Regarding Neil Goldberg?s letter (August 18) of the Israel Solidarity rally:

Imagine: someone says that Jews worldwide are integrally connected to and responsible for supporting the policies of the government of Israel. There is no daylight or distinction between Jews and the Israeli government, regardless of its actions. We would rightly suspect that anti-Semitic stereotyping was at work. Yet this is precisely what Goldberg demands of fellow Jews, and if they don?t step in line with his perspective, he wants them banished from the community.

Luckily for the communal health of Jewish Seattle, most of the organizing group for the Israel Solidarity rally took a different course, recognizing that support for Israel comes in many different flavors, including Brit Tzedek v?Shalom?s call for a ceasefire and return of the kidnapped soldiers. Just like Israelis, we don?t live in a one-party state, and most of us understand that a passionate commitment to the people of Israel means that discussion of Israeli government policies is healthy and necessary. Democracy is not the tyranny of the majority. Democracy even allows for change, as we are witnessing in the heated debate now occurring in Israel over the strategic wisdom of the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza, and whether it has harmed or advanced Israel?s security.

We don?t need exclusion, alienation and division when our community can build strength by respecting pluralism and affirming our unifying concern for Israel.

Rainer Waldman Adkins

Chairperson, Brit Tzedek v?Shalom

Greater Seattle Chapter