Interview with Rabbi Brockman
Congregation Mishkan Israel
May 18th, 2007
Q1: 1. Why have you received the billboard from Bethlehem at Mishkan Israel?
Rabbi Brockman: We decided to receive the bill board as an act of collaboration, allies, standing side by side with those Israelis and Palestinians who choose to stand for peace. Especially in this time of increasing violence, it becomes more imperative to redoubling ones efforts in the sacred search for reconciliation and peace. If knowing that there are partners across the globe that join with them would encourage them in their efforts and in their hopes, than our efforts will bear fruit.
Q2: Haven't the Jews and the Muslims been fighting for thousands of years? Isn't it crazy to think that peace can be found?
Actually, Jews and Muslims have NOT been fighting for "thousands of years." From the 9th century on, Jews living in Muslim dominated countries enjoyed a wide range of common intellectual pursuits as well as shared advances in medicine, art, literature, poetry and philosophy. They saw the other as children of Abraham with both common ancestry and common destiny. While it was an uneven relationship, nonetheless, it was not until the 20th century that competing nationalisms led to the tragedies of our own time.
Q3: If you could change the sign, what changes would you make and why would you make them?
Rabbi Brockman: While I believe that occupation is it's own form of violence, I believe that the sign should have been more balanced in it's message. All forms of violence, occupation and terrorism are both detrimental to finding a solution. I would have said, END VIOLENCE: MAKE PEACE. There is no reference to the context for the occupation. There was violence before the occupation, prior to the 6-day war and there is continual violence since the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and Gaza. I appreciate the Palestinian focus on the occupation which so much hinders any normalcy in their lives and it MUST end. That is their lens. The same is true for Israelis. Perhaps by such activities, one day, despite the particular lenses of seeing just their own spectrum of light, they may both come to view the rainbow of their humanity.
Q4: Are you worried that the words "End the Occupation" might be considered anti-Semitic?
Rabbi Brockman: I do not think the issue is anti-semitism. While some world leaders may promote such hateful propaganda for their own political agendas, this is an issue of competing wishes and hopes. Men and women of good will can move beyond that. Just a note, by the way, that as children of Abraham, both Jews and Arabs are Semites, descended from Shem, one of the sons of Noah.
Q5: What can Americans do to to bring peace to Israel and Palestine?
Jewish Americans and Arab Americans can model what living in a free and democratic society can mean for all people. Through dialog, we demonstrate the rewards for working together. We can promote such ideas in the halls of our government. Our leaders are a powerful force in promoting peace by moving beyond their own personal agendas, and working with other nations in the area to join with them in stabilizing rather than exacerbating the political and military situation. Supporting the many intergroup efforts at building peace on the ground is imperative and rewarding those who work for peace. In the end, it is the people of Israel and Palestine that must solve the divisions. They must come to love their own people more than hate the other. Then one day, they may come to love the other as well.