Imagine you're a partner with someone in a
company that was successful for decades. Suddenly, differences of opinion arose
between you and your partner on how to run the business. Unable to resolve the
differences, you both decide to split the company into two parts: one for you
and one for him.
You each hire a lawyer and an accountant
to negotiate on your behalves as to who will get what parts of the company, and
how the modality of the split-up will proceed. It soon becomes clear that the
negotiations are not going smoothly, and you're constantly asked to make hard
decisions before the lawyers and the accountants can proceed with the
negotiations and produce a workable agreement.
This is an agonizing time for you. It
requires much concentration lest you neglect a detail that could cost you
enormously in the future. The last thing you want is someone distracting you
for something that would normally be important, let alone for something that's
trivial compared to what you stand to lose if you give your lawyer or
accountant a bad instruction.
But to your surprise, getting distracted
is what happens to you. While going over legal briefs, balance sheets and
projections about future operations, you get interrupted by an acquaintance. At
first, you think he came to wish you luck, give you courage and offer to help
in any capacity that he can. But that's not what he does. He came, he says, to
ask –– rather remind you –– of something he cares about deeply.
As it happens, this acquaintance of yours
has a nephew that's not doing well when it comes to getting along with other
people or holding on to a steady job. He once asked you to give the young man a
light position in which he can learn a trade, build confidence and go on from
there. He promised he'll be forever in your debt if you'll do him this favor.
You said you'll think about it and give him an answer when possible. You
subsequently discussed the matter with him in passing but never made a final
decision.
Soon after that, the differences between
you and your business partner surfaced, and the last thing on your mind at this
time, is the case of someone's nephew. Yet, here is the man, at the most
inconvenient moment of your life, reminding you of the conversations you had
about this subject. You're angry but restrain yourself, not to get out of line.
You let him know you can do nothing now but will call him when you're ready.
Whether absentmindedly or by design, the
acquaintance leaves on the table a stack of notes he had with him and walks
away. You cannot help but glance at the notes. You are shocked to discover that
they are a kind of diary which he compiled about the conversations he had with
you concerning his nephew. The diary is divided into two columns. One column is
headed: The positive things he said. The other column is headed: The negative
things he said –– “he,” being you. And so, you understand that the man had come
to remind you of those conversations, and to insist that you deliver on them.
Well, my friend, this story is not as
weird as it sounds. In fact, you'll see a real-life parallel to it when you
read the article that came under the title: “Is Boris Johnson good for the
Jews?” It was written by Melanie Phillips and published on July 25, 2019 in the
Jewish News Syndicate. The following is what the writer says is preoccupying
Boris Johnson, the new prime minister of Britain:
“Britain is convulsed by Brexit. Boris
Johnson has become prime minister in the middle of a crisis over Iran. Iranian
commandos hijacked a British-flagged tanker in retaliation for Britain's
seizure of an Iranian tanker. This crisis for Britain is ironic since the
British government has been working with the EU to circumvent the resumed
sanctions against Iran. So, will Johnson continue to defy Trump who suggested
that Johnson was a clone of himself?”
And yet, amid all of this, look what the
Jews are asking: “As with all social or political developments of note, the
Jewish world is predictably asking about this one: “Will it be good for the
Jews?” And look what they are reminding Boris Johnson of:
First, the negative column they produced
as to the things that Boris Johnson has said, and could be of interest to Jews:
In 2006, he wrote that Britain should help
Iran get the bomb.
In 2017, he expressed optimism that the
Iran nuclear deal would survive.
Now, his views have progressed into
further incoherence.
He ignored pleas to ban the Al-Quds Day
marches through London.
Second, the positive column they produced
as to the things that Boris Johnson has said, and could be of interest to Jews:
In 2013, he scoffed that Iran posed no
threat to anyone.
When he visited Israel, he was preoccupied
by the Iranian threat to Israel.
He advised Iran not to take steps that
would break the agreement, and not to acquire a nuclear weapon.
He expressed support for Jews and spoke
out against anti-Semitism and the BDS movement.
He repeated his claim to be a passionate
Zionist and would visit Israel as prime minister.
Will Prime Minister Boris Johnson be able
to restrain himself, not to get out of line, and let the Jews know he will do
nothing for them at this time, being too busy with other matters that may take
him an eternity to resolve?