February 2006 - שְׁבָט תשס״ו Shevat 5766

February is the Hebrew month of Shevat. The fifteen of the month is Tu BÕShevat, the Jewish New Year for trees. In modern times this holiday has been celebrated as the environmental link between Israel and Jews in the Diaspora. It is the time of planting trees throughout the land of Israel by Israelis directly and by Jews around the world through donations to the Jewish National Fund. But this year there is a new planting going on. This year the seeds of peace are being planted.

At the time of this writing, it is still unknown how the Palestinian elections turned out, and the fate of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is equally unknown. But it is clear that there has been a seismic shift toward the moderate center in Israeli politics. Even without PM Sharon directly involved in the Kadima party that he created, the January polls indicated that a third to a little less than half of the Kenesset could go to the moderate party in next monthÕs election. In the IPF (Israel Policy Forum) Focus for January 18th, Roberta Schoffman has noted that 60% plus of Israelis place the need for a Jewish majority in the State of Israel and the desire for peace as their highest priority, with the ranking of ‘Greater Israel’ (i.e., the desire to hold on to the entire Land of Israel, Israel proper plus the West Bank and Gaza) as their lowest priority.

The seeds of peace have been planted with the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. About 70% of the Israeli population supported the Gaza disengagement. This is the new face of Israeli/Palestinian relations. The right wing policy of no negotiations until the Palestinian Authority lived up to its promises codified by the Road Map to Peace, by disarming the militants, will not work. The left wing policy of negotiating with oneÕs enemies not with oneÕs friends, is equally bankrupt. The Palestinian Authority can neither rein in the terrorists, nor can the PA negotiate in good faith. So now acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will have to continue with the policy that he created with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the policy of disengagement. This new policy is based upon good fences making good neighbors. The Israelis are going to have to build the fence/barrier/wall that will safely separate the Israelis from the Palestinians. It is not the ideal way to make peace, but it will give the Israelis the security that they need and to be able to disengage and withdraw from most of the West Bank, which will in turn enable the Palestinians to have the autonomy and ultimately the dignity that they so crave.

Peace may not be growing yet on this Tu BÕShevat, but the seeds of peace have been planted. Let us nurture its growth and continue our prayers for peace.

—Rabbi Harry A. Manhoff, Ph.D., D.D.

January

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