Staff writer, Justin Reed
The Jews of today in the western world are facing anti semitism that has reached a level close to the disastrous time that is World War II. Looking back to 1943, Denmark received orders from Berlin to arrest the Jewish population, which at that point reached nearly 8,000 men and women. The Danes managed to help nearly every Danish Jew escape into Sweden, and only 52 Danish Jews perished in the Holocaust (Braw).
Max Meyers, of Copenhagen Denmark remembers the time before the recent semitism, saying, “I could wear a Kippa if I wanted. There’s growing Semitism in Denmark. Some people have arrived here from the Middle East and bring their opinions about Israel with them…
But by Danes at large, We Jews are being held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government”
The man makes a good point, and one the world should consider. Not all of the Jewish people in the world have had a hand in the recent actions of the Israeli government, and should not be taking heat for any actions of Israel, their home land.
This idea, however, is not supported by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, after the killing of a Jewish security guard at a bar mitzvah celebration in Copenhagen, saying, “Israel is your home” (Braw).
Many Jews, including Rabbi, Shneur Kesselman have yet to pack their bags and journey home, he says,
To many Jews it’s a comfort knowing that they can move to Israel, especially after the Paris attacks when all these calls came, ‘Come to Israel, come to Israel. Jews have a right to live wherever they like, an in times of terror, Israel should focus on just that.
This is a problem that resides in more than just Denmark. Rod Nordland, of The New York Times, reports that the United States and Britain, two countries that have facilitated Jewish emigration from Yemen, along with most other Western countries, have closed their embassies. Yemeni Jews, and Jews of other Arab countries face constant scrutiny and persecution. Originally most Jews of Yemen lived in Saada Province. The Houthis, whose base is in Saada, force their anti semitic views through the nations, “Death to America, death to Israel, damnation to the Jews”.
The Jews have every right to call their country, even if it is not Israel home, and should do so without having to stress over the views of their neighbors for their religious background. No other religious group has been targeted over the years quite like the Jews, and it’s about time that these people are given a break.
Rabbi, David Saperstein, U.S. ambassador for religious freedom puts it best, saying,
During my career, my mandate has indeed covered a wide range of issues, but there are few that have been as central to my heart as that of religious freedom, for like most Jews, I know all too well that over the centuries, the Jewish people have been a quintessential victim of religious persecution, ethnic cleansing, and demonization… Even in Western Europe we are witnessing a steady increase in anti-Muslim acts and rhetoric and anti-Semitic discourse and acts of desecration and violence against Jewish individuals, synagogues, and institutions and communities that we thought we would never, never see again after World War II
Perhaps it is time to move on from the views of the past, and see all people for who they are, and without judgement stemming from their religious views.
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