Jewish blood is cheap today, so cheap it's practically a fire sale. Anti-Semitic (aka Jew-hatred) incidents are up all over the world, in Israel/the Middle East, Europe and yes, even in the Golden Medina, the United States of America. Wasn't the establishment of the State of Israel supposed to change all that? Wouldn’t Jews no longer allow themselves to be victimized? In theory that was supposed to happen but as we know, many things went wrong along the way, most of them all self-inflicted.
It's tough to shrug off a 2000 year old exile mentality, because of which, Jews are uncomfortable wielding physical power and feel the need to look for approval from the "goyim" before using it. It has what has held Israel back from using definitive force against the on-going and seeming never-to-end low intensity terrorist warfare directed at it from our "peace partners" and their friends. That plus our own innate divisions and in-fighting makes us appear weak in the eyes of the world, despite being a middle east superpower. When one hesitates, all is lost and the jackals can smell the fear, doubt, and hesitation and then pounce. That weakness and reluctance to use power and force has seeped its way into the diaspora where Jews now find themselves under siege.
The Torah portion of last week, Vayishlach gives an instructive lesson in Jewish power and reprisal. After the kidnapping and rape of Yaakov's daughter Dina, two of Yaakov's sons, Shimon and Levi destroy the Hivites' city and kill all the male inhabitants. As some of the commentaries point out, while Yaakov is upset and chastises them for their actions, it is more for their anger and not consulting him on what they had planned to do, rather than the actual action itself. Yaakov was fully aware that a reprisal was needed but he wanted to plan it together with his sons and be more strategic. On his deathbed he does not curse them for the act, but rather their anger. Yet, the Torah appears to mitigate the result as it clearly states after the incident how the dread of Gd descended onto the surrounding nations post-incident, and no one dared to touch the nascent Jewish family. Shimon and Levi took care of family business.
Absent a Shimon and Levi today, Jews, especially Jews in the diaspora, need to take care of their extended Jewish family business. The Jew-hatred is getting to crisis proportions when Jewish worshippers are gunned down in their own synagogues or grocery stores, when they are physically assaulted on the streets or in the playground by bullies, or when yeshiva bochurim have to cower in fear from savages that prey upon them. Nowhere in Judaism does it say we are supposed to turn the other cheek. Nowhere does it say that we are supposed to be easy prey in countries where allegedly we have full rights and protection under the law.
When things like this happened in a previous generation, certain Jews took a stand. Rav Meier Kahane, Hy"d formed the Jewish Defense League to protect Jews and encourage them to learn to defend themselves from the physical attacks of Jew haters. One of the things that motivated him were certain rabbinic figures who told him that just as their ancestors had been beaten and pillaged in Europe, so it was their duty to be beaten and pillaged in the USA. He refused to give in to being a perpetual victim and taught Jews not to be afraid, to be proud Jews with a strong sense of Jewish identity, and to stand up for themselves, a lesson he tried to impart as a resident and legislator in Israel before his tragic murder by Arab terrorists in the USA who feared his increasing influence on Israel policy. He was not shy about using physical force when necessary but only in response to violence on Jews. It is ironic beyond words that he is considered the first victim of terrorism on USA soil.
Meyer (Meier Suchowlański) Lansky was a gangster, the head of Murder Incorporated, and someone who did despicable things. Yet, he also had a strong sense of Jewish identity and Jewish pride. When the pro-Nazi party marched on Long Island in support of Germany, Lansky sent his boys down to the rally and beat the participants to within an inch of their lives. Lansky later called the party head and assured him that if future marches occurred, his life and those of his family would be forfeit. The message was received, no more marches. It was Lansky and his partner Bugsy (Benjamin) Siegel who supplied the money that Israel needed to purchase weapons that no-one would give them in order to defend (not attack) themselves from the Arab armies that wanted to wipe them out following the statehood declaration of the UN in 1948. Why Lansky? Who but Gd can say, but Gd does not pick perfect people. Rather Gd picks people perfect for a job at a given time. Perhaps it was a way for Lansky et al to earn merits for their defense in the heavenly court later on for their sinful lives but again as the prophet said in Gd's name, "My thoughts are not your thoughts".
I am not advocating wholesale violence. But it is clear that there are those who would do Jews physical harm if given the opportunity because they sense weakness and lack of resolve in the Jews and a weak justice system that would allow them to navigate through the system relatively unscathed. That has to change. These are domestic terrorists. There must be consequences to their actions. Violence must be met with an overwhelming reprisal against the perpetrators. Those who would do these acts must be hunted down and shown what will happen in the event they perpetrate violence, whether they use guns, knives or fists. There is no dialog possible, no kumbaya with these terrorists. Their actions must be met swiftly in kind, and if possible, preemptively. If the PC politicians and bureaucrats will handcuff the authorities, then Jews needed to take matters into our own hands. Whether Shimon, Levi or Two Meiers, the world needs to know that Jewish blood is no longer cheap, in the diaspora or in Israel. Much of the world hates us. So be it. Let them fear and respect us, as well.
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