What began as a simple question gave me pause to reflect on where we \u2013 all of Am Yisrael \u2013 are headed in 5775.<\/p>\n
His question: \u201cWhy is Israel so aggressive to the Palestinians?\u201d<\/p>\n
My response included a gallery of pictures from my iPhone. Pictures and videos showing the amount of ammunition Hamas had in Gaza. Pictures of tunnels that begin under a kitchen sink. Body bags that are moving because the \u201cvictims\u201d are still alive. Palestinians shooting rockets at Israel with children standing right next to them, and much more.<\/p>\n
I explained that Israel tries its best not to target civilians but as the pictures and videos demonstrate, it is not easy when Hamas terrorists shoot while surrounded by children. He was touched but more than anything he felt deceived.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t show us any of this on CNN or any of the other news channels here,\u201d he said. He asked me to forward the pictures so he could show them to friends who are Moslem and\/or pro-Palestinian.<\/p>\n
Later in the day he sent me a text message. \u201cThanks a lot for changing the way we American people see your world. Our media only shows us the bad and blames Israel. My humble apologies.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the afternoon I kept thinking about the fact that here is a non-Jewish American whose main news sources are CNN and Fox News. All he sees is how terrible Israel is.<\/p>\n
In response to this reality, verses from Avinu Malkenu* (Our Father, Our King) kept coming to mind: \u201cOur Father, Our King, cancel the plans of those who hate us. Our Father, Our King, thwart the counsel of our enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n
This summer\u2019s Operation Protective Edge created a disturbing phenomenon. In addition to outright anti-Semitism, it often resulted in a situation where Jewish people who support Israel felt uncomfortable. All it took was a 15 minute conversation and photo gallery for a very good man to see the truth.<\/p>\n
What this innocent exchange taught me is that a worthy goal for the New Year is to become ambassadors for Israel. Speak the truth with those special people you see every day but may think differently than you do.<\/p>\n
If we do this, together we can create an outburst of grass roots activism. Self-starting initiatives. Volunteering in Israel and abroad. In social media and in person. Start by learning the facts from Israeli websites including the IDF<\/a>.<\/p>\nIt deserves as least as much time as CNN and Fox News.<\/p>\n
*A prayer that is said between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as well as communal fast days<\/em>.<\/p>\n(Rabbi Avi Berman is executive vice-president of the Orthodox Union, Europe.)<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"Berman\"](\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Berman.jpeg\")