RABBI LAZAR

“When I came to Israel at 18, it seemed to me that to live as a Jew, one not only had to become a citizen of Israel, but one had to work the land raising vegetables and flowers as part of God’s creation. But over a long span of time, I began to look at Jews living in this land differently.

Through studies at university, I realized that our claim to this land was historic and not God given. During the first Intifada, what changed things for me was having to be the actual conqueror -- running after little children who threw rocks, forcing old men to paint out graffiti. I realized that was not the price I was willing to pay for this land to be part of Israel.

I would live and die over the existence of Israel. I would be willing to die for certain rights. But to die over the right to pray over the Western Wall, which is just a Middle Ages icon, makes no sense. I don’t know rabbis who believe that keeping the Western Wall is critical, especially rabbis whose kids would be serving in the army. I am certainly willing to see Jerusalem become an international city if it would save lives and create a peaceful framework for Jews and Christians and Muslims.

I have no problem reconciling that the Zionist myth I grew up with is not the truth because this piece of land is the only place in the world that a Jew can be free and live as a Jew. But in this Jewish state there has to be religious freedom, economic equality. This is not the case today, and is unjust and evil, and must be fixed.”