Our acceptance has been amply demonstrated many times in
many different ways. I am not going to repeat the many examples I have given
for that – nor the reasons why this is so. Suffice it to say, that I am
absolutely convinced that in all of Jewish history, there has never been a
country like the United States – that is built entirely on religious tolerance
and - in the 21st century is living up to that principle.
There is so much evidence of it – that I reject the notion
that America is no different than any other country both past and present - countries that have made life very
difficult for a Jew. To say the least.
I reject the notion that Esav Sonei L’Yaakov applies here to
the vast majority of non Jews – although I think that is still true in
Europe, especially Eastern Europe as well as many South American dictatorships like
Bolivia and Venezuela.
I am always challenged about this. Claims are often made
that ‘our time will come here - just like it did in countries that hosted us in
the past.
There were periods of great tolerance and acceptance only to
be followed over time by periods of great disaster for the Jewish people. The example almost
always cited is Spain. That “Golden Era” for the Jewish people lasted for hundreds
of years. Jews had it great there then, just like we have it here now. And then
the inquisition happened. One way or another the same thing will happen here someday. Then they will quote Esav Sonei L”Yaakov to bolster that claim and say, “They all hate
us whether we realize it or not.”
It’s hard to argue that if one looks at Spain as the model.
But America is not Spain. There is no religious component to our system like there was in Spain. Although
religious teachings may (and should) inform our leaders morally and ethically, that
plays no part in how citizens of different religions are treated.
I should think this is obvious.
On the other hand it has been reported that there has been
an increase in anti Semitic incidents in this country. The focus is
on university campuses. Some of the rhetoric is vile and sometimes thinly
disguised anti-Semitism. An argument can
be made that this phenomenon foretells our future here as Jews. Some of these
professors have great influence over their students who look at them as very wise
mentors. Where will our future leadership come from if not from our best
universities? Those future leaders will take that anti Israel attitude with
them.
Is this really what our future leaders will be like? One
might thinks so if the descriptions I just gave are in any way accurate.
But I am not so sure they are. At least not in any significant
numbers. How do I know? I don’t. But someone who is directly involved in a
major university probably does.
An article in last week’s Ami Magazine features an interview
with Professor Alan Dershowitz. He holds the Felix Frankfuretr chair at Harvard
and his current passion is defending the Jewish State. He was interviewed on
this very subject. When asked about whether antisemitism has gotten worse in recent
year in the world of Academia, he answered that the exact opposite is true. It
has gotten much better.
The examples he gave for that are hard to deny. Among them
is the fact that just looking at Harvard, the past President was Jewish, The last
2 law deans were Jewish, and the student body is about 30% Jewish! If anyone
were to express an anti Semitic view today, he would be ostracized. There was
one professor that did. He was despised and left the university.
Back when Dershowitz was a student, Harvard’s President was
an anti Semite. He didn’t like Jews and didn’t allow them to use Harvard’s facilities
to get married! There was a joke floating around Yale at that time that if you could read Yale’s
motto “Urim V’Tumim” which was written in Hebrew you would not be accepted. That is obviously
no longer the case.
What about all those reports of anti-Semitsim on American
campuses? Dershowitz responded that what we see now is radical anti Zionism
that morphs into anti-Semitism. Some of it coming from Jews! He cited being called an “Israel Firster” by
N.J. Rosenberg of “Media Matters”. And
Rosenberg’s accusation that AIPAC has dual loyalties. Or worse has no loyalty
to the US at all! Imagine the millions of Americans who belong to or support
AIPAC being called disloyal to their country!
One sees this kind of anti-Semitism in people like Steven Walt, and John Mearshimer who focus only on the Israel lobby and
not on the Saudi lobby or other lobbies.
Dershowitz adds that anti Israel rhetoric is not necessarily
a mask for antisemitism. If one disagrees with the Israel’s policies at any
given time, they have a right to express that without being called an anti
Semite. Criticizing the Israeli government does not make them anti Semites
anymore than it does when half the population of Israel criticizes their government.
Which they constantly seem to do.
I think he’s right. That said we must always be vigilant. The lessons of Jewish
history require nothing less of us. But we should in no way become paranoid and
see an anti Semite lurking behind every corner. The reality is not like that.
There is no point in seeing every non Jew as an anti Semite until proven
otherwise. That may have been true in Europe of the past – perhaps even Europe of
the present. It may have even been true to a lesser extent here in the past.
But it is definitely not true now. God bless America.
