Seidemann: That time of year

From the other side of the bench

by David Seidemann

Issue of September 3, 2010/ 24 Elul 5770

There are certain periods of time that one can set their clock to. If you are a Yankee fan, the end of August means you can begin planning for the post-season. If you are a Met fan, you begin planning for the off-season. If you are of school age, you can begin pestering your parents to buy you all of the school supplies that you never used last year. If you are a teacher, you count the days till the first scheduled vacation. If you happen to be a cantor, you begin to clear your voice. If you are the rabbi, you begin to clear your schedule. And if you are a simple congregant, you begin to clear your conscience.

If you are the President of the of the United States and are two short months away from either the midterm elections or the general elections, you begin your traditional foray into the Middle East peace process. You convince yourself that you will be that one president that will be able to accomplish what no other president has been able to.

And no matter how many times we reset the clock, the result is pretty much the same. Each year at this time, every 2-4 years, it's not so much that we pray for new things; rather, we pray that those dreams which we have envisioned again and again will finally come true.

But there is a difference between dreams and reality. Dreams are what occur when one's eyes are closed. To affect reality one must have their eyes open. One must plan ahead. One must have foresight and a strong grip on reality. The Yankees win because they build with their eyes open. The cantor chants with his voice box open. The rabbi speaks with his mouth open and the wayward return with their hearts open. Each of the above also succeed because they refuse to embark on a fool's  errand.

With open eyes the impossible becomes possible. With closed eyes even the possible becomes impossible.

The cantor who can't carry a tune can't inspire. The preacher who can't carry the message can't deliver. The sinner who can't refrain from his desires can't return. The enemy who can't lay down the sword can't make peace. The cantor's partner is his prayer book. The Rabbi's partner is his Torah. The sinner's partner is his belief in redemption.

The cantor's prayer book, the rabbi’s Torah and the returnee's belief, all invite their counterpart to engage in efforts that will sustain life. They do that by containing expressions of hope and acknowledgment of the other's right to exist and grow and develop. Without that promise of "you carry me and I'll carry you,"  they would indeed be embarking on a fool's errand.

And so at this point, dream as I must, I can't place this week's Middle East peace initiative in the category of the cantor, the Rabbi, and the soul wishing to return. Absent is the voice from the other side that proclaims "my sword is laid aside my eyes are open my house is in order, my factions are united in wanting to make peace with Israel."

Who are we dealing with? Peace with Fatah only to have to endure the misery of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran? Peace with Fatah that will be rejected by the other parties? Concessions to Fatah the that will enable Hamas and Hezbollah to be within closer striking distance? Is it really any different this time? Are our eyes open or shut?

For some strange reason I have faith in Bibi that he will not sprint onto a fool's errand. I somehow feel that this time, while the plan from Washington is the same, the result will be different. I don't know why. I just feel that Israel finally has had enough of compromising her future to gain favor in others' closed eyes.

In that respect I see a silver lining in the present attitude of Washington's treatment of Israel. They have made it abundantly clear that Israel and only Israel can secure its own future. I hope Bibi sees what I see.Intifada

Perhaps I am naïve but I see it ending differently this time. Either the Palestinians will finally come to their senses or they won't. In the past, Israel has had to endure an intifada when the Arabs refused to see reality. They acted with impunity because Israel allowed them to. I feel times have changed. The people of Israel have changed and perhaps even  Bibi has changed. If so then "never again" might really mean "never again"

Many a dream is launched in Washington. I prefer to keep my eyes open to the reality. Hopefully Bibi’s eyes are wide-open too.