For weeks now we’ve watched as a flow of precious oil has spewed into the Gulf blackening the water and fouling the coast.  Today we learned of another spill into the water - the spilling of blood as a flotilla of ships sailed toward Gaza with the purpose of provoking Israeli reaction.  The ships set sail under the flag of humanitarian effort but resisted offers to have their cargo searched.  You see these ships sailed with the hope that they could stir some international controversy and stir controversy they did. Many have blamed BP Oil for not taking sufficient safety steps prior to the spill tragedy - but few have blamed the “humanitarians” for dangerously challenging a military blockade.  

Each day every American citizen is searched before boarding an airplane.  Our government instituted this inconvenient search not because it has reason to suspect the loyalty of American citizens but because the government feels its responsibility to protect Americans from those who seek to do harm.  The State of Israel has good reason to fear the importation into Gaza of weapons - the distance between Gaza and large centers of the Israeli population is minimal.  Just as the air flight search is inconvenient the search of the flotilla vessels must seem equally inconvenient but Americans tolerate these searches because they reasonably protect the population and the world should understand equally that Israel must reasonably protect ITS population.

Oh I wish things were different.  I wish I could just walk on to the plane carrying whatever I want and trusting my fellow air passengers.  I wish Israel did not have good reason to fear Hamas and those who have pledged themselves to Israel’s destruction.  But my wishes of boarding an airplane without inspection just won’t help and wishing that Israel did not have such dangerous neighbors also just won’t help.  I wish Israel had handled the situation a bit differently but it is impossible for me to evaluate the military response by seasoned commanders who not only understood the dangers facing them (and their homes) but who have been scarred by decades of conflict, war and loss of life.

My heart pours out for those who lost their life in the Mediterranean.  Their blood is a stain on the waters just as the oil has stained the shores of the gulf. 

My prayer is that true humanitarians will step forward and allow their cargoes to be searched and escorted toward those who need help and that the world will demand that safety and security be a concern for EVERYBODY - Americans, Israelis, Palestinians, Turks, etc.  We must do everything we can to insist on a world of safety and security.  

In the meantime I have grave concern for Israel under such international outcry. Last week I heard Israel’s US Ambassador, The Honorable Michael Oren speak of the need for us to decry any nuclear arms capability in Iran.  We must speak forthrightly on this additional threat to Israel’s very existence and I urge everyone to visit http://www.nonukesforiran.org/ and to voice their concern for the safety of the world.

I hope that you will join me this shabbat as we will voice our special concern for Israel and the world during this difficult and stressful time.  It is time to call for renewed peace efforts and renewed involvement and commitment to a world of peace.  Shalom.