THE HOLOCAUST IS OVER WE MUST RISE FROM ITS ASHES

viable, alternative political reality, based, in a nutshell, on the principle: “What ishateful to thee, do not do unto thy fellow.” This great call has become mute and silentin Israel of recent years. Concern for a secure livelihood and material welfare fromwithin, and the bloodshed and existential threats from without have halted publicdiscussion about social values and pulled the curtains on the horizons of thought andvision.I wrote this book in order to open up the heart, mouth, and eyes for a new vision. Ihave tried to touch on our maladies and afflictions and to offer preliminary directionsof cure and recovery on the road to a new national and global vision for the Jewishpeople. Many have already accepted my words with much love. They read the book,sent me letters, embraced me on the street. Others, who are many more, have comeforward with vociferous objections: protesting, angry, assailing, and aggressive.A few days after this book came out in Israel, I was standing in line on a city street.An old man approached me from across the velvet rope and told me with a sullenface:“Burg, I’m very angry with you!”“Why?” I asked.“Because of what you wrote.”“And what did I write?”“You wrote against the Holocaust!”“And you?” I wondered aloud, “would you write in support of the Holocaust?”Our exchange ended in silence. He went his way and I went mine, and the questionremained unanswered and unresolved. What had angered that honest man when heapproached me gave an insight into his mind and those of many others. I had placedharsh truths and mirrors before the face of Israel. I wasn’t always gentle. At times Ilacked the greater compassion that is essential for packaging painful messages. Wehave many wailers among us and I did not wipe all their tears. My voice was loudand dissonant because the noise and commotion have, for too many years, preventedus from hearing anything.