Antisemitism Marches On
I have heard comments about how the conflict marches in the Middle East has caused a rise in antisemitism. I respectfully disagree. Â
Oh yes, there are many examples of antisemitic behaviors since Oct. 7, 2023, but I do not believe that event, or any of the subsequent acts on the part of Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis or any other Iranian proxy caused antisemitism.
Sadly, hatred for Jews has been there all along, bubbling quietly below the surface. The attack marches by Hamas and Israel’s response has apparently provided an excuse for the virulent antisemites to openly assault and provide them cover to verbally and physically attack.
In what America would we have expected to see college campuses give protection to students, faculty and University presidents to condone spitting on students, or to block them from entering a college library? In New York, the home of the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, protestors shouted for Zionists to leave the subway car.
The attack marches on Jews everywhere is becoming acceptable behavior. I know that similar protests against any other group, religious, ethnic or based on sexual orientation would never be condoned. I must ask, why is it acceptable for Jews to be treated this way?
The fact that this is tolerated, that those in charge are dismissive of antisemitic behavior can only be if they truly believe that Jews deserve such treatment. As Jews we have falsely convinced ourselves into believing that America is a safe, welcoming haven. Maybe not so much.
America has its own sordid history including but certainly not limited to some well-known individuals such as Henry Ford in the 1920s, Joseph Kennedy Sr in the 1930s, FDR turning away the St. Louis in 1942 sending the ship of Jewish men, women and children eventually back to Nazi Germany to be exterminated.
FDR was aware of the horrors of the concentration camps, but refused to enter the war, until he had to because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. President Obama snubbed Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited the White House, forcing the Prime Minister to exit through a backdoor.
And most recently Vice President Harris was MIA along with many members of the House and Senate when Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress at the most serious, dangerous time for Israel.
When leaders of industry, education and government openly express their disdain for Jews and Israel, it provides an excuse for the attacks we have witnessed, and protectors feel emboldened. For now, Jews can live in America and have some measure of comfort, feeling it will not happen here, it cannot occur again.
That’s what the Jews in Eastern Europe thought too – and we all know what happened to them.
Marking one year since the initial attack, I acknowledge with a broken heart, the loss of 6 more lives, bodies found in a Gaza tunnel simply because they are Jews.
