A proud American Jew

I. We are proud American Jews. We love our people and Medinat Yisrael.

II. The people of Gaza are starving. Women, children and elderly lack food and potable water. They are sequestered and caged in a desolate territory, a hellscape, where images of their suffering have rightfully horrified US and world opinion.

III. Hamas is an evil terrorist group that is responsible for innumerable atrocities it afflicts on both Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli government is justified in its mission to totally destroy this scourge.

IV. The attacks authored by Yaya Sinwar and Hamas on Oct. 7 have nullified all hope for a two-state solution for generations to come. This is because the two peoples utterly hate and distrust each other, teaching the hatred to their offspring. Also, internal and external political interests seek, for their own profit, to perpetuate this enmity. With such enormous mutual odium, no resolution of true peace and respectful coexistence is possible.

V. Zionism, the movement to return to our ancient homeland and maintain a Jewish state entity, is the valid, undeniable expression of self-determination for Jews worldwide.

VI. As American Jews, with our heritage of humanitarianism and tikkun olam, we must support and advocate for swift and complete material and medical aid to suffering Gazans.

VII. Im ein ani li, mi li. Uke’ani le’atzi, ma ani. Ve im lo akshav, imatai. “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” – Rabbi Hillel

Richard Rose

Warwick, R.I.