Another tale from the hospital….
‘Chesid’ is the Hebrew term for charity and kindness… an integral part of the religion…. BUT…. charity and kindness for whom? For everyone or just for Jews? That is the question….
There are various charitable organisations that regularly visit patients in Israeli hospitals. Some bring sandwiches to give to people visiting the patients, others come just to give greetings and make the sick feel that they are not alone with their suffering.
BUT…. what if the patient is a Palestinian? Is he treated the same way by these supposed dogooders? NO!!!!
Their visitors do not receive sandwiches…. they themselves do not receive the friendly greetings. Is this ‘Chesid’ or is this racism? You decide.
I’ve often heard that charity begins at home… but isn’t this taking that a bit too far? Are the sick not all equal in the hospital? Are Palestinians not people?
Because of the closures and the sieges imposed by the Israeli government on the people of Palestine it is virtually impossible for Palestinian organisations to carry out the same sort of charitable work. Taking that into account, should these Jewish charitable organisations not try to bend over backwards to ease the suffering of those in the hospital? Should they not adhere to the biblical words telling us to ‘treat the stranger as we treat ourselves’?
How else are we to achieve a true and lasting peace in this land if we do not extend and open our homes to all and treat all with the due honour and respect they deserve?
Just a few random thoughts to think about during these Holidays….
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Also read: ISRAEL PUTS A DAMPER ON THE HOLIDAYS
A Boston Globe Shocker: Gaza's Health Crisis
