Israel Helping Haiti Part 2

I am sure that you join me in praying for the people of Haiti.  The destruction and continued suffering are difficult to comprehend.  In the midst of this there is a bright spot for the Jewish people.  Days after the earthquake, Israel rushed aid to Haiti.  As of January 20th, 383 people have been treated in the IDF's field hospital, among them dozens of children, 140 life-saving operations have been performed, 60 patients are currently hospitalized and 7 babies have been born in the hospital.  View the CNN video now making the rounds among those of us who feel that we can now really hold our Jewish heads high.  Caring for the world at large seems to feed that part of our being more than just caring for ourselves.  For more details about Israel's efforts and many more videos visit the Israeli government website.  Then again today's Times reports that Israelis feel great ambivalence about the aid efforts.  I for one am still hounded by the innumerable articles, sermons and discussions about God's role in the disaster.  I fail to understand the tendency to blame the Haitians for this earthquake or the need to defend God before the indifference of nature.  Read this week's New Yorker for more on this theme.  Let's be honest about nature.  Let's be honest about faith.  And so I conclude with the words of the Psalmist: "God is our refuge and stronghold, a help in trouble, very near.  Therefore we are not afraid though the earth reels..."