Obama and Syria

President Obama deserves credit for his handling of the Syria problem, at least so far. By holding his fire until the right time and then using the threat of American military power to move Putin and Russia to put pressure on Syria to give up the chemical weapons, he is promoting American interests at no cost to us. Our enemies know that he does not rattle the saber frivolously, but when he is pushed to act, he is ready to unleash American power. He means what he says. He said he would get Bin Laden and he did, something the Republicans were not able to do despite draining our economy, exposing the limits of our military, and weakening our strategic position in the attempt. Now on the news, we see that the leader of Iran wants to talk to us because the economic pressure we have put on his country is working. We should also give credit to Senator Mc Cain for playing the bad cop in good cop bad cop stance that helps President Obama in dealing with Putin. Putin is now in the position of siding with a corrupt frightened Syrian government that probably won't survive. Obama has to keep up the pressure to make sure that the Syrian government loses its ability to use chemical weapons again. He will do it.

Tamar Reef

About 6 years ago, scientists at Ben Gurion University of the Negev designed an artificial reef for the Gulf of Eilat. Researchers from Israel and Jordan cooperated on the project, and now the reef is reported to be teeming with sea life. Not only is it an environmental success, but it also is an example of what can be accomplished when neighbors devote their energies to common interests instead of demonizing each other. It is a small step in the process leading to peace in the region.

The Dilemma of the Israeli People

The Israeli people look around them and see a neighborhood full of turmoil and cruelty. Egypt keeps replacing one dictator with another. The minority government of Syria has brutally suppressed the majority rebels and now has even resorted to poison gas attacks. When the rebels finally succeed, there will probably be a new bloodbath in retaliation against the people who are now in power. The Gaza Arabs claim they will conquer all of Israel and shoot rockets across the border to back up their threat. The Arabs and other people in the Moslem world are taught in their schools that Israel and all Jews are evil. No wonder the Israeli people don't trust the Arab people. Israel is faced with an existential dilemma, continually occupying a land that most Israelis don't want to occupy or giving power to a neighbor that can change into a monster overnight. That is what happened with Gaza. Gaza was supposed to be a test case for Palestinian sovereignty. The Gazans immediately elected a government that expressed hostility toward Israel and acted accordingly. So now independence for the West Bank would bring an Arab state in intimate proximity to the population centers of Israel.
So what is the answer to the dilemma? There is no easy one. First of all, Israel must put itself in as strong a position as possible to face any eventuality. A strong military is essential. Continuing to be a leader in science and technology is important. Israel must turn the demographic clock in its favor by being as inclusive as possible. Separation of church and state is essential. Involvement of religion in government is counterproductive for both government and religion. The law of return must continue to provide a safe haven for Jews from anywhere in the world, but the Hebrew language and culture should be the defining factor for who is an Israeli. Non-Jews as well as Jews who are defined by that culture should be allowed and even encouraged to stay in Israel as long as they support the State of Israel. Everything should be done to make the Israeli Arabs part of Israel by more than just equality before the law. This will require integration and education of all Israelis.
The Middle East is the neighborhood of Israel. It's not the best neighborhood, but history has placed Israel in it. Israel is not going away, and neither is the neighborhood. So the Israeli people will have to make the best of it.

Medical School for International Health at Ben Gurion University of the Negev

My favorite organization for donations this year is the Medical School for International Health at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. It is a combined project of Ben Gurion University and Columbia University. The main campus is located in Israel. Supporting this school is a mitzvah for all people and also supports the Zionist ideal. Cementing Israel as a source for good in the world makes it more difficult for the enemies of the Jewish people to demonize us.

Israel and the Diaspora

I am a Diaspora Jew who has no intention of moving to Israel. Yet, I consider myself a Zionist. So what does that mean? It means I support the idea of Theodore Herzl and the Zionists who promoted the idea of a Jewish country back in the 1880s which can be a refuge from anti-Semitism. I am fortunate to live in the USA where anti-Semitism is not common. I see Israel as a nation consisting mostly (but not completely) of ethnic Jews (although many Israeli Jews do not practice the Jewish religion). For me there is an unwritten contract between the Jews of Israel and the Jews of the Diaspora. For the Diaspora side of the contract, we in the Diaspora support Israel financially and morally. We Jews on this planet at present are divided into approximately 3 thirds, 1/3 in Israel, 1/3 in North America, and 1/3 scattered over everywhere else. Having the support of a population twice its size makes the Israeli people less isolated. For the Israeli side of the contract, Israel provides a place to which Jews can flee when the need arises. To support Israel is like investing in an insurance policy. It is part of the idea of "Kol Yisroel Achim" (literally all of Israel are brothers or in other words, "we have each other's backs").
On the Diaspora side, supporting Israel does not mean we have to always agree with everything the Israeli government says or does. We are people with many different opinions. But we must never abandon Israel. We should speak our minds, but to use things like divestment to express our opinions is absolutely wrong.
On the Israeli side, Israel must remain strong to keep its population safe. Of course maintaining a strong military is essential. But beyond that, Israel must do everything it can to make peace with its neighbors. The reality is that 20% of the population of the State of Israel is not Jewish and mostly Arab. And the West bank and Gaza Strip which make up the rest of Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel or in other words the Land of Palestine) is inhabited by a majority of Arabs who now call themselves Palestinians. An accommodation which works reasonably for everyone is essential for peace and the security of Israel. Creating such an accommodation is not an easy task. But making a workable peace is essential for the safety of the Israeli people, to fulfill the Zionist dream, and for Israel to keep up its side of the contract. To maximize Israel's strength it should be as inclusive as possible. The definition of who is a Jew should be liberal and not left up to some Orthodox rabbis with a narrow view who is Jewish. The children of migrant workers who do not fit the Orthodox definition of who is a Jew but who speak Hebrew and have grown up as Israelis should be allowed to remain in Israel. The Israeli Arabs are equal before the law, but inequalities still exist. There should be an active program to correct those remaining inequities. Israeli Arabs should be encouraged to learn Hebrew and should be given the same government support as Jewish Israelis. There should be a government program in the schools to encourage an attitude of equality, belonging, and friendship on the part of all the people. There should be additions to the national anthem to include non-Jews as well as Jews. The Jewish religion is strong. It survived 2,000 years of persecution. It certainly does not need to be artificially propped up to survive in Israel. Also, Jewish denominations other than Orthodox should be encouraged and have equal standing with Orthodoxy.
The law of return for Jews must remain. That is Israel's part of the contract and the reason it was created in the first place. That is the one inequity that the Israeli Arabs will have to accept. But in return they will be living in the most stable advanced nation in the Middle East. Peace has much to offer everyone in the area, if only they can do it.

Common Interests

There is no question that Israel was justified in responding to the rocket attacks from Gaza with retaliation to destroy the Hamas rocket launchers.  Hamas fired first and Israel responded. Targeting the terrorist leaders has been effective and ultimately saves other lives on both sides. Israel left Gaza unilaterally and therefore obviously does not want to own or rule the place. Hamas has publicly declared it wants to destroy Israel and backed up that claim with numerous rocket attacks on Israel over years, making life for Israelis living within range of the Hamas rockets difficult and dangerous.
Having said that, no matter how intransigent and difficult your enemy is, to demonize him and say peace is hopeless because he will never change creates a self fulfilling prophesy and is therefore counterproductive. Actually both sides have common interests. Both sides need peace and prosperity. The mullah theocracy in Iran threatens both sides. Centuries of European anti-semitism made a Jewish State a necessity, and the surrounding Arab dictatorships made Israel the scapegoat for their own failings. Israel is here to stay and will not be undone, but the Arabs are also present and won't go away. Hopefully, some day the people on both sides will come to grips with reality, and the Zionist dream of an Israel at peace with its surroundings will become complete.

Obamacare

I am a 74 year old physician. I worked 15 years in solo fee for service practice and then the past 28 years in an HMO. "Obamacare" (Affordable Health Care) is simply filling in the gaps which now exist in the delivery of health care, i.e. making it possible for people with pre-existing conditions to get health insurance and making health insurance affordable for all Americans. It works through private insurance companies in most cases. It will bring down health care costs in the USA.
Romney says he wants to stop Obamacare, but now before the election he all of a sudden denies opposing filling in the gaps like the pre-exisitng condition question. But that is Obamacare! So, Mr. Romney what side are you on?
Obamacare will eventually happen because it is an inevitable step in the progression of health care in America going back long before President Obama or Governor Romney were born. At its best we have the best health care in the world. The problem is that the best is not yet available to everyone in the USA. Obamacare will fix that.