Listen to our story
A quote in a recent j. article that one might pass over lightly struck me quite profoundly. In regard to his experience with Palestinians while researching his recent book, novelist Michael Lavigne says, ”You have to be able to hear the other side of the story. They can’t hear our story, but we should at least be able to hear theirs” (“S.F. novelist crawls under skin of suicide bomber, victims,” March 15).
There is a presumption here that I simply do not understand, and yet this is hardly the first time I’ve heard it. Why can’t they hear our story? There are conversations happening between Israelis and Palestinians, if not over the Green Line then in many places in the world.
I not only agree, but advocate for the premise that listening is the key to understanding. But why is this not a two-way dialogue? Who is listening to Israeli victims of suicide bombs who have been maimed or disabled for life, or who have lost parents, siblings or children in bombings? Who is listening to the Sderot women who are miscarrying as a result of the rockets from Gaza?
Why is the impact of the violence weighted so relatively, without consideration of its effect on all personal human experience?
Sara Yakira Heckelman | San Francisco
‘What did you do to create Palestine?’
Imagine an intergenerational family seder in 2023. Passover as the celebration of freedom from oppression is the topic, and one child asks, “How did Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land come to an end? Another child asks excitedly, “What exactly did you do to help create Palestine and keep Israel safe?”
Intergenerational learning and trust are touchstones of religious and moral continuity. They shape the minds and hearts of successive generations. What will we Jews be able to contribute to the future if we value freedom from oppression only for ourselves?
We must work for two states if we value Jewish civilization and intend to be honest with our children, and with their children and their children’s children, on Passover and every other day of the year.
We move in different yet overlapping social circles, where we can each influence opinion on support for the two-state solution. We will change the conversation in our communities when we each talk about the capacity of Israel to thrive as a democracy and homeland for Jews where all its citizens have equal rights and opportunities … that is, if we really care about the seders to come.
Molly Freeman | Berkeley
Chair, J Street S.F. Bay Area
Invigorated consciousness
Sue Fishkoff wrote an informative column relating to the Tribe (“The tribe is dead, long live the tribe,” March 29).
Unfortunately, most Jewish people do not belong to synagogues. We have many fine synagogues, but it appears that these institutions have failed to meet the needs of most of the Jews in the community.
I think many Jewish people do not join, or leave the synagogue, because they have difficulty understanding the services that are presented primarily in Hebrew.
A new synagogue that uses English totally in its functioning would appeal to many Jewish people, because they would have full understanding of the texts and Torah. Out of this language change, members may experience greater spiritual stimulation, and an invigoration of Jewish consciousness.
William Schwartz | Hillsborough