I have kidded my friends in a totally politically incorrect way that I carry a Junior Jew ID card that was granted to me because of the number of seders I have attended, the Rosh Hashanah dinners, the shiva calls and the bris’ celebrations. I may have been joking, but I was also proud of my relationship with so many wonderful Jewish people.
Being a cradle Catholic has no impact on my admiration and love for my Jewish friends. As a people they have continued traditions that are thousands of years old. As a people they are the most philanthropic and generous charity supporters.
Today, I declare that I am a Jew. I am secure in this because I am reminded that Jesus is a Jew.
My people are under the attack of evil equal to the Holocaust of 70 years ago. On balance the October 7th slaughter of over 1,400 innocent Israeli men, women, children, and babies is the equivalent of multiple September 11 losses suffered by the United States. There needs to be the same determination to destroy the enemy. Such determination is being challenged by those who believe that Israel is an illegitimate sovereign country, the oppressor of the Gazan population, and perpetual overlord mistreating Muslims.
The pro-Palestinian protesters are ill informed about not only the history but also the reality of Israel visa vie the Gazan citizens in everyday life. First, there was never a “Palestine” not geographically in any regard. Israel was created as God’s people by covenant with Him. An official Jewish homeland was created after WWII and the massive loss of life in the Holocaust. Gaza was granted a portion of the Israel territory as their own. Gazans in the thousands come and go into Israel proper for work without any obstacle. The Gazan people were given self-rule and chose to elect a Hamas government. Therefore, the unleashing of the kraken that is a Hamas jihad is solely laid at the foot of the people themselves. Granted they did not get what they hoped for, but it is still the reality of Hamas caring only for the eradication of Israel and not the people who elected them.
As a Jew I am deeply wounded by the vitriol of Jew haters.
The word antisemitic does not adequately describe the sentiments being voiced in massive protests across the globe. The sentiments voiced are not a call for moderation on the part of Israel but for the extermination of the Israeli state and all Jewish people.
The pressure from these haters must be rebuffed in the strongest terms. Israel must proceed in the only manner that results in the total decimation of Hamas, its operatives, logistics and military capabilities. It is the only path lest they be left to reconstitute and attack again.
A word to my Jewish people. Come out of the shadows, speak up, speak out, be proud but be careful.
Comments