Too far.

The other day, I received this email:

Twin Cities Solidarity with Israel Gathering -
Sunday, Jan. 11

The United Jewish Fund and Council expresses its solidarity with the people of Israel during Operation Cast Lead against the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. Please join the UJFC for a community-wide rally to show our solidarity with Israel and Jewish unity this Sunday, Jan. 11, 3 p.m. at the Sabes JCC, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis 55416.

This event is co-sponsored by the United Jewish Fund and Council of St. Paul, The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, AIPAC, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, Minnesota Rabbinical Association, Christians United for Israel, Minnesotans Against Terrorism, Hillel, Sabes JCC, and St. Paul JCC.

View UJFC’s Gaza Situation web page, with the latest comprehensive situation update, which includes information on military, politics and the status of social needs via our beneficiary agencies in Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel. You will also find resources, stories from the front, multimedia material, news coverage and more – all updated daily.

I have to say, I'm surprised. I mean, I get the standing by Israel thing, generally. But in this case, I'm really floored. It's one thing to defend Israel in general. It's quite another to adopt an "Israel can do no wrong" position and proceed to always, always insist that Israel is blameless. Frankly, the email made me ill.

In contrast, consider what Tikkun has posted on its sidebar:
GAZA CEASE FIRE NOW
CLICK HERE to Sign and Help us circulate an Ad calling on President Obama to use this moment to help bring lasting and just Middle East peace

Since before I've moved here, the synagogue on the corner has had a sign out front that reads something like: "We Stand With Israel and Pray for Peace in the Middle East." I would like to see that sign come down now. All I know is that a temple that can still post that sign in the middle of what Israel is doing right now is a temple I cannot bring myself to step foot in or take my child to.