Read this article first:



In case the hyperlink doesn't show up, the address is:

http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/383944.html

This is something new. And that new something is the Jewish people for the first time being in a position to express rage against those who hate us. It can be seen in the envoy's actions, it can be seen in the policies of the Sharon Administration in Israel. The odd thing is, we are doing no better now that we have this power than anyone else in history. Israel is slowly but surely losing the moral high ground in the conflict with the Palestinians. Hopefully this will be reversed soon, but who really can tell.
When I read this article I was immediately ashamed of the envoy, that an Israeli representative of the government be so immature as to sabotage an art exhibit. Then I realized I myself am guilty of the same kind of reaction; I was the source of an barely contained outburst at a recent pro-Palestinian rally on my campus. On the one hand, it is hard to imagine containing the rage that comes with seeing those who are killing your fellow Jews glorified and excused. On the other hand, if we fall to allowing ourselves to vandalism and disturbing the peace, how are we any better than any one else? I feel that in the past, Jews would have either simply kept away from such an exhibit as the one in Sweden, or would have simply refused to dignify it with a response at all.
Perhaps God really does have a reason for keeping the Jewish people small and powerless. Perhaps we are only worthy to have power when we have the wisdom of Kings like David and Solomon to guide us. Even though I still maintain Israel is handling the situation it is in better than any other nation would, I don't think we are quite living up to our mandate of being a "light unto the nations." The real shame, however, is that it appears we are not trying to aspire to that mandate either.