Does peacing out mean we don't support Israel?

Today we had a lunch discussion spurned from a student remark about "peacing out" if things got too bad as well as an article about students coming to Israel during their break to show their support for Israel.

This semester I've spent a lot of time struggling with my feelings about Israel. Here are some of the issues influencing me:

1) Sunday School Zionism. I'm convinced that values education at a young age is the most effective form of indoctrination. What do I mean by this? As much as I would like to use my critical thinking skills to make a totally rational connection to the state of Israel, I find it impossible. My connection is based on an emotional response that I recognize every time I hear something on the news about Israel. Whether its an internal flinch or a pulling on my heart strings, I know I'm wrapped up with this place. Sunday School and summers at camp laid the groundwork for all future interactions with Israel.

2) The Holocaust. I've had the good fortune to visit Yad V'Shem a few times this year and each time I'm blown away. This museum is truly amazing. When I was there last January we got to the end and our tour guide made a statement about the last exhibit showing our generations intermingled with the generations of victims. This past summer I was touched by the exit onto a view of Jerusalem Hills. A few months ago it was a video of a woman describing her feeling of utter desperation at finding herself pregnant a few months after the war and her marriage and then being so happy and grateful for her child once he was born. Having grandparents who were apart of this narrative always highlighted the need of a Jewish state for me.

3) Democratic Jewish State. My Social Justice class has brought up a lot of issues that seem particularly difficult for this special country. A few of the organizations I've heard from recently have cited Israel's desire for a Jewish majority as a stumbling block for its democratic ideals. In particular, victims of human trafficking and refugees have issues because as non-Jews they can't become citizens of Israel. At best they can become permanent residents which has all of its own problems. Is it possible to be Democratic and Jewish or does Jewish have to trump Democratic in serious issues, just to ensure the continuance of the state?

4) America and specifically, California. Growing up in as fine a country as America has me spoiled. I never felt antisemitism, I have always had plenty of opportunities for expressing my Jewish identity and I can separate my religion from my secular existence if I want to. Every time someone asks me if I want to make aliyah (usually cab drivers) I want to scoff at them. How could I possibly move here when I have it sooo great back home?


The teacher who ran the lunch session started out by saying that all of our decisions in life reflect our values, whether we make them consciously or subconsciously. He encouraged us to think about the implications of this in terms of the current war (which is scary, and bad for lots of people, but thankfully has not affected the day to day life in Jerusalem for us students) and our decisions to remain in Israel or go home (which no one is considering doing at this point, but might consider doing if we felt our safety was in danger) I'd like to think that if the time came to make this decision I would know what to do, but I imagine that in reality it would be quite a difficult decision to make.


*Thank you for all of you who have expressed concern to my mother at home, I know she appreciates all of the support.