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Learning from children
BY: SAGI MELAMED Special to the CJN
Twelve years ago I completed my undergraduate studies in Middle Eastern history at the University of Haifa and was accepted as a graduate student at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.
I arrived at Harvard fresh off a kibbutz with my wife Betsy and our 6-month-old baby Guy. I wanted to understand what had been troubling me for as long as I could remember: Can the conflict in the Middle East be solved, and if so, how?
In my first month of studies (fall 1994), I met with my academic counselor, Professor M. “I have a theory I would like to investigate,” I told her. “I believe that, unlike other regimes and societies, Muslim extremists won’t be deterred by loss of life in exchange for inflicting damage on Jews. Moreover extreme Muslim regimes, like that of Iran for example, won’t mind paying an extremely heavy price, including massive civilian casualties, in order to inflict a serious strike on Israel.”
This, I concluded, “creates an existential conflict for Israel, since, at a national level, Israel’s (unofficial) nuclear deterrence capability is ineffective against an enemy that is willing to absorb such a heavy price. Furthermore, the traditional deterrent of capital punishment won’t work with someone who is ready to sacrifice his or her life.”
Professor M. looked at me with affectionate humor and said, “An interesting theory but too naïve.”
As much as I learned, I became more and more aware of how elusive answers were. Even today I don’t know if or how the conflict in the Middle East can be resolved.
The Katyusha missile attacks on northern Israel during the summer of 2006 struck about a third of the country and practically shut down the economy of the region over a five-week period. The sector hardest hit was tourism.
And yet, by the Succot holidays, only two months after the cease-fire, it looked as though life had returned to normal: The Galilee was full of tourists, the national parks were overflowing with visitors, and the roads were clogged with traffic. This seemed to evidence the endurance of the northern front and the proud, Zionistic spirit that insists on restoring life to its regular routine.
Still, the speedy, almost compulsive return to normalcy is dangerous for Israel. The war of the summer of 2006 was a wake-up call and warning shot to the Jewish people in Zion. It reminded us that when you are surrounded by millions of enemies who might prefer your destruction over their own wellbeing, you should be constantly on your guard.
As many from the north took refuge in the center or south of the country, the weak and helpless were left in the bomb shelters n stark evidence of the deepening social and economic gaps in our society, which impair our ability to cope with outside threats. We saw that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is not invincible and that as the values of our society shift, even the army of the people is not immune.
The pessimistic doomsayers in Israel are increasingly heard in public debate. The country hasn’t celebrated its 60th birthday, yet more and more people are questioning the feasibility of its long-term existence.
When our daughter Eden had a hard time learning how to skip rope and was concerned about an upcoming rope-skipping test at school, we told her, “Acknowledge that this is hard for you, practice longer and harder than anyone else, and that’s how you’ll learn to skip rope.” Eden understood, made up her mind, and set to work. After long hours of practice and blisters on her feet, she is an excellent rope-skipper today.
The bad news is that the threat against Israel is indeed real; as it is said, “If you are paranoid, that doesn’t mean they aren’t plotting against you.” The good news is that the future is still in our hands, and if we understand, decide, and put our will into action, we will succeed. So much can be learned from children.
Sagi Melamed, former liaison between Cleveland and Beit She’an, our partnership 2000 city, is the director of external relations for Tel Hai College. He resides with his wife and four children in the Galilee.
I arrived at Harvard fresh off a kibbutz with my wife Betsy and our 6-month-old baby Guy. I wanted to understand what had been troubling me for as long as I could remember: Can the conflict in the Middle East be solved, and if so, how?
In my first month of studies (fall 1994), I met with my academic counselor, Professor M. “I have a theory I would like to investigate,” I told her. “I believe that, unlike other regimes and societies, Muslim extremists won’t be deterred by loss of life in exchange for inflicting damage on Jews. Moreover extreme Muslim regimes, like that of Iran for example, won’t mind paying an extremely heavy price, including massive civilian casualties, in order to inflict a serious strike on Israel.”
This, I concluded, “creates an existential conflict for Israel, since, at a national level, Israel’s (unofficial) nuclear deterrence capability is ineffective against an enemy that is willing to absorb such a heavy price. Furthermore, the traditional deterrent of capital punishment won’t work with someone who is ready to sacrifice his or her life.”
Professor M. looked at me with affectionate humor and said, “An interesting theory but too naïve.”
As much as I learned, I became more and more aware of how elusive answers were. Even today I don’t know if or how the conflict in the Middle East can be resolved.
The Katyusha missile attacks on northern Israel during the summer of 2006 struck about a third of the country and practically shut down the economy of the region over a five-week period. The sector hardest hit was tourism.
And yet, by the Succot holidays, only two months after the cease-fire, it looked as though life had returned to normal: The Galilee was full of tourists, the national parks were overflowing with visitors, and the roads were clogged with traffic. This seemed to evidence the endurance of the northern front and the proud, Zionistic spirit that insists on restoring life to its regular routine.
Still, the speedy, almost compulsive return to normalcy is dangerous for Israel. The war of the summer of 2006 was a wake-up call and warning shot to the Jewish people in Zion. It reminded us that when you are surrounded by millions of enemies who might prefer your destruction over their own wellbeing, you should be constantly on your guard.
As many from the north took refuge in the center or south of the country, the weak and helpless were left in the bomb shelters n stark evidence of the deepening social and economic gaps in our society, which impair our ability to cope with outside threats. We saw that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is not invincible and that as the values of our society shift, even the army of the people is not immune.
The pessimistic doomsayers in Israel are increasingly heard in public debate. The country hasn’t celebrated its 60th birthday, yet more and more people are questioning the feasibility of its long-term existence.
When our daughter Eden had a hard time learning how to skip rope and was concerned about an upcoming rope-skipping test at school, we told her, “Acknowledge that this is hard for you, practice longer and harder than anyone else, and that’s how you’ll learn to skip rope.” Eden understood, made up her mind, and set to work. After long hours of practice and blisters on her feet, she is an excellent rope-skipper today.
The bad news is that the threat against Israel is indeed real; as it is said, “If you are paranoid, that doesn’t mean they aren’t plotting against you.” The good news is that the future is still in our hands, and if we understand, decide, and put our will into action, we will succeed. So much can be learned from children.
Sagi Melamed, former liaison between Cleveland and Beit She’an, our partnership 2000 city, is the director of external relations for Tel Hai College. He resides with his wife and four children in the Galilee.
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