WHAT ARE JEWS SO WORRIED ABOUT? (An explainer)

What the average American (or citizen of virtually any other country) can’t fully comprehend or relate to is that the Jewish people have been systematically scapegoated, targeted and murdered through every generation, a fact we grimly remind ourselves of during many fasts and several of our major holidays - see: Passover (Egypt), Purim (Persia), Chanukah (Greece), Holocaust Remembrance Day (Germany, Poland, etc.) and Tisha B’Av (basically all the rest).?

People fail to realize that antisemitism is rampant and has found new expression and “legitimacy” by insisting it’s about ISRAEL, not Jews. And as I pointed out in my [somewhat forlorn and desperate] post over the weekend, we don’t have the numbers to defend ourselves! We are 0.2% of the world population. Not a typo. Two-tenths of 1%. Adherents to Islam represent 25%. There are 127 Muslims to each Jew in the world.?

I have nothing against Muslims (heck, Jews and Muslims are cousins, going way back to our patriarch, Abraham) or people of any faith, as long as they don't twist their religion to glorify violence against people with different beliefs than their own.

I do not believe that all Muslims hate Jews. But if even 1% of them actively hates my people and wishes us harm (and it’s clear that 1% would be a hopelessly low estimate), that still translates to 19 MILLION Muslims. There are only 15 million Jews in existence on planet Earth. Let that sink in.

Thus, I am pleading that more regular citizens speak up in defense of, in support for and in solidarity with the Jewish people and the only majority Jewish country in the world (which is the size of New Jersey, by the way); the only tolerant, democratic country in the region that protects women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and religious rights (not just of Jews but of every faith); a pluralistic society comprised of Jews, Arabs, Christians and Druze; and a source of unparalleled advances in medicine, technology, economics… you name it.

To be clear,?I don't agree with every policy, decision or tactic of the Israeli government, but NOBODY AGREES WITH ANY GOVERNMENT ABOUT EVERYTHING. And that's democracy. I am not suggesting that you support every single thing Israel has ever done (or will do), but rather that you acknowledge that (1) Israel has a right to exist as a sovereign nation, and (2) Jews have a right to exist as human beings. If you oppose either of those fundamental ideas, you are implicitly embracing antisemitism and condoning violence against Jews.

You may think I'm exagerrating. I'm not.

Israel faces an impossible choice: be killed, or defend yourself and be villainized. The worst part is that Israel’s enemies know this. They’ve gotten smart about manipulating public opinion and pushing simplistic (and disgusting) narratives that cast Israelis as white - although 50% of Israeli Jews are non-European - and portray their own people - whom they strategically use as human shields - as tragic victims of Israeli aggression, conveniently ignoring / downplaying / justifying / denying the sickening, depraved terrorist actions that precipitated and [VERY intentionally] provoked Israel’s military response.

It honestly feels scary, hopeless, lonely and shockingly reminiscent of the “public square” of German culture just prior to World War II. I realize that probably sounds alarmist and even paranoid to a non-Jew, but sadly, our collective memory has finely attuned us to the climate and conditions that have invariably led to the massacre and attempted extermination of our people in the past.

I hope and PRAY that the good, decent people who can tell right from wrong and who can see through the propaganda and think for themselves outnumber the antisemites by a wide margin, but here’s the thing: I DON’T KNOW.?

There is a famous quote from Elie Wiesel, noted author, ethicist, Nobel recipient and holocaust survivor:?

“We must always take sides.?Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.”

He knew from experience how dangerous it was when German society failed to take a stand and remained silent while Jews were rounded up and shipped off to concentration camps. I fear for my children (and theirs) because our history shows that the Holocaust was NOT an aberration, it was merely the latest in a long progression of blame and violence that could absolutely happen again… if the world lets it.

PLEASE, if you are reading this, DON’T STAY SILENT. The Jewish people literally need your support. Not your money, or your time, or your left toe. We just need your voice. Speak out, correct misinformation, unequivocally condemn rape, torture, mutilation, wanton murder and the intentional targeting of civilians. VOTE. Tell your congressperson that you support Israel in a conflict they desperately do not want to be in. OK, that’s all. I’m exhausted. Thanks for your compassion (hope we’re not too late).