“Peace is harder to make than war." - YJ Draiman

“Peace is harder to make than war." 

quotes

“Peace is harder to make than war."

If you know how to make peace in your home, with your families (your aunts, your uncles, even distant cousins), and with all of the Jewish people, you will know how to do it with your Arab neighbor. Once we learn peace with each other as Jews we can and will teach it to the rest of the world.

BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Question 1: Which peace is more important, inner peace, peace in the home, or peace with enemies?
Question 2: Which kind of war is worse: between enemies or between friends and family?

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.

 

In peace, sons bury their fathers; in war, fathers bury their sons.

 

Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.

Peace is a never-ending process, the work of many decisions by many people in many countries. It is an attitude, a way of life, a way of solving problems and resolving conflicts. It cannot be forced on the smallest nation or enforced by the largest. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests. It requires us to work and live together.

The definition of peace—tranquility and quiet. I think we take our peace for granted. It is a simple luxury we enjoy for reading, writing, meeting people, discussing ideas and even developing our strategies for helping the poor. Imagine how difficult our work would be in an environment without tranquility and quiet? And then imagine trying to build a future for your family and country without peace. This explains why peace is a foundation of development.

 

Peace is not the absence of war; it is a virtue; a state of mind; a disposition for benevolence, confidence, and justice.

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.

 

"We must learn to live together as brothers, or we are going to perish together as fools."

"The peace we seek in the world cannot appear until its flame is first lit in our hearts. It is a divine force that whispers gently but insistently, coaxing us ever deeper into the dark recesses of our souls, shedding its healing light and liberating us from our fears. It is a wondrous journey of personal liberation that, for some continues to this day."

 

"Hatred and conflict are often rooted in differences between people of different races and religions. We all need to respect people of different races as well as people of different faiths and religions. We need to unite by recognizing our common desire and need for a harmonious society -- a society in which we and our children and families and friends and communities can all live our lives in peace and harmony. Regardless of our race or religion, we all want and need such social harmony."

"Without respect for people of different races or ethnicities or religions, how can we have a peaceful and harmonious society or world? And without a harmonious society, how can there be the necessary economic development and atmosphere conducive to spiritual happiness and self-realization?"

But now it is time for all of us to show civil courage, in order to pro­claim to our peoples and to others: no more war, no more bloodshed, no more bereavement - peace unto you; shalom, salaam, forever." And then, husky with emotion, "This is the proper place, and the appropriate time, to bring back to memory the song and the prayer of thanksgiving I learned as a child in the home of my father and mother, that doesn't exist anymore because they were among the six million people - men, women and children - who sanctified the Lord's name with their sacred blood which reddened the rivers of Europe from the Rhine to the Dan­ube, from the Bug to the Volga, because -only because -they were born Jews; and because they didn't have a country of their own, nor a valiant Jewish army to defend them; and because nobody - nobody - came to their rescue, although they cried out 'Save us! Save us!' deprofundis, from the depths of the pit and agony: that is the Song of Degrees written two millennia and five hundred years ago when our forefathers returned from their first exile to Jerusalem, to Zion."

 

"Peace is the beauty of life," sentimentalized. "It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togeth­erness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of a just cause, the triumph of truth."

 

"How is it that half a billion hostile Arabs have managed to successfully portray themselves as the victims of five million Israeli Jews? . . . . . How did more than a dozen Arab tyrannies successfully portray Israel, the region's lone democracy, as the bad guys in the Middle East? . . . . What Israel has failed at utterly is framing the conflict with the Palestinians in moral terms. This is not a dispute over land. Rather it is a conflict between good and evil . . . . . . . Whatever grievances the Palestinians claim to have against Israel, choosing to settle them by maiming and murdering innocent men, women and children is a crime against God and a sin against humanity. The Jews were put into ghettos and turned into piles of ashes by the Nazis. But they never retaliated by machine-gunning German schoolgirls. . . . . "

Peace and coexistence between Israel and its Arab neighbors would be a dream come true! - YJ Draiman

Peace and coexistence between Israel and its Arab neighbors would be a dream come true!

I do not think that anyone could comprehend what a true peace and coexistence would bring to Israel and the Middle East.

As long as the Arab-Palestinians incite the masses to terrorize and commit violence against Israel and each other, peace and coexistence will stay a dream.

The Arab Palestinians must start by educating their children and the masses that violence begets violence and that the only way to improve their lives is to pursue peace and coexistence.

Stop celebrating and rewarding terrorists and those who commit violence and destruction. If the Arab-Palestinians truly want peace they must practice it. The leaders the Imams and anyone who has influence on the masses.

Both sides will have to be careful not to let the extremists jeopardize this approach and direction. There will always be someone who will try to sabotage any conciliatory coexistence. Both sides will have to set up a joint working group to address safety and security. Plan and implement the economic future of all the people. It is not going to be easy after a century of hostilities, but if there is a will there is a way and it can be done.

Both sides must learn to respect each other. It will help greatly in bridging the differences and bringing about the tranquility that is so greatly desired.

It must start by taking small steps and confidence building between the Israelis and the Arab-Palestinians.  As the confidence building steps are accomplished, the flow of cooperation will increase, the animosity will decrease and the friendship and cooperation will increase. These will bring an economic prosperity and  monumental surge in the standard of living.

Funds and resources that were used for advancing the conflict will be diverted to the economy and the advancement in the quality of life for all the inhabitants in the region.

A true peace will bring a tremendous economic prosperity to the region, which all the people in the region will benefit from.

YJ Draiman

It takes more guts (courage) to make peace than to make war - YJ Draiman

It takes more guts (courage) to make peace than to make war

Making peace is harder than making war.

Can humanity overcome the urge to make war and pursue peace
Tolerance and peace is a two way street.
If you want peace and economic prosperity, both sides, show your resolve by taking bold actions, showing your determination to the benefit of all the people. You can accomplish more with honey than with vinegar.

We must pursue peace with passionate determination and vigor but we must have all parties desire for true peace.

A true and lasting peace in Israel and the Middle East will establish an economic prosperity of which the world has never experienced and all the people in the region will benefit from a true peace. Do not waste your time and money in promoting war and hostility. The people in power must utilize the resources and manpower to the economic advancement of all the people, this will promote tranquility in a region that has known strife for centuries. The leaders have to utilize funding to enhance education and promote innovation.

It is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace. We should require each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict.

The “greatest contribution to a sound and continuing peace in the Middle East would result from the development of trade and other economic relationships between Israel and the Arab countries. When nations are making progress and peoples’ opportunities for rising living standards are favorable, it is more likely that they will concern themselves with constructive achievements rather than with hostility and war.”

“Israel has the talent, technology and skills and by now the experience of dealing with the environment and the resources in the Middle-East which are readily transferable. Therefore, it is entirely realistic to expect prompt and major developments in the Arab countries under peaceful and normal relations in that region,” “Israel’s economic growth is reasonably assured under any circumstances but only if she could divert the hundreds of millions of dollars now devoted to defense efforts could she not only speed her own development but also play a positive role in helping the economic expansion of the entire region.”

YJ Draiman

What Is A True Jewish Leader? - YJ Draiman

What Is A True Jewish Leader? - YJ Draiman

What Is A True Jewish Leader?

The Torah (The Old Testament - Jewish Bible) clearly expresses the true character traits necessary for leaders of the nation. It is not great rhetorical skills that helps a person succeed in leading "The Nation of Israel". The gift of self-expression is not a necessary component in the skill set of national leaders.

A Jewish leader is one who is meant to represent the nation as a whole, externally and internally. Expressive ability is no more than an impressive external trait that occasionally has the power to cover an internal void. That is not what sets apart the leader of the Jewish nation. A Jewish leader must have the ability to withstand external pressures and protect his people and the Jewish nation at all times.

The Jewish nation that appeared on the stage of history thousands of years ago did not begin as a nation with an impressive external appearance. On the contrary for long periods the Jewish people lacked military and political capabilities. However, since its inception, the Jewish nation has represented a huge world of moral, ethical and just values. Values which the entire world learned, some more and some less, and spread to cultures everywhere throughout the world .

A leader of the Jewish nation is not meant to stand out as having an impressive external appearance but, rather, a significant internal appearance that also expresses the special characteristics of Jewish culture and humility. Moses (Moshe in Hebrew) was “heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue” yet he led the Jewish people out of Egypt following hundreds of years of slavery and oppression. Moses was the one who led the Jewish people during their exodus from Egypt and were attacked by various nations. Hence, the Jewish people had to learn how to defend themselves and thus, with the help of the almighty were victorious. The Jewish nation’s first leader Moses signaled to us by example with his presence and leadership, the correct path and the worthy considerations which should guide us as we choose our nation’s leadership.

A true leader of Israel has to lead from a platform of absolute faith. He cannot be a politician, only. He has to embrace the history of the Jewish people and Israel. A leader of the Jewish nation has to understand what the Jewish people had to endure for thousands of years and still endure today to survive.

A true leader must act from a foundation of humility and perseverance. Understanding the welfare of Israel and the Jewish people should be the foremost reason before any action is taken. The leader must lead by action and example -- not by rhetoric.

A faithful Jewish leader must be one who will not compromise Jewish values.

A true leader has to have a vision, fortitude and determination to overcome internal and external obstacles!

A true leader must stand relentlessly behind the defenders and supporters of Israel.

If delegitimization of Israel continues - Operation Light Unto the Nations - Draiman

Operation Light Unto the Nations

If delegitimization of Israel continues, if the military threats to Israel escalate and there is an attack that forces Israel to retaliate, it could have catastrophic results that affect the entire world. We must do all we can to reach out to the world.

We must take action because if we save Israel, we save the Jews, and in the process we just may save the world.

We need to gain a solid understanding of how the lies told by the delegitimizers of Israel have such power; and how to counter those lies with the truth. These are not an outlandish proposal—consider that retail giants and software companies routinely apply these types of technologies with great success. The knowledge exists. We need to synthesize and apply it.
Ultimately, the campaign must appeal to people’s emotions in order to change hearts and minds about Israel. It must have multiple messages for multiple audiences across the world. I would start with the general population of the U.S. and Europe—the people of instant opinion; the creative class globally, the thought leaders who are people of considered opinion and are generally very liberal; Christians on both the right and left; the Arab masses; and the Jewish audience in the U.S. and Europe. It must portray Israel truthfully, to counter the tsunami of misinformation. It must connect with each core audience.
I have no idea if the following ideas are the ones that would be the most effective. Extensive testing and research would determine that. But as food for thought, I would suggest that for the general population, the ultimate objective is to un-demonize Israel; for the creative class, it must not only counter delegitimization, but must clearly demonstrate that the apartheid argument is entirely deceptive, false and deliberately misleading; for liberal Christian denominations, who are so politically influential, it must forge a solid connection; for Christians on the right, who are in large part staunch supporters of Israel, it is important to reinforce that crucial relationship; for the Arabs, it could emphasize the Koran’s support of the biblical claim that Israel was given to the Jews by God and promote an alternative to jihad; and for the Jewish people, we must forge a connection with our rich heritage, and demonstrate the reality that Israel is a wellspring of positive Jewish values, creativity, and positively channeled energy.
The difficulty of this task should not be underestimated. What this campaign must do is change the course of current events, literally change the course that history teaches us we are moving in. With a massive campaign using the same application of Jewish genius that Israel has demonstrated on the battlefield and in the workplace, we can undo the legacy of inaction that we earned during the Holocaust, leave behind the ghetto mentality, and we can change the course of history.