Congregation Beth Israel

It continues!

No Gravatar

Given the events of this past weekend in Charlottesville, I decided to break into my queue.

After all, I lived there for 13 years. And, one of my finest accomplishments there (other than the birth of my two daughters and a slew of great products) was bringing life to the 150 year old synagogue there. Jeff Poelvoorde and I spent months convincing folks to come to a traditional Saturday morning service. And, with time, a wonderful Jewish community- shared lives, families, food- developed. And, continues there still some 3 decades later.

Congregation Beth Israel

What you probably have not heard among all the reportage about Charlottesville is that the Nazis and KKK aficionados that terrorized the town, that marched with torches screaming blood and soil and anti-Semitic epithets, also managed to specifically terrorize the Jewish community. These terrorists- with their guns at the ready- stood at the front of the synagogue. (No, the city did NOT provide any police protection. But, the wise administration of the shul did retain the services of an armed guard.) Which meant when services were over, the folks had to sneak out the back door, hoping the terrorists would be fooled into thinking folks were still inside.

I have always known that anti-Semitism is far more prevalent that most folks think. Given that I wear a kippa, I am more prone to hear the (not-so-silent) comments made. And, many Jewish folks in America (my son, included) are now wondering if they were naive or deluded that such blind hatred had dissipated in America- and the world.

Cities in Germany that were active in blaming the Jews for causing the Plague (and killing them indiscriminately)  in the 14th century are the same communities that still have an intense, illogical hate towards Jews today.  Why?  Because these beliefs are taught by  parents to their children, who teach it to their children, ad inifitum.  And, other people move to these communities, because they find those prevailing beliefs compatible with their own prejudices.  These are some of the findings of Voightlander and Voth in their paper (click on SSRN to download the whole paper).

These prejudices are exactly those exploited by Hitler in his escapades to destroy all the Jews.  The Nazis scored 1.5 X the votes in cities that blamed the Jews for the Black Death some 600 years earlier.  Jews were 6 X as likely to be targeted by attacks in those same cities,  under the Hitler regime.    Cities that had large inward migration did not follow that pattern; the newcomers obviously changed the behavior.

Guy Milliere explains that there is a new force for this renewed anti-Semitism in Europe; the mass migration of Muslim immigrants.  This has only been the impetus (inward migration feeding on the already innate anti-Semitism within communities) to burning of synagogues in Greece, France, and other locations in Europe.  This is also escalating the prevailing attitude of hatred toward Israel.  A survey was effected in Germany, France, Italy, and Poland asking attitudes towards Jews and Israel- negative images ranged from 72% in Poland (0.6% of the population is now Jewish, down from 15% before Hitler) to a low (?) of 32% in France. In another article, Soeren Kern reports that about 1/2 of Spain is anti-Semitic, yet has only 0.08% Jews among them.  (The Inquisition is still alive and well in Spain, as I found during my two trips there.)

Before one feels smug that this is not true for their own communities, consider this.  Why is it that the Aryan terrorist groups thrive in Idaho and the Southern states in the US?  Or that Virginia persisted in “massive resistance” and prejudice towards blacks as late as the 1970s, as I found the Commonwealth,  where I have now resided for nigh 41 years?

Yet, I grew up in Long Island. That New York suburb that most people associate with Jewish majorities. (Even in metropolitan New York, Jews only account for 10% of the population. Admittedly 5 times the national average, but still not a majority. )

Where my memories tell the real story.

Our bay window was smashed – often. While walking in the forest behind my house – I was routinely being surrounded by six or seven older kids. More than once – way more than once.   (Sometimes they used fists, other times sticks, a few times just intimidation.)

A neighbor – Joe – across the street – who came to help – often. One of the few to stand up against these practices. A friend – with a funny sounding name (it sounded Italian, but he was a Spanish Marano) – who did not want me to tell others about him. They didn’t know he really was Jewish, too.

This New York suburb – yes, that New York – where you find yourself the only family among hundreds (almost thousands)  that is Jewish. Everyone else – Roman Catholic, Irish or Italian, who, with very few exceptions, go to private school, too. And, are there carefully taught that you killed their god, and, that you are their enemy.

I won’t go into the theological concept of how a god can die (unless you want to believe in mythology). I’m sorry if this offends you, but it has always been a major question to me. And, why folks who hate me so much forget that this person they adore was probably the very first Reform Jew. Whose followers, like the practice of another religion, converted him (and probably made up great stories) after he was dead.

Those memories molded me. I was faced with these instances every single day of my life from when I was a little more than 2 until I was a few months shy of my bar mitzvah. When Long Island changed from being comprised of a few big towns and small villages in Nassau County with potato farms in Suffolk County, became converted to defense establishment heaven (long before these high-tech activities moved to Silicon Valley and the two beltways (metro DC and Boston), which forever changed the face of the area.

Where the Nazi party reigned supreme (finally disappearing from plain view by the mid-1950’s). Where a putsch hall was taken over and converted to a synagogue in 1951. The synagogue of my youth.

These events solidified my beliefs. If they hated me so much for what they thought I thought – shouldn’t I be positive in what it is for which I stand? Should I not affirm these beliefs each and every day? (If they plan to hurt/kill me for them, whats the point if I don’t live those ideals in the first place?).

It’s also why I know – in every fiber of my body – the anguish of the dispossessed, the discriminated. It’s why I knew that Civil Rights were a critical issue. Which in the 50’s and 60’s was the issue of Jews AND Blacks. Together. Until it wasn’t.

It’s why two Jewish guys decided to model their ideal world (of Superman) using Jewish themes. Which Jewish roots most folks never understood. The Daily Planet (examine the original N.Y. Daily News headquarters). Smallville (I know it was supposed to be middle America – but that was Long Island in the 30’s and 40’s.) Kal-El, Jor-El – all Jewish names.

Truth, Justice, and the American Way. I grew up believing that they were synonymous. Justice, Justice, you SHALL pursue. Two witnesses – not one. Help the poor, the weak, the invalid. It’s not an eye FOR an eye, but an eye in place of an eye – which means financial compensation.

Now, I know there are many who try to subvert that. They work hard  to keep things as follows:
Truth for the rich, Justice for those with money to pay for it, and the American Way is to extend and expand those truths. We even now have a President who wants to promote this travesty and extend it further into the future.

Unless people like me – and you – stop them. And, not just in America – but for the world

That has to be our mission. No matter what our religion.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Share

6 thoughts on “It continues!”

  1. I have proudly posted this on Facebook. Our countrymen and women must speak up, every one of us, and go on the record opposing hate. That song is a powerful song, when it was first written for South Pacific, and now. The video was well done. And now, today,we mourn for Barcelona, the newest victim of terrorism. It will be a long struggle. May we and our chldren be granted strength to sustain the fight.
    Alana recently posted..Strap In For Turbulence

  2. We’ve been seeing images of the whole situation in Australia, and it disgusts me. The problem is that in America the laws seem to value freedom of speech FAR too highly. I don’t know if there are hate speech laws in the US, but we have them in Aus, and that’s definitely what I believe the country needs. Because as disgusted as I am about the actual events which took place, I’m equally as disgusted that it’s not against the law (correct me if I’m wrong because I could be) to gather in groups like that and spout such hate speech.

    I heard a very apt analogy for America today on BBC “Uncomfortable about it’s past, divided on it’s present, uncertain about it’s future”. I believe you when you say that anti semitism is more widespread than people like to believe. Something very drastic needs to change in America to fix and address it.

    1. I think the problem is not freedom of speech- but freedom to bear high powered weapons and bulletproof vests that afford those “manifesting” free speech to intimidate- not to engage in free speech.

      Thanks for your comment from the other side of the world.

  3. I really do not know where to start because there is so much truth packed in here. However, one thing did stand out to me as a Christian. Well, two things. Yes, Jesus was a Jew, Anyone that reads the bible should pick up that the Jewish nation was Yahweh chosen people (check out Moses trip in the desert) The second is that if Christians believe in the flood and Noah, check the number of people that survived that we all descend from (Jewish) so there is a little Jewish DNA in all of us. And third It wasn’t the “Jews” that “crucified Jesus” it was a small group of men who happened to be Jewish. It appears to be a smaller group that the amount of Jewish people that were followers of Jesus, yet even today Bible teachers blame a whole nation for one event that will continue to build hate as long as it is taught this way. I think for change to ever come, it needs to start with how things are worded in History books and Bibles. glad to hear you had a friend that lived near by to help when you were in trouble.
    Chef William recently posted..What About Your Metabolism and Aging

Comments are closed.