Broken Promises, Broken Dreams by Alice Rothchild

Today is Day 14,275 of the Maintenance of the Immoral (and Illegal) West Bank Settlements and almost the 40th anniversary of the start of the immoral (and illegal) occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Rabbi Akiva - “ ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18 - this is the major principle of the Torah.”

Broken Promises, Broken Dreams by Alice Rothchild

"Have we sacrificed Jewish values in the name of Israeli nationalism and aggressive expansionism? Is Israeli nationalism our new fundamentalism...... I treasure my legacy of endless questioning, soul-searching, and respect for human rights and dignity combined with a responsibility for healing the world."

After writing these posts about the 11 days in May, I finished reading “Broken Promises, Broken Dreams" by Alice Rothchild including the two quotes above. Coincidentally she writes about the massive attacks on Rafah over seven days in May - this time in 2004 -by the government of Israel and the resulting Palestinian deaths, destruction, devastation and injuries, both physical and mental.

That is only one episode in this truly powerful, beautifully written book which, I believe, is a must read for anyone who seeks peace with justice for the Palestinians and Israelis. For me, much of the appeal of the book is her emphasis on how the actions of the government of Israel are contrary to the ethics, teachings and core values of Judaism and her conclusion:

"It is time to speak loudly and clearly and work forcefully towards ending the occupation. This means truly dismantling Jewish settlements."

I purchased it at her presentation at Workmen's Circle, Brookline, MA, but you can order it through the University of Michigan Press
http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=290364
or Amazon.

But it is even more effective to hear her speak. To invite her to a gathering of an organization, contact Mary Bisbee Beek at bisbeeb@umich.edu or (734) 615-6477

Deuteronomy 16:20 – “Justice, justice shall you pursue that you may live and inherit the land which God gave you” and the footnote in the 1980 Hertz Edition “(T)here is international justice, which demands respect for the personality of every national group, and proclaims that no people can of right be robbed of its national life or territory, its language or spiritual heritage.