The Rabbi's Study

Rabbi Eugene A. Wernick

Dear Friends,

It is too early to predict what will happen as the Arab and Muslim world erupt in revolution. The optimist will herald the events as predicting the coming of democracy to these troubled lands. On the bright side of this for Israel's sake, there has never been a time when one democracy has made war on another. 

As for the pessimist, the history of revolution in these lands has been the eventual takeover of these governments by radical Islamic parties. That event bodes rather serious threats to Israel's future surrounded by enemies sworn to destroy her.

 

The present American administration has been attacked by right and left for either for not protecting the sitting regimes or being too slow to recognize the rights of the protesters.  In my mind it is too easy to criticize when one can never predict what the outcome of all this will be.

 

One thing for certain is that these revolutions were initiated by the lack of jobs, food and income for the majority of the populations in these lands. Only economic security for all the inhabitants with the basic needs of jobs, housing and food for all will bring about stability and the chance for education and democracy to take root.

 

This coming month of March we will celebrate the holiday of Purim. This holiday is the joy of seeing that a day that was set aside for sorrow and disaster was turned into a triumph worthy of great joy. As it was then so it may be now for us, for Israel and for all the peoples of those troubled lands.

 

Hagt Sameah,

 

Rabbi Wernick

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Rabbi Wernick was born and educated in New York City and graduated with honors from City College and the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received his Semikha. He has held pulpits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oakland, California, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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