And you think what happened to me is an isolated incident?
No, I don’t think so.
There is a rise in anti-Semitic activity this holiday season, whether anybody acknowledges it or not.
Just several weeks ago, a Hassidic Jewish enclave in Brooklyn was attacked when several cars were set on fire and others were painted with swatstikas and other anti-Jewish venom.
Several synagogues have been desecrated recently with swatstikas and anti-Jewish hate.
I received my letter in the mail, with about as much anti-Jewish venom as I have ever seen.
Now I read that a man who was in mourning for his recently passed away wife has another burden to bear: his Hanukkah menorah, which has been displayed on his lawn for many years during the holiday season, was smashed to bits yesterday.
And this happened in a place called Plainview, one of the Long Island areas with a high rate of Jewish residents.
No, I don’t think the incidents are at all related, but there is a definite rise in anti-Semitism out there.
Just look at the Republican presidential candidates. Most of them are evangelical Christians, meaning that they don’t recognize the Jewish religion at all. They are out to convert us to their ways.
One candidate, Ron Paul, is so virulently anti-Jewish that I can’t believe that people are even considering him for the top spot in the land.
And people—and yes, I include many Jews themselves—accept this type of behavior. They look the other way when things like this happen, because it hasn’t happened to them.
But let me tell you, Jews that have so blended themselves into our society that they forget who they really are aren’t doing anybody any good—including themselves—with their behavior.
Yes, they are part of the problem, but the greater problem is answering the question, “Why is this happening in the first place?”
It is hard to pinpoint the reason, but I think that during tough times, scapegoats are always sought, and Jews are often categorized as the reason for whatever mess we are in.
That is wholly unfair, but to uneducated, ignorant people, that is what they believe.
And many Jews, by ignoring these incidents, just add into the senselessness of it all.
Well, I am not ignoring what happened to me. I did what I had to do—reporting the incident to the police—and when I hear of others who have been violated, it turns my stomach.
Both Jew and Gentile alike should be alarmed at these incidents.
If they aren’t, I feel sorry for them. Something is missing from their makeup that prevents them from being saddened by such incidents.
Hanukkah ended last night. The menorahs and all the decorations will come down, but my Jewishness will not be taken down at all.
It is who I am, what my family is, and what my ancestors were.
And if people don’t like it, that’s tough. I really don’t care.
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