Rabbi David Forman of Rabbis
Rabbi David Forman of Rabbis for Human Rights spoke tonight at Temple Israel. It was an interesting and rambling speech, if a little much on the side of compromising with the other. Unfortunately, I didn't record his specific statements, but in answer to the question, "You spoke eloquently on our need to not demonicize the Other, and to tolerate and compromise. But as current events show - from the treatment of the Palestinian Christians to the furor over the Western European media - the Other has demonstrated their intolerance, and is very good at self-demonicization - at what point do we refuse to tolerate the intolerant?", he spoke very eloquently.
He clearly expressed that we act in a spirit of compromise and tolerance, not for the Other, but for ourselves. That while Hamas is almost certainly not a partner for peace, we must still make the effort; and if, in four years (his timeframe), Hamas has demonstrated an unwillingness to act in good faith, and the Palestinians have not tossed them out of office, that "letting the people starve" becomes an acceptable course of action.
Not words I would have expected.
He clearly expressed that we act in a spirit of compromise and tolerance, not for the Other, but for ourselves. That while Hamas is almost certainly not a partner for peace, we must still make the effort; and if, in four years (his timeframe), Hamas has demonstrated an unwillingness to act in good faith, and the Palestinians have not tossed them out of office, that "letting the people starve" becomes an acceptable course of action.
Not words I would have expected.
