If Dr. Itzhak Haviv, an oncologist at Bar Ilan University ever wins the Nobel Prize for Medicine, I can say I met him way back when. I can say the same thing for Dr. Hanna Alonim, Director of the Mifne Center for the Early Intervention in the Treatment of Autism for the Infant and the Family. These two path-breaking individuals were just two of the incredible people I met on my recent visit to Israel that concentrated on the Tfat-Hazor-Rosh Pinah region of the northern Galilee, partner region to the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County that sponsored this tour for clergy.
I'll come back shortly to Dr. Haviv and Dr. Alonim because their respective stories are inspiring and indicative of the many praiseworthy things that are happening in Israel today. In the meantime, let me note that this week our Torah reading is Parashat Balak. The portion's namesake is the king of Moab who seeks to harm his ancestral cousins, the Israelites and deny them their place among the family of nations. Balak's ace-in-the-hole tactic is to hire Balaam, the most renowned wizard of the day, to go and curse the Israelites. Balaam's reputation is that anything out of his mouth comes true. So, Balak has great confidence that he will easily do away with the Israelites without expending much capital on warfare. Little does Balak know that every time Balaam goes forth to curse the Israelites, out of his mouth come blessings. The most famous of these blessings is the third, which is found at the opening of the Jewish prayer book: Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael, how good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel (Numbers 24:5).
In his commentary in the Etz Hayim edition of the Torah, Rabbi Harold Kushner asks: "Why didn't Balak hire Balaam to bless his own people rather than to curse Israel (since 'whom you bless is blessed indeed,' 22:6)?"
This insight rings true today. There is no question that Israel faces great challenges in its constant struggle to achieve lasting peace with the Palestinians and its neighbors in the region. Israeli leaders have made mistakes, as in any country, and yet they are held accountable by their electorate, the vibrant free press, and a strong, independent judiciary. Israel has held fast to democracy even in the face of existential threats on a daily basis. Despite these facts, there are those in the world who pour energy and resources into cursing Israel rather than blessing its neighbors with encouragement to live in harmony with Israel. Alice Walker is the latest example of a respected intellectual who seeks to curse, rather than to bless. The author of the acclaimed novel, "The Color Purple," which did so much to open the eyes of America and the world to the evil of racial segregation in America, recently refused to allow her signature work to be translated into Hebrew so that it could be enjoyed by an Israeli audience seeking to be inspired by her story. Her absurd rationale is that Israel is guilty of apartheid both inside the Green Line and in the Occupied Territories and is therefore not worthy of a translation of her book. As Rabbi Daniel Gordis writes, this is hate speech that should not be tolerated in intellectual circles.
I would love for Alice Walker to be like Balaam and offer blessings rather than curses. I think it would be better for everyone, including the Palestinians, whose cause she claims to champion, who would lead a dignified, prosperous life in the framework of a two-state solution. Fortunately, Israelis are not sitting and waiting for Alice Walker to change course. They are creating their own blessings, whether she or anyone else chooses to recognize them or not. In my recent visit, I was privileged to witness some of these blessings.
In visiting the Tzfat-Hazor-Rosh Pinah region, our group visited the brand new medical school in Tzfat operated by Bar Ilan University. It is the nation's fifth medical school and the first in the Galilee. In just one year of existence, it has grown by leaps and bounds and promises to be a great economic boon for the region that will create jobs for Jews and Arabs alike. In our visit, we were introduced to Dr. Yitzhak Haviv, a renowned oncologist. Born in Israel, he had gone abroad to serve in prestigious positions in Berkeley, Calif., and Melbourne, Australia. He decided to return to Israel and head a laboratory at its new medical school after turning down offers from Harvard and Cambridge. Why? Dr. Haviv told us that he was drawn to an opportunity to build a research department from the ground up. It wouldn't be afraid to think out of the box and explore new methodologies in fighting cancer. Dr. Haviv is renowned for bridging oncology research, the mapping of the human genome and the field of personalized medicine. Too often, he says, clinical treatment of cancer relies on uniform methods of treatment when, in fact, each person is different. Dr. Haviv's pathbreaking methodology goes for the source of the cancer in ways not sufficiently advanced by other modes of therapy. He has saved numerous lives already, even some suffering advanced or rare cases of cancer, and promises to be at the forefront of major advances in his field for years to come.
Our visit at Mifne in Rosh Pinah was every bit as awe-inspiring. According to founder and director Dr. Hanna Alomim, most parents of autistic children say that their children seemed perfectly normal for their first two years or so until they started missing benchmarks in their development. Dr. Alonim says that, in fact, autism can be detected much earlier and that the earlier the detection the greater chance the child has for successful therapy and a mainstream lifestyle. Mifne (which means "turn") has pioneered an innovative and holistic approach to autism treatment in which the child and his or her entire nuclear family take residence at the Mifne center for up to three weeks. The team of professionals are able to address simultaneously the varying needs of the child, the parents and the siblings. Hundreds of children from around the world from all backgrounds have benefitted from Mifne. The exporting of Mifne's methodology around the world has the potential to lead to great breakthroughs in curtailing the anguish that autism has wrought for our society over the last generation.
My recent exposure to Dr. Haviv and Dr. Alomim reenforced for me the blessings of the think-out-of-the-box mentality that is embraced in Israeli society (and extensively profiled in Dan Senor and Saul Singer's book, "Start-Up Nation"). There are those around the world who seek to curse and delegitimize Israel, much as Balak seeks to do in the biblical narrative. Rather than bemoan the state of the Jewish State as isolated and unappreciated, day after day ordinary Israelis are creating blessings on the ground that are improving lives for everyone of all stripes on our planet. After this most recent visit, I believe that in due time more and more people will defy the naysayers and say Mah tovu ohalekha Yaakov, how good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.
Follow Rabbi Edward Bernstein on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabbiecb
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Your article fails to mention the Israeli occupation and the Palestinians who suffer under it. The fact that you omitted this seems to suggest this article is another attempt by a delusional Rabbi to wash away Israel's occupation.
It's only a constant struggle because the majority of Israelis and their elected government reject doing anything towards lasting peace other than demand everybody go along with Israeli demands.
" Her absurd rationale is that Israel is guilty of apartheid both inside the Green Line and in the Occupied Territories and is therefore not worthy of a translation of her book."
What is happening in the OC is worse than Apartheid. Jimmy Carter, a much more respected person than any Israeli leader in living memory confirms that. What she says is the truth, and it's noteworthy that the author calls telling the truth "HATE SPEECH" - just more mindless playing the race card to avoid criticism - pathetic and intellectually dishonest.
Rabbi, you might acquaint yourself with the commandment "Thou Shalt Not LIE"
"Israeli leaders have made mistakes, as in any country,"
Many countries have made mistakes - but I only ever hear excuses made for Israel!
"they are held accountable by their electorate, the vibrant free press"?
No.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-ranks-low-for-freedom-of-press-after-gaza-war-media-ban-1.5765
"and a strong, independent judiciary"?
No.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/07/opinion/la-oe-bisharat-adnan-20120307
"Israel has held fast to democracy even in the face of existential threats on a daily basis."?
Iran didn't say "wipe Israel off the map" and Israel has the 1st world, 4th most powerful army in the world.
"there are those in the world who pour energy and resources into cursing Israel"?
Criticizing a nation for violation of human rights and international law isn't immoral.
"rather than blessing its neighbors with encouragement to live in harmony with Israel."?
The Arab League offered to FULLY NORMALIZE relations with Israel if it WITHDREW to the 1967 borders:
http://cnsnews.com/node/16427
"These facts..." are as always with Israel-defenders, fabricated. A Google search of "israel freedom press", "israel bias palestinians", "israel army", "israel human rights", "israel occupation", "b'tselem israeli palestinian deaths"... will give you news sources and facts proving the complete opposite.
And yet some Israeli-apologisers think it's so noble to defend Israel.
Anyone who thinks that has never read the fine print. The deal offered was an unconditional withdrawal from ALL territory outside the Green Line (including the Golan Heights) prior to any Arab decision as to whether THEY were satisfied with Israel's compliance, and only afterwards would the Arab League decide how much, if any, "normalization" was acceptable.
When the Israeli government raised reservations, the response was that this is a " non-negotiable, take-it-or-leave-it offer".
READ the so-called Saudi Peace Initiative before you make such statements and LEARN what it really says.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1844214.stm
All it really was is a repitition of the Arab demands of July, 1967, with the carrot of possible recognition (but not of negotiation and with no guarantee of anything). In addition, Iran immediately announced that it was NOT a party to this initiative.
Only when an agressor and occupier retreats to its own land SHOULD someone negotiate. You don't negotiate with a thief nation until they do!
And is under no obligation to make peace with a nation that threatens it every year with attacks. As always Israeli-apologists reserve the right for Israel to attack whoever it wants, have secret nuclear weapons, occupy whoever it wishes... and other nations who HAVEN'T invaded another country in 300 years, DON'T have nuclear weapons - they must be held to a different set of laws. Because Israel is special.
Your response doesn't say anything that contradicts my post, you just object to the way that Israel was expected to actually follow international law before being allowed anything.
You named two. Two.
Day after day there are also more than 500,000 "ordinary Israelis" that are creating curses on the ground that are poisoning lives.
Even if you were to name another 499,998 Israels creatin "blessings" every day, it would not be reason to excuse the curses. A balanced analysis requires an acknowledgement of both th good Israelis do (which exists) and the bad they do (which also exists).
Who exactly is singling Israel out for destruction?
If you are paranoid over a few mad criminals called Hamas (who have AK-47s and homemade rockets), and an Iranian President who never said "wipe Israel off the map", you have insecurity problems.
Israel violates international law and human rights, and has never accepted a Palestinian state. Why should they be held to a higher accountability than the occupier.
Your post contains a lie, typical!
Haters gotta hate.
that`s a joke,right? been watching to much Keeping Up With the Kardashians