Reaction at Home

Outrage. Sadness. Disappointment. Hope. Jews in L.A. have not only been quick to express their feelings on the events plaguing the Middle East during the past two weeks, they are trying to do their part to make sure that Israel’s intentions are not distorted in the eyes of public opinion.At press time, no less than three community-wide rallies had been scheduled to demonstrate solidarity with Israel (see page 10).

“For us here on the West Coast, it’s probably most important to show solidarity with Israel while it’s under such duress,” said Federation President John Fishel.

Fishel has made television appearances and contacted media outlets in an attempt to set the record straight on what the Federation views as skewed reportage decrying Israel’s role in the recent conflict. It is journalism filled with “misinformation and some bad will.”

“It’s been very biased. Needlessly biased,” Fishel told The Journal. “There’s definitely a predisposition against Israel. I think it’s very clear to many of us that they have been reporting the rioting, the way they have not commented to Joseph’s Tomb.”

Fishel wondered what media reaction might have been had Joseph’s Tomb been a Christian holy place destroyed by Muslims or Jews.

“We know some of the reporters writing for outlets in Israel,” said Fishel. “I don’t think they’re biased by nature, so it makes you wonder where the slanting of the news is taking place.”

In addition to attempts to right a wayward press, Federation departments such as the Jewish Community Resource Center and the Board of Rabbis of Southern California have been mailing rabbis and congregations up-to-date information.

“The Federation is going to take a very active role in communicating news to the community and to promote support for Israel,” said Todd Morgan, chairman of The Jewish Federation.

The events in Israel concern Morgan “both as a Jew and as a businessman,” he told The Journal. “It’s obvious why as a Jew it’s a concern, seeing our people attacked and hurt. From a business point of view, it’s disturbing because it may have some serious ramifications regarding the flow of oil. I would hate to see the Arab nations reduce the oil output as a penalty to America for supporting Israel. It would have a negative and a profound impact on our economy.”

Morgan added that he was particularly incensed by the Palestinian extremists’ flagrant disrespect for Jews on what was the holiest week of the Jewish calendar.

“Tearing apart those Jewish artifacts is unforgivable and unacceptable,” said Morgan. “I’ve talked to the Consul General. It’s a very serious situation that if it is not stopped soon could ignite to something more significant.”

Like the Federation, the ADL has been actively responding to what it sees as irresponsible journalism. David Lehrer, West Coast regional director of the ADL, wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times objecting to last Friday’s Michael Ramirez cartoon, which depicted a Jew and a Muslim at the Western Wall, which was labeled a wall of hate – a cartoon the ADL’s National Director Abe Foxman deemed anti-Semitic.Lehrer told The Journal, “It is very important that the American Jewish community express solidarity. The Israelis and Barak want peace. Barak has made concessions beyond what anyone can believe.” As a result, he finds the Palestinian rhetoric “very disconcerting.”

Larry Tishkoff, director of Federation’s Israel Aliyah Center, hasn’t seen any knee-jerk reactions among those turning to him with assistance in relocating to Israel.

“My feelings are it doesn’t affect people on short notice,” said Tishkoff. “We have not had one potential oleh who was in the process of making aliyah who is against it. Nobody has backed out. If anything, it has encouraged their resolve because that is a place where they will be needed.”

Tishkoff said that the Israel he knows “is not what is being portrayed by the media.”

“I’m very disappointed in some respects with CNN. I spoke to them at length,” continued Tishkoff, who observed that over the weekend “their coverage got a little bit better and more even-sided” after he had contacted them. As for the Los Angeles Times, Tishkoff feels that they ultimately did “a very poor job” interviewing the Angelenos now living in Israel that Tishkoff put them in contact with.

“The article was buried, and it contained very fleeting response,” said the Aliyah Center’s director.

“Apparently the L.A. Times isn’t too interested in that angle.”

In addition to Tishkoff, Morgan also criticized the mainstream press, labeling recent L.A. Times and New York Times articles “lopsided.”

Beyond the news coverage, the whole chain of events has left Dick Gunther, past co-president and executive committee member of Americans for Peace Now, skeptical about the Palestinian agenda. “You wonder whether or not there is any real desire for Arafat to resolve the issue and whether he wields the real power to make anything happen,” he said.

In the meantime, all Gunther can do is hope that “cooler heads will prevail” on both sides. He urges Jews to continue supporting the U.S. government’s efforts and Barak.

“With the animosity on both sides that is so visible now,” said Gunther, “I think that all you can hope for at the moment is that there’ll be a cooling-off period where both sides reflect and realize that disaster looms ahead if they engaged in more warfare.”

Many spiritual leaders in town have been outspoken about the situation in Israel. Rabbi Tsafreer Lev of Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills has strong ties to Israel; the majority of his family members live there, including six cousins currently serving in the Israeli army. Still, Lev shocked some congregants during morning services on Yom Kippur by asking those in attendance to pray not only for Israel but for the Palestinians as well.

“I meant it less as a political statement than as a religious one,” he said. “It is our obligation as Jews to be sympathetic for any loss of life. Even in the Bible, our hearts go out to the Egyptians as we were leaving Egypt.”

A longtime proponent for peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Jews, Rabbi Steven Jacobs of Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills, member of the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue group founded in 1999, said, “There is criticism to be leveled against both sides. There can’t be a knee-jerk reaction and total support of Israel while there is a people being occupied within its borders. But there is also going to be a day when the Palestinians have to accept that Israel exists. The tremendous tragedy is that so many of us here and in Israel and around the world have given so many years to working on behalf of peace efforts, and now we are literally seeing this blow up in our faces.”

Jacobs – among the Americans led by Jesse Jackson who helped secure the release of American soldiers held prisoner in Bosnia in 1999 – voiced his concern about the three Israeli soldiers who were captured by Hezbollah guerrillas Oct. 7.

“The fear of those American soldiers was intense, and I know the three Israelis face the same fear and the same hope,” said Jacobs. “I hope they know that from the moment they were captured, the whole of Israel and Jews around the world are working and praying for their release.”

Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Valley Beth Shalom criticized opposition leader Ariel Sharon as “pathological,” but he believes that Arafat, “a weak leader,” is ultimately to blame for the violence.

“I had higher hopes that the reality principle would strengthen his spine and that the economic advantages and unusual generosity of Barak would make a difference, and that was disappointing,” said Schulweis.Although not surprised by the “simmering hatred” on the Arab front, Schulweis “thought there’d be a greater amount of self control.”

Nonetheless, rather than discredit the peace process in his eyes, this succession of violent episodes, said Schulweis, “has confirmed my belief that the peace process must go on, because the alternative is suicidal. I don’t expect idealism from anyone. I do expect people don’t want to see their children killed.”

Despite the specter of rage and violence that has cast a pall on the Jewish New Year, many are still optimistic that peace in the Middle East can be salvaged, and they are hopeful that Jews and Arabs can find productive ways of reconciling their differences.

Fredi Rembaum, director of the L.A.-Tel Aviv Partnership, a Jewish Federation agency that twins educators and social activists in L.A. and Tel Aviv in constructive programs, oversees a renewal program in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa neighborhood of Ajami-Lev-Yafo, whose residents are Arabs and Jews. In that town, the L.A.-Tel Aviv Partnership has assisted in the renovation of poor neighborhoods that were falling apart.Rembaum, who has been in regular contact with people in Israel, reported, “The Welfare Department’s Community Services Division has Jewish and Arab social workers working in mixed neighborhoods in Jaffa, where there has been some hooliganism, despite the best efforts of Arab community workers. The police and neighborhood leaders have worked cooperatively to stop the violence, and today it was much quieter. The social service supervisors keep daily contact with their workers, both to protect them and help devise effective response to trouble spots.”

Rembaum continued, “In community meetings, both Israeli Arab and Jewish professionals are embarrassed and shocked at the breakdown in control. The mayor of Tel Aviv had a meeting with community leaders and asked for their support in controlling the violence. It is a very difficult situation, as there is not a united Arab community within Jaffa. Some services have been impacted. Among the elderly, the Arabs are not coming to the senior centers. And half of the Jewish members didn’t come out of fear.”

Rembaum believes that the organization’s efforts will not be in vain.

“The work that we did with Tel Aviv building community with Arabs and Jews has resulted in a true partnership,” said Rembaum. “It is these good relationships that the city is now building on. There’s a lot of work that’s been done in that area, to build leadership in that neighborhood. It’s that network that is being supported now with that municipality.”

In the meantime, the partnership will continue with its agenda. From Oct. 18-25, a group of 13 teens who are part of Tze’irei Tel Aviv youth performing troupe will arrive in L.A. for a week of performance and discussion with local youth in schools and teen groups. The Israeli students will be hosted by Temple Beth Am families.

Rembaum told The Journal, “Basically things are starting to move back to normal. The people want to see order restored and have the feelings that were cultivated stand, but a lot of work has to be done. This is going to be a difficult time.”

From a Jewish perspective, Morgan has gleaned one positive element from the crisis.

“It’s really interesting to hear the Jewish people rally together supporting Israel refocusing the importance of Israel. It’s good to see the passion ignite for people supporting Israel.”

Despite his frustration with the events of the past week, Morgan has not given up on the prospect of peace in the Middle East.

“There’s always a chance,” said the Federation chairman. “But I think the situation has been ignited, and it’s going to take a lot to put out the fire. But it’s important that it’s put out soon, before more unforgivable damage is done to both sides.”

As for Lev, he said that he was really not surprised by the recent turn of events in the Middle East.”That’s the nature of peace. It incites the extremists to get stronger and more aggressive the closer you get,” he said. “I thought Rabin’s assassination was one of the expected and unfortunate effects of working toward peace, and that is how I see the latest insurrections. My hope is that the extremists on both sides do not sideline the majority of us, especially the Israelis, who really want peace.”

Wendy Madnick contributed to this article.