Another week. Another attack against Jews. This time it was close to home, a Synagogue was torched in Jackson, MS. While the response from the general and Jewish community has been fantastic, thank G-d, we would be much happier if it was not needed for this reason. (To support the Beth Israel – Jackson community, go to: www.jewishnola.com.)
How do we get into the head of the young perpetrator of this terrible act? Why is a young man from a comfortable background, with a decent academic record, involved in such foolishness? Why is a person, who probably never met a Jew, so obsessed with “the Jewish problem?” This question needs to be asked against the background of a greater question, “How do we address the scourge of antisemitism?”
I believe that we need to take a muti-pronged approach. Of course, criminal activity needs to have consequences. When law enforcement takes an antisemitic crime seriously, that can be a strong disincentive to a future perpetrator. But beyond reactive, we must also engage in proactive measures to tackle antisemitism.
While antisemitism is not a one-size-fits-all, and there are certainly going to be those to whom some of these solutions will not apply, we must try to find effective methods that will have a positive impact.
There are big picture approaches and “zoom in” options. Organizations such as the ADL and JFNA, are heavily engaged in the vital effort of promoting education, legislation, and information that can help offset antisemitic attitudes. A child that learns about the Holocaust and antisemitism, might think twice before calling a Synagogue “the Temple of Satan.” A young person that understands the nuances of Israel’s right to exist, may be less likely to call for its annihilation. A community that has legislation in place to protect the Jewish inhabitants, will be a safer place for Jews to live.
Beyond those measures, I believe that nothing is as effective as individual relationships. The best way to dispel myths about Jews is to get to know one. If you see me regularly, you will know that I do not have horns under my yarmulka. If we have conversations, you will find out that the garbage you were fed on antisemitic websites about Jews, the Talmud, and world domination do not have a shred of truth.
My cousin, Rabbi AY Perlstein, is a chaplain in the Oregon State Prison system. In that capacity he managed to help a former skinhead Neo-Nazi inmate reform himself and become an advocate against hate and antisemitism. You can learn more about this in a video conversation between them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-sXTA-9OPU.
That being said, the most important thing that we can do to combat antisemitism is to live Jewish, proudly and joyfully. When we are open about our Jewishness, we ultimately earn the respect of our non-Jewish neighbors. When they see that we are serious and sincere, that level of respect increases. The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote, “non-Jews respect Jews who respect their Judaism.” Increasing Jewish pride and Jewish observance is the most powerful tool we have in combatting antisemitism. It is also the most powerful tool we have in protecting Jews against the impact of antisemitism. Just Jew It!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin