News

Op-Ed: SAR Should Encourage a Broader Understanding of the Gaza Conflict

by Gershon Rozenberg

In October, SAR hosted important programming to commemorate the victims of October 7th and honor the lives lost in the Hamas attacks. It’s essential to have conversations and educate people about this tragic event, which deeply affected our brothers and sisters in a land that many of us feel a strong, even spiritual, connection to. What’s missing from these conversations within the SAR community are broader discussions around Israel’s policies in Gaza and the impact of the war on Palestinians in the region.

     There has been a lot of programming this year concerning civil discourse—hearing the other side’s point of view—mainly in the context of domestic politics and the election. This programming is important, but it must extend beyond the U.S. political landscape. As a Zionist school, Israel is a crucial component of SAR’s culture. We attend rallies for Israel, listen to speakers from the Holy Land, and celebrate Israeli holidays. Yet, criticism of Israel is rare, especially when it comes to addressing current events. Many in the SAR community have a visceral, knee-jerk reaction to any criticism of Israel’s actions, seeing it not only as an affront to their beliefs but also to their Jewish identities. But if we are serious about educating ourselves, we cannot ignore the suffering of those on the other side—especially when much of that pain stems from Israel’s policies. 

     How did we get here? Why are we so quick to shoo away opposing viewpoints, going so far as to label them radical and antisemitic? The answer lies in our unwillingness to engage in dialogue and our limited exposure to perspectives outside our own.

It’s important to recognize that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is not a recent development, but has deep historical roots that go back decades. Palestinians in Gaza have endured Israel’s control over the enclave’s air, land, and sea, leading to a crippling economic blockade that severely restricts imports and exports to and from the enclave. Leaked Israeli diplomatic cables published in 2011 revealed that the blockade was initially designed to push Gaza "to the brink of collapse." This has led to widespread destitution and an unemployment rate hovering around 50%. Palestinians have faced not only economic hardship, but also direct violence, such as being shot at while fishing, and have been denied permits to enter Israel for medical treatment.

     This environment makes Gaza a breeding ground for anti-Israel extremism. If someone's parent was shot by the IDF while protesting at the fence between Israel and Gaza, that person would be more inclined to join a militant group seeking revenge. Let me be clear: while the occupation does not absolve Hamas of its moral agency or justify the horrific acts of violence and indiscriminate attacks on civilians that it has carried out, understanding the broader history of the region is crucial to preventing similar tragedies. By offering programming at SAR that explores the perspective of Palestinians in Gaza, students could gain insight into the pain felt by Gazans and how that suffering can fuel radicalization.

Another topic that seems to echo in silence within the walls of SAR is the toll the post-October 7th war in Gaza has taken on Palestinians. The Gaza Health Ministry (which is reliable according to Israeli Intelligence) estimates that upwards of 46,000 people have died since the conflict began. While many are quick to point out that this figure doesn’t differentiate between terrorists and civilians, this is just one way the numbers don’t tell the full story. A recent study suggests that the actual death toll may be undercounted by more than 40%. This study didn’t even account for deaths resulting from other war-related factors such as the collapse of Gaza’s health system. The staggering death toll since October 7th can be attributed to the IDF significantly loosening its rules of engagement concerning civilian risk assessments and dropping massive 2,000-pound bombs on Israeli-designated humanitarian zones. “The destruction in Gaza will define our lives and our children’s lives from now on,” said one IDF soldier who served in Gaza. “Where’s the line between understanding complexity and blind obedience?”

We may feel uneasy when we dive into these tough conversations, but sometimes discomfort can be a good thing—it drives us to grow. As Jews, we carry the deep weight of history’s pain, which pushes us to stay alert to the suffering of others. But how can we stay vigilant if we remain unaware of the facts on the ground? 

     To foster understanding of the events on the ground in Gaza, SAR could host Palestinian speakers to share their experiences. Through the SARts program, we could explore Palestinian arts, humanizing their narratives. Additionally, in the spirit of SAR’s collaboration with local non-Jewish schools, we could invite a nearby Muslim school for interfaith dialogue, creating a space for respect and connection. In these moments of intercultural exchange, we could hopefully cultivate a deeper awareness that reminds us that peace begins with the courage to listen. 

     SAR is responsible for ensuring that students are informed and prepared to engage with the facts. As the only Jewish state, Israel acts in the name of the Jewish people’s safety, but we have to ask ourselves: is every action justified? 

Op-Ed: Unifying SAR’s Voice for Israel and the Jewish People

by David Isaacs

Despite comprising only 0.2 percent of the world’s eight billion people, Jews have been subjected to a disproportionate level of hatred and persecution throughout history. Contemporary Jewry has benefited from a homeland, unprecedented wealth and accomplishment, and only sporadic antisemitism. This post-Holocaust renaissance impressed a false sense of security and acceptance upon the Jewish people—until October 7, 2023. The horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas and the continued imprisonment of dozens of hostages in Gaza, along with the ensuing reaction of the world, serve as a stark wake-up call that the Jewish people continue to face an existential threat for survival. It is imperative that, as Jews living in the United States and benefiting from an SAR education, we set aside internal differences and present a unified, fact-based public voice by steadfastly standing with Israel as the first line of defense for the Jewish people.

     As Hamas has been in power for a generation, it has molded a society to embody its perverse ideology. This is observed by the fact that Gazan civilians—doctors, journalists, and members of UNRWA—harbored innocent Israeli hostages in partnership with Hamas. In recent weeks, we witnessed the release of living hostages who were met with intimidation by machine gun-laden Hamas terrorists and jeers by the civilian Gazan population. These Palestinians were also seen cheering and clapping as the caskets of 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz, 4-year-old Ariel Bibas, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, and what was thought to be their mother, Shiri Bibas, were paraded around. It was heart-wrenching to learn of two innocent children under the age of five strangled at the hands of Hamas. Given Hamas’s history governing Gaza and their conduct on and since October 7th, we, as Jews, need to accept their evil nature and unite firmly against them.

     Despite Hamas’s monstrous acts of violence, Western news outlets have systematically generated a one-dimensional anti-Israel narrative that has shaped mainstream public sentiment. The spread of anti-Israel propaganda in the West underscores the need for a fact-based understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

For instance, many media outlets frequently cite the Gaza Health Ministry for casualty data without acknowledging that it is operated by Hamas, a terrorist organization whose charter states that “The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews)”. Moreover, these figures fail to distinguish between civilian and terrorist casualties, making their reliability questionable. On the other hand, in May of 2024, Prime Minister Netanyahu and an Israeli government spokesman reported a civilian-to-terrorist death ratio of close to 1:1 in their urban warfare operations—a ratio unprecedented in similar conflicts. By comparison, Western military campaigns typically result in significantly higher civilian-to-terrorist casualty rates: an average of 9:1 according to the United Nations. This highlights the importance of critically assessing sources and corroborating information with reputable outlets to ensure accurate reporting.

     A glaring example of the media’s bias was the October 17, 2023 report of an explosion at a Gaza hospital, initially claimed to be an Israeli airstrike killing 500 people. Subsequent evidence revealed that the explosion was caused by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket. While some news outlets (e.g., CNN and The Wall Street Journal) eventually corrected their reports, the damage had already been done: headlines condemning Israel had circulated globally, shaping public opinion before facts were established. Some organizations, such as the BBC, never fully retracted their initial claims, further harming Israel’s reputation. This incident similarly underscores the critical need for vigilance and honest reporting on issues related to Israel.

     A hallmark of the Jewish people is engaging in open dialogue and debate. However, how and where we debate matters. Internal debate among Jews must be tempered in public to avoid exacerbating external threats and stoking antisemitism. Public strife weakens the perception of unity and emboldens those who seek to harm us. It is incumbent upon us, SAR-educated Jewish Americans, to learn the facts and present differing opinions, but withhold antagonistic debate from the public arena. By setting aside internal differences and uniting behind Israel, we strengthen not only the Jewish state but the global Jewish community.

     SAR bears a unique responsibility in this endeavor. SAR must equip students with a comprehensive understanding of Jewish history and the millennia-long struggle to re-establish a homeland as a refuge from persecution. This education should both foster advocacy for Israel and provide fact-based knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, enabling students to engage in informed discussions. Inviting speakers with diverse perspectives can further this mission. However, any Palestinian speakers must be carefully selected. Inviting individuals who openly support terrorism, celebrate the rape of Jewish women, and glorify the kidnapping and torture of innocent civilians is not an exercise in intellectual diversity—it is a desecration of the memory of those slaughtered on October 7th. One compelling perspective to consider inviting is that of Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas founder. With firsthand experience in both Palestinian and Israeli societies, Yousef offers a rare and invaluable perspective. His journey—from Hamas operative to Israeli collaborator—underscores the complexity of the conflict and the possibilities for understanding and coexistence. If SAR seeks to expose students to Arab viewpoints, Yousef’s insights would be both credible and transformative.

     The challenges facing the Jewish people today demand unity, informed advocacy, and a commitment to truth. By fostering these values within the SAR community, we can ensure that our Jewish voice remains strong and steadfast in defense of Israel and the Jewish people in our quest for enduring peace.