"When I learned what happened at Temple Israel in Michigan last Thursday — a man driving a truck loaded with explosives through the front doors of a synagogue, armed with rifles, heading down the hallway toward classrooms where a hundred and forty children were learning — the first thing I felt was fear. That is natural. That is human."
There were (3) other attacks on Americans by Muslims in the last two weeks: Austin, Texas - 2 dead and 14 wounded, Old Dominion University - one African American killed by a relative of Hezbollah members in Lebanon and finally the (2) ISIS bomb throwers in NYC.
It is not just Jews who are in danger - it is all non-Muslim Americans. We are all targets and we need to get together against Islamic hatred. The Left (Democrats) and The Woke Reich have allied with Islam. Muslims along with Antifa are the Democrats new Antifa.
Be on the lookout - in a Blue State or Blue City they could care less what happens to you (us).
Pittsburgh's Tree of Life has learned none of this. It has raised huge funds for more buildings. Part of which will be for - a Holocaust center. But the Jewish community should forgo building with bricks and mortar altogether. What we need to build are better educated Jewish young people. We need new and better programming . And demand that every Jewish institution assert its Jewishness. Rather than hide it behind a mere letter - "J" (JCC, J(Jewish )F(amily)S(service), etc. And how about insisting that these institutions return to focussing on serving Jews?
I agree with everything written here except for the end where the author emphasizes security. That will happen. Going with the tone of his article, perhaps making sure our children and grandchildren are all enrolled in Jewish days schools is more important. That will make them not only proud Jews, but educated as to why they should thank Hashem for being born Jewish.
This is wonderful. It reflects the same message delivered by Brett Stephen’s, in his speech on the State of American Jewry.
Here’s what is continually missing from these messages: Jews must teach themselves and their children self defense and self reliance. One way not to be fearful is to be empowered with knowledge as to self defense, situational awareness and other skills that harden us so we’re more than soft targets. I speak here of lawful self defense and self reliance not vigilantism. It’s time Jews adopt Hillel’s admonition, “ If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if not now, when?”
Nevertheless Yasher koach on a beautifully crafted essay.
Rabbi Abraham: you write clearly and logically and you have given me much to think about. (I like to follow the great Elie Wiesel’s plea to “tell our stories.” That includes Holocaust education and museums.) However, because of my Italian last name I hid my Judaism out of fear as you described. I knew antisemitism as a very young person so that’s why. I wore no star of David for two decades. The recent horrible events prompted me to put it on and a strange thing happened. I felt a real, strong feeling of solidity come over my body. It was very physical and a sign from God that it was time to stop hiding. Hiding can be exhausting and it is energizing to be free.
Put the money in anti Muslim propaganda. Show the world who the real enemy is. Their propaganda is working, maybe take a page from the Jew hater handbook. Let’s get aggressive and expose radical Islam for the evil that it is. Maybe the high road isn’t taking us where we need to go. Graphic images of their barbarity have to flood the media, as the useful idiots don’t take much stock in thoughtful commentary , as past attempts at persuasion have failed the Jews for the most part.
This is a beautiful piece of writing. And it is candid. Candid about the past, the present and the fact that how the future is shaped is up to us. Because it is our behaviour, our self-integrity and our sense of identity that will inform others. I am not an ultra-orthodox Jew, but am well-educated in Judaism and highly spiritual within my own Jewishness. I live in Australia and have Israeli citizenship. I say that no matter where you might be inwardly and outwardly as a Jew, Rabbi Steven Abraham's thoughts expressed here are both uplifting and crucial to good survival and therefore for all of us. Thank you, Rabbi Abraham.
Yes yes yes!! I have written several times (not nearly as eloquently) about this. Some federations collect money, so I’ve read, to send to poor Palestinians. I don’t give to federations anymore. All funds should go to security!!!!!
Is there some reason why we cannot do both things, that is, advance Holocaust education and advance security in our synagogues, schools and businesses?
💯 Thank you for addressing the allocation of our resources. Thank you for bringing Rav Kook and The Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch to our attention. Thank you for weighing safety and building our communities and our children.
Missing from the evaluation of the reality Jews face today, that of the rising respectability of Judeomesia — Jew hatred — is the choice open to Jews to move from being Diasporic Jews to Exilic Jews.
When life becomes impossible for Jews in the country they live in, Diasporic Jews look for another country that will tolerate their presence. Exilic Jews look to return Home from exile.
We need to have Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a state-owned Israeli defense company, develop the Iron Dome for buildings-synagogues,JCCs etc armed with a drone to disarm anyone attempting to cause violence, terror and destruction.
After losing 10 loved ones with the vaccine I decided to check my DNA and learned that it’s easier to silently depopulate than to openly do it after what occurred during the holocaust.
"When I learned what happened at Temple Israel in Michigan last Thursday — a man driving a truck loaded with explosives through the front doors of a synagogue, armed with rifles, heading down the hallway toward classrooms where a hundred and forty children were learning — the first thing I felt was fear. That is natural. That is human."
There were (3) other attacks on Americans by Muslims in the last two weeks: Austin, Texas - 2 dead and 14 wounded, Old Dominion University - one African American killed by a relative of Hezbollah members in Lebanon and finally the (2) ISIS bomb throwers in NYC.
It is not just Jews who are in danger - it is all non-Muslim Americans. We are all targets and we need to get together against Islamic hatred. The Left (Democrats) and The Woke Reich have allied with Islam. Muslims along with Antifa are the Democrats new Antifa.
Be on the lookout - in a Blue State or Blue City they could care less what happens to you (us).
Pittsburgh's Tree of Life has learned none of this. It has raised huge funds for more buildings. Part of which will be for - a Holocaust center. But the Jewish community should forgo building with bricks and mortar altogether. What we need to build are better educated Jewish young people. We need new and better programming . And demand that every Jewish institution assert its Jewishness. Rather than hide it behind a mere letter - "J" (JCC, J(Jewish )F(amily)S(service), etc. And how about insisting that these institutions return to focussing on serving Jews?
I agree with everything written here except for the end where the author emphasizes security. That will happen. Going with the tone of his article, perhaps making sure our children and grandchildren are all enrolled in Jewish days schools is more important. That will make them not only proud Jews, but educated as to why they should thank Hashem for being born Jewish.
The answer to antisemitism is more children.
This is wonderful. It reflects the same message delivered by Brett Stephen’s, in his speech on the State of American Jewry.
Here’s what is continually missing from these messages: Jews must teach themselves and their children self defense and self reliance. One way not to be fearful is to be empowered with knowledge as to self defense, situational awareness and other skills that harden us so we’re more than soft targets. I speak here of lawful self defense and self reliance not vigilantism. It’s time Jews adopt Hillel’s admonition, “ If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if not now, when?”
Nevertheless Yasher koach on a beautifully crafted essay.
Rabbi Abraham: you write clearly and logically and you have given me much to think about. (I like to follow the great Elie Wiesel’s plea to “tell our stories.” That includes Holocaust education and museums.) However, because of my Italian last name I hid my Judaism out of fear as you described. I knew antisemitism as a very young person so that’s why. I wore no star of David for two decades. The recent horrible events prompted me to put it on and a strange thing happened. I felt a real, strong feeling of solidity come over my body. It was very physical and a sign from God that it was time to stop hiding. Hiding can be exhausting and it is energizing to be free.
So agree with you.
Put the money in anti Muslim propaganda. Show the world who the real enemy is. Their propaganda is working, maybe take a page from the Jew hater handbook. Let’s get aggressive and expose radical Islam for the evil that it is. Maybe the high road isn’t taking us where we need to go. Graphic images of their barbarity have to flood the media, as the useful idiots don’t take much stock in thoughtful commentary , as past attempts at persuasion have failed the Jews for the most part.
Rabbi, nothing makes a man more confident and proud than knowing self defense.
This is a beautiful piece of writing. And it is candid. Candid about the past, the present and the fact that how the future is shaped is up to us. Because it is our behaviour, our self-integrity and our sense of identity that will inform others. I am not an ultra-orthodox Jew, but am well-educated in Judaism and highly spiritual within my own Jewishness. I live in Australia and have Israeli citizenship. I say that no matter where you might be inwardly and outwardly as a Jew, Rabbi Steven Abraham's thoughts expressed here are both uplifting and crucial to good survival and therefore for all of us. Thank you, Rabbi Abraham.
Yes yes yes!! I have written several times (not nearly as eloquently) about this. Some federations collect money, so I’ve read, to send to poor Palestinians. I don’t give to federations anymore. All funds should go to security!!!!!
Is there some reason why we cannot do both things, that is, advance Holocaust education and advance security in our synagogues, schools and businesses?
💯 Thank you for addressing the allocation of our resources. Thank you for bringing Rav Kook and The Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch to our attention. Thank you for weighing safety and building our communities and our children.
Missing from the evaluation of the reality Jews face today, that of the rising respectability of Judeomesia — Jew hatred — is the choice open to Jews to move from being Diasporic Jews to Exilic Jews.
When life becomes impossible for Jews in the country they live in, Diasporic Jews look for another country that will tolerate their presence. Exilic Jews look to return Home from exile.
Rabbi,
Yasher Koach!
We need to have Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a state-owned Israeli defense company, develop the Iron Dome for buildings-synagogues,JCCs etc armed with a drone to disarm anyone attempting to cause violence, terror and destruction.
Isaiah 9:2 “iThe people kwho walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
After losing 10 loved ones with the vaccine I decided to check my DNA and learned that it’s easier to silently depopulate than to openly do it after what occurred during the holocaust.