YOUNGSTOWN - The local and national Jewish communities support a two-state solution to the Mideast crisis and support Israel's right to defend itself against attacks, according to the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.
The federation, in conjunction with its Jewish Community Relations Council, held a Community Gathering for Israel Thursday at the Jewish Community Center. The event was held as part of the national Week of Solidarity in support of Israel as it fights with what it calls the Hamas terrorist group operating out of Gaza.
"A two-state solution would result in the creation of a free, democratic Palestinian state, not compromised by terror, living side by side in peace with Israel," said Alan Merkin, president of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, which represents the Jewish communities in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. "We believe that if Hamas would focus on the future aspirations of its citizens instead of the destruction of Israel, then a true path to peace will be paved."
Rabbi Benjamin Simon of Children of Israel Temple in Liberty said it is easy to become focused on the politics and forget the personal aspect of the fighting. He told the standing-room only crowd of approximately 100 people to pray for one soldier and establish a personal connection to that soldier rather than try to pray for the hundreds of soldiers who are fighting. Likewise, he told the crowd to pray for one civilian or one family.
"Hamas knows that attacking one or two of us pierces us so they don't have to attack millions of us. Our prayers for one represents the prayers for many," Simon said.
The Israeli ground operation - launched last weekend - is the second phase in an offensive that began as a weeklong aerial onslaught aimed at halting Hamas rocket fire that has reached deeper and deeper into Israel, threatening major cities and one-eighth of Israel's population of 7 million.
Merkin said the staff and leaders of the Jewish federation are in constant contact with leaders in Jerusalem through daily conference calls.
"Since Israel's unilateral and complete disengagement from Gaza in 2005, more than 6,300 rockets were fired from Gaza at the homes, schools and synagogues of Israel's southern communities. These rockets were not fired at army bases, airstrips or even industrial targets. They were indiscriminately launched at population centers with the sole goal of killing as many innocent Israeli civilians as possible," Merkin said in a written statement.
He said the goal of the current Israeli military operation in Gaza is to create conditions that will prevent Hamas from continuing its rocket attacks on southern Israel.
The Rev. Lewis Macklin, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Youngstown, said he recently visited Israel and he gained the Israeli perspective, which he said was tempered by the views of the Palestinians, who also want peace.
"You cannot broker peace with terrorists because they do not follow the rules. In fact, they make their own rules," Macklin said.
Also speaking at the event were Rabbi Joel Berman of Temple Ohev Tzedek in Boardman, Jewish Community Relations Council president Alan Krezter, Dr. Bernard Schultz of Warren who has children living in Israel, Howard Kessler and Rachel Lipkin, who gave personal testimonials from visits to Israel, and Martin Hume, president of Congregation Rodef Sholom.