Comments on: Who Would Ever Want to be an Israeli?

By: Steve McCourtie

Steve McCourtie — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:36:33 +0000

If your writers (specifically Raffe Gold: “Who Would Ever Want to be an Isreali?”) are going to give JFK credit for the line, “Ask not what your country … ” then you should at least include an asterisk with the following information:
Researchers attribute the quote to Roman statesman and orator Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero), who used it during a speech in 64 BC; however, some scholars believe Cicero borrowed it from Junvenal (Decimus Junius Junenval), a Roman poet.
Cicero’s speech was – of course – not in English, so translations vary.
Others who used similar quotes:
Captain Felipe Arrellanos (a character in the Walt Disney TV series, “Zorro,” played by George N. Neise) in the episode “Invitation to Death” broadcast during the 1958-1959 season, giving a patriotic speech defending Spain in which he asks “Is this the time for us to be asking, What have you (Spain) done for us? We should be asking what can we do for you?” Was John F. Kennedy paraphrasing/quoting from a “Zorro” scene?!?!?
Khalil Gibran, a poet and author of Lebanese heritage, who published a work in Boston titled “The New Frontier” in 1925: “Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert.”
Warren Harding in 1916 at the Republican convention echoed a similar statement: “we must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.” The line is on display in Harding’s own handwriting at his Marion, Ohio, home.
Oliver Wendell Holmes stated, “Recall what our country has done for each of us, and to ask ourselves what we can do for our country in return” in an 1884 Memorial Day speech.
Steve McCourtie
Lansing, Michigan

By: Stewart Mills

Stewart Mills — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:18:08 +0000

Raffe, it is good that you are an Israeli. My hope and prayer is that you will have opportunities to see first hand within places like Bili’n, Nablus and Jenin what life is like for Palestinians. There are many good dialogue groups that can link you up with Palestinians who can give you a sense of what occupation means. Rabbi Arik Asherman and Jeff Halper are a good start. My prayer is that you will be part of the new generation of Israelis that looks to Palestinians as your brothers and sisters who seek to share the land as neighbours, despite the tragic recent past. Shalom Salam Peace.

By: Richard Joachim

Richard Joachim — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:10:20 +0000

Raffe,
You inspire us, even old people like us. The continuance and growth of Israel and our Jewish Faith and the ancient Covenant, is safe in the hands of the young like yourself.
Mazel Tov, young man, many Jewish people speak of their ancestors and from whom they are descended, you, young man, are not so much a descendant as an ancestor; one who bravely encounters obstacles and overcomes them.
G-D Bless you and your descendants.

By: hilary

hilary — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:32:22 +0000

I identify with this article and think you have summarised the exact way so many of us olim feel yet we’re unable to word it so beautifully like you did !!! It makes perfect sense and you described it with passion and gave meaning to the word zionism and living in Israel

Kol Hakavod

By: Lynne Newington

Lynne Newington — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 08:09:09 +0000

I’t something you need to do because you need to.
It’s also part of your spiritual inheritance, not everyone chooses to activate the promptings and that’s alright to.
Good for you, I hope you find a nice Jewish partner and live happily ever after, well as happy as you can be anyway.
What mother could ask for anything more for her son.