You can go to a pro-Israel rally even if you don’t agree with Israel’s military strategy in the West Bank.
You can make a gift for Israel to your federation even if you oppose Prime Minister’s Ariel Sharon’s government.
You can attend an Israel prayer vigil even if you think Israel should have left the territories years ago.
It doesn’t matter how you feel about particular policies or incidents. What matters is that you believe there is a need for the continued existence of a Jewish homeland. And that you support the people who are living there now.
Many Jewish agencies and synagogues are planning events over the next few weeks to demonstrate their solidarity with Israel. The three local federations are launching special campaigns in the hope of raising millions of dollars from the Bay Area that will go to victims of Israel terrorism and their families.
All of us from the political left, the center and the right should be able to support both the local events and the fund-raising campaign — if we believe in Israel.
We can show our support by attending a major rally 3 p.m. Sunday at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. A large attendance is important so that the media and the residents of Israel can see that Bay Area Jews care about the Jewish homeland and agree that a peaceful solution needs to be found quickly.
This week’s trip by Secretary of State Colin Powell has little chance of success unless he can get an agreement that ends the cycle of violence and stops acts of terrorism. Only then can true negotiations start.
But there is little chance for success as long as there are terrorist incidents like Wednesday’s suicide bombing on a Haifa bus, killing at least eight Israelis.
No matter where we sit on the political spectrum, we can agree that terrorism stands in the way of peace. With that understanding in mind, you should be ready to join fellow Jews at Sunday’s rally and other events that will follow.