An Afterword to the Last Post, and a Call to Action

Following the last post, the mainstream media is now acknowledging the rise in anti-Semitism in the US and in Europe. In the April 30, 2019 Los Angeles Times, their lead editorial states: "It is becoming dismayingly clear that anti-Semitism is on the rise both here and in Europe." They go on to cite statistics - 74% increase in incidents in France, a 60% increase in violent attacks in Germany, and the US saw the third highest incidence of anti-Semitic events in 2018. The 5/1/19 New York Times lead editorial was "A Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism." This editorial followed the paper's international edition publishing the anti-Semitic cartoon discussed in the last post, which they now referred to as "an appalling political cartoon."

The Times then goes on to, laughably, claim that "we have been and remain stalwart supporters of Israel..." They must be the only ones to believe that, assuming that they actually do believe it. Clearly, Israelis do not have the same perception. Said Ron Dermer, Israel's Ambassador to the US: "We have also seen one of the world's most prestigious newspapers become a cesspool of hostility towards Israel that goes well beyond any legitimate criticism of a fellow, imperfect democracy." The hostility towards Israel is not only seen in the Times' editorials, but also in their news pages, and in the guest columnists they invite to contribute to their Op-Ed pages.

Rob Eshman is the former editor of the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. As he is a man of the Left, I rarely agreed with anything that he wrote in his weekly column. In a 5/1/19 Los Angeles Times Op-Ed titled "Attacks can't crush American Jewish Life," Eshman says "we have good reason not to fear." Eshman: "A small cohort of largely white Americans is striking out against a society they perceive as increasingly ethnically and religiously diverse." I agree - there are white nationalists and white neo-Nazis. But, given his leftist view of the world, he does not bother to discuss the anti-Semitism from the Left, especially on college campuses throughout the country, and in the mainstream media disguising itself as criticism of Israel. And, also no surprise, Eshman ignores the anti-Semitic comments from two Muslim congresswomen, and the violent attacks on European Jews by Muslims. But Eshman is correct when he says Jews in this country have the support of the political establishment (mostly) and the vast majority of a supportive, accepting America."

This blog discusses serious issues. But in this post I am requesting a call to action - not just by my Jewish readers, but by my Christian readers who are all strong supporters of Israel and friends of mine. For Jews, every one of us should attend services on this Shabbat. We cannot, we must not, be intimidated by Jew-hatred. For all of us - Jews and Christians alike - do not be silent if you hear an anti-Semitic comment. Write a letter to the editor of your paper if they print anti-Semitic editorials or Op-Eds. And keep in mind that while many editorials and Op-Eds claim to be only against Israel's policies, they are in fact anti-Semitic in their singling out Israel and holding Israel to standards to which no other country is expected to adhere. And, for the first time I am asking that you donate to one of the two main Israel advocacy groups - the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). I can tell you that many non-Jews already contribute to AIPAC.

I wish to end this short post with a quote from Yisroel Goldstein's, the Poway Rabbi, Op-Ed in the 4/30/19 New York Times. In speaking to his congregants outside the Temple after the shooting, he quoted a passage from the Passover Seder: "In every generation they rise against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be he, saves us from their hand." The Rabbi continued: "And I remember shouting: 'Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel live!' I have said those lines hundreds of times in my life. But I have never felt the truth of them more than I did then (when facing the Jew-hating shooter)."

So let us all say "Am Yisrael Chai." The people of Israel live. The Jewish people live. And may G-d bless every one of us.