THE NEW, NEW ANTI-SEMITISM I am not an alarmist but...anti-Semitism around the world is growing. I need not quote statistics which indicate the steady increase of anti-Semitic activities which took place during 2003. We are told by the experts that the primary cause for this latest upsurge has been due mostly to activities perpetrated by Muslim radicals worldwide. Of special note is the increase of hostility against the Jewish population on the college campuses in the U.S. and Canada. Local universities have not escaped unscathed. Earlier this year Rutgers was the scene of horrific anti semitism. There is no question that the Jewish community must rally behind Jewish university students and assist them with political know-how, educational resources and special funding. Several years ago I had been asked if I could make myself available for Jewish students at Adelphi University. I was advised that the number of Jewish students there is too small to warrant a full or even part time Chaplain, so I was eager to help whenever the need arose. I did not realize how often that would be! Last month it came to my attention that Amnesty International was hosting a debate between Jewish and Muslim students. The Jewish students were of the impression that this would be a nice little chat to promote harmony and understanding between the groups. I suspected differently, and for three weeks I met weekly with student leaders of Hillel and gave them training sessions and material on how to respond to the false accusations that I knew could be forthcoming at such a session. I also was in contact with Project David which sent a highly talented young woman whose expertise was in briefing students for such an event. Came the day of the debate and our students were well-prepared. The exciting program ran smoothly except for one professor who rose during the question and answer period, screaming and ranting against the "anti-democratic and neo-Nazi country of Israe.". I want to share with you some excerpts of the remarks eloquently delivered by the president of Hillel, who also responded to the hostile professor's outburst: "Israel is the only democracy within the Middle East. Israel is the only nation which allows Arab women to enjoy the same freedoms as men including the right to vote, a right extended to all people in their society. Arabs even hold seats within the Knesset. Israel recognizes Arabic as an official language as well as fifteen different religions. It does such things as permit freedom of association, trade unions and civic organizations. Contrary to other nations in the area, Israel even permits opposition parties. They also allow freedom of press, even for those that are known to publish anti-Israeli statements. Israel roughly employs 120,000 Palestinians from the disputed territories aside from times of uprisings. It is significant to note that Israel tries to promote fairness...Regardless of this, there are many Palestinian organizations in existence whose goal is to annihilate the state of Israel. The military wings of organizations such as Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hamas and PFLP have repeatedly and mercilessly injured and killed many Israelis. Statements are always made that the Israeli Defense Force indiscriminately kill innocent civilians, particularly women and children. This is not the case. In fact, statistically only 54% of Palestinians killed were combatants whereas only 20% of Israelis killed were combatants...In reference to international law, most Jewish settlements were built on uninhabited land, they didn't displace the Arabs...The bottom line is that Israel wants peace." MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RABBI SCHWARTZ MAY BE OBTAINED FROM GOOGLE.COM |
Rabbi's Message |
Temple B'nai Sholom |
From the study of Rabbi Dr. Barry Dov Schwartz |
100 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Telephone: 516-764-4100 |
Rabbi's Report from Israel Why was this trip different from many others I have taken to Israel during the past 30 years? Many other trips were shared with members of our congregation, but on this trip Sonia and I travelled without benefit of congregants. On other trips, I travelled with Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis, but this trip to Israel, Conservative rabbis only. Last month Sonia and I joined hundreds of members of the Rabbinical Assembly for a conference consisting of learning, travelling, meeting, laughing, crying, davening, questioning and most of all, loving. And why will Israel never forget our visit? The Conservative rabbis brought along with them an earthquake (4.9 on the Richter scale) and a snowstorm - both rarities in the holy land. The convention brought together scholars from all over, Israeli academic institutions who taught classes and shared their visions of the future of Judaism and the state of Israel. We visited areas where the security fence is being built and one thing became apparent to all of us as we stood close to those sections occupied by the Palestinians: the security fence saves Jewish lives. Unilateral separation is the only option as long as the terrorism and suicide bombings continue. Every Israeli has a dream, and that is to live securely and peacefully, without fear of going to a coffee shop or eating a pizza or riding on a bus. Israelis yearn for the time when Palestinians too, will share their need for peace. To that end...they are already changing the route of the West Bank security barrier to improve conditions for Palestinians and make it easier for them to get to their jobs by reducing the number of checkpoints. Sociologists spoke of the causes and nature of the resurgent anti-semitism, and all agreed that the Mel Gibson movie will unleash a religious passion that will be harmful to Jews and to the Jewish-Christian dialogue which over the past years has made great strides. Our convention was addressed by influential diplomats (United States Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer), Knesset members (Shimon Peres, Tommy Lapid) and mayors of various cities. Their main theme was how the Jewish state and Judaism can be strengthened in the face of a demography which points to a rise in Muslim population and a serious decrease in Jewish inhabitants within Israel. Oh yes, Israel is constantly beleaguered by problems, deep, serious problems: suicide bombings, religious friction, political maelstrom, diplomatic isolation. But let no one misread the handwriting on the wall. Israel has a determination which matches tragedy with joy. We arrived the day after Tu B'Shvat while the country was still involved with planting trees and celebrating the beauty of the holy land. Preparing for the upcoming national festival of Purim; shops were selling costumes and baskets and megillot. Dear members, Israel is unique and special and I urge you to consider an experience of a lifetime by visiting Israel and partaking of the joy and laughter and history that you can only find there. Yes, Israel is a high-tension place, but with an incredible amount of warmth and caring (snowstorms and earthquakes notwithstanding). It is a place which gives meaning to the word family. That is why we raise our voices in song precisely at the seder when family is together: L'Shana haba b'yerushalayim - next year in Jerusalem. Let the "next" be this year! Sonia and I recommend it highly. Happy Purim Happy Pesach P.S. The thrill of being in Israel with Sonia was highlighted by having Avi there at the same time with another group. Also it was great being with my colleague, Rabbi Gruber, who was visiting with congregants. |
CHANUKAH In a few weeks we will be celebrating Chanukah. The holiday and the dreidel commemorate the miraculous victory of a faithful few over the might of the Greek empire. The dreidel, so goes one interpretation, is a symbol of the four kingdoms: Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, all spinning around the center, the Jewish people. And guess what? The Jewish people, in spite of all we've been through, are still around to tell the story. In real estate, the three key words are: location, location, location. In Judaism, the three words are: education, education, education. That explains how and why we are still around today. We survived because of our commitment to Torah, Jewish education and spirituality. The word Chanukah means dedication and as we end the year and begin a new secular year, let us further commit ourselves to Jewish education, Jewish knowledge and the performance of mitzvot. |
