Recently, upon concluding an HBO series, I wondered at the questions raised and the answers glaring in their absence. Interestingly enough, even as many of the answers, the truths revealed by them, were ignored, desperately at times, the proper questions were similarly ignored, defiantly resisted, their own truths as difficult to acknowledge as the answers, spoken or unspoken, left to remain in a silence of denial. However, the denied, desperate to emerge free from repression, always finds a path and the festering blisters on and of humanity burst, sowing horror and hate, revives old evil tropes and words of value only to those without souls.
Such are our times, the state of affairs which have become the norm rather than the outlying ends of the bell curves of humanity. Feelings long thought extinguished, at the very least tamped down to insignificance, reappear, emerging in fields rich with the food it needs to grow. These ancient tropes of hatred and instigations and approval of high levels of violence, are replenished and strengthened by the technologies of the day. And the night, as so many of the haters lurk in the darkest areas of social media. Waiting, always waiting, for their chance to strike.
Equally unfortunate is the increasing rate at which these troglodytes feel empowered and safe to emerge into the sun. There, they openly practice their doctrines of hate and proselytize, quite successfully. The shredded reassurances of yesterday feed the anxieties of too many and they open themselves, become receptive, eager, desperate, to hear words of reassurance and inclusion, a place where they are welcomed. A place where they are of the circle rather than of those banned from it.
As the characters of the series continued to refuse the truths, even to themselves, they shouted louder, attempting to deafen the calls within, the shame, the taint of their deeds darkening their minds, perverting their souls, stealing their humanity. Until the pressure grew too powerful and the ugliness within burst forth, the rivers of hate grew and grew, flooded their banks with violence, and the people wallowed in the muddy waters, ignoring the long-term lasting poisons seeping inside. Ever growing in intensity and depth, in accompanying violence, it became a tradeoff. Uncertainty for a place within the rest of humanity swarming around them. So much easier, is it not? So much less responsibility.
The end results? Strange and heartbreaking. A relatively calm peace and period of growth for Jews came to a violent, bloody end. The hatred, ever present in tainted souls, fed by the antisemitism of public figures, figures of a skewed culture, became socially approved. Free to stretch its legs and limits, it did so, with great success. It found a plethora of dank and dark cellars of humankind. And it thrived. And we thought at last, we are home free, no more fear, no more uncertainty, a full acceptance. Until it was no longer. Like NOW.
Even more frightening was the highly illogical union of the right and the left in endorsing and practicing this toxic new form of antisemitism, regressing immediately to death threats to world Jewry, first step being the destruction of Israel, its isolation and abandonment, and then the rest. Simple. Clear. There. Accepted. Championed. Even by those whom Jews had aided in their times of difficulty and danger. Traitors all. Haters all. Ugly all. 'Justifying' the unjustifiable.
Yes, we know we have true, steady friends, but the feeling of besiegement and ultimate final danger remained and remains. Even as we trust in our history, surviving great empires who desired our extinction - We. Are. Here. And. Here. We. Will. Remain. The Big Guy up there has promised us so.
Rabbi David Wolpe, whose every book I have and read, thoroughly, wrote an incisive essay in the Jewish Journal entitled On the Hatred of Jews, subtitled Antisemitism is a denial of humanity of the Jew. Here is a paragraph from the essay, in which is detailed the stupidity, the illogic of antisemitism, JewHatred, and its success, as it provides a handy dandy scapegoat for one's deficiencies and faults. Always it is the fault of others for one's failures and the Jews serve that purpose only too well in the sick minds of haters and pitiful flawed beings.
Read and weep and understand.
"People hate Jews because they are communists, capitalists, foreigners, residents, immigrants, elitists, have strange ways, are unassimilated, too assimilated, bankroll the left (like George Soros) or bankroll the right (like Sheldon Adelson). People hate Jews because they are weak and stateless, or because they are Zionists and defend Israel."
As an aside, David Suissa and Franklin Foer are two excellent writers whose articles one might seek and read.
Where we go from here is a huge unknown. For sure, there is a lack of certainty of safety. The result can be seen in the renewed planned migrations of Jewry to countries more welcoming, where they might feel safer. To Israel, their ancient homeland, despite all the deniers, or to stand firm, speak out and loud and defy all enemies.
Questions? Answers? Any difference actually?
-------------------------------------------------------------Yitzy, yesterday I watched a video wherein a young boy was sick, lay dying, all hope lost. Then, a miracle. He healed. And I cried. I sobbed, deep within my very core. Why could you not have had such a miracle? Why were you taken? Why are we left bereft, a hole never to be filled nor covered.
Not fair. Not right.
Love you, sweet boy.
Always and forever. Always and forever.
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