Despite the atrocities carried out by the Ukrainians for centuries against the Jews, our hearts are filled with mercy when we see their children suffering. Yet the question that must be asked in light of the war is: What benevolence is expected of the Jewish state?
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This is not the first time Israel has faced such a dilemma. Less than a decade ago, a genuine genocide was carried out across our northern border, then too, with Russia's involvement. While our neighbor Jordan took in millions of Syrian refugees, no one expected Israel to let them into our gates. Is the blood of the Ukrainians any redder than that of the Jordanians?
In that war, Israel did wonders when it sent in humanitarian aid and treated hundreds of wounded Syrians. Similarly, the country's emissaries in Ukraine, as well as private citizens, are helping refugees on inspiring scales.
Soon, the state will even operate a field hospital in the region. To this diverse activity, we can add the heroic and costly operation to bravely rescue many thousands of Jews and Israelis from the inferno. In addition, beyond what all of Ukraine's neighboring countries have done, Israel has also authorized the immigration of 25,000 Ukrainians ineligible for citizenship according to the Law of Return.
In recent days, thousands of Ukrainians residing illegally in Israel received notification that they would be allowed to settle in the Jewish state. Detention centers freed illegal residents from Ukraine who to date have preferred Israeli prison to freedom in their land. Such is Israel, which finds it difficult to deport even those who by law should not be here.
Israel is such because in accordance with its self-definition and a UN resolution it is a Jewish and therefore merciful state. It is precisely because of this, that the country's leaders, including the High Court, maintain its nationalist Jewish character.
This is the historic objective of the country. The persecution and threats of extermination Jewish people around the world continue to face is unlike anything any other people has ever faced. This is the right side of history the country's leaders must ensure they are on.
Therefore, even under painful circumstances, we must remember that this is not a state of all the world's citizens, and we don't need to apologize for that. Israel is also a small country with a small population. Also, what is the alternative? For us to take in 50,000 people every time war breaks out in Myanmar? Yemen? Iraq? Afghanistan? Ethiopia?
The Jewish heart yearns to help out, but the mind understands there must be limits. Under these circumstances, despite all the pain, we must not take in tens of thousands of non-Jewish Ukrainian refugees who have no ties whatsoever to Israel.
We've taken in 25,000. We will take in hundreds of thousands who are eligible according to the Law of Return. We are providing humanitarian aid, and our leaders are working to make peace. This is how a Jewish state is expected to behave.
On a personal note, don't preach to me about the Holocaust. I'm a second-generation survivor of the Holocaust in Transnistria. An aunt I never met was murdered by Ukrainians who bashed her head on a rock when she was six months old. I can make do my own historical math.
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