Standing Tall with Pride at Being Jewish

I've never been more proud to be Jewish then I was today.  I have felt sadness, anxiety, optimism, despair, and frustration over the situation in Israel just like everyone else.  I have felt gratitude for the IDF, empathy for their parents, concern for all Israelis, frightened for the southern Israelis, respect for the Israeli leaders, sorrow for the Gazan civilians and disgust and even pity for the radical Islamics.  But today, as I read one particular blog entry,  I was filled with pride.

I have been reading the Times of Israel blog entries continually and I have really been impressed that this particular blog seemed to be fair in its reporting and not slanted as some of the other blogs and Israeli social media outlets have been.  I have found myself riveted by not only the military events of the month; but of the social, political and interpretive comments.  While my knowledge of Israeli politics and political parties is very limited I have begun to understand the view of both the right and the left.

I really intended to write this week about either my first experience observing Tisha B'Av or about the conclusion of saying Kaddish for my mom; but those will have to wait. 

Today I read an entry that reported  Prime Minister Netanyahu's statements since the cease fire.  First of all, I was impressed with his ability to quickly switch gears from making military decisions to speaking (at least portrayed in the media) calmly about the current situation and moving forward in his role as prime minister.  He reportedly offered condolences to the Palestinian citizens harmed or killed and said, “Israel deeply regrets every civilian casualty, every single one. We do not target them. People of Gaza are not our enemies. Our enemy is Hamas.”  Another post stated that Netanyahu stressed “every civilian casualty is a tragedy." 

But the posted quote that affected me the most was what seemed to me a bold and direct statement that clearly is not going to be supported by much of the international community or even by all Israelis. 

Raphael Ahren wrote, "It would be 'a moral mistake,' he says, not to act against terrorist fire from mosques, schools and residential areas. Such behavior would represent 'an enormous victory for terrorists everywhere,' he says.  If this were to happen, more and more civilians would die around the world, he says.  Terrorists must not be allowed to 'fight from civilian areas with impunity'."

I'm not exactly sure why this post filled me with such pride and made me think how thankful I was to be Jewish.  Maybe because I recognized the leadership that was needed to be able to publically make this comment.  Maybe because I respected the decisions that were made in order to shape the future of all civilizations.  Maybe I had a sudden realization that these qualities are what drive the Jewish people, both collectively and individually.  I'm not sure; but I instantly felt pride in Benjamin Netanyahu, in Israel, and in my Judaism.

I know enough to know that not all of Netanyahu's decisions were supported by all of Israel's leaders and that many felt that it was a mistake to agree to the current ceasefire.  There is certainly more than one way to approach a political and/or military dilemma but I also know how important it is to support the final decision.  I have gained such respect, and pride, Israel and the decisions that were made.

Saying how proud I am to be Jewish seems like a paradox as just three weeks ago I told my 17 year old daughter to stay away from the anti-Israeli protesters and the Israeli supporters while she was in Boston.  With four weeks of education and enlightenment behind me, I think now I would instead tell her watch her surroundings, stay in a group and to be sure to stand tall while supporting Israel.