In 1986 Elie Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize not only because of the intensity of his Holocaust story, which like all survivors’ stories left such a strong impression on his readers in describing what happened in the death camps. I was at that service along with the late Elie Wiesel, who was in utter shock that a Jew was able to utter such assertions. He explained to the audience that what happened that day was God’s way to return to the world arena and stir the world to a religious war. I heard Effi Eitam give a drasha at Fifth Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan shortly after 9/11. Cancer is a type of illness in which most of the people who die from it die because they were diagnosed too late……it is already too late to deal with it.” Of the Arabs within the State of Israel, Eitam said they were “the ticking bomb beneath the whole democratic Israeli order.” He called these Israeli citizens an “elusive threat” that “by their nature resemble cancer. He has called several times over the years for the expulsion of all or some Arabs from Judea and Samaria. He said the army has the ability to do so, it just lacks the will. After his discharge from the army in 2000, Eitam lectured on the need to reoccupy all of Judea and Samaria and to expel overnight the entire Arab population from there. Following this, the army gave him a severe reprimand and stopped his promotion. When they claimed to have acted under the express instructions of their direct commander, the military tribunal decided, based on doubt, not to prosecute Eitam but concluded in its ruling that his violent conduct had become the norm and set the example for all who served under his command. Under his command in the Givati Brigade in 1988, four of his subordinates were on trial for the murder of a prisoner. I myself have worked with Yad Vashem for 30 years and my stance, whenever I approach the place, has always been of extreme reverence.Įffi Eitam has a personal history that disqualifies him for this special position not because he was a politician, not because he advocates for the Greater Land of Israel, but because of his actions and his rhetoric. Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, is a symbol it is a holy place. The problem is that the post of chairman of Yad Vashem is not just another public position. He said that Eitam has administrative and business skills, that he has many qualifications, that he is well acquainted with the corridors of power and, most importantly, the treasury, and this may all be true. Minister Elkin has treated this as if it were an appointment to just any position. Do I therefore oppose his appointment to senior public positions? Not at all! Can he be a dialogue partner in various settings? Absolutely. Effi Eitam is a good example of a person with positions as opposed to mine as East is to West. There is always a very clear, moral line that cannot be crossed in any way, otherwise, you are not a leader but rather an opportunist who has lost his own soul.Ī clear example of crossing the clear line is the nomination by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Ze’ev Elkin of Effi Eitam as Chairman of Yad Vashem. But there are opportunities to engage with bitter foes in which the gain is greater than the cost, whether it is to advance pragmatic political goals or lift barriers to mutual recognizing one another’s humanity.ĭoes this mean that anything goes for the sake of pragmatism? That everything is up for sale? That there are no red lines? Certainly not. Of course, all of us who engage in these unconventional collaborations pay a price. In short – Tikkun Olam under Divine Provenance. Over the years, I have seen that together with them, I’ve managed to reach agreements and create extensive collaborations to save lives and bring joy and well-being to human beings. I must engage in discourse and listen carefully to those whose opinions are far from my own. At the same time, I am convinced that if I want to work for change in the world I cannot just talk to myself or preach to the choir. While I am certain that my interpretation outweighs theirs, I cannot deny the sources on which they rely despite disagreeing with their conclusions. I engage with people who hold opinions that are far from my own, including Jews who may be as religious as I am and with whom I have a fraught debate about the heart and soul of Torat Israel. I believe this is the best path for bringing about significant change for our society, in the Middle East and perhaps even in the world. Moreover, I have been operating for many years through fruitful dialogue and collaborations with people very far from my positions. Whenever it has been necessary, I have tried to take issue with deeds or positions rather than making it personal.
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