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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
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).
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