“The State of Israel… will be based on the precepts of liberty, justice and peace…; will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex; will guarantee full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture; will safeguard the sanctity and inviolability of the shrines and Holy Places of all religions; and will dedicate itself to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Israeli Declaration of Independence, the 14^th of May 1948.

Many of us remember that the Constitution of the Soviet Union was the most humane, the most democratic – the best of all other existing constitutions. Its text was perfect and by no means problematic. The problems began when people tried to apply it to practice – just as in that joke: “Tell me, do I have the right to do this? – Yes, you do have the right. – So can I do this? – No, you cannot do anything!” As wise Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun; it was, is and, unfortunately, will be so: between good intentions and their application to real life there’s always a huge difference. One reaches this not comforting conclusion when he compares the Declaration of Independence – the fundamental document of the State of Israel – with the reality in general and with the situation in our Arad in particular. That is, the Declaration is good, but a pogrom in Arad’s chess club is even better, for this is not “our” club, but quite the opposite – it belongs to Messianic Jews and Christians. And what does it matter that they help the poor, give shelter to chess players and just live according to their rules? Something else matters – they “do not belong,” tally-ho! No proof of their missionary activity has been found yet, and even if it will be found, the police and the court are to deal with the problem. I’ll say that again: the court, and not lynch mobs! And what about the arms of the law, the policemen? – Nothing, for it was not the Hassidei Gur who turned out to be guilty, but on the contrary – the owner of the chess club, a US citizen Eddie Beckford (the pogrom in the club took place at 10 am on the 20^th of June). And on the night before the 4^th of August the club was set on fire. It is hard to believe that it was just a coincidence. Though only the court can determine who was guilty, the tendency is too clear.

About seven months ago the Hassidei Gur tried to establish an alternative chess club, but, it seems, they lacked enough skills or motivation. And besides, establishing various clubs is no job for royal persons; it is much easier to destroy the existing ones.

Any fanaticism – and religious fanaticism in particular – is harmful to those who stick to it, for it presents their ideology in the most unattractive way. Any physical strife when ideology is concerned is counterproductive: the response it produces is extremely negative and diametrically opposite to the desired one. But what does all this philosophizing matter for the fervent adherents of faith? No club – no problem (as one can remember, the “great teacher of all times and nations” – comrade J.V. Stalin – also used to talk that way). Thus the Declaration of Independence is one thing, the pogrom-makers are quite another matter, and the police and municipal authorities are just detached observers. This scheme, of course, is very comfortable, but still a failure.

P.S. I have just thought that non-kosher supermarkets and restaurants might be next, as well as shorts and miniskirts, uncovered heads of men, etc. Therefore take your Declaration away; it is by no means a guidebook of ours.

A. Ostrovsky