Andy Margolis isn't a
member of any particular Jewish organization in the Chicago area. But he and Howard Dakoff,
a friend, have felt compelled in recent weeks to take a stand in support of Israel.
They are raising money to
buy an ambulance.
"We chose an
ambulance because it is the quintessential symbol of humanitarian aid,"
said Margolis. "No matter what side of the fence you're on, an ambulance
is there to save a life."
The Chicago area's Jewish community has long lent its support to
Israel, but increased violence in the Middle East recently has unnerved many into taking a more active
role. Some who only voiced support in the past are now helping organize
rallies, sponsoring teach-ins or writing checks.
"I always supported Israel," said Rachel Brill, a high school guidance
counselor. But after visiting there a year ago and then seeing familiar places
hit by suicide bombs, she felt she had to act by taking part in rallies and
food drives.
In a community that for
decades has differed on how peace can be reached with Palestinians, Chicago
Jews also say they are becoming more supportive of Israel's military response to suicide bombings, some even
stepping away from Jewish groups that continue to call for peace and oppose
Israeli occupation of the territories.
They are rallying by the
thousands, organizing teach-ins and fundraisers for food and medical equipment.
Two events with former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew more than
7,000 people. And in just one month, the Jewish United Fund brought in $18
million for Israel.
For many area Jews, the
desire to "do something" came after the suicide bombing during
Passover at an Israeli hotel.
Jews are feeling
threatened and as a result, "they are joining together to do whatever they
can to resist it," said Michael Kotzin,
executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
"The community has been utterly galvanized. ... The intensity of the
desire to demonstrate is something that hadn't been seen because it hadn't been
tested."
Fewer Palestinians
Palestinians say they are
seeing similar shows of support, though their numbers are smaller in Chicago. The area's Jewish community numbers more than
261,000--one of the largest and most cohesive in the United States, according to Kotzin. The Palestinian American Community Center said area Palestinians number about 100,000 and the majority are first-generation or new immigrants.
"With each
mobilization, we see more and more people out there," said Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesman for
the Arab American Action Network and organizer of dozens of weekly rallies and
discussions during the past three months. "They are young people,
students, professionals who want to be active and who feel they want to do
something."
Both Jews and Arabs in Chicago see their roles as being moral supporters and hope
their mobilization efforts send a message to Washington, D.C.
It's a way to give
information to Americans "who have great influence over elected
leaders," said Rev. Nicholas Dahdal of St.
George's Antiochian Orthodox Church, which serves
Chicago's Christian Palestinians.
The message is stronger,
too, when supporters can open their pocketbooks, say organizers on both sides.
Palestinian supporters say
it has been difficult to raise much money because of the fear that sending
funds could link them to terrorism. Still, Maryam Arouri of the Palestinian American Community Center said mosques are always
raising funds for those in need.
Right now, she said, it's
for people in the West Bank, where the poverty level has soared because of the
20-month-old uprising and the Israeli response.
Both sides say they will
keep up the teach-ins and the rallies. And they each look for new ways to keep
people involved.
`What can I do'
"We hear from people
in the community all the time asking, `What can I do?'," said Kotzin. "It's proof that what we're doing is
meaningful."
Still, though, some
Chicago Jews worry that activists are losing sight of achieving peace in the Middle East.
"There are some Jews
who used to support the peace process and now don't," said Doni Remba of Chicago Friends of
Peace Now, which supports Israel's right to defend itself but still pushes for
peace. Simply supporting Israel is not going to solve the conflict, he said.
Added Richard Zelin, of the New Israel Fund: "As difficult as it is,
this crisis is going to be over, and we have to think about the long term. And
we need to really stick to the values and principles for which Israel has stood for in the Jewish community. That is
morality and justice."