Portland rallies for Israel

By Deborah Moon Seldner

The innocent civilians dying in Lebanon are just as much the victims of terrorism as are the people in Israel hit by Hezbollah rocket fire, new Beth Israel Rabbi Michael Cahana told a crowd of more than 800 people who turned out at Pioneer Courthouse Square July 26 to "Stand With Israel, Stand Against Terror" at a rally organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the American Jewish Committee and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
"It is the fault of terrorists who hide their weapons among the civilian population, who stand cowardly behind civilians," said Cahana, in a message echoed by many other speakers and in statements from political leaders read at the rally.
"There has been terrible suffering in Israel and Lebanon," said JFGP Executive Vice President Charles R. Schiffman. He said he was sympathetic to the innocents in Lebanon, but their fate was determined "because terror-
ist forces are stationed in their very midst."
"We must also not forget that the current crisis in Lebanon was started by Hezbollah, an organization whose charter calls for the destruction of the state of Israel," wrote Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., in a letter read at the rally. "Too many innocent civilians on both sides of this conflict have died because of the violent principles Hezbollah espouses."
A statement from Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., said, "Just as Israel wants to be secure within its own borders, Lebanon wants to be free of Hezbollah and its effect on its nascent democratic government."
In another statement read at the event, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the Israeli military "to do everything it can to limit the loss of life among innocent civilians. I also recognize how difficult Hezbollah has made that task by hiding its rockets in civilian neighborhoods."
Mary Jo Tully, chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, said she spoke at the rally because of her "great love for this Jewish community" and because of her concern for the Lebanese people, including the 35 percent of that country's population that is Christian and has no one speaking for them.
"Catholics like Jews believe in the sanctity of all human life," said Tully. "We understand the need to protect life. We also see innocent lives are lost in defensive action."
Tully quoted Golda Meir who said at the end of the 1967 war, "When peace comes, we may forgive you for killing our sons. It will be harder for us to forgive you for having forced us to kill your sons."
"This is not the mind of terrorism," said Tully. "We pray it continues to reflect the mind of Israel."
Deputy Israel Consul General Omer Caspi said that the recent unprovoked attacks from Gaza and Lebanon reflect the truth of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who once said Israel had only one war—it broke out in 1948 and never ended.
"We find ourselves again and again struggling for our survival," said Caspi.
Yet Caspi called this most recent crisis "one of the greatest challenges of all time."
He said the outcome of Israel's struggle against Hezbollah and Hamas will determine how the Middle East will look in the future.
Caspi said Israel pulled out of Lebanon in 2000 and Gaza in 2005, hoping for peace.
"In return, Israel finds itself facing two of the worst terrorist organizations the world has known," said Caspi. "We gave a chance to the Lebanese government, we gave a chance to the Palestinian president. We gave peace a chance."
Now, Caspi said, "Enough is enough."
Caspi said Hezbollah's bombing of the city of Nazereth, Jesus' childhood home, and Haifa, where Jews and Arabs live side by side, "symbolizes more than anything Hezbollah's goal is to kill as many Israelis as possible—Jew, Christian and Muslim."
"I call on the people of Lebanon and Gaza to confront these terrorist organizations," he concluded.
Philip told the crowd that he and Schiffman landed in Tel Aviv on a national federation mission just as bombs from Lebanon were landing on the north. The federation mission of 165 lay and professional leaders of North American federations arrived from Odessa, Ukraine, once the second largest Jewish community in Russia.
"Perhaps because of the current crisis, the transition from Odessa to Israel was deeply emotional and inspirational," Philip said, noting that 100,000 Jews were deported from Odessa to death camps and some 80,000 more perished in ghettos destroying centuries of rich Jewish life.
"While in Jerusalem, I was able to witness the amazing resilience of the Israeli people during this difficult time," he said. "Yes, they were worried, angry, but what appeared so different this time was the lack of panic and the overwhelming unity that was expressed regarding Israel's military response, and of course, the deep faith in the IDF to be victorious. .. Israel was doing the absolute right thing."
"I stand before you with a heavy heart for having to leave Jerusalem when our collective Israeli family is facing such devastating and horrendous acts of terrorism," he said. "Everywhere we went, people would thank us for visiting at this time, expressing their gratitude for our presence and moral support."
A statement read from Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., said, "I hope the people of Israel realize the support they have from all of us today."
In a written statement Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongowski said, "The Middle East peace process cannot move forward if Israel is being attacked by terror regimes." Kulongowski also said, "We need a ceasefire in place as soon as possible."
Before Vancouver Congregation Kol Ami Rabbi Aviva Bass led the closing prayer and the singing of Hatikva, Schiffman presented the rally organizers' stand on the crisis.
"We demand the release of the kidnapped soldiers," he said. "We commend all of you for your steadfast support. We thank our Christian friends of all denominations who stand with us today. We oppose a premature ceasefire that would allow terrorism to return. We condemn Syria and Iran for supporting terrorism and hatred.
"We stand with the people and government of Israel as they exercise their right to live in freedom and peace."