Join Us in the duty of Holocaust Education

Please call us at Sunrise Studios 954- 581-0101 if you would like to promote and participate in the work of the Flame Society. If you missed episode 1 of "Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes" visit our website www.theflamesociety.org to view the episode. We depend on our viewer support to continue our work of education and awareness.

I extend a special thank you to all of you who are helping to make "Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes" an on-going success. Watch for Episodes 2 and 3 on JLTV.

The Purim Paradox

Next week we will celebrate Purim on Saturday night and Sunday. We set the stage for Purim in the time that has passed since the coming of the new month of Adar. Our tradition tells us that when the month of Adar arrives we are to increase the joy that we feel. This is an anticipatory kind of happiness- looking forward to celebrating should put us in a good mood, make our hearts more receptive to feeling joy, and inspire us to embrace the holiday. All this talk of joy makes me wonder what our sages had in mind- can we really be joyous just because a holiday comes? Can we choose to be “happy” with just the turn of the calendar?

I think most of us feel that happiness is not something that we can just turn on or off at will. There are times that we feel so sad that we can’t imagine ever smiling again. There are also times that we feel so happy that we forget that we ever felt sad! Most of our lives are spent somewhere in between those two extremes, living a mixture of happy and sad. The kind of good news/bad news the average day brings! So what did our Sages have in mind? Did they really think we could be “happy” at the drop of a hat? For some of us it might seem a paradox that we are being command to be happy. Both joy and sadness are feelings that creep into our hearts unexpectedly- we hardly ever think of them as the result of a conscience decision. I think all of us would choose to be happy if only it were that simple!

So what is all this talk of well-intentioned happiness over the month of Adar and the anticipation of Purim? Perhaps it’s the Jewish take on the old “is the glass half empty or half full” thing. When you really think about Purim seriously could become sad and, in fact, discouraged. Purim was the first act in a play that has run the entirety of Jewish existence. Purim: Haman hated us because we were different. He called us “outsiders.” He said we should not be included in society because of our beliefs. His words were repeated over and over by generations of those who hated us for no other reason than our very existence. For that we have suffered over and over. Good reason to be sad. Good reason to be saddened by a pain that has plagued our people in every time and place.

But to that temptation our Sages said “No!” It is not sadness that we feel but joy! The glass is “half full.” Every would-be Haman has failed. We are here to tell the story and mock (and erase) his memory. We choose to celebrate the continuity of Jewish life and to make light of every threat that we have faced. God said this to Abraham: Those who bless you shall be blessed, those who curse you shall be cursed.” Our Sages “command” us to find the joy in Purim because it is a day to celebrate rather than mourn.

Some of us choose to find the joys of being Jewish but some of us act like it is a curse. Purim is a good time to choose the joy of being Jewish. Despite all that we have faced we are the ones who are still around- telling and retelling the story each year and being happy just to be able to do it.

 

Keeping Israel Safe

 

What would you do if your neighbor had a canon pointed at your home? I think you would agree that just deciding to keep your windows closed might not be enough!  That canon would be a big exclamation point reminding you that it was time for action. We all know that Israel lives with multiple canons pointed at her everyday and yet the world says “Just close your windows and you will be safe.”  Windows offer no safety when your entire home has a big target painted on it. The only real safety is in removing the canon.

That is exactly what Israel did last week when it attacked an arms convoy inside Syria. The arms were to be delivered to Hezbollah terrorists to be used against Israeli planes. Yes, Syria and Iran have vowed to retaliate- is that anything new? Israel acted to protect itself and I praise the Israeli government for protecting its citizens. Am I a war monger? Don’t I understand that an attack inside Syria is dangerous? Yes, I do understand- but not to act is more dangerous.

Often times Israel is criticized for protecting herself or for acting is a pre-emptive strike. Whenever I hear such arguments I am reminded of a principle that our Sages discussed- the law of the rodef. Rodef is a Hebrew word meaning “to pursue.” The principle is simple and clear- if someone is pursuing you with the clear and explicit intent of hurting or killing you it is time to act. In our faith it is a moral imperative, a mitzvah, to protect yourself. You have often read my words about the preciousness of life. Judaism teaches that your own life is precious too. If someone plans to end your life you have an obligation to defend it. That may sound strange to many modern ears but speaks volumes about the wisdom of our tradition.

It is unfortunate that Jewish history is filled with examples in which people waited too long to act, waited too long for that canon to go away by itself, or for someone else to take it away. I think Americans are just beginning to understand the Israeli mentality. Recent violent events in our country have forced us into a new kind of awareness. Can you imagine living under the threat of not just “random” violence but the daily threat of terror and war?

Israel will be threatened and criticized for its action inside Syria- but it is vital that you remember that that this was not an act of war but an act of self-defense. To do anything less would be to betray the safety and future of Israel’s citizens.

 

 

The Circle of Lies

The vote at the UN to grant “Palestine” the status of an observer state is, at the end of the day, meaningless. It does not create a “state” that did not exist before- it is only a political gesture. If anything it is more a step toward the greatest irony that the world could see- the creation of a brand new terrorist state. “Palestine” does not meet any of the requirements of International law to even be considered a candidate for statehood. While that is the reality we can’t ignore the symbolic value of the UN move. The vote does bring the Palestinians one more rung up the ladder of politics (and world sympathy.)

The vital issue that seems to bother no one at the UN is the very request to be considered for statehood puts the Palestinians in breach of the Oslo accords. It was in Oslo that the question of statehood was discussed between Israel and the Palestinians and they signed an accord stating that future statehood questions would be negotiated. Once again we see the real truth about negotiating with the Palestinians. Once again it is a one sided affair- Israel gives and gets nothing in return. That would be reason enough to disdain the recent vote and the UN in general. I don’t know why we continue to spend millions of dollars to host an organization that does not really promote peace or justice. I for one would be glad to let the UN relocate.

In addition to these points I wish all the wise people of the UN would consider this question: while the UN can take all the votes it wants to, will there ever, could there ever, be a Palestinian state? Does that seem like a strange question? Consider the historical truth- there has never been a Palestinian people, there has never been an identifiable national body representing the majority of “citizens.” Even now many critics of the two-state solution are not against the idea of two states. They are simply realizing the fact that there is no comprehensive body that speaks for the Palestinians. The “Authority” represents only a minority of the population. Hamas should never be considered a legitimate body to deal with international issues and, in certain pockets, there are still local leaders who command their own private armies. If the UN wants to wave a magic wand to create a state who do they expect to pop out of the magician’s hat as the leadership? At this point the only thing statehood would grant the Palestinians would be the status to have their own civil war.

The circle of lies continues at the UN. The fact that this body of “international fellowship and justice” continues to entertain and actively support Palestinian statehood only proves that it has no real interest in a lasting and just peace. By putting Israel in a corner from which there is no escape the UN only shows that it agrees with the Palestinians- peace in the Middle East means a Middle East without Israel.

 

The Peace Dance

For the last two weeks our attention has focused on Israel. Images of explosions, young soldiers, and rockets flying through the air have formed the collage of news coming out of Israel. For those of us with friends and families in Israel these have been tense days of constant phone calls and e-mails as we keep asking the rhetorical question: “are you ok?” Maybe we have also paused to wonder the consequences for ourselves: “what will happen if a wider war starts?” If these are questions that we ask with a voice of fear and uncertainty, I would ask you to try to imagine the mood in Israel. Unable to send young children to school, worrying  if older children will be part of a ground campaign into Gaza, or maybe just waiting anxiously for the next siren blast. Between the siren and the sound of the missile hitting must be an unbearable few seconds that seem like a lifetime.

It goes without saying that the worst fear is giving in to fear. Can any of us imagine the bravery it takes to get up in the morning and try to pursue a “normal day” under such circumstances? How many of us could answer that challenge? I remind you, if it need be said at all, that the only thing that keeps Israelis going is their resolve to live in a Jewish homeland. A determination to a cause that is even more precious than life itself- the future of Medina Yisrael. I am afraid that our own commitments to the Jewish future looks very pale when compared to the bravery of an average Israeli who is just trying to get through another day with the hope that it will be one day closer to a ceasefire if not to a real, lasting peace.

When all is said and done what is it that we ask? Just a place to live in security. Just a small piece of land to which we have, as a people, been connected to for the past four thousand years. In the struggle of these past two weeks we can never forget that.  As I write this column Hillary Clinton is in Israel, there is a “secret” envoy from Israel who has gone to Egypt for talks, there have been “ceasefires” that did not last. There has also been a lot of second guessing about why the battle escalates. In the end all of this talk and the attending effort boil down to one question- who really wants peace and who really wants war. Israel wants peace. The Palestinians want Israel. It really is that simple. There is no room for self doubt or ambiguity. Hamas is a group of terrorists fighting to destroy Israel. There is no chance for peace as long as Arab children are taught to murder Jews. There is no peace unless two parties can agree. The Peace Dance is bound to fail under the present circumstances – it takes two to tango and every day the Palestinians make it clearer that they have no desire to be a partner.

A Time for Heroes

 

During these days of Hanukkah our thoughts turn to ancient heroes- the Maccabees. They fought to preserve Judaism and, against all odds, overcame an enemy with much greater numbers. They defied history and came out victorious. I can’t help but think of another set of heroes- survivors of the Holocaust who fought just to survive. I am humbled when I meet them. Their stories of individual survival and their stories of personal loss and tragedy should make each of us realize that every one of them is a hero. If Hanukkah is the time to speak of- re-dedication, I can think of no better time for each of us to pause and rededicate ourselves to honoring both the memory of the six million and the lives of those who survived.

In the past few months I have been fortunate enough to produce the pilot for a new series called Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes. It has been an honor to get to meet so many survivors in the course of producing this first episode. It has also been an experience that confirms to me the importance of telling their stories. Working with Executive Producer Bob Pianka and Jewish Life Television (JLTV. I think that viewer response to the show has demonstrated that there are many stories of the Shoah that still have to be told, many heroes that still have to be recognized, and many aspects of survivors’ lives that still need to be made a part of the public record.

In South Florida we live with the third largest survivor community in the world. We need to tell their stories to the world. That is why I am so passionate about the work we do by producing Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes. I ask you to please join me in hearing their stories. The pilot episode of Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes will re-air during the next few days. Please tune in and show that these heroes will never be forgotten nor will their voices ever be silenced.

Many of you are already familiar with Jewish Life TV. It is the largest Jewish network in the world. JLTV is in over 40 million homes in America and Canada and over 80 million homes in Europe. JLTV can be seen throughout South Florida on Comcast channel 239 and DirecTV 366 and Atlantic Broadband 167. Dish and Xfinity will soon have JLTV as well.  I hope you will watch Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes. Tune in JLTV on the following dates and times to see our pilot : December 17^th at 3:00pm, December 18^th and 8:00 and 11pm, December 19^th at 5:00pm, or December 20^th at 4:00pm.

I wish all my readers the very best for the remaining days of Hannukah and ask that you make these festive days of lights a time to celebrate the heroes of our people.