I AM A JEW

  “To be a Jew is to be part of the most remarkable story ever lived, by any people, covering more countries, more adverse circumstances, more triumph and tragedies than any other story. Every one of us has a chapter to write in that story and hand the book on. That is what it is to be a Jew.”

The above quote comes from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of England, may he rest in peace. I doubt he is though particularly as he looks down and sees the shameful threatening fear inducing parades in England, at least five since October 7, when we had the worst pogrom since the Holocaust. In our own land. In our homes, with thousands dead - babies, children, teens, women, men, elderly, handicapped, party goers, for it mattered not. 

Rabbi Sacks was respected throughout the world and his words held great meaning for all, Jewish or Gentile. The quote above says it all. This is the burden every Jew carries. Always. From the moment of birth. How prescient are the words of the Torah when it warns us that the sins or misdeeds of one generation are remembered and accounted for through the generations. The new ones are added to the already heavy weight upon their shoulders and souls. Science has now made it clear: the trauma of violence wreaked upon the Jewish people since forever is passed along via changes in genes within the brain. Generational continuity. 

This burden is gifted to and felt by every Jew, acknowledged or not, accepted or not, self-denying Jew or not. It is why our shoulders hunch up against our ears. Why all is examined under a microscope of antisemitism, always there, always lurking, boding its time till strike time arrives. It always does. It is why we know that antizionism is antisemitism, Jew-hatred in all its vicious ugliness.  Part and parcel of the denial of Jews as people, with the right to their own ancestral country, the true indigenous people of that land. To be allowed the right to make its own decisions without the two cents of others who have no business there, even as they spew accusations of which they themselves are guilty.  

Once barely hidden hatred now bursts forth in ugly volume, in terrifying invective, along with physical intimidation, via threats and acts. The anger, the insanity, the viciousness is of a level saved for anti-Jewish parades and pogroms, of threats to existence. The world either stands silent, as the universities do, causing dangerous situations and actual fear for the Jewish students and teachers, as ingrained antisemitism is exposed via the influx of Jew haters' dollars, directing their silence and aid. Or the world shouts and spits and enjoys it all. Those who stand by are equally as guilty, complicit in their silence, for silence is acquiescence. 

If one has never felt the power of evil, the terror of being the target of an enraged and riled up mob, well, then please, take a hike, a walk, run, to the nearest scheduled parade or 'spontaneous' demonstration, ask a question such as 'Is Hamas a terror organization" or who attacked whom on that infamous blood soaked day, or best of all, make believe you are a Jew, not self-denying as  are those  deluded morons who march with them, calling for, endorsing that call, for their own death and complete erasure of existence. See what happens - but please wear your running shoes when you engage in this activity. For sure, the 'religion of peace' observed more in its violation than in its observation, has added terrible epithets to everyday speech. Not of peace. 

No, I am not condemning all non-Jews. G-d forbid for I have many wonderful friends, not Jewish, observant of their own religion or atheist, for it matters not, and would trust many with my life - and hope my trust is based in fact. However, history, survivors, now daily desertions of Jews, once upon a time called friends, who do not go along with this hate and do not agree to self-hatred and denigration are suddenly, deserted, abused, attacked. Does it matter?   

Yes, it matters. Now is the time for ALL to speak up, Jews and non-Jews.  Silence is too costly, for    hated and hater.  No prejudice is acceptable. Accept the minority position of Jewry, here and around the world. Perhaps 16 million in total. Speak up for Israel, its right to exist, to be a haven for Jews in danger. 

Endorse and acknowledge Israel's obligation to respond to attacks on its citizens, of war waged in its villages, on babies, women, men, elderly. Macron, you moron, 'twas the criminals, the terrorists of Hamas, who did that. You and Blinken -we are not killing too many in Gaza. We warned them, tried to convince them to evacuate. If they remain in place because they refuse or are prevented by Hamas, it is upon them, not Israel which has gone far above and beyond to limit civilian casualties. 

But war is war   - fighting must be where the enemy is, not where you would rather they be. If redoubts, bunkers, tunnels, rocket launchers, headquarters, armories are built beneath civilian structures, from homes to hospitals, well, they have made the deadly decision to endanger the population, in effect, to use them as human shields. Then blame the enemy for the inevitable consequences. One must fight where the enemy is, wherever it is.  

We must battle in battlegrounds, in the government. In synagogues and churches, in schools, colleges, universities. Rid them of professors and teachers who incite hate and violence, the absolute opposite of what teachers are supposed to do, are responsible to do. Call your representatives. Join protests and meetings, ask hard questions. Persist and demand answers. Put back those kidnapped posters. 

Demand a Red Cross visit to all kidnapped, how they are, in what condition, are they getting the attention and meds they need, who is seeing to the needs of the little ones, the elderly, assisting parents out of their minds with grief and horror. 

Who?????? Where is the Red Cross??????

People, this can only be fought together. Prejudice and hate are carnivorous, eat all before them to feed an insatiable appetite. It has been said, "First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people.  No exceptions, no escapees from the horror of hate and violence.

We Jews have been there, done that - no more. We are not the beaten, starved of Europe. We are determined to prevent repetitions of such horrors, wherever, and certainly within this country, all countries where we are and have long been citizens, and integral figures in all aspects of that nation. 

As one woman defiantly said while holding a flag, - "This is my city. This is my country. And I will not allow them to take it away."

We most definitely will not.

 Never. Ever. Ever. Ever. Again.

I am a Jew. So are you. So are we all. Really.