Ralph Benmergui: My Israel

We had our first public showing of a condensed version of the show in front of an audience at Temple Sinai, a reform(liberal) synagogue in Toronto.
They seemed enthusiastic even though the material challenged some of their assumptions. We had a Q and A after , some wanted to set me straight and paint a picture in which ...the traditional positions were fleshed out again. Others wanted to know more about the issues of race and class and security over all other considerations among other topics.
I challenged them to look beyond simple notions of good guys and bad guys and Israel right or wrong because I believe that so many people in the middle east want and need to be seen not as the enemy but as human. I have been attacked at times for being naive. I am not. I am a student of the situation and a believer in the jewish values of loving the stranger and standing for social justice, not just for the other but for so many in Israel who live in poverty and suffer systemic prjudice. My peopleRead More

With Passover coming their are many ironies. Freedom is the theme but for so many in the middle east so far from the reality. In Israel the weight of the occupation continues to weigh heavily on the Jewish people. Palestinians are not free and now not even united.
Throughout the region Pharaohs outnumber wisdom seekers....Nonetheless I wish you all a hag sameach (happy holiday) and may we ALL meet next year in Jerusalem.
be well
rb
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