as the ability to work calmly and respectfully with others; they cannot be immovably stubborn or conceited. An additional important requirement for membership in this forum must be a complete absence of any active or passive political affiliation in the last few years.

Furthermore, none of them should have held positions of top leadership in any government or public office, or in any large commercial enterprise. The reason for this is that a large proportion of the nation’s wealth is in the hands of a few dozen families, who are able to influence decision-making at the more prominent levels of society. There might be a better chance of preventing undue pressure by these sources of capital if we restrict the decision-making regarding the entire process of electoral change to ordinary people – because they should be less prone to pressure from vested interests. There is a limitless source of brilliant, untapped potential among people who have never reached positions of prominence. We must find them. Also, the amount of bungling among those who have reached executive positions, is clear in every aspect of life in Israel. That is not to say that all directors are bunglers.

But the whole subject of finding the most suitable electoral system is far too important an issue to be allowed to flounder because of the inability of people in high positions who are invariably used to dictating issues or riding roughshod over others. While there are many marvelous people connected presently or in the past with the political system, and many brilliant, world-class academics and astute captains of industry in Israel’s society, it is of cardinal importance to select a team of people who will be able to work together.

The forum should also be closed to any high-ranking ex-army personnel. Despite the fact that many of these people are of the very highest calibre in every way, the reason for their omission would have to do with habits drawn from a lifetime in the military. Having given orders from a position of high command is not a suitable preparation for teamwork, careful, objective deliberation and consideration of ordinary people’s opinions.

But who chooses the forum?

This is yet another vital question. Again, not the politicians, nor anyone officially part of the religious, academic or business hierarchy, although some of the members of the forum and the group selecting the forum could come from these sectors.

The group that is to nominate candidates for the forum could be called the “Selection Committee” could be made up of seven or eight retired people with excellent records of accomplishment and integrity. They will have worked in general occupations such as farming, teaching, accountancy, medicine and journalism, business, or a trade such as building, carpentary, etc. They will be people known as the”salt of the earth.” This group should be given twelve to sixteen weeks, searching relevant sources and scouting the country and society, in order to select a dozen of the most suitable people who will form the forum.

And how do we choose the Selection Committee

We mentioned earlier that a number of groups have been working over the last few years to promote electoral reform. I suggest that a small committee (not more than seven people) made up from the various groups, will do this preliminary work. It can be called “The Council. It will lay down ground rules for it’s own mode of functioning and for the criteria in choosing the Selection Committee and making sure that it functions according to the principles of good team work and honest deliberation. The Council will also make sure that the Forum, when it is chosen, will function according to these same principles.

The process of choosing a Selection Committee will be done in a number of ways. Firstly, through personal contacts if members of the Council know any really suitable potential nominations. Secondly, by placing announcements in the newspapers inviting people to suggest themselves or others for the purpose of being part of a procedure leading to the application of a new electoral system.

What gives us the right to determine these procedures?

The wonderful thing about democracy is that an ordinary citizen can make suggestions and actions as long as he or she doesn’t cause any harm or unjustified defamation. We strongly belief that electoral reform is one of the most vital needs for the survival of Israel. Since nothing sufficiently effective has been done by the government or any other public or private body, we are taking it upon ourselves to do whatever it takes to apply electoral change in this country.

We invite everyone who is interested to join us and to suggest any changes you might deem necessary to our effort. Meanwhile, we have taken it upon ourselves to make the changes, and this also means establishing the framework and procedures that will eventually lead to electoral change.

Groundrules for success

To facilitate optimum cooperation among the various groups, there must be strict groundrules for harmonious deliberation at every stage. These groundrules (which could be applicable to any unit, group or organization) must include qualities such as truthfulness, objectivity and sincere consideration for the opinion of others. All discussions must be made with courtesy and friendliness. Dictatorial attitudes or modes of behaviour must be banned. People who are easily insulted, frustrated, or conversely, who readily insult others, cannot be part of any of the selection groups. It must be remembered that this is not supposed to be a great ego trip, therefore participants must aspire for totally mature deliberation. They should even be able to argue against their own proposals.

Once a forum is formed, it should commit itself to come up with an ideal proposal or proposals in less than 72 days. These proposals will be announced publicly and should lead to a public discussion, conducted with the help of various media channels and public forums, and culminating in a national referendum organized by an official body such as the Jewish Agency or a movement or a group of movements involved in proper governance such as the Movement of Quality Government.

We cannot allow the government to procrastinate

As mentioned earlier, because of its unsatisfactory record in establishing proper governance, the government itself should not be involved in the process of proposing a suitable electoral system. But once the proposal is voted for in a public referendum, it will eventually be up to the Knesset to vote on it so as to make the new electoral system binding by law.

The public will demand that the set procedures of the proposal being presented as a bill to the Knesset, followed by Knesset Committee readings and the subsequent votes, be done without any undue delay. A reasonable time limit of three months should be suggested to the Knesset.

All contact with the Knesset should be conducted politely, amiably and respectfully. It is quite possible that the Knesset will vote against any change in the electoral system, or only for partial change. The proposal might not even reach the first stage of a preliminary vote. In the event of any of these reactions by the Knesset, the public will have to continue its pressure on the politicians and if necessary to wage a general strike. The issue is so crucial that all legitimate means must be employed to bring about suitable electoral reform with a minimum of delay.

The urgent need for personal involvement

Clearly, the ordinary citizens must join in the protest demonstrations with alacrity. At the moment we comprise a few dozen folks, but our numbers will grow exponentially. We are talking about a struggle that might take a few years, but it must be done.

There will be three kinds of demonstrations:

(A) Small demonstrations comprising groups of up to five six participants, which will be seen every day all over the country, at intersections and city squares. The purpose of these demonstrations will be mainly to inform the public of the need for direct-regional elections and a call to join the protest. Apart from the slogans on the placards and banners, the demonstrators will hand out promotional material to passersby.

(B) Larger demonstrations comprising more than ten demonstrators, staged outside the homes of political figures. The purpose will be to prod those who oppose electoral change with appropriately-worded placards. These will also be loud so that there will be no ignoring them. They will take place less frequently than the first kind, but often enough to be felt by the targeted politicians.

(C) The third kind of protest will be the mass demonstration taking place opposite the Knesset, government buildings and other appropriate venues. These will take place every few weeks and be loud media events. They must comprise at least a thousand participants each time and eventually reach tens and even hundreds of thousands of noisy citizens expressing their anger, disgust and absolute determination to see the system changed as soon as possible.

We must discard the insular, apathetic, negative and defeatist attitudes that have taken root in society during the last decade or so. Personal priorities must be changed. We have to be willing to devote as much time as possible in participating in some kind of activity connected with the demonstrations. There are many things we can all do. Those who might find that standing in a demonstration for an hour or two is overly strenuous, can participate in other ways such as help in making placards, thinking up slogans, calling on friends and relatives to join the demos, help organize, or drive participants to meeting places. Centers launching demonstrations will have to be set up in various parts of the country. Each center will need all the above-mentioned activities. There should also be contact and corroboration with other groups that are working for electoral change ? as long as they are not politically initiated and eschew nastiness as a policy.

People who really care about Israel

We are a quickly-growing group of people of all ages and from all walks of life, from all over Israel − who care about Israel. So far we have not set ourselves up as an official organization and we are not affiliated to any other ideological, political or religious group or party. Some of us do have personal loyalties to some particular political or religious line, but these loyalties do not clash with our commitment to electoral change.

Our funding has come from our own pockets or from private donations. To contact us call Rafi Dobrin 054-4334051.

For more on electoral reform and the effectiveness of protest demonstrations: www.israelandtruth.org/demo.htm

 

The value of demonstrations

Sometimes nothing else

will work

By Ralph Dobrin

In recent times there have been mass demonstrations that changed the course of history. Some were for the good of humanity. Others led to catastrophe. During the mid-thirties thousands of well-meaning people in Britain, concerned about the onset of yet another terrible world war, demonstrated against the nascent anti-Nazi policy. Quite possibly these demonstrations had a bearing on the British policy of appeasement at a time when Germany was still not powerful enough, and could have been controlled. 40 million lives could have been saved.

On the other hand, during the nineteen eighties, anti-communist demonstrations in some of the communist-bloc countries of Eastern Europe ultimately had an effect and today over a dozen former communist regimes have been transformed into democracies.

There is probably no other country in the world that needs internal public activism like Israel. I am not talking now about Israel’s tricky relationship with Arabs. Much of the news and commentary that is disseminated about the subject is based on falsehood (just like the good British folks who demonstrated in favor of the Nazi regime during the nineteen thirties). No, I am talking about the general national mood of the country at this time.

As I write this blog it is 10^th July 2008. Mr Ehud Olmert as the Prime Minister, is the most unpopular premier in Israel’s history. Not only did his decision to wage a full-scale war on the Hizbollah Terrorist Army, turn into a ridiculous (from Israel’s point of view) stalemate, his working relationship with many of the members of his inflated cabinet are not good. Also he is in the midst of ongoing police investigations and legal battles connected with unethical behavior going back decades.

But he is not the only public figure that doesn’t bring honor to his position. His finance minister has been indicted on charges of embezzlement. His deputy prime minister used to be the justice minister, but had been thrown out of that job because he was indicted on charges of sexual misconduct. The former President is in the process of being charged with rape! This is all part of a large list of misdemeanors perpetrated by other public figures.

Over 30 % of the population lives under the poverty line while the fat cats keep getting fatter.

Meanwhile, it seems that Israel’s enemies are getting stronger by the day. Iran is on the threshhold of acquiring nuclear weaponry. Israel’s future as a living state is in doubt.

Clearly Israelis are not happy. Indeed, most are bitterly disappointed with the way things are going in their country. Yet they stay at home and bury themselves in front of the TV or computer screen.

The present unworkable governing system will continue until the politicians are forced to change it. But they won’t because that might endanger their status as parliament members, with the perks that entails. So things keep getting worse and worse.

So, why aren’t people demonstrating in Israel? After all, most Israelis usually don’t take any bull from anyone. Yet they are continuously taken for patsies by their government. This has been going on for generations. Now and then there is a spate of demonstrations – for better wages by certain (usually privileged) sectors of the workforce, a revamped education system or better conditions for the handicapped. For two years at least there has been no demonstration for better government, for reform, or against military shortcomings. And nothing is happening right now  that would suggest the shaky situation that Israel is currently in.

SO I GAVE IT A GO

Just over a year ago there was a massive demonstration against Mr Olmert at the Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Speaker after speaker promised that there would be no let up in the demonstrations until Mr. Olmert stepped down. Amazing – all those promises, so dramatically voiced turned out to be totally empty words.

Anyway, the other day I wondered what it would be like to stage a demonstration against Mr. Olmert and his government by myself. Maybe others would join me. So I prepared a poster and proceeded to Terra Sancta, near Mr Olmert’s house in Jerusalem.  The placard read in Hebrew: “Not only Olmert, but also the negative norms of our politicians and society must go – wake up before it’s too late.” In Hebrew it has a more convincing ring to it.

I stood on the pavement, holding the placard aloft, but Terra Sancta is not really a good spot to demonstrate because the cars come up two-lane Gaza Street which turns into four lanes at that spot, which means that the drivers have to keep their eyes on the road. After about half and hour I felt that my poster wasn’t getting optimum attention, so I moved on to Paris Square not far away. There, things changed dramatically. It seemed that every fourth or fifth car or pedestrian responded positively as I stood there. People nodded encouragingly, smiled, made a thumbs up sign. One man threw his arms in the air and shouted repeatedly in Hebrew: “If only it could happen.” 

After a while I began to feel somewhat self-conscious, standing there by myself and exhibiting the sign to hundreds of passing eyes that gazed at me.  So I crossed the road and proceeded down Agron Street on the side of Independence Park. I was in for an even more amazing response. As I marched in the direction of the Old City, along the side of the road, hundreds of  cars were crawling upwards in a long traffic jam. I kept brandishing the placard and almost every person in that traffic jam saw me. It seems that a guy striding with a placard is more impressive than one just standing in one spot, and the reactions were even more lively than before. There was some honking, many people waved. A few stuck their heads out of the windows of their cars and shouted stuff like: “You’re so right,” or “Well done.” “We’re right behind you.” Pedestrians were also walking up and down the road and many nodded their agreement when they saw the poster.

By the time I reached Mamilla near the Old City, I felt that I’d been in the public eye for too long. It got to be a bit too much for me, so I headed home, nevertheless quite elated that I had presented a clear message and that literally hundreds of people had seen me in a relatively short time and had quite clearly responded. This has made me feel that the time is indeed ripe for the people to take to the streets and demonstrate against our pathetic government, its structure, procedures and norms, and also against ourselves as an overly self-indulgent, apathetic society, in need of far more general integrity, that is about to lose everything that we have built up in the last hundred years if we don’t wake up – NOW!

If you ask if I helped change anything during my little promenade, my answer will be very little if indeed anything. One doesn’t change things by an isolated demonstration. It has to be a loud, ongoing campaign, staged in as many places as possible throughout the country. Posters have to be intelligently worded and created. More and more people must become involved. The media has to be drawn in and helped to cover the subject extensively and soberly. It must become the in-thing – the idea of Israel’s transformation into the great little country that we all want to see and that is going to fulfill its promise as a real, secure  haven for the Jewish people where life is good for everyone.

I am talking about staging demonstrations as well as processions. I believe that both can be effective. They have to appear in every part of the country. Loud, colorful, optimistic, positive, not too banal, short catchy phrases on the placards and posters, avoiding vulgarity or any political slogans. Indeed, there must be absolutely no connectionwhatsoever with any political figurehead, party or functionary.

But people in Israel must be encouraged to join in – people from all walks of life. It must not be thought of as politically, religiously, socially, economically or professionally sectarian in any way. It must become the in-thing to be an active part of.

Israelis, one generation ago, were probably among the most dynamic people in the world must snap out of  the insular, apathetic, negative and defeatist attitudes that have taken root in the last decade or so.

I’ve now sent out newsletters to hundreds of people in Israel, calling on them to join me in daily demonstrations and processions, saying that  I am not just talking about Mr Olmert. Like my poster said: : “Not only Olmert, but also the negative norms of our politicians and society must go – wake up before it’s too late.” Mr Olmert’s demise is only the beginning!

Hopefully, this can be a vigorous turning-point for the change in Israel, that is so very desperately needed.

For more: www.israelandtruth.org

 

 

The new type of Jew in Israel

Honesty and brashness was a bad combination

By Ralph Dobrin

“So, how do you like it here in Israel”? I was asked by a friendly, middle-aged man waiting at the bus terminal. It was fifty years ago and I had been in Israel for about six months. The general atmosphere in Israel in those days was stoic, dynamic and full of hope. “It’s so exciting,” I answered. “So much is happening all the time. And there are people here from all over the world. It’s so very interesting and exciting.”

The man smiled and nodded approvingly.

But then I added, “The trouble is that there’s too much pushing. People have no consideration for others. They aren’t polite.”

The man’s smile disappeared and he frowned. “Well of course you’d say that. You’re an Anglo-Saxon (the term people in Israel use for anyone whose mother-tongue is English) !”

“But the lack of manners spoils everything,” I continued.

The man shook his head. “No my friend, what you call a lack of manners is actually a sign that people here are straightforward and honest. All those nice English manners that you want – all that ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m so sorry’ –  it’s all a lie. It’s just useless, corrupt falseness.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I had gulped adolescently, eager to be agreeable and see only good in the country.

“I know I’m right,” the man said emphatically.

Well, today I know he was wrong. Dead wrong! But I can understand why it was the way it was. Firstly, the early pioneers at the end of the 19^th  century had shed the rigid community-mindedness and piety of the ghetto and the shtetl for an earthy, robust practicality, that was probably necessary for survival in a barren, hostile land. They were very conscious of the historical moment – they were creating a new world for themselves and their children. They had forged a change from the craven Jew in Europe, from their fathers, uncles and brothers who had submitted meekly to the humiliations meted out to Jews in general. They even thanked their oppressors obsequiously and apologized for unjustified accusations.

They had resolved that there would be no more of that galut mentality in their ancestral land! The sabra (the term given to the local-born Jew) was brought up to be gruff, curt and focused only on absolute essentials. Also politeness was deemed quite irrelevant in such circumstances and furthermore – it was not entirely honest. For those early pioneers blunt honesty was another important characteristic they were trying to cultivate in the tough, self-reliant, straightforwad New Jew in his ancestral homeland.

But I think that it was a grave mistake to belittle the importance of politeness. True, one didn’t need the airs, invariably phony, of Elizabethan gentry. But basic good manners are imperative for any society, especially one that was emerging like Israeli society of that time.

During the nineteen thirties, in the wake of the rise of Nazism, waves of new immigrants arrived from Germany and other parts of Europe. Many were people with a high level of culture, education and etiquette, but their influence was restricted largely to their own children and immediate circles. In any case many of their children got into the curt sabra spirit themselves.

Subsequently, the partition of Palestine and Israel’s independence took place under turbulent circumstances. In the midst of a desperate war of physical survival, waves of immigrants poured into the land, coming from scores of different countries, bringing their own particular customs, values, and norms of behavior. The population doubled within the first three years and continued expanding rapidly for the next few decades. Under such conditions it was natural that a strident, abrasive, impatient, anxiety-ridden national mentality would take form, in addition to the existing abrasive lack of politeness.

But things never stay the same, especially in a nascent society like Israel. That lack of basic politeness deteriorated into a lack of inconsiderateness – especially with the arrival of millions of newcomers.

For a few generations, many, if not most, Israeli parents have not taught their children any manners whatsover because they themselves never learned proper conduct from their parents. Similarly a large percentage of Israeli children have received no guidelines regarding consideration for others.

A lack of consideration for others readily leads to an overly self-centered perspective on life which can be expressed as: “I don’t care about anyone but myself. No matter what it takes, I’m going to get what I want and I don’t care who I hurt in the process.” In other words, common decency and integrity become irrelevant.

A LOT OF VERY NICE FOLKS

Nevertheless, many people in Israel, including the descendants of those old-time pioneers, are decent folks who do live by a universal code of politeness, consideration and respect for others. This might be partially due to the frequent trips abroad by Israelis, who can see for themselves the preferability of common courtesy. Also, gratifyingly, despite a reported general increase in crime and violence, there is more niceness within Israeli public than there was a generation or two ago – when to be served politely in a shop or office was a rare occurrence, or to get on a bus one often needed to physically push one’s way to the door, only to have it abruptly slammed in your face.

But the general norms of politeness and consideration are still far from being satisfactory. Over the years this has led to greater self-centeredness and slacker moral standards. That’s why, today there is far less general willingness to actively take part in Israel’s struggle against her adversaries. More than ever before, many young people do their utmost to avoid the compulsory military service; that’s why there is so much underhand, unethical behavior at every level of Israel’s society. It might still involve only a small percentage of the general populace. But it is painfully noticeable.

The lack of courtesy during the early years of modern Zionism, sometimes once regarded as something wholesome, has resulted in the present boorish ego-centricism, which in turn has led to cynical, self-serving, defective governance. For all these reasons this nation has lost the confidence it once had in its people and in its leadership. That’s also a significant factor in Israel’s unimpressive showing against the Hizbollah during the Second Lebanon War.

COULD RELIGION HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?

The beginning of modern Israel’s renaissance over a hundred years ago entailed the establishment of hundreds of farming settlements. Most of the new settlers of those days, discarded the religious upbringing of their former communities in Europe. In all likelihood, had the Return to the Land been accompanied by more significant religious activity, there would still have been a low standard of common courtesy, but it would probably have forestalled the ego-centricism and lowered ethical standards plaguing Israel today.

However, for over a generation, there has now been an enormous effort to promote Judaism in all sections of the public. Despite impressive results, the majority of Israelis still see themselves as non-religious. Judaism, which gave the world a very practical, commonly-used ethical code, is nowadays presented by too many rabbis as something dealing mainly with ritual, Sabbath observance, dietery laws and government funding, rather than a code that emphasizes common decency.

Meanwhile, Israel is in the midst of a crucial stage in its history, facing stern military challenges and continued deterioration in its society. Seldom has any nation been so desparately in need of good, honest, wise political and spiritual leadership. Never has any society faced such a need to be willing to give of itself for a common cause, and to believe in itself and in its leaders.

The key to Israel’s future is integrity at all levels of its society. Integrity is easier fostered in a society imbued with consideration for others. And consideration for others begins with a basic level of politeness. Without this common human trait – no matter how many yeshivot are opened, or how many fighter aircraft Israel acquires – the Return to Zion, created with so much hope as a haven for the Jewish people, will prove to have been nothing more than a brief historical irony.

However, judging by the many groups and organizations that have appeared in the last few years, more and more Israelis are realizing the importance of basic common decency and personal involvement. It’s not nearly enough. It must burgeon into an overwhelming national quest. And everyone living in Israel who realizes the situation must actively bring integrity and common courtesy into their lives. It will prove to be a significant factor in the future of Israel … and the Middle East.

For more on the subject click: www.israelandtruth.org

RISING FOOD PRICES

Tragically millions more will starve …

But it’s an opportunity for better

health for others

 

By RALPH DOBRIN

The current steep price rise in staple foods, combined with the steadily increasing cost of oil, will create even more misery and starvation around the globe, while a few  cynical, well-placed leaders and business operators will rake in bigger profits than before. Thousands of square miles of land formerly used to grow grains and legumes for food and fodder are being converted to grow corn for ethanol production as an alternative to gasolene. While pollution is of great concern to humanity, feeding people is of no less importance. With more wisdom and less greed, both issues could readily be solved.

But it seems that the problem of rising food prices is here to stay – at least for a while, and there is little that we as individuals can do about it, except express our concern and anger at obtuse global and regional leadership that has allowed this present situation. However there can be an upside, at least for many people living in the developed world: a general improvement in health.

Many people spend a large chunk of their food budgets on processed items loaded with sugar, salt and other additives. Observe the check-out counter of any supermarket. Carts are laden with a substantial amount of cartoned, packaged or bottled items, manufactured not necessarily for nutrition value but to beguile taste buds into wanting more and more of the same. Soup powders, jam and chocolate sandwich spreads, breakfast concoctions coated with brightly colored sweeteners, soft drinks saturated with sugars and synthetic taste additives, processed meat products, dairy products coming in many flavors, tinned vegetables and a gaudy array of cookies, pretzels, sweets and other seductive gue. The nutritional value of  these items is usually very low but the implications for health can be devastating.

At this very moment millions of people all over Europe, America and other parts of the developed world are battling with serious illnesses such as heart, liver and kidney problems, diabetes and cancer, as a direct result of years of misdirected food shopping. They have paid far more money on unwise choices than had they fed their families with an educated concern for real nutrition; they are now paying with poor health, pain, suffering and disability; and they have palmed these problems onto their children.

Furthermore, other items that command a large part of the food budget are meats and cheeses, which, while not laced with additives, are now known to be a significant factor in the incidence of many serious maladies – if eaten frequently and in large quantities.

With the steep rise in most foodstuffs, which has already begun, and which will probably get worse, many households will be forced to change their food shopping habits.

Logically, the first items to be scratched off the regular shopping list should be all the so-called goodies such as cookies, cakes and wrapped snacks, in addition to all the products processed for rapid preparation and inundated with seductive taste enhancers to encourage repetitive purchase. In order to buy the essential staples such as bread, dairy products, eggs, fruit, vegetables, rice, legumes, pasta, etc, many households will buy far less of goodies and convenience foodstuffs.

A LITTLE EXTRA TIME IN THE KITCHEN

This will probably mean a few minutes more preparation time in the kitchen. Cutting up a few vegetables and putting them in a pot of water to boil takes about three minutes. That’s about two minutes more than it takes to open a can of peas and carrots and heat them. But the taste is incomparably better. And the benefits in terms of additional energy and less illness inestimable. Lower meat and cheese intake will also benefit our general health.

Everyone is said to love their children. But judging by the junk we feed them with, the opposite seems true. It is no secret that today’s younger generation is generally in far worse physical condition than their grandparents, who as youngsters had consumed very few processed foods and who also usually ate less meat.

Those supermarket carts laden with processed items are actually a one-way ticket to the hospital ward in twenty or thirty years for serious heart disease, cancer, glandular problems as well as depleted energy levels and premature aging.

Yet the life expentency of all populations in the developed world has risen dramatically. This is because of two major factors. One is due to the advances made in surgical techniques and life-prolonging (not necessarily life-enhancing) drugs. The other factor is a growing awareness which began more than a generation ago that processed food is usually not fit for human consumption.

The present food crisis could raise this awareness. People will be able to eat just as much as before, but most of their food will be far more wholesome and their food budgets will be lower than before – even with the rise in prices of fruit and vegetables.

The next step for many would be to insist on whole-wheat breads and whole-grain rice instead of the refined varieties. The same goes for cooking oil. Organically grown fruit, vegetables and free-run eggs in more homes would mean a far healthier, more energetic population. National health budgets would be reduced. There would be even more benefits with social, educational and political implications, but we’ll leave all that for another article.

Tragically, millions of people in undeveloped lands, who even before the present food shortages and price rises, were subsisting on near-starvation diets, might now be pushed into even worse straits. We cannot do much for them at the present moment, apart from cash donations to organizations trying to help them. Meanwhile we can take advantage of the situation and drastically reduce our junk food budget in favor of real, wholesome, nutritious food. What a difference that should make for the general health and wellbeing for millions of people.

See also: www.israelandtruth.org

TO HELP ISRAEL SURVIVE

What can the individual do?

By Ralph Dobrin

With all the immense challenges and threats to its very existence, there are two things that Israel must have in order to survive: sensible, selfless, courageous leadership able to make the right decisions and execute them promptly; and a society that is hard-working, prudent and imbued with integrity and a belief in itself and its leadership.

Clearly, this is far from being the case today. If this situation continues it is only a matter of time before Israel is overwhelmed by the odds against her: namely 250 million Arabs backed by another billion Muslims, possessing the major energy sources of the world, and further strengthened by repeated Western censure against Israel for whatever it does to defend itself.

So, apart from praying, what can the individual in Israel do? There are three alternatives.

1. Leave Israel, and hope that anti-Jewish sentiments wherever he chooses to live will not be too bothersome or violent in the future.

2. Simply ignore what’s happening around us in the world, forget about the growing power of radical Islam everywhere, and be resigned to the our helplessness in repairing the shortcomings of Israel’s society and leadership. It seems that this is how most people relate to the situation most of the time.

3. Make a personal effort to change things. This is not so way-out as it might seem. There are two areas in which we can make a difference.

At the risk of sounding like preaching, the first requirement is to lead our lives according to the principles of common decency and integrity. This must be done without conceit or self-righteousness and without making a big show of how upstanding or charming we might think we are. Also we must refrain from being habitually negative (this does not preclude constructive criticism when warranted). We must be nice to each other. Such a general bearing has a positive effect on our immediate surroundings and can generate a ripple effect, reaching out to the rest of society.

The second area is an active involvement in the betterment of Israel – to the best of our ability. Try to find an hour or week or more to participate in a social, educational, ecological, political or ideological activity. For example: teach needy kids free of charge, help new immigrants get settled, or demonstrate against unacceptable parliamentary procedures. The scope for involvement is endless. One of the reasons for Israel’s present poor governance is the general public’s tendency to be uninvolved. Many people write letters to the press, and that is good. But it doesn’t make the slightest difference. Vigorous, continuous involvement is imperative. All who realize the situation must make the effort to become personally active in some appropriate sphere, and try to persuade others to join them. Apathy or passiveness is no longer an option.

We must spread the word that it is up to each and every one of us to make the necessary changes – in ourselves and in government. Changing society should not be so difficult a task. It’s a question of changing norms and creating a new trend – like wearing jeans or using the internet to do our shopping. Trends start with a few people; others see something that catches their fancy and join in the trend and that’s how it becomes a fashion. We’re talking about a permanent change of norms.

But changing the level of governance will take more time. This can only take place when we have a society imbued with integrity and common decency. After all politicians and Knesset Members come from society, hence they reflect the norms of society. When the norms change, we can we expect those same norms to reach the Knesset. Meanwhile, the public must use their right to wage demonstrations against every infraction of ethical behaviour. We should also join as active members or fee-paying supporters, an organization like the Movement for Quality Government. www.mqg.org.il

Being involved helps us stave off the gloom. Being involved means being part of a new wave – of optimism and joy at being an Israeli. We face collosal challenges, which while scary, also make life exciting, fascinating and satisfying. We should be mindful that we are part of an incredible ongoing historical process. Actually, it is a tremendous privilege is to be living at this time and to be part of this amazing little nation’s modern renaissance, standing up against a line-up of peoples who have been taught to adore death and destruction and who promote their ideals through lies and hatred. There is a global struggle, alluded to by the biblical prophets.

Israel is at the forefront of this global struggle. To a large extent it is a struggle of the mind. We will win if we have the right attitude. But we must recognize that it is up to each and every one concerned about Israel to personally do whatever we can. Especially if you live in Israel. Shake off the disappointments, turn disillusionment into determination, be nice to each other, muster up the energy and get out there and be active – alone or with a group. I must see that the fate of the nation is in my hands and in yours. What could be more sobering … and thrilling than all this?

For more visit: www.israelandtruth.org

HOW CAN ISRAEL SURVIVE?

PROBABLY ALONE

By Ralph Dobrin 

Israel is one of the smaller nations in the world. Israel’s six million Jews constitute about 2.5% of the Arab populations of the world, a large part of which yearns for Israel’s demise. Israel has never had a single day free from the threat of war. Make no mistake the Arab world has one of the most formidable military line-ups in the world. Apart from superpower USA, or Russia, China, Britain and France, few nations would be able to stand against the military might of countries such as Egypt and pre-2001 Iraq, or a combination of the lesser powerful Arab nations. Gratifyingly Egypt has a peace treaty with Israel. It’s not a friendly peace and a change in regime could catapult Egypt into the forefront of Israel’s immediate threats, which includes non-Arab, Islamic Iran. The same applies to the Kingdom of Jordan which has a peace treaty with Israel.

At the moment those directly militarily active against Israel are the terror groups, Hizbollah and Hamas, which while lacking air power, constitute fierce, fearless warriors with a dedication and a willingness to die for their cause seldom paralleled in the history of warfare. They are supported financially and in training and weapons by Iran and Syria. Also every day they become more adept in battle. Till recently they constituted a tactical threat. Now they are emerging as a strategic threat. Intelligence agencies claim that there is cooperation between them and El Khaida.

Compounding the desperate situation in which Israel finds herself, is the attitude of the international community, which is involved in the Israel-Arab conflict diplomatically and commercially through United Nations decisions and boycotts of Israel’s exports and even academics. Furthermore, Israel’s actions are severely limited through pressure by the USA, which readily indicates withdrawal of her support if Israel strays from what she perceives is in the USA interest. Therefore Israel is unable to adequately unleash her deterrent force against the constant attacks on her territory and people. Israel is often pushed into making agreements that lead to her becoming weakened even further in every way.

IT’S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF TERRITORY

This overall situation is the backdrop to the question: how can Israel survive? The stakes here are not just territory or the adjustment of borders. It is not Palestinian statehood, as everyone assumes. Palestine independence was there to be had in 1948. But the Arabs chose war with the intention of obliterating Israel. They failed and tried again in 1967. Through diplomatic channels Israel tried to start a dialogue that should have led to a solution for Palestine (read Judea and Samaria). In 1993 the Oslo Accords should have led to the creation of independence for Palestine. Negotiations despite the daily suicide bombings led to a stage where Israel was offering the Arabs of the region 97% of Judea and Samaria. Again they opted for war. Their intention is the same as it has always been – the total disappearance of Israel as a political and ethnic entity. Yet Israel is pressured to continue the negotiations, even while a powerful terrorist organization Hamas rules over the whole of the Gaza Strip and prepares to take over the Judea and Samaria.

How then, can Israel survive? Many people suggest that  Israel should annex Judea and Samaria, thus creating permanent borders along the Jordan River. If Israel were a state with at least double its present Jewish population that might be viable answer. But with its present limited population, it is only a matter of time before such a development would lead to an Arab majority which, in the most favorable circumstances, would lead to Arab control of the Israeli government which might lead to social and economic discrimination of the Jewish population. It might become yet another Islamic state with all the disadvantages for dhimmi status for non-Muslims. But such a bloodless scenario is probably wishful thinking. With their long record of  slaughter of each other over minor differences, if they ever got the upper hand over the Jews, even politically, it would undoubtedly mean genocide.

Another option that has been suggested is population transfer, which has been done dozens of times during the twentieth century. Millions of people have been moved in Europe and Asia. The Muslim-Hindu divide in British-ruled India exploded into widespread, bloody fighting between neighbors and neighborhoods. The solution was the creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh, which, while not leading to mutual friendship like the USA and Canada or Sweden and Norway, has at least enabled India to co-exist with its Muslim neighbors in a spirit of wary alertness, disturbed by occasional border outbreaks and acts of terror. The alternative would probably have been endless massacres of each other. After the Second World War, millions of ethnic Germans were moved out of Cechoslovakia and Poland to new homes in Germany. Their children were hardly aware of their parents previous domicile. But population transfer of Arabs in Judea and Samaria would have no chance of being accepted by the international community, let alone Arab and non-Arab Muslims all over the region. Such a move would probably spark a pan-Arab war with Israel and include massive contingents from other powerful Muslim countries.

SO WHY NOT CREATE PALESTINE?

The creation of an independent state called Palestine in Judea and Samaria is the solution that is sought by most of the international community as well as the present Israel government. About half of the Israeli public supports this development on condition that the future Palestine state is sincere about peace with Israel. This is far from being evident at the moment. Even after Israel totally evacuated the Gaza Strip (making Gaza in effect an independent political entity), Israels towns and villages that are miles from the border are bombarded daily with barrages of mortar and rocket fire – even more than before Israel’s withdrawal. What is the reason for these attacks? The answer: total rejection of Israel’s existence … anywhere in the region!!!

For sixty years since its inception as an independent state, Israel has found itself under siege. The years ahead are clearly going to be fraught with even more dreadful challenges as radical Islam spreads and the introduction of ever more destructive weaponry, and Iran’s emergence as a nuclear power, already making almost daily threats against Israel’s very existence. How will Israel survive? Can six million Jews stand firm against such a monstrous line-up of a billion people? And make no mistake – Israel will probably also have to face nuclear Iran alone. Israel, condemned by the enlightened peoples of the world for defending herself, will probably be the one to save enlightenment by herself. And she’ll be condemned yet again.

Meanwhile, for many people in Israel the future seems impossibly grim and they prefer not to even think about the future, or they simply move to another country. Others take encouragement from biblical prophesy and invoke the God of Israel. Conversely the Arabs intone passages from the Koran and call out that Allah is Great.Meanwhile, from a pragmatic point of view the odds seem clearly in the Arabs’ favor, as has invariably been the case – ever since Israel became an independent state in 1948. At that time the Arabs lost a chance to create a state called Palestine because they tried to obliterate the half of Palestine that became Israel, and they haven’t stopped blaming Israel for their blunder. (The Arab Palestine would have become yet another Arab state among the other 22 existing Arab states!) A large part of the Arab world still hasn’t given up dream of obliterating the Jewish state. But tiny Israel persists in existing, despite all its many serious internal problems, not the least of which is decent leadership.

More than ever before Israel needs wise, honest leadership – which is far from the case. The people in Israel need to believe in their ability to continue overcoming all the immense challenges and threats. Israel must develop a society that is hard-working, honest, willing to give of itself for the common good and the benefit of the country and be physically sturdy as well. It needs to address everyday issues such as growing its own food, which is far from the case today. It needs to ensure it has enough water for all its needs, provide work for every Israeli of working age. It needs to maintain good relationships with the international community, especially with the other Muslim countries and indeed any Arab states willing to conduct dialogue.

Israel needs to hope for the day when, in spite of the present almost illogical, wanton, implacable hatred by a large part of humanity, peace will come – either as a result of yet another wholescale conflagration in the region, ending as in previous wars with Israel’s victory, or preferably through the gradual ascendancy of pragmatic tolerance and acceptance of non-Muslim, peace-seeking Israel from all the surrounding peoples. At the moment, the former seems to be far more likely.

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