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From: dave@lsuc.UUCP (David Sherman)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Zionism is not racism; Anti-Israel = antisemitic
Message-ID: <941@lsuc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 29-Nov-85 01:34:19 EST
Article-I.D.: lsuc.941
Posted: Fri Nov 29 01:34:19 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Nov-85 01:43:53 EST
References: <482@mhuxm.UUCP> <559@ittvax.ATC.ITT.UUCP>
Reply-To: dave@lsuc.UUCP (David Sherman)
Organization: Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Lines: 51
Xref: lsuc net.politics:2147 net.religion.jewish:1606
Summary: Jews the world over DO need Israel

aouriri@ittvax.ATC.ITT.UUCP (Chedley Aouriri) writes:
>  J. Aboolowos is WRONG!! The existence of Israel is NOT of personal
>importance to the security of jews everywhere. 

Mr. Aoueauoueariri (see, I can do it too) knows not whereof he speaks.
Jews the world over, including in Canada and the US, are safer
and stronger because of Israel. If you are not Jewish, it may
be hard to understand this.

>Throughout history, Jews existed, prospered and integrated in all
>nations and societies all over the world. Often, they provided the
>financial business strata of the societies where they lived.

Yes, but they were put down, kicked around and vilified.
Being Jewish was not usually something one was proud of.
In Toronto (and doubtless many other place in Canada and
the U.S.), there were parks and stores in the 1920s and 1930s
with "No dogs or Jews" signs. Jews were known as people who
didn't fight back. While we have always had strong family
and religious ties, there was always a feeling that we were
strangers, wanderers, people with no national identity and
no-one in particular to stand up for them.

Israel has changed all that. EVEN THOUGH we don't all move
there, we know it is there for us. If Canada were to turn
into an anti-Semitic dictatorship, I would have somewhere
to go. Israel also gives us something to be proud of. Its
accomplishments - in fields like science, medicine, arts,
agriculture, military technology - are absolutely amazing
given its size, small population and constant having to
fight for its very existence.

Israel's role in keeping safe the Jews of the world goes
far beyond just the symbolic. In 1979, when Khomeini came
to power in Iran, about 35,000 Jews got out while they could.
Israel took them in. This past year, Israel rescued something like
17,000 Ethiopian Jews from death by starvation. (This new influx
is putting even more pressure on Israel's strained finances,
but the task of rescuing Jews is the very foundation of Israel's
existence.

>Even today, more jews live outside Israel than inside. Most of them
>have no desire to emigrate to Israel. If you do not believe me,
>ask any american jewish. 

"Jewish" is an adjective. As noted above, we don't need to
emigrate to Israel because things are good for us here. For now.

Dave Sherman
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{  ihnp4!utzoo  pesnta  utcs  hcr  decvax!utcsri  }  !lsuc!dave