A Shofar Bleats: “Jew! Shma! Go Home.”

When it comes to the subject of Jews in today’s Europe, I am pretty jaded. Yes, I forward articles and commentary to family and friends. The news so percolates with these stories I know I am a Johnny-One-Note. Still, the Atlantic article Claire blogged about made me very sad, because, despite all the possibilities, they seem so… doomed. And, sooner rather than later.

French_jews

There is no small amount of pride involved in their staying. As the article mentions, most French Jews are from North Africa. They kind of skip quickly over it, but while the world “knows” all about the displaced Muslim Arabs in the wake of the 1948 war, remarkably few know of the Jews who lived in Muslim lands. They had lived the degrading sting of being the “Dhimmi” all of their lives.

Old Moroccan Jew

When the Jews of Israel were NOT driven into the sea by victorious Muslim armies in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, etc.  Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Jews of the Muslim countries, some of whom had resided there for nearly two thousand years, were unceremoniously stripped of their citizenship,  homes, businesses and possessions and driven out.  From Morocco to Iran. Running for their lives.

Jewish refugees

No wonder they are hardened to being driven out, especially by Muslim thugs, or their Jew-Hating native European soul-mates. It is insulting in the extreme. A very raw nerve.

Many settled in France and became instant assets. A huge population of Persian Jews lives in Los Angeles, bringing traditions of hard work, deep-rooted ethics, and firm loyalty to their new homes. This is the way of the Jews in the Diaspora. And many of these Jews settled in Israel and became instant assets there too.

And, to blow that “Note”  (a blowing a shofar, if you will) again… A story closer to home:
My son and his family also live here in the USA, in a modern, economically stable metropolis. They live in the “nice” part of town. This is not a town known for Jews.  A local rabbi in the neighborhood runs a very small orthodox congregation out of his house.

A few years ago a neighbor alleged that having those Jews there, all in one place, for a couple of hours every Saturday, and on their weird holidays, was driving down the property values. He sued. It cost the congregation monies they did not have to spare, and shoved off plans for a more permanent home for the congregation. The neighbor lost (but, not really, right?).

Then the Homeowner’s Association alleged much the same thing and also sued. More money picked from a little shul too small and too poor to even rent a building to pray in. The building fund depleted with legal fees, the plans pushed off again. The HOA lost (but, not really, right?).

Recently, the City itself decided to joint the party and sued the little shul, too.

The other day a SWASTIKA was found painted on a car near the little shul-in-a-house.

How soon until people start getting beaten up walking to synagogue? How soon until a mason jar of jellied gasoline crashes through a front window during the Passover Seder? Opening the door and calling for the Prophet Elijah in one breath and screaming as your family burns alive in the next?

Burning Jews

In the end, there is only ONE place where a Jew belongs. If enough landsmen “Make Aliyah” (literally, To Ascend) to their own home, they may face enemies near and far, but they will have more security to live their lives and fulfill their destiny than anywhere else on earth. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/706162/jewish/Translation.htm

So I will sound that one “Note” again.

Jew.  Shma! Have you packed your bags?

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8 thoughts on “A Shofar Bleats: “Jew! Shma! Go Home.””

  1. It is sad to see the deterioration of religious tolerance here in these presently united States, and the ongoing infringements of the rights to “Life, Liberty, and Property.”

    However, those considering a move to Israel ought to consider the recent decisions by the present resident of the Spite House in Mordor on the Potomac to allow Iran to enrich uranium unencumbered. The likelihood of the production of an Iranian nuclear weapon in the near term is high. The likelihood that such a weapon will be employed against Israel is also high.

    Something to consider. The first rule for defence against nuclear weapons is “Don’t be there when it goes off.”

    1. The first rule of defense against nuclear weapons is, “If your enemy has them, you’d better get them too.” No wonder Iranians want them.

      It’s not the end of the world when both sides have them – the situation Russians and Americans have had for decades. They are weapons that can never be used.

  2. Isaiah 43:1-19
    1 But now thus says the Lord,
    he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
    “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
    2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
    when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
    3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
    I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
    4 Because you are precious in my eyes,
    and honored, and I love you,
    I give men in return for you,
    peoples in exchange for your life.
    5 Fear not, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you.
    6 I will say to the north, Give up,
    and to the south, Do not withhold;
    bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
    7 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”
    8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
    who are deaf, yet have ears!
    9 All the nations gather together,
    and the peoples assemble.
    Who among them can declare this,
    and show us the former things?
    Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,
    and let them hear and say, It is true.
    10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
    that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
    Before me no god was formed,
    nor shall there be any after me.
    11 I, I am the Lord,
    and besides me there is no savior.
    12 I declared and saved and proclaimed,
    when there was no strange god among you;
    and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.
    13 Also henceforth I am he;
    there is none who can deliver from my hand;
    I work, and who can turn it back?”
    14 Thus says the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
    “For your sake I send to Babylon
    and bring them all down as fugitives,
    even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.
    15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
    the Creator of Israel, your King.”
    16 Thus says the Lord,
    who makes a way in the sea,
    a path in the mighty waters,
    17 who brings forth chariot and horse,
    army and warrior;
    they lie down, they cannot rise,
    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
    18 “Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
    19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
    I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.

    This isn’t the whole chapter, but as I was reading Y.B’s column it kept going through my mind. I couldn’t help it. MY belief, just me, when G-d is saying “time to come home” there is a greater “Iron Dome” than the world has ever seen, or will ever see that will be in place. NO one, NO one can take that which he holds in his hand from it. Ever.

  3. How does this keep happening? What 2 or 3 generations since hitler and this is what is happening again? Shame on us!

  4. My father, a devout Christian, once told me at an early age that the Lord helps those who help themselves. I’ll do what I think is right and prudent, and take whatever aid the Almighty can provide on top of that as a bonus. I am reminded of the story about the man who died in a flood…

    A man lived in hurricane Country got word that a large intense hurricane was going to hit his area. He said, “I am not leaving my home, the Lord will protect me.”

    The hurricane hit, and as the fury of the storm built, the Sherrif came by and offered to evacuate the man from his home. The man replied that the Lord would protect and save him, and that he wasn’t leaving.

    As the waters rose around his home, the man retreated to the upstairs, and a boat came by and offered to pick him up. Again the man refused, saying that the Lord would save him.

    Finally, as the waters rose higher, the man retreated to the roof of his house, where a helicopter spotted him, and came down to pick him up. The man again refused to be rescued, saying that he had faith in the Lord, and that the Lord would save him.

    He drowned.

    As he arrived at the Pearly Gates, he complained to Saint Peter, saying that he had faith in the Lord to save him, but that he had still drowned. Saint Peter said, “let me see here. Ah, yes! You are the man for whom we sent a warning, then the Sherriff, then a boat, and then a helicopter! What more could you want? Four times we tried to save you, and you refused each time!”

    Now, I make no claim to bearing any messages from the Almighty, but moving to Israel to avoid conflict strikes me as a bad idea. You have been warned; more than that I cannot do.

  5. Here’s the thing, folks. We’re not even in the economic doldrums yet. It’s going to get a hell of a lot worse when the economy crashes. People look for scapegoats, rather than blame themselves or the government (which is really the cause of the mess – but the Ministry of Propaganda will tell them otherwise).

    Jews should divide themselves into two communities: those willing to take the role of scapegoat, and those unwilling. The former can die along with all the rest of the people who are not going to make it through the hard times. The latter should combine with others of the unwilling and make communities that are defensible. Kill any who come to kill you. That’s the only way to survive. Those are the only Jews who command respect. Sorry it has to be that way, but it’s better to understand reality and to prepare for it.

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