Jewish Resistance
By Rabbi Marc D. Angel

(Rabbi Angel serves Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York City, founded in 1654. Past President of the Rabbinical Council of America, he has authored and edited seventeen books. His most recent volume is "But Who am I and Who are My People? A Rabbis Reflections on the Rabbinate and the Jewish Community," Ktav Publishing House, 2001.)

The current crisis confronting the State of Israel is another test of the will of the Jewish people to live and flourish. During the past nineteen months, while Israelis have been slaughtered by Palestinian suicide bombers and drive-by shooters, most heads of state have remained unsurprisingly silent. They have not put diplomatic, economic or military pressure on Mr. Arafat to rein in the terror. But they have found opportunities to criticize Israel at every turn.

The Arab world has been notoriously unhelpful. Americas so-called allies Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt have done very little to help the Palestinians achieve genuine peace. Jordanian and Egyptian mobs march against Israel when Israel responds to Palestinian attacks: but they never march against terrorism; they never show the slightest sympathy with Israel's predicament; they never offer constructive help to improve the status quo. Some allies!

The vast hypocrisy and duplicity of European nations is particularly frustrating. In the very lands where millions of Jews were ruthlessly murdered by Europeans, self-righteous spokesmen pontificate against Israel's military response to Palestinian terrorism. Perhaps these Europeans wish that the current-day Jews would march to their deaths as compliantly as the European Jews of the Holocaust days. They certainly do not like to see Jews defending themselves, let alone actually showing great strength.

Galling, too, is the anti-Israel jihad orchestrated by the media. Palestinians who foster, encourage and perpetrate terrorism are depicted as helpless victims. Israel which has struggled mightily to achieve peace and which has been horribly victimized by Palestinian terrorism and incitement is often depicted as the aggressor. Reading the daily newspapers or watching news on TV have become painful experiences for all friends of Israel and all supporters of the war against terrorism and hatred. The media jihad against Israel is a war that can have serious, dangerous consequences for Israel and for the entire free world.

So what are we Jews to do? The answer is: we must do what our ancestors have done for the past 4,000 years when facing deadly and unscrupulous enemies: we must resist. Resistance must be evident on various levels. Obviously, we need to bolster support of Israel's cause within the American government: lobbying, writing government officials, showing support for those who speak out on behalf of Israel.

We need to express our frustrations and outrage at anti-Israel reporting in the media. We should participate in efforts such as CAMERA, the FLAME and honestreporting.com. The media should hear from all of us regularly. Public demonstrations and rallies on behalf of Israel are important expressions of solidarity. Historians look back at the Holocaust period and wonder why American Jews were so quiet. Let it never be said that this generation of American Jews was apathetic to the needs of Israel at this critical juncture.

Resistance also manifests itself in the realm of economics. Buy Israeli products in your local stores. Or you can order products online at www.shopinisrael.com. Buying Israel Bonds and investing in Israeli businesses is vital. Sending funds to Israeli institutions will provide material assistance, but also emotional support to those who work so hard on behalf of Israeli society. Our congregation and I suppose many others as well has established an Israel Emergency Fund, through which we send contributions to institutions and to families of victims of terrorism. These are tangible expressions of friendship, love and support.

The UJA-Federation has established "Standing with Israel: the Israel Emergency Fund." This fund provides direct services to Israeli victims of terrorism. It creates safe spaces for children and families. It helps save and protect lives.

Those who travel to Israel thereby demonstrate a strong personal commitment. Those who are not ready to travel to Israel right now should become "virtual tourists". Set aside the money you would have spent on a trip to Israel. Send it to family and friends in Israel and tell them to spend it as though they were tourists in hotels, shops, restaurants, taxis etc.

Aside from political, financial and emotional resistance, we need to demonstrate spiritual resistance. Through daily prayer and Torah study, we maintain our connection with the eternal God and the eternal truths of our tradition. In a world filled with chaotic noise and confusion, we need to spend time each day in quiet reflection and study. These precious moments of spiritual renewal are essential to maintaining our inner strength and resolve.

In confronting the current crisis, we must be active, strong, proud, generous and thoughtful. We must have the deep, unshakeable conviction: the people of Israel lives and will live forever.