Forgiving, Part 2

Well, I've thought about that documentary some more and I can't say I've come to any definite conclusions.  So I decided to share some more interesting points and hopefully start some good discussion :)

1.  Eva defines forgiveness as not letting that which happened to her hurt her any longer.  She thinks of it as "healing her own soul".  Forgiveness is "soul-healing" but that's not the whole picture.  But try as I might, I can't think of how to put the concept "forgiveness" in words.  Anybody willing to take a stab at it?

2.  Some of the other twins are absolutely appalled and angry that Eva would dare to forgive the Nazis.  I found it interesting that it had less to do with what happened to them and more about their Jewish sense of atonement.  They believed the Nazis had to do something to atone for their crimes.  At the very least they needed to ask for forgiveness.  But they didn't. In early 2000's (2001?) a group of Germans invited all the twins to a conference and there they formally apologized for the crimes committed by their ancestors.  The twins wouldn't have it.  You can't apologize for those who are dead was their logic. As Christians, we can forgive knowing that any person who has wronged us is either A. Covered in the blood of Christ, i.e. That sin that was committed against us has been forgiven or B. They will be judged by God Himself in the last day.  Powerful thought.  But I wonder, does this make forgiving easier or harder?  There's something in us that demands justice.  And what about serious crimes such as abuse?  Even if you can forgive in Christ, should you demand legal justice?

3. Eva herself has some serious prejudices.  Another Jewish man confronted her.  She was willing to forgive the Nazis who abused and murdered the Jews during WW2, but she is unwilling to forgive the Palestinians who are fighting with Israelites today.  On what amounted to a dare from him, she travelled to Palestine territory and met with 6 or 7 Arabs who had family members killed or had been evicted from their homes etc because of the fighting.  At one point she bluntly says "I don't want to hear your stories".  I know this is controversial territory but it made me think about my own prejudices towards the Palestinians.  Does Israel really have the right to that stretch of land now?  Did we allow them to have it again post-WW2 due to our own guilt over dragging our feet into the war?  This sounds harsh, but modern Jews have missed the boat over Christ the Messiah, does that mean they missed the boat over being "God's people" and having that land as their possession?  Again, I don't really have any solid answers.  But who knew watching an hour and a half documentary about a little old lady could make me think so much!!!!

I look forward to comments!!