October 24, 2001

Let's see. I want to make certain that I have this correct. It is very 
confusing. 

If Israel pinpoints and executes terrorist leaders who have aided in 
planning attacks on innocent civilians, that is bad. 
If the United States declares war on terrorist leaders who aided in 
planning attacks in New York and Washington, that is good. 

If Israel has to compromise some civilian rights of Arabs in order to 
protect its citizens from murderous assault, that is bad. 
If the United States must take cautionary steps that limit immigration 
and other freedoms in order to protect its citizens from murderous 
assault, that is good. 

If Israel will not negotiate with terrorists or their governmental 
supporters until all acts of terrorism stop, that is bad. 
If the United States will not consider any deals that do not include the 
surrender of Bin Laden and his thugs, that is good. 

If Israel, with its international isolation, must work with less than pure 
regimes, then that is bad. 
If the United States works with terrorist sponsors as Iran, Pakistan and 
Syria to win its own security, then that is good. 

If Israel tries to become part of the coalition against terrorism, it is 
bad. (Could offend some Moslem States). 
If the United States counts on Israel, in spite of the rejection, to provide 
it with major information about terrorists, then that is good. 

If Israel protests the wanton destruction of Jewish artifacts and shrines 
in Nablus and the Temple Mount, it is annoying, seemingly petty and, 
therefore, quite bad. 
 
If the United States reacts with justifiable anger at the wanton 
destruction of symbols of America's achievements and power, it is 
right, moral and good. 
 
When Israel's civilian population was attacked by murderous scud 
missiles from Iraq, it was warned not to retaliate by the United States, 
that would be bad. 
 
When the United States' civilian population was attacked by murderous 
missiles, commanded by immoral automatons and vowed massive 
retaliation, that was very very good. 

You must admit; it is confusing. 

Rabbi Gerald I. Wolpe 
Rabbi Emeritus, Har Zion Temple 
Penn Valley, PA