Why are attacks on Jews increasing worldwide ?
Non Zionist Jew | 12.02.2008 16:21
In the wake of the crisis in the Middle East, Jews and Jewish property worldwide have come under attack.
Why was a Jew stabbed on a London bus on October 16? Why was the home of a rabbi firebombed in Sydney on October 15? Why was a synagogue burned in Syracuse, New York on October 13?
The question raised by these anti-Semitic attacks is: What is the connection between Jews living outside of Israel (Diaspora Jews) to Israel.
Diaspora Jews would give a variety of answers to this question. Some Diaspora Jews (small minority) feel an extremely strong connection to Israel. These Zionists would even like to be living in Israel helping to defend the Jewish State from threats to her survival. Some Diaspora Jews feel a strong attachment to Israel, but also to their home country. Many in this group contribute to Israel's well-being through donations, visits, and political support. A third group of Diaspora Jews feels some connection (religious, historic) to Israel, but they have never visited and have limited knowledge of the country. Some Diaspora Jews feel no connection to the Jewish State at all. Whether Israel exists or not makes little difference to them. A small group of ultra-orthodox Jews, living in and outside of Israel, reject Israel's right to exist because they believe the creation of Israel should wait for the coming of the Messiah.
In contrast, anti-Semites would give a much more uniform answer to the question. The line they draw to distinguish between Diaspora Jews and Israeli Jews is extremely thin. When Palestinians demonstrate, they chant "Itbach el-Yehud" which means "Slaughter the Jews." When Islamic militants pass out leaflets in London, the leaflets say "The final hour will not come until the Muslims kill the Jews." Just as the Nazi's did not differentiate between religious Jews and unaffiliated Jews, today's neo-Nazi's do not distinguish between Diaspora Jews and Israeli Jews. The list of anti-Semitic attacks worldwide are a testament to the view of anti-Semites that Jews are Jews, no matter where they live.
This outbreak of violence in the Middle East and the resounding rise in anti-Semitic attacks worldwide are a wake-up call to Jews everywhere. Jews in Paris, Chicago and Tel Aviv - Israel's struggle is a Jewish struggle. Jews in London, Sydney and Los Angeles - Israel's survival means Jewish survival. Jews worldwide are connected to Israel, whether they like it or not, by their age-old, common enemy, anti-Semitism.
Why was a Jew stabbed on a London bus on October 16? Why was the home of a rabbi firebombed in Sydney on October 15? Why was a synagogue burned in Syracuse, New York on October 13?
The question raised by these anti-Semitic attacks is: What is the connection between Jews living outside of Israel (Diaspora Jews) to Israel.
Diaspora Jews would give a variety of answers to this question. Some Diaspora Jews (small minority) feel an extremely strong connection to Israel. These Zionists would even like to be living in Israel helping to defend the Jewish State from threats to her survival. Some Diaspora Jews feel a strong attachment to Israel, but also to their home country. Many in this group contribute to Israel's well-being through donations, visits, and political support. A third group of Diaspora Jews feels some connection (religious, historic) to Israel, but they have never visited and have limited knowledge of the country. Some Diaspora Jews feel no connection to the Jewish State at all. Whether Israel exists or not makes little difference to them. A small group of ultra-orthodox Jews, living in and outside of Israel, reject Israel's right to exist because they believe the creation of Israel should wait for the coming of the Messiah.
In contrast, anti-Semites would give a much more uniform answer to the question. The line they draw to distinguish between Diaspora Jews and Israeli Jews is extremely thin. When Palestinians demonstrate, they chant "Itbach el-Yehud" which means "Slaughter the Jews." When Islamic militants pass out leaflets in London, the leaflets say "The final hour will not come until the Muslims kill the Jews." Just as the Nazi's did not differentiate between religious Jews and unaffiliated Jews, today's neo-Nazi's do not distinguish between Diaspora Jews and Israeli Jews. The list of anti-Semitic attacks worldwide are a testament to the view of anti-Semites that Jews are Jews, no matter where they live.
This outbreak of violence in the Middle East and the resounding rise in anti-Semitic attacks worldwide are a wake-up call to Jews everywhere. Jews in Paris, Chicago and Tel Aviv - Israel's struggle is a Jewish struggle. Jews in London, Sydney and Los Angeles - Israel's survival means Jewish survival. Jews worldwide are connected to Israel, whether they like it or not, by their age-old, common enemy, anti-Semitism.
Non Zionist Jew
