You hate me because I am a Jew. Do you know what that means? It means that I worship God and want to live by the 10 Commandments and adhere to the Old Testament – so far, not so much for you to get upset about.
True the New Testament is not in my life but the good news is that being a Jew means to love thy neighbor as thy self. Being a Jew means to live by Tikkun Olam – to repair the world (not tear it down). It is a Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness.
Ever take note of when there are worldwide disasters, that the tiny nation of Israel sends help in the form of searchers or medical professionals? It is because of the learned concept in Jewish homes of Tikkun Olam. None of those volunteers to far off places ever ask the religion or philosophy of the victims – they are just there to help.
Then there is Tzedakah “righteousness”– used to signify charity. Jews are charitable and it is taught to their children from the time they are very young.
Jewish children traditionally have Tzedakah boxes – to save money to give to charities. In their religious schools, they are encouraged to drop their coins in the classroom’s Tzedakah box as well.
Then there is “Rachmones.” We grew up witnessing the significance of what it means to have empathy for another soul. We learn to have compassion for another human being.
Israeli hospitals do not ask a sick individual’s religion or background or if they can pay. If someone, Jew or Gentile or Muslim, is in need of medical attention, they are cared for by the Israeli doctors who have Rachmones.
So how did the Jews, those that want to give to others, become the group that the protestors want to see killed?
The basic tenets of Judaism for the religious and non-observant alike, Tikkun Olam, Tzedakah, Rachmones are prevalent in the everyday life of a Jew. So, I cannot help but wonder why anyone feels it necessary to end the lives of every Jew – calling for another Hitler, another Holocaust, an Intifada, shouting “death to Israel”, “death to Jews” “More October 7”.
How much red paint splattered at schools, on statutes and homes of prominent Jews, how much spitting in our face, blocking our path, threatening our very survival, do we have to tolerate before they realize that their religion, their upbringing, their families also taught them charity, pity, empathy, kindness and to try to help heal the world?
If they were not raised that way, then they are the ones to be pitied for they must have been raised with hatred and venom in their hearts and I have Rachmones for those poor souls.
*This month cannot go without acknowledging the heroic maneuvers of the IDF and Shin Bet to gain the release of 4 hostages in Gaza. My joy is limited by the fact that approximately 120 hostages that are believed to be alive (33 of whom are children) remain in captivity.
It is reported that roughly an additional 43 of the hostages are no longer alive. I pray that my next article will be a full-on celebration of release of all remaining hostages as well as the remains of those whose families deserve the closure of a funeral.
