By NANCY MIRSKY
A response to the letter by the Harveys (Community Word, February, 2026):
1. Judaism is a religion from which both Christianity and Islam derive. However, it is more than a religion. Judaism is also a people as in the Hebrew word for people — am.
Religious observance is not a criteria for being Jewish. One either is born into the religion or converted. Would I, as a Jewish person, define Islam as Islamophobia and, most especially, radical Islam? Many would consider that disrespectful.
2. Israelis and, in general, Jews, are ethnically diverse. The claim that Israel is a Settler-Colonial state is a blatant lie. About half of all Israelis are descended from Jews who once lived in Arab countries and expelled.
3. The roots of Zionism are many. Our entire tradition makes it clear that Israel was our ancestral homeland as witnessed by archaeological finds every day. Jews have always lived in Palestine (which is a word derived from Hebrew).
Theodor Herzl created a Zionist movement to save the European Jews from destruction. It failed, though a remnant came after World War II.
4. In 1948 under partition, the Palestinians had an opportunity to create a state of their own. Instead, there has been constant war and violence. Palestinians have not accepted the reality: No Right of Return.
5. The vast majority of American Jews and Jews the world over are Zionists — as defined who believe that a Jewish State (Israel) has a right to exist amongst so many Arab states. Has there ever been an Arab country that has successfully treated its minorities — whether Christian, Druze, Kurds or otherwise as equals?
In sum, both sides have a claim to the land and the only solution is one originally from 1948: Two states, two peoples side by side. In the 48 years since Israel has been established, it is amongst the nations of the world and it holds its own in all areas, including technology, medicine, agricultural and water issues, literature, theatre, sports …
It would stand to reason that Palestinians are jealous of Israeli success given the conditions in Gaza and the West Bank. The hatred and envy must become emotions of acceptance on both sides. Until both sides feel secure, there will be no peace.
— Nancy M. Mirsky has been a resident of Peoria since 2002 and is a member of the Peoria Jewish Community.