war

I don’t want war in Israel. I know this sounds like an obvious statement but I feel that in some way it sounds a little radical. Everywhere I turn I hear calls for the destruction of our enemies. I hear about wiping them off the map. I hear that this is finally Israel’s chance to do what needs to be done. I hear battle cries from all sides.
Unfortunately I hear them from the enemy too, and it really scares me.

Of course Israel has a right to defend itself, of course the force used is not disproportional considering the enemy and what’s at stake. Of course I support Israel 100%.....
but I don’t want a war.

I know many are praying for long lasting peace and for a quick and painless resolution to this conflict.. but I have a feeling many have forgotten that this is the end goal we should all be directing our efforts to.

The situation in Israel tears me up inside. I cringe every time I open a news site to see what’s happened, but I would rather spend my energy praying for peace than gloating over the hopeful and anticipated destruction of Israel's enemies. Maybe im wrong, but I don’t CARE about any enemies being destroyed, I just want them to let Israel live in peace! I get no satisfaction from knowing that Arab civilians were killed.

Praying for the destruction of our ennemies and hoping for their annihilation seems to me like praying for the symptoms to go away instead of the illness to be cured.

I want to pray for peace and for a quick and safe resolution to this mess. I don’t wish for a massacre, I don’t wish to prove Israeli might over its enemies. I don’t want Palestinians or Lebanese or arabs to die or suffer. I am not happy and wishing for the death of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructures.

But - most of all - I dont want war for the sake of Israel, Israelis and Jews everywhere. I worry about the effect a war has/will have on Israel. Don’t get me wrong, as much as the wasteful death of “the others” pains me, it is at the bottom of my list of worries. What REALLY worries me are the Israeli casualties – physical and mental.

We can forgive you for killing our sons. But we will never forgive you
for making us kill yours. - Golda Meir, to Anwar Saddat just before the
peace talks.

Soldiers who need to fight and kill turn into barbarians because often it’s the only way for them to cope. Cognitive dissonance dictates that they shed their human traits even when they are out of battle so that they can continue to do what is necessary when they are in battle. This is not something I wish upon my brothers.

in 1948 there were 6,373 Israeli casualties
in the 6 day war there were 779 killed, 2,563 wounded and 15 prisoners
in the Yom Kipur war there were 2,656 killed and 7,250 wounded
in the Lebanon war there were 675 killed
and since September 2000 there was been 1,119 people killed in terrorist attacks.

Those aren’t just numbers, each and everyone one of those is someone’s son, father, wife, sister.. jobs lost, post traumatic stress, shortage of necessities, alcoholism, anxiety, fear, orphans and widows.. all those are natural consequences of war – and this is what we wish for?? War is not handsome soldiers, shiny fighter jets, flags waving... it's pain and suffering and destruction.

I know everyone wants peace in the end. No one wants to live in a perpetual state of conflict, but it makes me sick when I hear the blood thirsty calls for the destruction of our enemies. I want to make it clear that I am in no way criticizing Israel and its actions, I fully support Israel and I have faith in its leaders. What I am having an especially hard time with is the enthusiasm displayed by those living in their American (or european..) comfort, foaming at the mouth, and calling for war and destruction. If we believe in G-d then let Him find a way to get rid of our enemies, let Him find a way to bring us peace – our only participation in this should be meriting peace and security through out exemplary deeds and our prayers.

We don't thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank God we are efficient. - Golda Meir

This world, including the politicians, the national borders, the fighter jets.. are all illusion. The ONLY thing that matters at the end of the day is the way we behave spiritually. Our fate is based on that. When the lives of our brothers and sisters are lost, when pieces of the land are given away, when Israel suffers, it is a direct result of the lacks in our efforts – spiritual efforts. G-d gives us what we deserve and at this point, I don’t feel we have very much to be proud of.

I don’t want to worry about the enemy, I want to worry about myself and my behavior and my avodat hashem, and that in the end will bring peace in a faster and more painless way than wishing for the destruction of my enemies.

It is true we have won all our wars, but we have paid for them. We don't want victories anymore. - Golda Meir