One Day In Early 2010

There have always been periodic random displays of anti-Semitism in the world, perhaps to warn human kind to keep itself in check.

Occasionally some sickness overtakes a large-enough population segment, and a terrible episode breaks out, usually in one, specific region.

Lately, however, reports worldwide of frightening incidents seem to be proliferating. Making matters worse, in my view, is the fact that these reports are not typically found in the “mainstream” press, which tends to report, for instance, Israel’s response to an attack, but not the attack itself, thereby contributing to the intentional demonization of Israel and by extension, world Jewry.

In fact, history teaches us that the press can and has played a key roll in swaying public opinion when these types of episodes begin, often fueling them, whether intentionally or not. They rarely work to stop them, probably because when this type of violent behavior takes root, a dangerous shift in the way the government and the population reacts almost always accompanies it.

I’m afraid we are witnessing the rise of another such surge, including this time, terrifyingly, the United States – the last and nearly only bastion of freedom the world’s Jews have ever known. The last place, besides Israel, where Jews enjoyed the type of freedoms they do in the U.S. and Canada, was in pre-war Germany. There’s a lesson there, somewhere, I think.

The difference this time, is the existence of Israel, which for 60 years has stood as a sort-of insurance policy for the world’s Diaspora Jews, and, I’m afraid, American Jews are soon going to have to start seriously contemplating what their personal reaction will be.

I don’t see it as a question of dual loyalty because if the U.S. officially turns on Israel, anti-Semitism will have free, unfettered reign here, and the decision of what the Jews should do will have been made for them – at least for those capable of reading the writing on the wall.

The University of California announced measures designed to prevent hate violence and racism on campus – a move deemed necessary following a rash of mostly anti-Semitic/anti-Israel incidents. However, some speakers at a meeting devoted to the issue said the recent heckling of Israel’s ambassador at UC Irvine was a display of free speech, not a hate crime.

This is one way they do it. They make Jews/Israel the exception. Hate speech is not allowed, but if the target is Jewish, it’s not really hate speech.

In another report, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor said he has received threats partly because he is Jewish. He’s not the only Jewish lawmaker who has to deal with anti-Semitism. And lawmakers aren’t the only ones who get it. Journalists get it, too. I know. Others, also.

We have all come to expect it and consider it just the way things are – something we have to live with.

And, this is likely true and marginally acceptable when the general reaction among most people is disgust and outrage. When it becomes shoulder-shrugging apathy or worse, endorsement – the reality has changed.

Another report from Friday describes how Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a performance in London by the acclaimed Jerusalem Quartet.

The concert, which was being broadcast live on BBC Radio, and had to be taken off the air in the middle, after about a half-dozen punks took turns shouting “anti-Israel epithets at 10-minute intervals throughout the performance.”

This is evidently not the first time this has happened to this world-renown group in other countries, or to other Israeli professionals like scientific and terrorism experts, journalists and athletes.

It happens to no one else from any other country – no matter how heinously its government behaves – and the near-total lack of international outrage, especially among the attacked persons’ professional colleagues, is nearly as telling as the acts themselves.

Also troubling, to me, is the fact that in reports on the shameful attack on the quartet the group’s spokespeople felt the need to explain that its members served in the Israeli army only as musicians and also regularly perform as members of an orchestra “which brings Israeli and Arab musicians together.”

They felt it necessary also to say “We no more represent the Government of Israel than the audience at the Wigmore Hall represented the Government of the United Kingdom,” and, sadly that “only one of the four musicians is a native Israeli; one lives in Portugal and another in Berlin.”

They, and likely many Israelis and Jews generally, may be beginning to buy the bullcrap the Anti-Semites are selling, and are starting to apologize for who they are. It’s a dangerous direction and useless as a strategy. History also teaches us that it never, ever works to make the Jews or even the individual sell-out any safer in the long run.

The same day that was reported, so was the story of two British lawmakers accusing supporters of Israel of “buying” influence in the Conservative Party.

“Both used anti-Semitic stereotypes in their statements,” according to the report.

The remarks were reportedly made by Labor Party members addressing a meeting at the House of Commons of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of Al Aksa.

The fact that such an organization exists in the parliament is frightening enough. Then to have a Labor Party lawmaker say “There are long tentacles of Israel in this country who are funding election campaigns and putting money into the British political system for their own ends,” is especially troubling because it’s the more right-wing parties that have traditionally been the most anti-Semitic.

Also Friday, it was reported that a Chabad house in Budapest was stoned during a Passover Seder – not once, but twice.

The attack on the home of Rabbi Shmuel Raskin was reportedly especially “worrisome” since it comes amid a Hungarian election campaign in which a far-right party is expected to make strong gains.

I don’t know about you, but I think I detect a pattern. My passport is current. Is yours?

Then to have a Labor Party lawmaker say “There are long tentacles of Israel in this country who are funding election campaigns and putting money into the British political system for their own ends,” is especially troubling because it’s the more right-wing parties that have traditionally been the most anti-Semitic.

Really?

Hitler was left wing.

Marx was very left wing.

Both were very anti-Semitic.

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