Rabbi Berel Wein

JWR Outlook



Jewish World Review Dec. 1, 2000 /4 Kislev, 5761

Those stubborn Jews


By Rabbi Berel Wein

http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- THE JEWISH PEOPLE are described in the Bible as stubborn and stiff-necked. We have certainly earned the title, for better or worse.

Were it not for this legendary stubbornness, the Jewish people would not have been able to survive and even prosper until today. The stubborn loyalty of the Jews to their faith and values, in spite of overwhelming pressures to convert and change, adapt and assimilate, is one of the brightest chapters in human history. The stubborn loyalty of Israel to the Land of Israel survived centuries of separation, and was finally rewarded with the establishment of the state - against all natural and human obstacles - in our time.

But Jewish stubbornness has a second face to it. The term "stiff-necked," as recorded in the Bible, was not meant as a compliment, for the Jews have a way of being stubborn about ideas, ideologies, people and events that defies logic and common sense.

It is a Jewish trait: "Don't confuse me with facts, my mind is made up."

Thus there were Jews who were still Hellenists long after the events of Chanukkah, just as there are still Jewish Communists even after the collapse of Marxist ideology. There are Jews who still stubbornly believe that the only way for Judaism to survive is to make it "relevant" and "egalitarian," whereas all objective evidence of the past century clearly shows that such a policy only contributes to assimilation, intermarriage and eventual disappearance.

But stubborn is stubborn.

The current behavior of the "peace camp," and to a certain extent of the government of Israel itself, is a clear example of wrongheaded, stiff-necked stubbornness. Instead of admitting our past errors and uniting in a struggle to save ourselves and our land from our murderous enemies, the mantras of 1993 and 1994 are being repeated as though they had some basis in truth.

PALESTINIAN Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is not a partner for peace. Our prime minister has said so many times over the past few months. So why continue to pursue him with further concessions?

Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said last week, in an interview on Israel Radio, that Arafat is the only one left to talk to and we have to talk to someone.

Why?

If there is no one to talk to, then there is no one to talk to. It is sheer fantasy to think that a lasting peace arrangement is possible with the current corrupt and cruel Palestinian leadership. If the PA cares nothing about the poor children of the refugee camps that it sends out to do daily violence, why should we expect them to care about Israeli children riding to school on a bus?

Only a stubborn refusal to face facts can allow such fantastic policies to continue.

The "peace camp," in its shameful and delusionary ads (where do they get the money for all this propaganda?), advocates the return of Israel to its 1949 borders, and the repatriation of the Arabs into Israel.

What planet are they living on?

They say that the solution to Arab violence lies in the withdrawal of all Jews from over the Green Line. But the bombs and riots are in Hadera, Jerusalem, Jaffa and Nazareth. To be out of harm's way, shall we withdraw from those places as well? If we really wish to be safe, we should all move to Canada!

I am certain that this is how Arafat sees the matter, for he is also stubborn. He has not kept one major agreeement in the past seven years, nor has he ever publicly relented in his maximalist demands upon us and the world.

And why should he? He is dealing with the most stubborn set of Jews in the world - those who know better than we do what is really good for us, who believe that they are infallible, and that somehow the ill-fated Oslo agreements will be our salvation.

Again, stubborn is stubborn.

There is certainly room for a display of stubbornness on the part of our leadership and citizenry. That stubbornness should be reflected in the repeated declaration of our G-d-given right to this land and its holy places.

It should be reflected by steadfastness in the face of the ordeal we are now enduring. The depression that engulfs our society stems from the disappointment caused by the realization that we have been had. Stubbornly pursuing those erroneous policies only further weakens our morale.

We need positive stubbornness. Then we will be able to say proudly that we are truly a stubborn nation.



JWR contributor Rabbi Berel Wein is one of Jewry's foremost historians and founder of the Destiny Foundation. He resides in Jerusalem. You may contact Rabbi Wein by clicking here or calling 1-800-499-WEIN (9346).


Up

09/29/00: Of gifts and judgements
08/25/00: Diversity and unity
08/18/00: On Wagner and Chacham Ovadia
07/12/00: The return of a Torah scroll and confronting painful memories
06/27/00: Single issue fanatics
05/22/00: Strength and Weakness
04/04/00: The message of spring
04/25/00: Ritual's role
03/09/00: The hubris trap
02/28/00: Denial
02/17/00: The individual and the state
02/04/00: Going it alone
01/27/00: Hang together or hang alone
01/11/00: Hope and good sense: A Jewish recipe for survival
12/06/99: Trendy vs. tenacious
11/15/99: Legacies and remembrances
11/08/99: The joy -- and responsibility -- of being a grandparent
10/28/99: Imperfect solutions
10/21/99: 'Holy loafers'
10/07/99: Earthquakes --- 'natural' and otherwise
09/28/99: Beauty
09/17/99: Blessing the children
09/10/99: A good year


© 2000, Rabbi Berel Wein