Friday night rain always reminds me of summers at Camp Ramah in New England, when a good portion of Qabbalat Shabbat services outside were rained out, and we had to daven in the Hadar Okhel or Beit Am Bet.
The nostalgia that comes with this evening’s rain has taken my mind off the disaster narrowly averted in the eastern Mediterranean, where the government of Greece prevented a new flotilla of boats from sailing to Gaza. Sure, it may have been for their own cynically political reasons – Greece has not been a friend to Israel, perhaps primarily due to Israel’s until-recently strong alliance with Turkey.
I want the people of Gaza to get a fair shake. The Palestinian people have always been cynically used by their leaders and their brethren across the Arab region. However, this is not the way to do it. We all remember the scene that happened last year with the first flotilla, featuring the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara, how the Israelis killed activists in self-defense.
Mine is an apprehensive relief, because there will be more flotillas, and even greater attempts to delegitimize Israel. I’m relieved for now, but concerned about the next action.
Enjoy the cleansing rain tonight. I’ll be awash with memories of camp.
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