The World’s Hypocrisy Towards Israel

Yom Huledet Sameach

Rabbi Gary S. Creditor

April 20, 2001

My dictionary defines hypocrisy as "the act or fact of putting on a false appearance of goodness or religion" and "pretending to be what one is not." It comes from the Greek word hyprokrisis, which refers to "acting the part", and "feigning." We may try to legitimize hypocrisy by calling its "politically expedient," or "an evil necessity." It never changes the fact: hypocrisy is hypocrisy. Never is it so easy for this to occur except when it comes to the State of Israel. Whether it is the United Nations or the Vatican, the Red Cross or the European Economic Union, hypocrisy is easy. It is self-serving. To me it is repugnant and requires the strongest and the loudest condemnation. I wonder if these bodies had the opportunity in November 1947 to vote whether or not there should even be a State of Israel, whether the State would have existed these past fifty-three years. It is impossible to imagine life without Medinat Yisrael, whose birthday we will celebrate a week from tomorrow. Particularly at this juncture in time, it is necessary for us, the Jews of the Diaspora, to let the world know that we are at one with the Jewish people of MedinatYisrael; that we will call it like we see it; that the falseness of hypocrisy will be exposed to the light of day so that its falseness will be apparent to all. While I have refrained from preaching certain sermons because of my personal disagreement with policies of the Israeli government, my love for Medinat Yisrael is unquestionable. Regardless of political postures the world needs to hear us proclaim loudly and as one that we love Israel and stand shoulder to shoulder, cheek to cheek with our embattled brothers and sisters. We have faith the celebrations of her birthdays will be endless and forever more.

I was instigated to compose these words because of the great hypocrisy of the world's leaders and even of this country this past week. Not that it is anything particularly new. It just rose to new heights. I don't know how many people here have been to Israel and if so, where did they take you. On my first trip in 1968-1969 I walked with fellow students the then ten-mile wide neck of Israel. I stood in the Jordanian trenches overlooking the Jewish section of Jerusalem. I stood on the Golan Heights and could veritably reach into the Galilee. And I walked along the fence with Lebanon with Lebanon on one side and a kibbutz on the other. For someone who grew up in America, with an expanse "from sea to shining sea," the proximity was shocking. I couldn't imagine living so close to hostile countries. When I was fifteen my family took a one week car trip to Canada. Several summers ago Ruby and I went to Niagara Falls. What's a border? It's like the dance the hokey-pokey – to cross in, you cross out. What's the big deal? You don't cross the borders of Israel except on penalty of death, for that is what waits on the other side.

With other distractions, you might not have realized the grave seriousness and danger of the mortar shells fired not only at Israeli settlements in Gaza, but into Israel proper, in the town of Shederot. This is not an area under Israeli control because of the Six Day War, which we need to remind the world happened because all the Arab states pledged to destroy Israel in borders accepted by the ceasefire lines of 1949, wherein the U.N. pulled out its observers and wanted to ties Israel's hands behind its back when the Sinai, the Golan and the West Bank were filled with Arab troops, tanks and planes for only one purpose. Firing from Gaza to Shederot is like firing into Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat and dozens of Israeli towns and villages inside what is called "The Green Line," the 1949 armistice borders. This is in addition to over 5,000 live-fire attacks upon Israeli homes, cars and buses and territory in the past seven months. While the Palestinian Authority wants the new Israeli government to be held to the negotiating positions of the Barak administration, it itself will not be bound by the Oslo accords which ban the use of mortars!

I want you to imagine that you are in Buffalo, New York and a mortar shell is fired on you from Canada.

I want you to imagine that you are San Antonio, Texas and a mortar shell is fired on you from Mexico.

I want you to imagine that you are in Alaska, and a mortar shell is fired on you from Russia.

Can you imagine the clamor and cry from the citizens of the United States?

Can you imagine that the Air Force, the Army and the Navy would be sitting with hands shackled?

Can you imagine that the President of the United States would sit and do nothing?

So why the hypocrisy of telling Israel that it's response was too strong?

Why don't they condemn the nightly firing into the Israeli neighborhood of Gilo?

Can you imagine if they were shooting into the backyards of homes off of Lauderdale Avenue in Henrico Country from just over the border in Goochland?

Or from Stony Point to our new Religious School on Parham & Derbyshire?

How would we sleep at night?

Wouldn't we want our governments to protect us?

Wouldn't we want them to put a stop to it immediately if not sooner?

Why didn't the United Nations condemn the car bombs detonated in Israel?

Why didn't the European Economic Union tell Arafat to accept the Barak administration's offer?

Why doesn't the Red Cross demand to see the Israel soldiers held by the PLO and Hamas?

In 1898, the French novelist Emile Zola wrote a scathing indictment to the President of France concerning the conspiracy against Alfred Dreyfus and the great hypocrisy of the government. His letter was called "I Accuse" from its opening words.

On the eve of Israel's birthday, that was my reaction to the words uttered against Israel when it took action to protect its civilians:

I accuse Colin Powell and the Bush administration of hypocrisy in condemning Israel for something they would never have tolerated; for equating the Palestinian offensive mortar shelling with Israeli self-defense.

I accuse the United Nations of its unending hypocrisy. I am only thankful that Israel was created then, because they never would have done it now. The only time the U.N. will praise Israel is when it will commit suicide. And that will never be.

I accuse the Red Cross of hypocrisy for allowing the Red Crescent in addition to the Red Cross and other symbols of rescue and not recognizing Israel's Magen David Adom; for not demanding to see the Israeli hostages, some of whom were kidnapped and others, soldiers, not seen for years, such as Ron Arad and Zachariah Baumel.

I accuse the Vatican of hypocrisy of crocodile tears, for it never said a word when the Arabs destroyed the synagogues in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City; when they used tombstones from our cemeteries for latrines; when Jews couldn't pray at the Kotel. Now, when Christians and Moslems can pray wherever and whenever and Jews can too, now is the time for internationalization of the city! Before was good and now it's not!

I accuse the European Economic Market for using economics as a club over Israel's ahead. How quick they forget the lesson of territorial vulnerability but want Israel to capitulate its very existence to those who swore to destroy it and who have never renounced their intentions.

I accuse the Palestinian Authority of the utmost hypocrisy for it tells the world what it wants to hear in English and another thing to Palestinians and Arabs in Arabic; for not removing its long standing goal of eliminating Israel in its text books in their schools; for placing children intentionally in harms way, promising them Paradise upon their deaths, while portraying them as innocent causalities inflicted by the terrible Zionists.

Words of outrage need to echo, so that the hypocrisy may be seen in the light of truth.

Words of support and encouragement must be said, so that Medinat Yisrael knows that Jews throughout the world stand in unity.

As I made mention during Pesach, if you are planning on traveling abroad for vacation, now is the time to visit Israel. We are conspicuous by our absence. They will keep you safe. You need not fear. It is not "Leshanah HaBah – next year in Jerusalem." It is This year in Jerusalem.

To Israel we say: Yom Huledet Sameach – Happy Birthday. This year, next year and on into history, Yom Huledet Sameach- Happy Birthday, until the Messiah comes to banish hatred, evil and war, when peace will descend like the sweetness of the morning dew.

Amen.