There are some people in Judaism that just don’t get it. Either that or they are lying. I’m not sure which one of those is the case with Chabad Rabbi Shea Hecht but I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he really believes what he is saying. This is what he said during a recent interview on a New York radio program. From VIN:
Rabbi Hecht strongly argued that the Rubashkin case puts all Orthodox Jews on trial, claiming that the U.S. justice system needs improvement. As an example, the rabbi cited the recent New Jersey arrests in which every defendant with a Jewish last name had bail raised to double or triple that of their non-Jewish counterparts.
It’s unbelievable that a rabbi in America of the 21st century can accuse the US government of what amounts to anti-Semitism. This is a country where there is unprecedented freedom for Jews to live in any manner they choose without the slightest interference from authorities of any kind. And I can think of no better beneficiaries of the system than Lubavitch where Rabbi Hecht is a member. They know how to work the system better than anyone.
No Orthodox organization compares in public relations abilities to Lubavitch. They are everwhere. Access to the public square belongs to them. They put up giant Menorahs all over the country and get major politicians to join them in candle lighting ceremonies. And they are adept at working congress too. How anti Semitic can a country be whose legislators declare ‘Education Day’ in congress - in honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe?’ And yet Rabbi Hecht has no shame strongly implying that the government is anti Semitic… as though they only go after Jews - especially religious Jews.
And it isn’t only him. There is a whole host of religious Jews out there that thinks like this. It’s always anti-Semitism that is at fault. It’s never ‘us’.
Well I have some news for these people. They are no better than those wacky conspiracy theorists. You know... the kind of people who see a government conspiracy behind every event. JFK was assassinated by the CIA and/or the Mafia. And 9/11 was a joint venture between the Israeli Mossad and the CIA.
Here is my message to Rabbi Hecht: Get a clue. Jews can and do commit crimes. Even religious ones. If they don’t break the law they will not be prosecuted. Your outspoken paranoia only adds to the Chilul HaShem!
