Page 6 - Issue 11

My fellow Israelis,

With the decisive defeat of the Zionist left to those who espouse doctrines of hate,

violence, capitalism, and non-negotiation in this past week’s elections, I suggest we take a
good look at where we’ve come from and where we are heading. Jews did not struggle,
tolerate, and survive almost 2000 years of being the oppressed, frightened, scapegoated

minority, so that we could become the autonomous, dominate majority who oppresses,
frightens, and scapegoats. We did not bring the concepts of loving ones neighbor and the
end of wars between nations to the world so that we can pursuit endless war against our

neighbors and champion the idea that only violence can bring peace. We did not teach to
ourselves tzedek, tzdakah, and communal responsibility for our millennia in the shtetl so
that when our land once again becomes our home, and our own government our dominant

communal organization we could practice capitalism, individualism and government non-
intervention.

Quite the contrary. Zionism is, and has always been, a dream of creating a different kind

of society. When we finally had out own country we would right all of the wrongs which
had been done to us; we would create a new, better way of how people interact with each
other; we would recreate our culture based on the values and visions of the prophets in a

way which was uniquely modern and appropriate for out times.

Years before the establishment of the state, Martin Buber said “It is not a
commonwealth of Jews that should be established, but a truly Jewish commonwealth. A

truly Jewish commonwealth can be none other than one in which the appeals of the
prophets for social justice are translated into reality”. This vision was confirmed by
words of the Declaration of Independence which promised that Israel would “foster the

development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants”, be based on “freedom,
justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel” and “ensure complete equality
of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it
will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture”.

Somewhere between then and now, we have gone astray. Evil forces have taken over an
idea which was pure. While it is natural for people suffering economic hardships and

perceived threats to their safety, to rally behind right wing leaders, fascist slogans, and
the blame of the other, it is not acceptable. We, Jews, Israelis, Zionist, should be
despaired. But we should not give up. As Gordon said “give me ten despairing individuals,

and I will change the world”. We are far greater than ten. Though our showing in the
election was poor we do number in the thousands, at least. We must take this moment as
a wake up call, not a defeat. We must arise, build, and educate towards a different
future – the Zionism or our dreams – which is our destiny. And in the end, justice surely

will prevail.

Ilan Brandvain,
Kvutsat Aseef