|
A Meeting with Young Israelis
Anna Dobranowska
Foundation of Christian Culture
ZNAK
http://www.forum-znak.org.pl
15 April 2002
In Krakow a group of Polish students
met with students from Israel taking part in the March
of the Living.
It turned out (Poles have known this for generations)
that the best meeting place in Krakow is the marketplace
- at the monument of Adam Mickiewicz. There was no problem
in identifying the guests - they were the biggest group
at the monument, with the assistance of stout guards.
It is hard to tell whether our surprised looks (when
we saw the guards) were a result of naiveté or (the
latter would be better) a faith in people and their
goodwill.
There was some confusion at the monument. It is hard
to communicate with one hundred people at the same time.
Someone always tries to control such chaos - in vain,
naturally. Eventually we managed to sit in one of the
restaurants at Szewska Street with a group of about
15. Since the pub did not have an English menu, we started
by translating the essential word "beer" into
English. There were no problems with kosherness, because
one of the world's largest soft drink companies produces
"clean" beverages.
First we introduced ourselves and exchanged opinions
about the weather in Israel and Krakow. The guests studied
at various Israeli universities. Not all willing managed
to come; the ultimate decision about who joined the
trip to Poland depended on a preliminary interview.
Advanced students were more privileged; they had to
prove a certain knowledge of history and demonstrate
a proper attitude. As one of the guests explained, the
current situation demands a "strengthening"
of their identity and this is the main goal of the trip
to Poland.
As far as names go, the Polish party was far less original.
Our names cannot be translated, while the names of almost
all the guests meant something - for example "Lord
above me" or "Be happy". "Light"
topics soon disappeared, however. Maybe because someone
jokingly asked: "Who is that guy who's taking pictures
of us all the time? A secret service agent?" (It
was the Forum Znak photographer.) Later conversations
were dominated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The discussion was quite fierce. Questions were asked
about the justification for actions undertaken by the
Israeli armed forces. Explanations followed, usually
starting with "look at it from my perspective..."
However, how can one identify with a young man of 25
who, instead of studying at the university, has been
serving in the Israeli army and after coming back from
Poland is obliged to return to his unit? Until recently
he was in the reserve but because of the exceptionality
of the situation he has been called up to active service.
He is tired of such questions and discussions - he does
not want to kill just as he does not want to get killed.
One heard statements like: "I don't believe in
peace".
"Don't you see a solution to this problem?"
one of the Poles asked.
"No, because they [the Palestinians] always, when
we approach a peaceful solution, raise the question
of Palestinian refugees and their return. The state
of Israel was created for Jews - it is not an Israeli-Palestinian
formation. And this is why there will be no peace."
"But how long can you live in a state of war?"
"I don't know; I can't answer that question."
Someone else pointed out the cultural differences between
Palestinians and Israelis which make an agreement impossible.
Still, he found it difficult to name them in English
and admitted it would have been hard for him in Hebrew
as well. Palestinians make up about thirty percent of
the students at his university. He characterized their
mutual relations as "cool" - which is not
only a result of recent events. This have been the case
since he started studying at the university. Our colleague
admitted that he would not talk to Palestinian fellow-students
as openly as he did during our meeting.
One has to especially note the reasonable opinions of
a girl whose name meant "Be happy". During
the discussion, others raised their voices while she
remained calm and persuasive. She also tried to give
us a picture of Israel so that we could see the situation
from her perspective:
"You don't know what it means to live in an endangered
country. Why do I have to feel guilty because the Israeli
army is stronger and was not defeated by attacks of
Arab states, but, instead, managed to move their borders?
It is not my fault our prime minister is the way he
is. I know he could be better, but there is nothing
I can do about it..."
Later the group went for a walk to the Kazimierz district
and took part in the celebrations of Holocaust Remembrance
Day. From the ceremony at the Old Synagogue most of
us did not understand a word. But maybe this was unnecessary
- it was not that difficult to guess what all these
prayers, songs, recitations and speeches meant.
What memories remain from that meeting? The conclusion
that there are no simple answers and solutions; that
a black-and-white description of the world is rarely
accurate. Also, I listen to news from the Middle East
differently now - I recall familiar faces and Israeli
friends.
Anna Dobranowska
|
