Yes, There is Potential

Arutz Sheva ^ | 07 March 2003 | Ellen W. Horowitz

[SJackson]

[Author’s note: I had just finished writing this piece, which I had started writing a week ago, when I heard about the bus explosion in Haifa. My heart sank and suddenly everything I had written on this page seemed so terribly insignificant and ridiculously optimistic. Literally weeks had gone by since the last successful (sic!) suicide bombing against our civilians. As a result, I guess I was feeling a bit upbeat. So I submit this piece with the hope that our new government will use their potentially very strong arm and take resolute action against our enemies. Then, maybe we can finally turn inward and return to the job of healing and building our nation.]

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or did I just detect a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel? It’s just that it’s so difficult to see through all this blessed rain that keeps steaming up my glasses (may it continue to pour). My ears, too, seem to have been affected by the weather. I can almost swear that I hear the sounds of Hatikva blending with the howling wind.

Let´s see...

Yep, it appears that the good guys are in and the bad guys are out. For years, it seemed as if this country was being destroyed from within. One could never be sure if Knesset members were working to build or dismantle the state. It seems that many in the far Left and Ultra-Orthodox camps forgot that the name of the game is called “nation building”. Our Knesset teams over the past several years either forgot how to play, never bothered to pick-up the ball, or kicked it way out of bounds. I wish I could find a more appropriate analogy than that of a game to describe the State of Israel’s political process, but it seems that the Jewish state likes to play around and still has quite a bit of growing up to do. At any rate, the public finally called “foul”.

The current Knesset members, in spite of all of their very human failings, have chosen to be active participants in the development of the Jewish Nation. Yes, I am also referring to the members of Shinui. Although I’m observant, I hold a special place in my heart for secular Zionism. Secular Zionists are people who, for a variety of reasons, either chose, were forced, or were born into situations where they were distanced from authentic Judaism. Yet, it’s amazing that in spite of having all the beauty, meaning, and passion of Jewish traditions, mitzvot, ritual observance and scholarship stripped away, they still retain a very vibrant and beating Jewish heart. Unlike the devotees of Meretz, who hate the Jewishness within them, Shinui constituents have, for the most part, veins pulsing with Jewish blood. They both recognized and were hurt by the chilul Hashem caused by the Labor/Meretz/Shas trio. Their souls screamed, “Something ain’t right here and we’re not gonna take it anymore.” Contrary to rejecting their heritage, Shinui’s Knesset members are exhibiting their innate Jewish character by asking hard questions and attempting to rectify the situation by taking a rather aggressive, albeit dangerously untraditional, approach to initiating changes within Israeli society.

Still, the prospect of Tommy Lapid as justice minister gives me the chills. Granted, many of us feel that anyone less than King David himself shouldn’t be rendering decisions in the department of justice; however, it seems that for now, we’re stuck with Tommy and a crew of very shrewd lawyers who can’t wait to “stick-it to the Haredim”.

I think we should all keep in mind that the definition of haredi is “G-d fearing”, which pretty much sums up the makeup of a lot of us in the National Camp. I therefore implore our current religious Knesset members to take a good look as to where they are standing. I have no doubt that the issues that will be brought to the plenum will be tricky ones and it’s difficult to determine which strategy and method of debate should be used. Whether Effie Eitam and Benny Elon use the approach of Hillel or Shamai in their public stance makes no difference to me, as long as they take charge and respond in a responsible and intelligible manner that the G-d fearing public can wholeheartedly support.

The leadership within the Land of Israel and secular Zionist camps can’t evade the obvious - If we’re unable and unwilling to establish boundaries and personal red lines for ourselves as a people, then the prospects of securing our national borders and resolving territorial issues in the near future looks bleak.

Nevertheless, with all the difficulties we face, I believe we are witnessing a change for the better . It appears that we have reinstated (with a lot of help from above) Zionism in the Knesset. A new (maybe old?) precedent is being set into motion. Those wishing to be active members in our political process will have to approach their public service with a sincere love for the Land and State of Israel (in addition to their love of Knesset salaries, other perks and control of the nation’s purse strings). Perhaps one day, in the future, we can add pride in themselves as Torah-observant Jews as a prerequisite.

The road ahead won’t be easy, especially if we stick to any “road map” designed by anybody outside ourselves. I’m not sure if I trust Ariel Sharon. I even have my doubts as to whether or not the current government will stand for very long. But I think what we have is called “potential”, and potential is a very good thing to have.

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Ellen Horowitz lives in the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She is a painter and writer and can be reached at ilan-acu@netvision.net.il.

[SJackson]

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