Letter from Ruth Matar (Women in Green) Jerusalem
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Dear Friends,
It seems that the actual date for the Annapolis “Peace Conference” still remains a mystery.
The different Jewish communities in Annapolis apparently have very different approaches toward the upcoming Annapolis “Peace Conference”.
I read a most interesting article in last Friday’s Jerusalem Post, entitled: “Annapolis Jews Plan for Summit”. The sub-title was: “Protests, Peace Rallies and Prayers being prepared”. (The entire article is included at the end of this Letter).
I found this article very interesting because I feel that the Jewish community of Annapolis is a veritable microcosm, reflecting attitudes of present day American Jewry.
Rabbi Ari Goldstein of the Reform Temple, Beth Shalom, the largest synagogue of Annapolis, said his Synagogue was planning a peace rally for the beginning of December with music, food and a march.
How sad that Rabbi Goldstein feels the Annapolis Conference is a joyous occasion, while many Jews are afraid it will turn out to be a gang rape of Israel,
Rabbi Goldstein also said he would invite Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to read from the Torah. If Tzipi Livni indeed is allowed to read from the Torah, she should choose a passage relevant to the Annapolis Peace Conference: “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are sojourners and residents with me.” (Leviticus, 25:23)
Stuart Schoenberg, who is a member of Kneseth Israel, the Orthodox Synagogue in Annapolis, said he was much less enthusiastic about the summit than Goldstein. He said that he would join protests against the summit that are expected to take place.
“Israel should not be pressured every time there is a President at the end of his term looking out for his legacy”, Schoenberg said. “We should not create a terrorist state.”
There is certainly a pronounced difference in the way Reform Jews and Orthodox Jews in Annapolis envision the ways they can help Israel.
I searched the websites of both the Reform and Orthodox synagogues with regard to their respective attitudes toward Israel.
On the website of Temple Beth Shalom, the Reform synagogue, there are various support options to help Israel:
1. Assist Magen David Adom to provide emergency medical treatment to those wounded by terrorist bombings.
2. Provide direct aid to the survivors of the attacks and their families.
3. Provide trauma services to violent-stricken areas.
4. Provide IDF soldiers with gifts of personal articles- toiletries, suntan lotion, shaving cream, underwear, socks, etc. – to individuals serving active duty in the IDF. Enclosing a personal note of support!
5. Participate through a great program sponsored by Elite (the chocolate manufacturer) and Heritage Affinity Credit Cards. Go to their web site, and send a personal message of support; they will send a chocolate bar with the message to an IDF soldier.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Orthodox synagogue, Kneseth Israel, is more serious. On their web site I found that they are concerned with the larger picturethe survival of Israel as a Jewish State.
Under the title “Israel Advocacy” I found the following:
Throughout the existence of Israel and especially during the past two decades, many stories have surfaced about the Middle East situation. Inaccurate accounts of the history, military, and politics regarding the State of Israel have influenced the general public’s view. It is our duty as Jews to educate ourselves and others in the truth of the matter.
This introduction was followed by a number of articles on the topic of Israel advocacy and awareness.
The following is a link to an article that is a “must read” for the participants of the Annapolis Conference:
“From Abraham to Statehood – Israel’s Right to the Land”
Rabbi Moshe Pinchas Weisblum, Kneseth Israel, Annapolis.
http://www.congki-annapolis.org/Israel’sRightofExistence.htm
Annapolis has a Chabad house as well. Rabbi Nochum Light of Chabad said he would not give his political opinion about the summit, but that he would be ready to provide kosher food, lodging and Shabbat services to its participants.
Rabbi Light said that during the summit his synagogue would host special prayers “for the safety of Israel and the peace of the Jewish People”.
The congregants of the Orthodox Kneseth Israel Synagogue rightly do not accept that George W. Bush is entitled to divide the G-d-given land of Israel. They find it essential to engage in political action to prevent the potentially horrific outcome of the Conference.
For Bible believing Jews, it is very clear that the Holy Land was given to the descendants of Abraham as an everlasting inheritance.
If and when the so-called “Annapolis Peace Conference” takes place, all of us, who believe in G-d’s word, should try to take part in some form or other, even though President Bush has not invited us to participate.
Who do I mean by “all of us”? Christians, Jews, all of us Americans and all right-thinking people worldwide, who are not beholden to the Arab oil cartel.
We plan to hold our own Conference a Zionist Conference. The locale has not yet been decided upon.
We also plan to demonstrate in multitudes against the giveaway of the Land of Israel to the Muslim-Fascist enemy.
The planned Annapolis Conference has aptly been named “the gang rape of Israel”. With G-d’s help, these evil plans will come to naught.
With Love and Blessings for Israel,
Ruth Matar
* * *
Annapolis Jews plan for summit
GIL HOFFMAN, Jerusalem Post Correspondent, THE JERUSALEM POST
October 26, 2007
No date has been set for the Annapolis summit and it is still unclear whether the conference will even take place, but the Jews of Annapolis are already planning peace rallies, protests and prayers.
Rabbi Ari Goldstein of Temple Beth Shalom in Annapolis said he was “thrilled” at the prospect that his town could soon become the focus of attention for Jews around the world. He said his Reform synagogue was planning a peace rally for the beginning of December with music, food and a march to the World War II Memorial overlooking the Annapolis Naval Academy where the summit is set to take place.
“I am confident that the Israelis and Palestinians are going to try to make Annapolis into a true house of peace,” said Goldstein, whose synagogue’s name means house of peace in Hebrew. “Beth Shalom is a great supporter of peace and nothing would make me happier than peace emerging from our own backyard.”
Goldstein, who leads missions to Israel every two years, said the summit would provide Annapolis with an opportunity to showcase itself to the Jewish and Zionist world. He said he would invite the head of the Israeli delegation to the summit, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, to read from the Torah at his synagogue.
Steven Forman, who attends Beth Shalom, said he hoped Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries would send representatives to the summit. He said he would attend the peace rally and would invite the Israeli and Arab delegations to his home for breakfast.
Beth Shalom is the town’s largest synagogue, with some 270 families. The Orthodox Kneseth Israel synagogue boasts a Jewish day school.
Annapolis also has a Conservative synagogue named Kol Ami and a Chabad house.
Stuart Schoenberg, who is a member of Kneseth Israel, said he was much less enthusiastic about the summit than Goldstein. Schoenberg said he would join protests against the summit that are expected to take place.
“Israel should not be pressured every time there is a president at the end of his term looking out for his legacy,” Schoenberg said. “We should not create a terrorist state.”
Rabbi Nochum Light of the Chabad of Anne Arundel County said he would not give his political opinion about the summit, but that he would be ready to provide kosher food, lodging and Shabbat services to its participants.
Light said that during the summit his synagogue would host special prayers “for the safety of Israel and the peace of the Jewish people.”
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