In recent weeks as the conflict in Israel escalated there has been a huge surge in antisemitism in the US and many other places. In any year according to FBI statistics, Jews are more likely to experience a race crime than anyone else, yet the uptick in the last few days and the lines that have been crossed are cause for deep concern among the Jewish community.
In recent days a digital journalist who worked for the BBC tweeted things like "Hitler Was Right", a contributing journalist to CNN claimed that it was time for the world to have a new Hitler and the Hashtag #Hitlerwasright was used over 17,000 times in one week. This terrible bias, in addition to the tremendous issues of how the media choose to report and portray the story of the conflict in Israel and what that is doing to an already charged atmosphere, is certainly not helping restrain the ugly face of antisemitism from raising its violent voice.
In recent days, we have witnessed many physical assaults (some very severe) as well as plenty of verbal assaults on random Jews who were minding their own business, walking to synagogue, eating in restaurants or walking down the street in NY, Los Angeles, Miami and countless other locations, and that is besides a huge surge in online antisemitic rhetoric.
I have also spoken to teens in the community who have experienced virulent dangerous hate over the last few days in the online world, the likes of which they have never encountered and which were quite shocking to these young innocent teens.
This is besides what is going on in places like London, Montreal, Paris and so many other places.
Antisemitism or Legitimate Criticism of Israel & Jews
First all of, I hope that all community leaders and politicians will roundly condemn any form of antisemitism and law enforcement should come down hard on it, to stop it in its tracks and to ensure that people can feel safe. I am grateful to the President of the US, the Prime Minister of the UK and many other Mayors, Governors and community, political and religious leaders who have come out against this.
To be very clear, if people wish to be critical of Israel and that is what they believe in, they are entitled to do so and that is part of a democracy. I would hope though that they hold Israel to the same standards they hold other countries too and factor in the terrible terror and hate that Israel has to constantly endure, and how there are so many who would destroy Israel in an instant if given the chance.
We can strongly disagree about the realities and even if I don’t agree with you, you can criticize Israel and absolutely not be an antisemite.
Yet when the discussion and atmosphere moves over into blatant antisemitism and when it is obviously not about Israel's actions, but rather about Israel being a Jewish country. Or, when every other crisis or violent hotspot is ignored and there becomes an obsessive and hateful ever ending conversation about Israel, this is clearly antisemitism and very dangerous.
This has already led to violence, threats and more, it is a sign of a much deeper problem that needs to be addressed by every decent person, especially those that are in positions of authority or influence.
So where do we go from here and what do we do?
In this week's Torah portion as we read about the function and method of the kindling of the Menorah each and every day in the temple. In doing so, we are reminded of our primary responsibility as Jewish people, and that is to be kindlers of light and people who help bring G-d's light into the world, through our actions, choices and behavior.
No matter what is happening around us, we must never lose sight of that, and we must ensure that each and every day we continue to add light to the world around us through doing Mitzvos, good deeds and acts of kindness.
Some of our Hebrew School students told me of their friend who attended a local school who decided to wear a Kippah all day one day last week, even though he doesn't usually do so, as this was his way of making a statement against the antisemitism and showing that it wasn't going to stop him being who he needs to be.
I think this proud 8th grader, is an embodiment of the attitude that we need to all have in continuing to be proud of who we are, what we stand for, and what we seek to live by even when there is reason for concern out there.
It is also important to constantly remember that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are good people who abhor prejudice of any kind and are revolted by these kinds of behavior and attitudes. Seeing friends from different communities, and indeed some who are dealing with their own battles against other forms of prejudice, step up and come out against any form of antisemitism is greatly appreciated and to all of who have done so, I am most grateful.
Indeed, in two incidents in recent days in which Jewish people were attacked in New York & Los Angeles, it was an Arab or a Muslim who came to the rescue of the Jews who were being assaulted.
It with this knowledge that there are indeed so many good people out there, that we can know that we will overcome this bump and continue trucking ahead and working together to make the world be a better place for all of mankind.
In the meantime, we have a lot of work to do and we need to keep doing what we need to do both as a community and as individuals. Besides the actual need to combat this hate, lobby as needed for voices of reason to talk out, call out the bigotry in the media and other places and so much more, we also need to do the traditional and critical Jewish response to negativity, and that is to keep adding in good deeds and Mitzvot and love and kindness so that we make the world a kinder and better place for all.
Likewise we must continue to be proud of who we are and what we represent. Let the flame of our own personal Menorah shine brightly and bring light to all those around us, through our determined and proud actions of being Jewish with things like wearing a Yarmulka in public, putting up a Mezuzah on our doors, giving more charity, going to synagogue or to other Jewish events, putting on Tefillin, lighting Shabbat Candles, and so much more.
This pride will bring light, positivity, inspiration and strengthen and is truly the best response that we can give the haters.
G-d willing the voices of reason and love will persevere and this too shall pass very soon.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel