Reflections on My Life and Times
Reflections on My Life and Times
I see the problems of other people, such as the recent problems of Cambodians, as being different from the problems of the Jews. The Cambodians were dominated by a cruel regime and were left devastated by the time Pol Pot was defeated. But Cambodia is a nation with no enemies at this point, so it will get back on its feet. In comparison, I ponder the mind-boggling prospect of how Israel, its citizens, and the region would prosper if they were not constantly engaged in ongoing hostilities with their neighbors. Bil- lions of dollars now spent on weaponry and defense could be used for education and the advancement of our people and people all over the world. We are proud of our military accomplishments, with one of the finest air forces in the world and tanks that are second to none, but I wish that we did not need all those weapons. Israel is a poor country constantly at war. If peace or settlement could be achieved with the Arabs, we could use that money for other things. Jews need to look out for each other, no matter where in the world we are. Currently, the Argentinean Jews are in a difficult situation. Argentina is economically desperate, and many Jews, especially in Buenos Aires, said to have the third largest Jewish community in the world, are feeling the pinch. Their lives have been devastated. Many, including my first cousin, have lost their businesses and jobs, and have needed financial assistance from the world Jewish community. The United Jewish Appeal is setting up soup kitchens in Buenos Aires to feed the hungry, not only among the Jews, but whomever needs help. Many Holocaust survivors who have lived in Argentina for the past fifty years are even now immigrating to Israel, despite their fears of the security situation, suicide bombers and other acts of violence. For those people, being in a country where you can earn a living is better than starving in Argentina. I believe that, eventually, the internal problems in Israel between secular and Orthodox Jews will be resolved because we have a common goal: to live in peace in a prosperous country. Extremism
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