“You are the first tourists I have seen here in two years.” While clearly surprised to see us, the lady at the shwarma stand at the top of Tel Aviv’s open-air market, Shuk HaCarmel, was happy and relieved that, at last, American Jews were coming to Israel.
It was 12:30 a.m. when we entered the store on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem. “I am open this late so I don’t end up like my friends who are now out-of-business,” she said. It was evident the owner had no intention of closing anytime soon. To do so was to let the terrorists defeat us.
“Where are the American Jews? We will defend this country but you must help us by coming here.” Perhaps that comment from our tour guide was the most poignant of all.
Our responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Israel is simple. No longer can Israel be one option of many for overseas vacation plans. Today, at this juncture in history, it must be the only option. For those who are financially able to go, it is critical to do so.
I was fortunate to be part of a small Milwaukee contingent that participated in the Second Rally in Israel held Nov. 25-29. More than 400 people from around the United States plus a small group of Argentinean Jews, all deaf except for the two interpreters who translated from English to Spanish and then signed to the group, came to show solidarity with our embattled brethren.
On the day of the rally, Christians, Israelis and other groups visiting Israel joined our group. As a result our numbers nearly doubled as we massed in the main plaza of the Old City’s Jewish Quarter.
At the rally and the days that followed we heard many voices — of government leaders, of the victims of terror and the doctors who cared for them. We heard the voices of people on the street — their anger, fear, frustration and hope.
Replay of history
We, in unity, raised our voices to heaven, whether we were secular, religious or somewhere in between, whether we were Jews or Christians. And the people of Israel heard that they are not alone in the battle for our national homeland.
It is important for American Jews to understand that Israel, in spite of the daily barrage of negative news, is not a war zone. While random acts of unspeakable terror clearly happen, they are just that, random.
At no time did anyone in our group feel that their security was in jeopardy. Certainly how and where we traveled was changed by the terrible events in the region. There were more security checks than in previous years.
On Erev Shabbat, our group was told we would not be allowed to attend services at the Western Wall because it coincided with the end of the Muslim Fast of Ramadan. Violent interactions were feared. While we understood the concern, we were angered by the ability of Muslims to determine when and where we could pray, a replay of history.
Certainly the psychological effects on Israelis are profound. There are almost no families in the parks and playgrounds. The stores are almost without any customers owing to fear and lack of money.
Families and, specifically, children, living under the poverty level have reached high numbers. My 12-year-old cousin in Jerusalem no longer is willing to go to sleep at night if his parents are not at home.
Yet, we still toured, shopped, went out to restaurants, visited friends, relatives and professional colleagues. By our actions, we defied the terrorists. By our presence alone, we brought smiles to the faces of our beleaguered people. We obeyed the command to help in whatever way we could. We heard our people’s cries.
I am part of a fortunate generation, the first since the fall of the Second Temple, for which Jewish sovereignty over the Land of Israel has been the predominant paradigm of our existence. Our land and its people have been and continue to be both a miracle and a blessing.
Israel’s continued existence stirs the Jewish soul and elevates the Jewish spirit regardless of where we find ourselves in that wonderfully diverse and broad spectrum of our Jewish community. We, as American Jews, have needed Israel to strengthen our Jewish identity, to confirm our place in history, to define our destiny, to ensure our future.
Israel now needs us. G-d is testing us today, individually and communally. Our challenge is clear. Go to Israel. Now. Buy Israeli products. Now. Connect to Israel in any and all ways possible. Now.
Let us not be Jews of silence. Let history record that we stood united and acted courageously in defense of our people and in defiance of our enemies.
Let the world know that in spite of our political isolation, in spite of our severe tribulations, the Jewish people refuses to die, to relinquish what is rightfully ours, to become a footnote to history.
Daniel N. Weber is president of the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning.
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