Foolishness Finds a Way

(Published without title 12/27/08, page C3)

Growing up in Stamford, Connecticut, my closest friends were Jewish, and I learned lessons on kindness and forgiveness from Jewish friends and their families. As a young person I read Anne Frank’s diary and more—spellbinding authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer. Attending church, it was hard for me to reconcile experiences of Jewish friends who were at least as “good” as I was with what some gospel readings said about “the Jews.” That was part of why I became an atheist in my teenage years. In adulthood after I again became a Christian, the tremendous beauty, passion for justice and insight I found in authors such as Martin Buber and Abraham Joshua Heschel, confirmed Jews and Judaism as part of my own heart. Hearing of anti-Semitism strikes at me personally, and I believe deeply in the right of Israel to exist in safety.

Knowing such beauty and insight in Judaism, it is also difficult to reconcile terrible conditions I see experienced by Palestinians unlucky enough to be born in territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war and ensuing conflicts. Israel has withdrawn from some settlements and forced out some illegal settlers, while confiscating other Palestinian lands and building more Israeli homes; some of these settlers feel that the world ignored the plight of Jews under Nazi persecution, and should not dictate to Israel now. But many Palestinian farmers and shepherds, women, the elderly, normal people returning from work, and even children walking to school, deal daily with violent harassment from Israeli settlers, degradation of constant roadblocks, searches, and occasions when Israeli soldiers turn a blind eye to settler violence or engage in harassment themselves. Some Palestinians have responded to injustice with horrendous and reprehensible violence, and life becomes even harder for most Palestinians who try hard to raise families, make a living, and exist in peace under impoverished conditions.

My friend Rick Polhamus is a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, an ecumenical group supporting violence reduction efforts around the world. He leads CPT delegations to Palestine and Israel, and works with both Palestinian and Israeli peace groups. Recently Rick brought both Palestinian and Israeli friends to visit him at his peaceful home in Ohio. It was wonderful for him to see joy on the face of Zleikha as she stood in a snowfall, and of Abdulhadi as he engaged in a game of “egg toss” or played with Rick’s granddaughter. It is painful to Rick knowing he can go home to such peace, while his friends face constant threats and harassment in their homeland of generations.

Once he was in Palestine, trying to escort children to school in safety. They were stopped at a roadblock by a soldier. Rick reasoned with him at length to no avail. Frustrated, Rick put his hands in his pockets and there found a little stuffed toy, a unicorn. He placed it on his shoulder and started talking to it: “This is just crazy, not letting little children go to school.” Soldiers came and stared at him; “You’re crazy!” they said. Rick just continued talking to the little unicorn on his shoulder, “It’s really crazy to think that little children going to school are a threat to Israel….” The soldiers finally laughed, and let them through. “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” (1 Cor. 1:25)

Sarah Malone currently serves as a deacon at University Baptist and Brethren Church. To respond to this column, go to http://malonecdtcolumns.blogspot.com/2008/12/growing-up-in-stamford-connecticut-my.html and scroll to the bottom of the page. Thanks for your input!