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Israel today, amidst the current ceasefire that has left space for continued fire, is in a very
complicated reality, which has implications on Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens, and on Jewish and Arab
citizens of countries around the world. We have brought together various resources to help make sense
of all the conflicting messages sent in every direction. We welcome all comments and submissions
regarding how the recent Gaza operation and its aftermath have been/are being dealt with in your

country, your Jewish community, and in your ken. We start with a piece written by Itamar Landau during
Operation Cast Lead.

Thoughts on Gaza, striving for Peace in times of Conflict

Dear movement of ours, we've just returned from Israel and though this war is hopefully drawing to a
close, we'd like to add our thoughts to the discussion:

When events around us feel as if they are out of our control we often respond immediately and
impulsively to reassert our sense of control. We feel the need to decide something, to do something, and
to make a difference. This is a very sensical and even admirable response, and in fact that's what our
movement is all about, right? We're trying to shape a collective, and individuals through it, that take
responsibility and actively shape their reality. But this shaping can't come from

confusion and feelings of helplessness. It has to come from a deepened understanding
of who you are and from a strong connection to a collective infused with a sense of
purpose. So beyond the confusion and feelings of helplessness, how does the war in Gaza
help us understand ourselves and our sense of purpose?

At our core there are two interwoven strands of our identity: our Jewishness and our
humanity. The very fact of violence perpetrated by Israel is a challenge to both. Our humanity yearns
for a future in which all people can live in peace, joy, and meaning. Yet we are faced with a reality and a

human history rife with violence. The images and stories of death and destruction in Gaza are deeply
painful and saddening, and threaten our hope for an age of peace.

Meanwhile, our Jewish identity connects us to Israel and to the project of building a Jewish society
worthy of the name. At times of crisis, conflict, and violence we feel that need to assert a sense of
control and that connection to Israel faces a couple of different responses. One response is to clutch
Israel closer, to defend her actions vehemently, and to support her blindly. Another response is to push

Israel away, to condemn her actions, and to disavow support. Instead of rushing to either side, and
instead of maintaining a detached confusion, I think we need to face what's going on in Gaza by asking
ourselves questions that deeply explore our understanding of Israel and its place in our Jewish identity.

I'd like to get into that with a story from a Leonard Fein book. And not just because Leonard Fein is on
our listserve but because I think it's a really nice story that captures an essential aspect of Zionism and
does a lot to shape the way I understand my Jewish identity and the conflict. The story takes place in
Eastern Europe in the 1800s. A group of Jews gather weekly to talk about how beautiful and great
Jerusalem is. Once in a while one of them gets tired of all the talk and says, "if it's so great, why don't

we go there?" But the response is always, "nah, that's crazy talk." One week they invite over some non-
Jews and before the non-Jews leave they say, "you Jews are a good people, as moral and upright as any
other, but we always sense that you think you're better than us. Is that true?" One of the Jews
answers, "well, We do think we're better and I'll tell you why: it's because we don't hunt." The