Utah's Jewish leaders offer 'Prayer for Peace'

As the 16th day of war between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip drew to a close, rabbis from three Utah synagogues and leaders of the United Jewish Federation voiced solidarity with Israel and offered prayers for peace Sunday at a non-denominational gathering at Westminster College.

Rabbi Joshua Aaronson of Park City's Temple Har Shalom said the event was planned, in part, in response to rallies held around the world recently both in support of, and protesting, Israel's actions.

"The Jewish community has come together to have a ceremony to ... support the idea of peace and also to show support for the state of Israel," Rabbi Aaronson said. "Most people in the Jewish community worldwide support the idea of a two-state solution. We certainly are in support of that, but we also are strongly in support of the idea that Israel has the right to defend herself and insure the safety of her citizens like every sovereign nation."

Rabbi Aaronson said the rise to power of Hamas two years ago in Gaza could have been a turning point for Israeli-Palestinian relations in the area, but instead led to a continuation of a "low-level war," marked by ongoing rocket attacks — actions he said no sovereign nation would tolerate. While defending Israel's right to defend itself, Rabbi Aaronson acknowledged the tragic loss of life on both sides of the border and made a plea for an end to the violence.

"We're a people of peace ... we lament the loss of life certainly of Israeli citizens and certainly of innocent Palestinian citizens," Rabbi Aaronson said. "We call upon the citizens of the Gaza Strip to encourage their leaders to seek an enduring peace with Israel."

Rabbi Benny Zippel of Salt Lake's Bais Menachem said after the event that the start of the peace process begins with the experience of the individual.

"There was a statement by the late (Mahatma) Gandhi that said 'be the change you want to see in the world,"' Rabbi Zippel said. "Everybody is looking for peace, but it's not fair to expect peace to happen from others. ... the way to lead to peace is to make peace within ourselves, within our lives, within our marriages, within our families, within our communities ... so the fact that we have an event like this evening when we have so many people from different congregations, from different communities all coming together with a common goal is very inspiring."

Rabbis Aaronson, Zippel and Tracee Rosen from Salt Lake's Congregation Kol Ami all expressed expectations that the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama could have a positive impact on the peace process.

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