There is a familiar saying "When in Rome ......" While that is not license to find the worst behavior of a location and then emulate it, it is a reminder that when in certain situations, particularly hostile situations, one is allowed, even recommended, to do whatever one needs to do to remedy the issue. When punched in the face and jabbed in the stomach with more blows clearly incoming, one does not counteract with an offer of a licorice stick or a drink at the bar or a proposal to sit quietly in the corner and have a little friendly chat.
Of course, the only way out is to punch and jab better, harder, and get the hell out of there. Live to fight another day, better trained and equipped. The same injunction works in large or small venues, in personal bouts and national and international matters. Even if, at times, one must get their attention and bring them to the table. Particularly so when one is fighting for survival, existential survival at that. It is incumbent upon the aggrieved party to hit back with all its might, all the better to force the offending entity to back off. To do otherwise is not good for their body and soul. Not at all. And for every punch, every jab coming a thousand will be returned. No other alternative.
When one does not defend itself, its integrity as a nation or as a person it becomes all the worse for that entity, that nation. Especially so when this state is held out as a pariah to the world at large, its grievances discounted, belittled, and denied. Even its future existence as a recognized state, legitimate and not to be questioned, hangs by a thread. Why? For daring to do all it must to indeed survive, to exist and thrive, to leave the world a better place for having been there, individual and/or nation.
“If I am not for myself then what am I? (But) if I am for myself only, then again, what am I."
“It is not upon you to finish the work that needs to be done. But. It is incumbent upon you to begin it.”
The world today is huge, but small, wonderous and frightening, laid out in all its splendor and detail, in threat and promise. However as much as nature can be overpowering and awesome, I believe that for most people the fears arise from a more individual and personal origin. This fear of late, for any Jewish person, in fact, or any decent person, has been growing, spreading its rot in triple digit increase. New to many in its current appearance, yet, as old as time. In its current configuration it blends the vileness of the past, the lies and accusations with the spreading power of modern media and the host of receptive minds looking for something, anything, to give them a sense of purpose, a group of associates to combat the loneliness and lack of purpose to be found in so many. Mix it up in a soup of toxicity and thereupon rises a monster, one which has grown and appears to be unstoppable and ever more threatening.
To me the most fearsome and frightening piece of it is how so many once civilized and intelligent people gave way to deep, dark emotions almost completely obscured, once, and are now out in the open, loud and proud re a path they once, not so long ago would have spurned. I believe at first, they become actively acquiescent, then orally championing of the worst of mankind, and then unbelievably they stretch their hate to Antisemitism on crack, now a virulent JewHatred and license to act with hate, to bait and torment, to overtop all the Haters of history, old and modern. Never ever, it seems to get completely obliterated from the depths of the hearts and souls of humans.
How are we to cope with the volume and toxicity of the hate sent our way. What do we answer when we are accused of hijacking elections, with an issue at hand being the definition of antisemitism, or of the Palestinian issue being vociferously debated in a small town in a nation with no Jewish population nor any commerce with Israel. Even as they loudly wildly march in parades, chant the chants of hate and ignorance and wave flags and signs dripping with hate.
A person or a nation condemned, whether they do or do not. Whatever the action taken is, it is instantaneously deemed wrong, illegal, even criminal, even as nations who have done far worse for more years, rake Israel over hot coals with tines, sharpened and heated, all to do their worst to a nation fighting an evil foe determined to wipe them off the face of earth, and ASAP. Israel's accused of war crimes, of deliberately targeting civilians but examine the reality.
A war must be fought where the war is and Hamas and other terrorists, not militants, terrorists, have brought the war to the civilian population on purpose. Civilian infrastructure, families, are placed deliberately in sites which will be bombed, as the command centers are beneath homes, hospitals, schools, UNRWA buildings and of course move the hostages around and brutalize them, kill them, and the world only sees fault in the Israelis. Unlike any other nation, they are blamed for consequences over which they had no control and/or no other option. Israel is in a war of survival and think not that any nation would do ought other than weep a few crocodile tears and then move on. What would happen to the Israeli Jews within those borders? What would happen to Jews around the world without the power of Israel behind them? I hesitate to even put that in words. Would they even admit how wrong they were? How horrified they are? Or should be, about the consequences? Highly doubtful, for when push comes to shove, nothing new under the sun, especially when it comes to the repetitive fate of the Jewish nation.
When the FBI sends out a PSA notice to Jewish communities, Israeli communities, to be careful for they are in mortal danger- a Jew must be careful. Must be aware and not shrug it off. When we are told to hide our identity as we walk in the streets of any city around the world, there is cause for concern.
Has all the pain of our yesterdays come back to haunt us? Have todays of confidence run their course? Over us all hangs the question of what will be with us for our tomorrows. If you think you can answer these questions with confidence and positive feeling you are indeed blessed. As for the rest of us, well, you complete that sentence ......
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