Mike and I recently returned from our third visit to Israel. Although we certainly enjoyed ourselves, as we always do when we travel, this was not merely a vacation but a carefully planned study trip, designed to explore the challenges of pluralism — of many kinds — in Israel today.
Israel is often in the news in the United States, and often with the implication that it is a "problem" that needs to be solved. We hear about missiles fired from Gaza at Israeli towns, Israeli soldiers mistreating Palestinians at checkpoints, U.S. college students protesting the use of Israeli-produced foods in their cafeterias. Neo-Nazis and white supremacists are also increasingly outspoken in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere, garnering approval from some people, provoking dismay and outrage from others.
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To many people, any issue involving Jews in general and Israel in particular should be simple. If you support Israel, you are supporting apartheid (and a racist). If you criticize Israel, you are antisemitic (and a racist). Pick a side, and stay there.
The reality is not simple. It is just about as far from "simple" as you can get. Mike and I have always known this; we try to stay informed and read widely, seeking the details and nuances behind the simplistic headlines and sound bites that pass so often for "news" in modern media. That's why we jumped at the chance to embark on this trip, and take advantage of the opportunities it offered to listen to a variety of individuals who are living and working, day to day, in this incredibly rich, historic, complicated part of the world.
As befits a study trip, we spent a good part of each day meeting with local officials, business leaders, teachers, and social workers in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tiberius, Lod, and Tel Aviv, hearing their perspectives on the issues they face in their particular communities. We also walked around city neighborhoods ancient and modern, and contemplated the landscape from the windows of our bus as we traveled around the country.
Before we left, friends teased us that we should come back with detailed plans to "solve" the problem of "peace in the Middle East". I can't pretend that our group did that. What we did do is achieve a deeper understanding of the daily challenges confronting those who make their homes in this part of the world — and, most importantly, learn about many, many people and organizations that are working every day to improve the situations they face.
A classic Jewish text, Pirkei Avot, states: "You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it". We witnessed this philosophy in action again and again throughout our trip. It doesn't result it quick or easy "solutions" to complex problems. But it is a way to keep moving in a positive direction; it is a way to make a difference, to contribute to our own well-being, and to the greater welfare of others.
