Comments on: The Widening Israel-Diaspora Gap http://israeli-us-politics.net/2009/01/04/the-widening-israel-diaspora-gap/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:34:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: carol http://israeli-us-politics.net/2009/01/04/the-widening-israel-diaspora-gap/#comment-4868 carol Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:28:37 +0000 http://israeli-us-politics.net/?p=26#comment-4868 Your comments make me feel like you are as much a part of the problem for why there is no solution; why must you continue to polarize people's actions and opinions? While I am among the majority supportive of Israel's right to protect it's citizens, I also strongly feel there has to be another way. Falling back on "this is the Mideast not the Midwest" accomplishes nothing, only more feelings of helplessness. I am tired of the world not caring enough to demand Hamas stop firing rockets into southern Israel. I am tired of Israel falling once again into the violence solves everything mindset. It's not the 'images' I find painful, but the reality of death and destruction on both sides. Yes, I hope Israel destroys all those underground tunnels used to bring in weapons; I also hope Israel tries to open up ways for the safe on-going delivery of food and medical supplies and other consumer goods. There has to be room for compromises, otherwise there are no solutions, only pain and death, all around. Your comments make me feel like you are as much a part of the problem for why there is no solution; why must you continue to polarize people’s actions and opinions? While I am among the majority supportive of Israel’s right to protect it’s citizens, I also strongly feel there has to be another way. Falling back on “this is the Mideast not the Midwest” accomplishes nothing, only more feelings of helplessness. I am tired of the world not caring enough to demand Hamas stop firing rockets into southern Israel. I am tired of Israel falling once again into the violence solves everything mindset. It’s not the ‘images’ I find painful, but the reality of death and destruction on both sides. Yes, I hope Israel destroys all those underground tunnels used to bring in weapons; I also hope Israel tries to open up ways for the safe on-going delivery of food and medical supplies and other consumer goods. There has to be room for compromises, otherwise there are no solutions, only pain and death, all around.

]]> By: Winston Pickett http://israeli-us-politics.net/2009/01/04/the-widening-israel-diaspora-gap/#comment-4834 Winston Pickett Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:26:24 +0000 http://israeli-us-politics.net/?p=26#comment-4834 Well stated. The "Israel-Diaspora Gap" is an old conundrum, but Rosenblatt gives it a fresh twist, while reminding us that the goal of good Jewish journalism is to close the breach as much as possible. Well stated. The “Israel-Diaspora Gap” is an old conundrum, but Rosenblatt gives it a fresh twist, while reminding us that the goal of good Jewish journalism is to close the breach as much as possible.

]]> By: Jane http://israeli-us-politics.net/2009/01/04/the-widening-israel-diaspora-gap/#comment-4803 Jane Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:42:58 +0000 http://israeli-us-politics.net/?p=26#comment-4803 Thanks for your great editorial. The words (unfortunately) ring true. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area certain Jewish groups are marching with groups that favor Palestinians to show their "sympathy" for and "protest about" the "innocent victims" of the Israel. What a shame. Thanks for your great editorial. The words (unfortunately) ring true. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area certain Jewish groups are marching with groups that favor Palestinians to show their “sympathy” for and “protest about” the “innocent victims” of the Israel. What a shame.

]]> By: Len Saxe http://israeli-us-politics.net/2009/01/04/the-widening-israel-diaspora-gap/#comment-4783 Len Saxe Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:38:44 +0000 http://israeli-us-politics.net/?p=26#comment-4783 Gary, I'm writing this response from Herzliya. I"m in Israel with twenty Hornstein Leadership students from Brandeis and, as well, with nearly 5,000 Taglit-Birthright Israel participants. I share your sense of the conflict and agree that those who have had a chance to spend time in Israel have a different perspective. But your headline re: the "widening gap" isn't supported by your commentary. To be sure, there is a danger that Diaspora Jews will be less likely to visit and study in Israel -- and many of the programs that promote engagement between Diaspora and Israeli Jewry are facing difficult times -- but let's not assume that their decline is inevitable. Instead, perhaps we can become even more creative about how to support efforts such as Taglit. B'shalom. Gary,

I’m writing this response from Herzliya. I”m in Israel with twenty Hornstein Leadership students from Brandeis and, as well, with nearly 5,000 Taglit-Birthright Israel participants. I share your sense of the conflict and agree that those who have had a chance to spend time in Israel have a different perspective. But your headline re: the “widening gap” isn’t supported by your commentary. To be sure, there is a danger that Diaspora Jews will be less likely to visit and study in Israel — and many of the programs that promote engagement between Diaspora and Israeli Jewry are facing difficult times — but let’s not assume that their decline is inevitable. Instead, perhaps we can become even more creative about how to support efforts such as Taglit.

B’shalom.

]]> By: Stephen Folkson http://israeli-us-politics.net/2009/01/04/the-widening-israel-diaspora-gap/#comment-4759 Stephen Folkson Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:10:23 +0000 http://israeli-us-politics.net/?p=26#comment-4759 You have got it dead right. You have got it dead right.

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