Leave the comfort zone

Editorial

The first words uttered by David Frum, one of the world's leading conservative thinkers, to a packed house at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue Tuesday night was to commend the audience for their courage to sit in a synagogue on the eve of Sept. 11. Frum, a noted author and former speechwriter for U.S. President George W. Bush, then spoke eloquently for an hour about issues relating to the United States' war on terrorism, Middle East politics and Bush's support for Israel.

But really, the potential physical danger notwithstanding, was it an act of moral courage for pro-Israeli Jews to attend a speech delivered by a pro-Israeli Jewish speaker? This self-congratulatory attitude reflects an unfortunate trend all too common since the outbreak of the second intifida: supporters of Israel holding demonstrations within the Jewish community for the Jewish community. While those actions, as well as the buying of Israel bonds and travelling to Israel, are indeed vital to supporting Israel, we should not be fooled into thinking that such exercises are doing anything to change the general public's pro-Palestinian views, for we are clearly preaching to the converted.

It has often been said that Diaspora Jews play a crucial role in explaining Israel's position to the rest of the world, as it is a stance so often misunderstood and misrepresented. If we agree with that premise and if supporters of Israel are truly committed to the cause, then it's high time to leave the comfort zone and begin taking the "fight" outside of the Jewish community. It makes no sense that, while pro-Palestinian rallies are held on Robson Street directing their message to all of Vancouver, pro-Israel demonstrations have taken place outside of Beth Israel on Oak Street or in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver parking lot.

The same reluctance to leave the comfort zone can be seen in the unwillingness of Israel's supporters to debate contentious issues with detractors of Israel, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. This attitude was in plain evidence at Frum's speech. All questions and comments directed towards Frum had been in full agreement with the speaker's views, until Bonnie Klein, a distinguished documentary filmmaker and the mother of writer Naomi Klein, shared her discomfort with Frum's opinions. Rather than allowing two noteworthy intellectuals with diametrically opposed views to confront each other, the audience roundly booed Klein, cutting short her comments.

The same negative reaction greeted Or Shalom Rabbi David Mivasair this past spring when he spoke at an Arab conference at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Granted, some were uncomfortable with Mivasair's views being seen as representative of the Israeli position, but there was also large-scale criticism of the very idea that he would attend, a view made evident by the dearth of Israel supporters at the conference.

The responses to Klein and Mivasair demonstrate a steadfast refusal on the part of Israel's supporters to engage the other side in intelligent discussion – never mind a disrespect for free speech – that can easily be interpreted by the outside world as a lack of confidence in Israel's position. If Israel's stance is truly correct morally and politically, then its supporters should be seeking out any opportunity to take that message to the public, including debating those with opposing views.

Moral courage was displayed by a Canadian Jewish community this past week, but it was in Montreal, not Vancouver. While officials at the University of Concordia pleaded with Hillel to move former Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech off campus, knowing full well the student population's rampant anti-Israeli views could explode, the request was refused. Hillel clearly understood that to move the speech to a safer locale within the Jewish community would be to admit defeat to the other side, and would prevent Netanyahu's words from being heard by the general public. The decision proved to be a public relations coup, as the anti-Israel mob that prevented Netanyahu from speaking showed itself to be violent and intolerant and Israel supporters demonstrated great restraint by turning the other cheek.

In this time of teshuvah (repentance), as we reflect on making ourselves better people and better Jews, we must remember that more tough times are ahead for Israel and that public opinion is growing increasingly pro-Palestinian. If supporters of Israel are questioning how else they can lend a hand, the answer is clear: make a pledge to leave the comfort zone and take that support for Israel into the outside world, where it can be heard loudly, clearly and intelligently..

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