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“Just blaming violent youth is the easy way out” says Rivka Lazovsky- Chairperson World WIZO

Israel has been shaken to its core by six murders that have taken place in our tiny country since last Friday.

Police investigators said gang and organized crimes, family disputes and teen drinking were among the likely motives for the recent killings. These join other violent incidents during the last two weeks including wild behavior of young supporters outside the football pitch, group sex on the beach, (whether or not it was done with ‘consent’),  and the flagrant behaviour of several youth during the play “Ghetto,”  which has drawn widespread concern from many sectors,  As Chairperson of the World WIZO Executive and a Professor of Education I was asked to give my opinion on the subject, which subsequently appeared in several Israeli newspapers.

“Just blaming violent youth is the easy way out”

A wave of violence and disturbances affecting public order, caused by young people, has swept over Israel during the last few months, and we still have the summer holidays ahead of us.  Within a period of forty eight hours youngsters have murdered two people during the night hours, and only recently we heard of a number of rapes and other incidents on the Bogroshov beach and during the play ‘Ghetto’ at the Cameri theatre.

Everyone is shocked when they read about the violence, the lawlessness and of course, the cold blooded murders, but blaming only the youth for irregular behavior and claiming that they are ‘damaged’ and ‘we have to react in a serious manner’ – is an easy way out, too easy, which, in my view, is incorrect.  The question is ‘Where are we, the adults?’, and ‘Is the education that we are giving our children suited to the era in which we are living, an era of unending rapid change?

There is no doubt that something is wrong, terribly wrong, when our children seem to have lost the ability to differentiate between right and wrong.  It is true that the above incidents have set off all the ‘warning lights’ and cannot be ignored.

But we have to delve much deeper than just blaming the youth and one another.  All of us, parents, educators and leaders in society have to try and work out the cause.  Something is happening here, and we are missing a very important point.

There are many factors which are responsible for the culture of violence amongst youth today in its various forms.  These factors vary from incident to incident, but there is no doubt that there is a deterioration in values which crosses geographical borders, and is causing a real crisis in Israeli society.  The perception of youth comes from information that has not been censored.

In many cases we have no control over the content that they are absorbing. And we often have no interest in checking out this content because it is too easy to just ‘enjoy the quiet’, and the technology with is often used as a ‘babysitter’ during leisure hours.  We do not like to ask questions and we think to ourselves ‘That is how it is today’.  But these children grow into violent youngsters – and only then do we wake up to the damage that is being done, and cry out, ‘Why?’.  But we have brought it on ourselves!.

As adults we have to take responsibility and examine ourselves. We have to adopt new, and innovative approaches in educating towards values, which are suited to today’s reality and the ongoing availability of information.  Approaches which can be implemented by those who are in ongoing contact with children and youth.  It is too easy to just ignore what is happening in the heads of our children when they are glued to the various screens. When we finally wake up to the huge damage that is being done, it may be too late.

We can inculcate values and bring about a change in attitudes if we know how to approach each pupil, how to bring out the ‘good’ in each of them as well as to set down clear limits.

There is no such thing as ‘bad’ children’.

All children come into the world innocent, ready to be molded.  It is our job as parents, educators and society to give them the right messages, in ways that speak to them, and bring out the best in them. It is up to us to give them  the appropriate tools, in a clear and precise manner, so that they can differentiate between right and wrong, and to bring out the best of them in a super technological world in which uncensored information is easily available to all.

It is possible.  Thousands of youth in Israel are doing beautiful things, every day, usually as volunteers, who want to contribute to society, without wanting recognition or glory.  I can give hundreds of examples in our own WIZO facilities and institutions.  When deviations occur – we have to point the finger of blame at ourselves, the adults, and they have to serve as a warning   that we have to go on searching for suitable ways to provide education based upon values.

Emiliya Adelson visits WIZO Raya Jaglom Day Care Center

We received this lovely report from a young girl, Emiliya Adelson who is on the MASA program volunteering in the World WIZO Fundraising Division. MASA Israel Journey offers young people the opportunity to participate in various programs in Israel.

Emiliya visited the Raya Jaglom Daycare Centre in Tel Aviv in an effort to learn more about WIZO DCC’s.

Enjoy reading!

MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY – YOM HAATZMAUT

MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD

ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY – YOM HAATZMAUT

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, I extend warm congratulations and good wishes to the people and Government of Israel on the celebration of Yom Haatzmaut – Independence Day.

Sixty-four years ago, the nation of Israel was declared as a place of ingathering and safety, a democracy based on liberty, justice and peace and which guaranteed freedom of religion, language and culture to all its people.

In a modern-day miracle, this promise has been richly fulfilled, and so Israel and its many friends around the world have much cause for celebration.

We also acknowledge the price paid in defence of Israel’s creation through the Day of Remembrance – Yom Hazikaron – for those who have fallen in battle for the defence of the State of Israel.

These painful losses also remind us of the need to work patiently for a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, so that two independent states can exist in peace and security for all the people who live there.

As Israel’s Ambassador, Yuval Rotem, observed at the Independence Day celebrations for Israel here in Australia last year, “Let us raise our eyes to the day when peace will number among our greatest achievements.”

Let us indeed use the meaning of this day to redouble our resolve to find the path to a real and durable peace for Israelis and Palestinians, and also to work with other nations of goodwill to ensure that no country faces a nuclear threat from Iran.

On this day of Yom Haatzmaut, let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the region and the whole world.

The Honourable Julia Gillard

Prime Minister Australia

Yom Ha’Atzmaut- a message from Tova Ben Dov- President World WIZO

On the eve of its 64 Independence Day – Israel’s achievements in the past 63 years are short of a miracle – so much has changed here. Israel 2012 has a Jewish population of 6 million; Israel is a world leader in science, physics, advanced technologies, fashion, music, medicine and communications;  it has so much more to offer to the world and humanity. Israel is always one of the first countries to offer assistance to countries hit by disaster – such is our big Jewish heart. It is a modern country that preserves the ancient. It is the only democracy in the region. The one thing that doesn’t change is that there are still those that would destroy us.

Throughout its existence Am Israel has struggled for its right to be a free People and to live in peace in its homeland. Never is this fact more poignant than in the two weeks following Pesach. A week after celebrating our Exodus from slavery to freedom, we commemorate the memory of our 6 million brethren that perished at the hands of the Nazi regime for no other reason than they were Jewish. Tomorrow evening at sundown will mark the beginning of Yom Hazikaron – Remembrance Day for the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism (& the Israeli Police, the General Security Service, and the Mossad). It will end at sundown on Wednesday, when Yom Ha’Atzmaut begins – sorrow and sadness entwined with joy and happiness.  Jewish communities around the world will also mark Yom Ha’Atzmaut uniting our people as one.

Since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel has been forced to fight  seven recognized wars, two Palestinian Intifadas, and a series of armed conflicts in the broader Arab-Israeli conflict – : 1948 Arab–Israeli War (November 1947 – July 1949) ; Retribution operations (1950s – 1960s) ; Suez Crisis (October 1956) ; Six-Day War (June 1967) ; War of Attrition (1967–1970) ; Yom Kippur War (October 1973) ; 1978 South Lebanon conflict (March 1978) ; 1982 Lebanon War (1982) ; South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000) ; First Intifada (1987–1993) ; Second Intifada (2000–2005) ; 2006 Lebanon War (summer 2006) ; Gaza War (December 2008 – January 2009)

Too many of the families in Israel are bereaved families of the Holocaust and/or the Tkuma (the revival of Israel after

2000 years in exile).  The memorial days are the State’s national and collective way of paying honour and tribute to all those, whose sacrifice enables Israel’s existence,  so that we be able to live as a free people in our homeland.The threads of my life are intertwined with those of Medinat Israel.

I feel blessed to have been one of the 600,000 Jews that were the total population of Palestine Eretz Israel that became Medinat Israel in 1948.   As a child, I watched the men at my father’s factory preparing the first Israeli cannon – the Davidka and the armoured cars (their charred remains can be seen on the way to Jerusalem). I watched my cousins and neighbours going to fight for our Independence;

I remember holding my breath when David Ben Gurion declared  : “…WE, the members of the National Council, representing the Jewish people in Palestine and the Zionist movement of the world, met together in solemn assembly today, the day of the termination of the British mandate for Palestine, by virtue of the natural and historic right of the Jewish and of the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations,… HEREBY PROCLAIM the establishment of the Jewish State in Palestine, to be called ISRAEL.

I joined the roar of joy that rose from every house. I went down to be amongst those gathered in the streets, singing and dancing. I also remember seeing men departing to go back to the fighting that was all around us. Some of them never returned.

I served in the military – first as a teacher-soldier teaching new olim and then as the Office Manager of the Chief Education Officer. Now I am the mother and grandmother of soldiers; I spent time abroad accompanying my husband – a Jewish Agency shaliach – sent to encourage aliya.

Most of my life I have given to the State through my work as a teacher and through Zionist and voluntary activities in the framework of WIZO, the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency – this is the legacy bestowed upon me by my parents and one I gladly bestow upon my children and grandchildren.

Wizo has walked hand in hand with the State of Israel for over 90 years. WIZO played a major role in helping the State on the way and the young Israel create its social infrastructure. We have witnessed, experienced and been party to everything that has happened in days of peace and days of crisis. You, our Federations are full partners in everything we have done for the State and People of Israel.

Many challenges face Medinat Israel but with a united Am Israel – we will prevail. Our brave girls and boys in uniform are forever diligent in their duty to protect and its borders – they continue the work of our fallen soldiers – May God look over them and protect them, Amen.

I wish you all a happy Independence Day and hope that our prayers for peace and a better future be answered

Affectionately,

Tova Ben Dov

President

World WIZO