Israel For Dummies
By Irwin N. Graulich (10/14/03)
Why is the world so preoccupied with Israel? Why has there been a 3,000 year obsession with one of the tiniest groups around--Jews? Why is there an uproar against this one group, amongst all others who also call themselves "The Chosen People?" Why has the UN spent almost half its time on issues concerning Israel, even before 1967, when the entire West Bank, Gaza, the Golan Heights and all of old Jerusalem already belonged to Arab populations?
Imagine the time, energy and money that has been spent throughout the Arab and Muslim world fighting, hating and propagandizing against Israel? What would these countries look like today had their focus been on technology, planting and building?
The mystery begins to unravel when we understand the word "Israel." Most people, including most Jews, think of Israel as a country. The actual meaning of Israel derives from the Bible where Jews are referred to as "Am Yisrael"--the people called Israel.
The state of Israel only exists under the umbrella of Judaism, also referred to as Israel/The Jewish People. When Israel (the state) becomes a Jew's only vehicle to Judaism, his/her religion will fail, and ultimately the nation will collapse. That is why secular Jews like Shimon Peres, Yossi Beilin and Yosi Sarid are in an abyss, a bottomless pit destined for failure. Only when the state of Israel is part of a Jew's identity, can that individual be successful with both Israel the state and Israel the people.
Israel, the country, will be meaningless to the next generation of Jews, unless Judaism becomes meaningful for them. If Israel and the Middle East, are not just "a part" of their Jewish experience, then Tel Aviv, Haifa and Netanya will merely be Miami Beach, where everyone happens to speak Hebrew.
Thank God Israel's enemies do not understand or recognize the true disaster in Israel. For the vast majority of secular Jews, the only thing that has kept them passionate about the "Holy Land" are the current threats against it. Ironically, it is the Arab/Muslim world, through their own stupidity and hatred, that has kept Israel together and strong!
Without question, Yasir Arafat has done more to keep many Jews Jewish and fighting on behalf of Israel, than any Rabbi on the planet. What Yasir and his cohorts fail to recognize is that if peace eventually comes to the Middle East, Jews throughout the world will have much less to be passionate about with regard to fundraising, lobbying and protesting for Israel. So what will keep those Jews Jewish and what will keep the non-religious Jews in Israel "occupied?" When Israel becomes a common fact of life and not a dream, most Jews will move on to other quasi-religious interests such as secularism, feminism, environmentalism, liberalism and real estate.
The UN and the world's obsession with Jews emanates from one idea. The fact that this little group has the audacity to say that God chose them to carry His message to the world. Most people, including Jews, should not interpret this to mean that Jews are any better than anyone else. In fact, God purposely "chose" the biggest failures of that time to bring His moral laws to human beings.
This shows everyone, by example, how a failing group can indeed become successful. Had God chosen a strong group like the Egyptians to receive His laws, people would point to the fact that a strong messenger forced it upon the world; a concept which simply proves that it is the message and not the messenger that is truly great!
Obviously, most of humanity's religions and cultures believe in the Jews as God's "Chosen Messenger Service," since Judaism has formed the basis of modern Christianity and Islam, and it is Judaism's moral laws that have become the foundation of modern Western society.
The real WMD focused on the state of Israel today is the lack of Jewish religious approaches available, a concept which has made religions thrive in America. While Christianity has managed to maintain diversity even in Israel, Judaism has failed in this effort. Both Judaism and Christianity in the United States offer a wide range of choices in terms of practices and experiences.
Judaism includes Orthodox, Conservative and Reform and Christianity offers a variety of Christian/Protestant denominations. All of these options fall within established guidelines for each religion. Only together, do these wonderfully competing religious components represent a true religion. Unless there is intra-religious competition, the religion will become fanatical and destined for failure.
Religion needs competition just like business needs competition. If there is only one brand of ketchup on the supermarket shelves, most people will tire of that one taste and abandon it. The variety of ketchups and dips available is what makes eating so appealing. Each religion needs "religious capitalism" in order to thrive.
The real problem in Israel is that one is either Orthodox or nothing. When given that choice, most people will choose nothing. When religion does not offer choices, many adherents become fanatical. This manifests itself differently in each religion. Fanatics in Judaism become obsessed with kosher seltzer and kosher toothpaste. Fanatics in old Christianity became Crusaders and anti-Semites, among other things. Fanatics in modern day Christianity blow up abortion clinics. Fanatics in modern Islam hijack commercial jetliners and run them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Although fanatics in Judaism and Christianity represent a very small minority, in Islam they represent a serious minority or possibly majority. The vast majority of moderate Jews and Christians respect other religions and support Israel. Unfortunately, a majority of Muslims want Islam to dominate the world and do not support Israel. Perhaps God is a little angry with that attitude and thus we have the miracle of Israel's survival.
However, this can change because only when Israel, the country, is part of the larger equation of a serious religious Reform, Conservative or Orthodox Jew, will the state of Israel's survival be guaranteed.
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