A synagogue in Colleyville, Texas was just the latest example of a Jewish temple being victimized by antisemites. The terrorist antisemite in question was a Muslim from Britain, and of Pakistani descent. Because of Covid, the Shabbat (Sabbath) service was being aired on Zoom, with only the Rabbi and 3 others in the synagogue. Why did this man take Jewish worshippers hostage? What did this armed antisemite want? It appears he sought the release of a Pakistani known as "Lady Al Qaeda," who is currently serving an 86 year prison sentence for shooting at American soldiers and FBI agents. The prison is in the Fort Worth, Texas area, not far from Colleyville.
But why did this man go into a Jewish Temple to attempt to accomplish his goal? Why did he also call a Rabbi in New York City? According to one hostage, this terrorist asserted "I know President Biden will do things for the Jews." The question must be asked - where does anyone get that idea? Is this man's belief that a local Rabbi has the power to dictate US policy a reflection of what is being taught in much of the Muslim world? How much of the Muslim world holds such a view?
Thankfully, an FBI tactical team did their job and was able to kill the terrorist with no injuries to the hostages. They deserve tremendous credit. Not so for the FBI special agent in charge, who made this statement: "He (the terrorist) was singularly focused on one issue, and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community, but we are continuing to work to find motive." Please excuse my saying this, but WTF! Did this Muslim terrorist enter a church and ask the priest to help get "Lady Al Qaeda" released? Did he go into a department store and ask the store manager to help out? No, he went into a Jewish synagogue. There's your motive. He was an antisemite. He believed Jews controlled the US and probably the world.
It took five days for FBI Director Christopher Wray to acknowledge the attack on the Colleyville synagogue was an antisemitic attack. Here was an Op-Ed by Bret Stephens, writing in the New York Times: "Unlike the Pittsburgh (synagogue) shooter or the "Jews will not replace us" crowd at Charlottesville - white, right-wing, mostly Christian and therefore "privileged" - the Texas assailant was a British Muslim of Pakistani descent. Not white. Not privileged. Not right-wing. In the binary narrative of the powerful versus the powerless, his naked antisemitism just doesn't compute: Powerless people are supposed to be victims, not murderous bigots."
There was an interesting piece in the January 22-23, 2022 weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal, with this title: "The Growing Risk For Jews Who Show Their Jewishness." His thesis is that Jews do very well in America's secular society. But, like the Pittsburgh synagogue attack in 2018, like the Poway, CA synagogue attack in 2019, like the attack at a kosher market in Jersey City, NJ in 2019, we now have Colleyville. In other words, the author opines that if you show up at Jewish religious or cultural establishments, you are at greater risk.
I have to admit, I have not been to my synagogue, the local Chabad House, for nearly two years (except for maybe a couple of times) because of Covid, and my impaired immune system. Otherwise, no antisemitic bastard would keep me away. And I take heart from a letter to the editor the following weekend in the WSJ, in response to the aforementioned Op-Ed: "My orthodox synagogue has a security team manned by shul (temple) members who have been trained by a former Army Ranger, a current police department SWAT officer and a former Israeli Shin Bet (the Israeli security forces, somewhat akin to our FBI) agent. I regularly undergo firearms practice. At the range, prior to squeezing the trigger, I think of my grandparents who were gassed in Treblinka, and I vow "never again." You may count me among the Jews who are not terrified." To which I say, "Amen."
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