The concept of restitution is understandable to everyone. Especially to Jews. The lawsuits at the original ICJ, post Hitler, gave new meaning to the word reparations. Before this, the Armenians and others would have no venue for a request that things be made fair.

The problem is, each side is justified in feeling they are owed reparations. But alongside of this, they feel it is their perogative to act as G-d's hand in retribution.

This is not so.

What Jesus and Moses taught us was that it is for us to seek reparations. And for the one who sinned against us to seek to give them. To make an understanding between people, to make peace, should be everyones goal.

But it is truly for G-d to seek retribution. For the text says, "he that takes life by the hand of man shall have his life taken by the hand of man."

Thereby implying that if you seek retribution by your own hand, you will start and endless cycle of violence.

What then is there to do? How can one, Palestinian or Israeli, finish this cycle of violence, and make a homeland for all religion.

Herein lies the concept of faith. That if you follow a teaching, you will be rewarded with heaven like conditions.

An old Zen story I knew outlined this very thing.

A Samurai went to seek the knowledge of heaven and hell from a Zen Master.

The master began to deride him, and make fun of his prowess as a samurai, saying no king would want a warrior like him.

The samurai reached for his sword, presumably to show this master how tough he was. "Here! Open the gates of hell!," shouted the zen master.

The samurai quickly realized his action and put his sword away.

"Here, open the gates of heaven."

This is a nonpartisan story, a new beginning, putting the past away, and asking for an end to retributions handed out by mere men who cannot judge right and wrong as well as eternity can.

It's goal is not to blame either side, or even to dictate what the reparations will be.

But rather, the goal is to have people focus on negotiating reparations, all the people who feel jilted, rather than forcing hellish retribution.

There is not one side who is guiltless or blameless. There is no one who has not sinned that can cast a stone. And they say, the righteous fall seven times, only to rise even higher. So it is then the ones who have sinned, who can help the world make reparation for all injustice, no matter what name they give G-d, and no matter what color their skin. So long as they make an effort to get others to understand their suffering, without taking others lives in retribution.

It is a lesson both sides should learn.