Hatred of Jews has reached new heights in Europe and many points south and east of the old continent. Last year I chaired a blue-ribbon committee of British parliamentarians, including former ministers and a party leader, that examined the problem of anti-Semitism in Britain. None of us are Jewish or active in the unending debates on the Israeli-Palestinian question.
Our report showed a pattern of fear among a small number of British citizens – there are around 300,000 Jews in Britain, of whom about a third are observant – that is not acceptable in a modern democracy. Synagogues attacked. Jewish schoolboys jostled on public transportation. Rabbis punched and knifed. British Jews feeling compelled to raise millions to provide private security for their weddings and community events. On campuses, militant anti-Jewish students fueled by Islamist or far-left hate seeking to prevent Jewish students from expressing their opinions.
More worrisome was what we described as anti-Jewish discourse, a mood and tone whenever Jews are discussed, whether in the media, at universities, among the liberal media elite or at dinner parties of modish London. To express any support for Israel or any feeling for the right of a Jewish state to exist produces denunciation, even contempt.
Our report sent a shock wave through the British government. Tony Blair called us in and told his staff to fan out throughout government departments and produce answers to the problems we outlined. To Britain's credit, the Blair administration produced a formal government response setting out tough new guidelines for the police to investigate anti-Semitic attacks and for universities to stop anti-Jewish ideology from taking root on campuses. Britain's Foreign Office has been told to protest to Arab states that allow anti-Jewish broadcasts.
We made clear that criticism of actions of Israeli politicians was not off-limits. On the contrary, we noted that some of the strongest criticisms of Israeli policy come from Israeli campuses, journalists and political activists, and from the Jewish intellectual elite of many countries. American universities have provided a base for Noam Chomsky and the late Edward Said, among others, to launch campaigns of criticism against Israel, and the bulk of the West's university intelligentsia remains hostile to the Jewish state.
Tony Blair's successor as British prime minister, Gordon Brown, recently said in London that he stood with Israel "in bad times as well as good times," and one of the remarkable turnarounds of the new Labor leadership that governs Britain is a strong support for Israel and its commitment to combating anti-Semitism. The problem is worse in other European countries. The Polish politician, Maciej Marian Giertych, recently published a pamphlet under the auspices of the European Parliament that attacked Jews. No action has been taken against him. France and Germany have seen anti-Jewish attacks. Some references to Jews in the Lithuanian press do not bear translating.
Europe is reawakening its old demons, but today there is a difference.
Europe is reawakening its old demons, but today there is a difference. The old anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism have morphed into something more dangerous. Anti-Semitism today is officially sanctioned state ideology and is being turned into a mobilizing and organizing force to recruit thousands in a new crusade – the word is chosen deliberately – to eradicate Jewishness from the region whence it came and to weaken and undermine all the humanist values of rule of law, tolerance and respect for core rights such as free expression that Jews have fought for over time.
The president of Iran is the most odious example of this new state-sanctioned anti-Semitism. But from the Egyptian Writers Union to the notorious anti-Jewish articles in the charters of Hamas and Hezbollah, hatred of Jews is an integral element of a new ideology rising to prominence in many regions of the world.
Democracies always take their time, often too much time, to recognize and face a totalitarian threat when it is posed in ideological terms. In prewar Europe, conservatives were soft on right-wing ideologies because they were seen as being anti-communist and anti-labor. In postwar Europe, socialists were soft on the Soviet Union because the communists appeared to challenge capitalism and imperialism. Today there is still denial about the universal ideology of the new anti-Semitism. It has power and reach, and it enters into the soft underbelly of the Western mind-set that does not like Jews or what Israel does to defend its right to exist.
A counterattack is being organized. My own House of Commons has led the way with its report. The 47-nation Council of Europe, on which I sit as a British representative, has launched a lengthy inquiry into combating anti-Semitism in Europe. The European Union has produced a directive outlawing Internet hate speech originating within its jurisdiction.
We are at the beginning of a long intellectual and ideological struggle. It is not about Jews or Israel. It is about everything democrats have long fought for: the truth without fear, no matter one's religion or political beliefs. The new anti-Semitism threatens all of humanity. The Jew-haters must not pass.
This article originally appeared in the Washington Post.
(43) d latham, August 27, 2014 1:28 PM
jews do not bring this on themselves
why people constantly blame Jews for bringing on anti Semitism is ridiculous. some jews hate themselves for being Jewish, that is their problem. most Jews embrace Judaism, so stop blaming the Jews for those who hate them... this is the others, (those who hate us) problem, not ours, (the Jews)
Barajas, August 3, 2015 10:05 PM
I am an Orthodox Jew, but we as Jews owe the world alot of things!! Anti-Semitism is an imprint of the behavior of Jews: to the extent to which they fulfill their purpose, to lead the world to unity and adhesion with the Creator, to that extent, the world and the Creator treat us. And vice versa. Anti-Semitism is the disunity of the Jews which means we hate each other! We must teach the world love and bestowal that is what the Gentiles want! I can't stress this enough!
(42) Anonymous, March 17, 2014 12:46 PM
Enough Blame for Everyone
One aspect of the new anti-Semitism that we Jews fail to acknowledge is the fact that we read too many articles about rabbis, Jewish school teachers, and Jewish men in finance or investing (eg. Bernie Madoff) who create reasons for people to hate us. Nowhere, in our condemnation of today's anti-Semitism, does one read about Jewish guilt for these crimes. If leaders of the Jewish community can perpetrate these crimes against children and society in general, how moral are we really? And these actions, regularly reported in the mainstream media, give sufficient fuel to enemies of the Jews. Much of the rationale is self-inflicted, yet we don't want to admit it.
(41) Barb, November 12, 2013 6:04 PM
Britain's Support
If Tony Blair and his successor are such good supporters of Israel, why are British schools doing away with Holocaust studies because it offends their Muslim citizens?
(40) S Schoenberger, June 10, 2013 5:24 PM
Canary in the Coal Mine
Today the Jews, tomorrow the .... It is good for the Jews and the rest of humanity to begin waking up.
(39) C D Goldberg, January 15, 2013 4:00 PM
Fight Back
It is high time that Jews fought back with stealth and intelligence and stand up for what they believe. It is also time for major social re-engineering to create a type of Jew and Jewess that will stand up and fight Antisemitism by whatever means at their disposal. The time for weak, naive and ignorant Jews must now become a thing of the past. Remember the Shoah.
(38) Anonymous, June 29, 2011 2:23 AM
Stand UP
Here is a retort to this state of affairs: Organize a global day of Human Rights Protest, in Major Cities, DEMANDING, that Guilad Shalit, now held captive for FIVE Years and incommunicado, be RELEASED, with no preconditions. Officially ask All Human Rights Organizations be part of this Apolitical, Human Rights protest, Unconditionally. Backing off, and "negotiating/bartering" with thugs and murderers is simply giving lie to the fact that it should be "handled discretely," in case these Icons of Human Rights should take offense or be otherwise led to make more substantial claims in all their stupidity that the rest of the world will seriously consider. I deeply hope that Peoples who are concerned with Human Rights, Honesty, and "enough already" of major BS, and being dictated to by these infantile hysterics who consider "murder," (of their own people as well [Arab Citizens} acceptable targets.
(37) Brura, March 20, 2011 4:11 PM
At the Shoah museum in D.C. I purchased a stone that had "Remember" etched into it. This is not the time to sweep anything under the rug. If all Jewish people do not gather in their communities and start forming strategies anything could happen. I won't tolerate hatred of Jewish people or any other people. This, as Hashem said, "stiff necked people" I love dearly and completely as a whole and I won't let any harm come to anyone if I see it. I will fight back and sometimes it has to be with violence... the hope is that the hatred could be changed to something much more positive. Another person stated that Jews should come out and explain about themselves.... well, there are plenty of books that do just that. There are websites... Jewish Publication Society, Artscroll and others for books and the websites abound. If they are interested then look, read and comprehend. The blind hatred of Jewish people is something that I will never accept. Ever!
(36) Beverly Kurtin, January 20, 2011 4:09 AM
G-d told us
Anti-Semitism, or Jew Hate as I prefer to call it will cease forever when we all start living as we were told to live. He said that we would be the target of many nations if we did not follow his commands. Nu?
(35) Annette, October 21, 2007 3:26 AM
Thank you Dennis for your words.God loves the Jewish people, you are His children. It says in Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy are you O Israel! Who is like you a people saved by the Lord. The shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your ememies shall submit to you. And you shall tread down their high places." Deut. 33:29.May I encourage you that there are many many many peoples who are not anti semetic. I know that your people have suffered over many centuries because of the ignorance of people and maybe because you are "a people set apart" that people fear you. I hope to hear more writings as to how the English Government is dealing with this problem. Thank you once again Denis
(34) nusiba, October 11, 2007 8:58 PM
jews in britain
hi,i am nusiba a 16 year old muslim student living in england. i am not anti semitist as my religion doesent teach me to be. but i think if you want people to become more tolerant and undrestandable of your religion then i think you need to mingle more with people and give them the right presepective of you. sadly, this is not the case in england. jews are very isolated here. they have their own schools and also have their own closed communities. i mean i go to a state school and even non muslims have hardley seen any jews in the first place. so i think if jews would like to stop the spread of anti semitist they should at least make us undrestand what they stand for.
LADYDI, June 27, 2011 12:55 PM
YOUR A MUSLIM - FROM WHAT IVE READ AND HEARD, MUSLIMS HATE ALL JEWS (AND CHRISTIANS AND ALL OTHER RELIGIONS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH)- AND ARE HELL-BENT ON DESTROYING ALL OF THEM - TAKE THE FOGEL FAMILY FOR INSTANCE....WHY DID THE PALESTINIANS (MUSLIMS) SLAUGHTER THEM, THE INNOCENT LITTLE ONES IN THEIR BEDS AND THAT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABY ? BECAUSE THEY WERE JEWS.......THATS THE ONLY REASON. THE JEWS ARE ISOLATED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE - THEIR CLOSED COMMUNITIES IS THEIR COURSE OF SELF DEFENSE - WHEN YOU COME INTO THEIR TURF, THEY WILL COME OUT IN NUMBERS TO DEFEND THEIR PEOPLE.........AND RIGHTLY SO. THEY WILL NOT LET ANOTHER HALOCAUST HAPPEN....BY THE WAY, I'M NOT JEWISH!!! THIS COMMENT WILL PROBABLY NOT BE POSTED......BUT AT LEAST I GOT IT OFF MY CHEST!!!!
(33) CL, September 14, 2007 11:42 AM
in response to horst, on the 9/9/07
I too do not understand at times why we, such a peaceful nation with a good sense of humor and so much to offer the world, is constantly targeted by others. When I was a child, my mother would say "envy and jealousy" - it is ahrd to see others who are successful. And because the world created for us difficult circumstances in which we had to survive and succeed, the "natural selection" law produced us, a nation of very viable and smart individuals. This in turn, cause envy of the world who made it harder for us to live.
On the other hand, I believe that when victims or crimes survive, thrive, and keep multiplying, it is hard for a perpetrator to wittness. It is similar why African-Americans are disriminted against - they are the victims, who stayed in the land of the crime. We are constant reminders of the crime against us. The guilt and shame are so heavy that they turn anger at us again. This is the same mechanism, when an abusive husband blames abuse on his wife, saying that it is her fault that she made him angry. This is the reason that we had to live Mitzrayim, - to stop being victims in the land of the crime against us.
Unfortunately, history repeats if we don't learn the lesson. It seems that the world is not interested in "schooling" and learning. I wonder, is it only a matter of time that anti-semiticsm will reappear in US?
(32) Meir Milstein, September 13, 2007 6:24 PM
WHAT IS NEW?
as jews we´ve been always exposed to attacks. Now even when we are being attacked in our own spaces and places is when the red lights around the globe turn on. Here in Colombia where the jewish community is about 5000 people in four cities mainly the trouble is the same. Not just for being jewish we´ve been attacked is for another reasons like the gay parade or when the youngs like me just went out.Who attacks us?¿ in most of the cases the common thiefs but in my case was a group of skin heads when I was at the downtown walking with my boyfriend. When that happened I begin to wonder... What if I was an orthodox one?¿ I´m sure they wouldnt doubt about killing me because here in Colombia the human life costs the same that a chinnese toy. And what if the same happened at Tel Aviv?¿ where this week were arrested some guys for attack people, common people, like me, like you. So its time to ask WHERE WE COULD BE SAFE? and make a very strong declaration: THE WORLD IS NOT READY FOR US we must continue working for realize what G-s wants and how we´re going to bring the moshiaj to the earth.
Shanah Tovah Umetukah!!! from Bogota Colombia.
(31) Anny Matar, September 13, 2007 5:14 AM
ANTI SEMITISM AS OLD AS TIMES CAN'T CHANGE
ANTI
(30) Anonymous, September 12, 2007 10:06 AM
A well written article.
Congratulations to Mr.MacShane for
highlighting this vicious and uncalled
for anti-Semitic campaign in Europe
and the Middle East
I hope the organisers of this campaign
will learn to shutup.
menon
(29) Margarita, September 10, 2007 9:26 PM
Australia is not better
Australia is not better. To people who are thinking that things are getting better and people are more tolerant I suggest to look at socialist movement, who are neo-nazi. the saddest things is that things like that happening in Israel. russians were always great for the country, but "new" once who pretended to be Jews to go to Israel are forming neo-nazi parties.
Australia is not great place to be either - Jews are attacked on streets, coffee shops, railway stations, going from shule... nothing is done to stop it and nobody cares.
(28) Anonymous, September 10, 2007 12:23 AM
Bookseller's Disgraceful Mischaracterization
Thank you for writing this Mr. MacShane -- and so passionately. You are right -- this affects all of us, not just Jews. More non-Jewish voices need to be heard as Jewish voices will largely be ignored. The ugliness is escalating exponentially. How ashamed will the mindless racists be when this finally turns around again? Will they once again try to hide and deny when their future grandchildren ask them --"How could you?" Or will there be perpetual cycles of shame and false vindication. (I heard Josef Joffe say, and it's right to the point "Europe (or did he say Germans?) will never forgive the Jews for the Holocaust."
It's coming from so many directions. Just today -- on the website of a major bookseller. I had read several quite long and very interesting reviews of Ruth Wisse's new book, "Jews and Power" -- in Commentary Online, Amazon.com, etc. In two sentences, it's about the self-criticism of Jews -- looking for what they might have done to offend, trying to find a way to correct -- adjust -- instead of looking at what the aggressor had perpetrated on them. Their own voice gets added to the propaganda of the enemy. The "Power" is the power to defend themselves, which in their own country they have.
Amazon.co.uk was on the Google page so I thought I'd take a look. Here's what I found --
The "Editorial Review" (Who, I imagine is in their employ -- not just a random customer).
"Synopsis
Spanning the history of Judaism, from the kingdom of David to the Oslo Accords, an eminent scholar argues that the Jewish people have been corrupted by powerlessness and their role as perpetual victims and addresses concerns that the strategies of the Diaspora continue to shape the Jewish state. 25,000 first printing"
Clearly a deliberate and demeaning mischaracterization. I notice the word "strategy" is used -- I guess instead of "scheming" in many anti-semitic writing lately. And I never saw "corrupted" in any other review. It's sickening. Where is this all going?
A.S.
(27) horst, September 9, 2007 10:52 PM
anti Semitism
I am seriously perplexed....
Why is there any AntiSemitism in Europe today...why in Great Britain...why in the USA.
I understand the Arabs may still have a problem because they can only think "What May have been" rather than "What there could be" Why the animosity? Do we not owe people of Jewish persuasion ....some of our best Actors...Comediens...Writers...World leaders...Scientists....computer people in hardware and software ...Soldiers and Peace keepers...Jesus was a Jew and the Christian Religion is only a branch of Judaism. So why the animosity? I know the biggotry is there but I don't know why?? Do the biggots know?
(26) david friedman, September 9, 2007 8:42 PM
VERY SCARY
I grew up in the U.S. during the 1930's and took alot on the chin, and now I see it all over again everywhere.
(25) Marvin Hecht, September 9, 2007 5:30 PM
Why is the world blind to the truth?
All I can say is that the Islamists have told us (not just Jews, but everyone that) they want to kill us if we will not convert. When did your hear that Jews will kill you if you do not become a Jew? The peace process in the middle east is hindered only by the Arabs that refuse Isreal the right to exist. The Jewish State must continue and flourish, not just for the sake of Jews, but for the sake of the whole world. The Islamist facists want to turn the clock back 1000 years so that their corrupt rulers turn us all into slaves. Why does Europe find the the fault of the Jews? If we all stood together against these evil people, we could all win the peace for the whole world.
(24) channah, September 9, 2007 3:29 PM
Anti semitism in the UK - still going strong
As a convert to judaism ive experianced maybe a differant kind of anti semitism to jews born into the faith.my conversion is my business and not something i try to bring into every day conversation but latetly i feel i have to defend myself more and more. from the comments about the fact that i dont have the jewish ''look'' to blaming the fact that i am now bullied on a regular basis at work on the fact that im just ''too differant '' to the assumption that the reason i wont shake hands with men is becuase i think all non jewish men are dirty to the comments on how im '' not a proper jew '' to the assumption that i must automatically hate all muslim staff members at work to holding me accountable for the actions of israel just because i stand by it to the whispers of '' how could she ''when people find out i converted. Ignorance is one thing but there is now a strain of anti semitism that goes hand in hand with ignorance .. with the old fasioned ''fagin'' stereotypes of the money lender jew still rife. This ignorance and antisemitism i think is more dangerous than anything before - becuase it is so subtle and it comes from all walks of life. its not the out and out hatred - its the samll looks and the comments, and the shear misconceptions that i find so scarey.
we must to everything in our power to stop this !
(23) tpt, September 9, 2007 2:53 PM
Once again scapegoat
What is it in the nature of man that he requires as an individual and as a group or community a scapegoat. Once free of this so called "pestilance" all would be well. How does one fight this? As Mr MacShane tells us democracies work slowly but it is only through laws restricting overt expressions of anti-semitism that this can be controlled. I can`t make anyone love me but at least others will have to behave outwardly in an acceptable manner. We need to fight to get laws passed that restrict overt expressions of hatred and contempt and we need to see that these laws are executed.
(22) Anonymous, September 9, 2007 2:50 PM
FIGHT BACK!
It's time to stop taking anti-Semitism with such simpering fecklessness and weakness. It's time to fight back. Making a few "examples" of people who espouse anti-Semitism would go a long way to stopping it. Whatever happened to the JDL?
(21) Alan R. Naftalis, September 9, 2007 2:42 PM
Mr MacShane got it right
To those of us who follow this issue & are sensative to its various manifestations, there is nothing new or surprising in Mr MacShane's op-ed piece. That being said, we must applaud him for writing it & having the integrity to be so candid as to the reality of Anti-Semitism in the 21st century. Sadly those old evil canards did not die in the wake of the Shoah but merely went underground and waited for an opportunity to rise again. Today the ant-Semites style themselves as being anti-Zionist, denying only to Jews the right they campaign for for others: their right to self-determination & statehood. In this modern reycling of aged old ant-Semitism, Jews & Jews alone are denied the right to national self-expression. When we wish to excercise it we are racists, when others do it is an expression of national or racial or ethnic pride & something to be celebrated. Sadly when we raise the issue of anti-Semitism, we are told we are being overly sensative or that we think we are beyond criticism, so it is extremely important that persons like Mr MacShane speak out & commissions like his exist and publish their findings. I strongly suggest that we email copies of this article to anyone who might benefit from reading it and to public officials in particular.But we must also take action & not be complacent in hoping that the MacShnes of the world will fight this evil. We must complain to Universities about the open bias there & STOP contributing until they do. We must complain to PBS about the blatant bias in BBC World News broadcasts shown on their stations & STOP donating until PBS affiliates drop the BBC. When British academics announce a boycott of Israel universities & scholars (much the same way the Nazis barred Jewish students & professors from their schools) Jewish organizations with travel programs should drop the UK as a travel destination & Jewish travelers should drop it too. The list goes on & on as to what we can do.So lets applaude Mr MacShane but also act, for as history tells us in the end we must count only on ourselves.
(20) Boris, September 9, 2007 2:14 PM
The dangerous is in not only in open state Anti-Semitism but in secret state one
(19) Jackie, September 9, 2007 12:18 PM
we all need to take a stand!
There are so many issues that we need to be addressing such as jobs, moral values and the key thing here: respect for all people. The world today is so politically unstable that we should be using our energy into finding solutions to the problems that concern us, why is our energy being unecessarily spent into focusing on who is of x nationality and religion? while we can all be focusing on our common ideas and goals, and using them to fix this world a bit and make it safer
the day that we end up meeting our creator u think he will be asking us of our nationality and religion? I strongly believe that we will be asked about the good deeds we have done and the repentance we have done as members of the human race
EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT, what I mean by this, is that we need to start learning about our religions and cultures and learn how similar we are as far as a lot of the issues concerning our world today. how different we all are but yet oh so similar
But we, as members of the human race we need to keep taking a stand against racism and anti semitism
we need to keep writing to our politicians to pass legislation and stiffer penalties against bias crimes
but governments have also need to stop allowing this to continue on and that needs to start from the top.
(18) Elonna, September 9, 2007 12:05 PM
YouTube.com
YouTube is a real eye-opener! I've seen vids of Arab t.v. where a little 3 yr old girl is calling Jews "pigs and dogs". The adult is praising her for it! There is so much stuff like that from Arab t.v. Some of the response comments on YouTube are supportive of Jews, some are grossly anti-semitic. I always defend Jews when posting comments on YouTube. I give negative comments and bad ratings to the Jew-haters on YouTube. Jews did not cause 9/11....if anyone ever said that to my face they'd get an earfull in return. I'd start with the Romans re-naming Israel to Palestine, the fact the "Palestinians" didn't name "their" country. My family isn't Jewish and I don't know any anti-semites. The only place I see anti-semitism is online.
(17) Dan, September 9, 2007 11:24 AM
Old vs. new
The "old" anti-Semitism was found amongst the rabble, the peasants, the uneducated, and the underclass of society. Today's "new" anti-Semitism is all the more dangerous in that it originates from intellectuals, academics, government leaders, and media elite. It is, if you will, a Ph.D. in Jew-hatred. B'khol dor va'dor...Ha KB"H matzileinu miyadam!
(16) Shan, September 9, 2007 11:22 AM
New anti-semitism
Sad, but true I fear.
(15) Rex, September 9, 2007 11:14 AM
It's not dead, nor ever will be
Anti-Semitism is not dead and never will be. It's alive and growing. I hate to say this but it won't stop until the Battle of Armageddon.
(14) Carlo Marijnissen, September 9, 2007 10:20 AM
Anti semitsme not prosecutable at the workplace
I live in the Netherlands. I was fired because of my jewish back ground
after being harrassed for 4 years by my collegues. After going to the police I found out that there is no way of getting your right. I am still without a job, sick and no way of getting any money. officially ANTISEMITISM IS NOT PROSECUTABLE AT THE WORKINGPLACE This is wat I got in writing. I have send it to all political parties. No reaction. Former prime Minister Van Agt and wife of former European Bank president turned out to be anti israel annd anti jewish.
(13) Pinchas, September 9, 2007 9:00 AM
Finland
I live in Finland at the moment.And do see alot of rasism and anti-semitism here.A couple of times to myself also.But I dont see it expanding to jews though.I think its expanding more to the arab's.Witch is obvious,because Gog-Gamagog is soon going to hit the world.
(12) JL, September 9, 2007 8:28 AM
Stopping Anti-semitism is impossible. Assimilation is self destruction; maintaining our unique identity leads to being targeted. We must accept being strong is the only answer. We are a people of the book, but because many do not listen to the Torah we could loose.
Be fruitful in multiply, hold on to our faith, and be resoulte in our beleifs is the only way to have strength in a democratic world.
(11) Shem, September 8, 2007 11:38 PM
hmm
the difference between old and new anti-Semitism is "Anti-Semitism today is officially sanctioned state ideology and is being turned into a mobilizing and organizing force to recruit thousands in a new crusade"? Something seems to be off in this argument. Like, hello.. Nazi Germany? Wasn't that "officially sanctioned state ideology"? Besides that, it's good to know what's going on in the world, so thanks for letting us know that the world still aims its senseless malice at us. On the up side of things, there are a lot of people in this world that really respect and admire the Jews. Let's struggle to set the ratio further off balance!! Shalom
(10) Anonymous, September 8, 2007 3:28 PM
Cemetery with CCTV
The Argentine Jewish Community has recently inaugurated a CCTV wireless security system fitted with dome cameras and internet access to monitor 24 hours a day the huge Tablada cemetery located in the outskirts of Buenos Aires in order to prevent vandals to sneak in and shatter graves
It is the only cemetery in the Country with such security equipment. A sign of the times that shows how Antisemitism has been on the rise not only in Europe but in every corner of the world
(9) Anonymous, September 7, 2007 9:41 PM
A perfect world?
When Moslems realize that Jews are there half brother, and have the same father...
WHen Christians realize that they come from Jews
When that day comes we will achieve perfect peace..and we will all be loving God, together, as brothers and sisters, all following the same GOd, same rules, in the same world, together following the Torah!
Thats peace!!
Shalom!
(8) Beverly Kurtin,, September 7, 2007 12:57 AM
Global Warming
The last time I was at an airport, something I am loath to do, I overheard a comment that made me wonder if my mind was playing tricks on me. "The damned Jews are responsible for our having to stand in line like this. They always cause trouble."
I turned to the individual who said that and asked why he said it. "Well, if they hadn't caused all the problems over there (meaning the Middle-East) the Arabs wouldn't have had to bomb us and cause all of this nonsense."
How twisted is THAT?
I wonder when we're going to get blamed for global warming?
(7) Anonymous, September 6, 2007 11:09 PM
I recently graduated from an elite university in the US where far left- and I mean FAR left ideologies are mainstream. In spite of the large Jewish population at these universities, hatred for Jews, Jewish and Christian values, and Israel are sanctioned ideology. Freedom of speech is severely curtailed in the name of tolerance, and if you want to succeed you are forced to go along with these ideologies. I learned early on that if I wanted to make good grades I had to make sure my papers had a Marxist, feminist, anti-Israel, anti-American stance. To my own discredit, I complied.
I don't think the older generation of American Jews, who grew up in a time when Christians were the strongest anti-Jewish group in the country, and liberals were the Jews main supporters, understand the nature of the new far-left anti-semitism that is found in academia and other ultra liberal organizations. Many of these older Jews (like my own parents) still believe that the liberals support us, when the opposite is clearly the case. Our old friends have become our new enemies, and our old enemies (the Christian right) are now our only friends. American and European Jews need to understand the danger that moral relativism represents, and refuse to send money to academic institutions that essentially make brainwashing youth against traditional western values, Jews, and Christians a main priority. I was a biology major, and somehow, this sort of thinking, once solely in the realm of Cutural Anthropology and Social Science departments, has made its way into the science classroom. Truth is sacrificed in the name of political correctness, equality, and tolerance, and even classes as apolitical as primate social organization are taught in a way that has a definite ideological agenda. It is amazing to me that only two decades after the holocaust, the hippie generation in America laid waste to the values that defeated the Nazis, and replaced them with appeasement, indifference and pacifism, learning nothing from the slaughter and dehumanization that happened so few years before. What is even more disturbing is the self-hatred and indifference that seems to be developing in Israel's own academic institutions.
Jews have eventually been hated and persecuted in every society that they have tried to integrate into, and I am afraid that with time, the Western world will prove itself to be no exception.
(6) chayabeila, September 6, 2007 8:09 PM
nazi memorabilia for sale
on ebay you can find symbols of hatred... so offensive to us ... for sale... although ebay prohibits such items... it is up to us to police them.. and send those individual listings in as offensive.. you can find a link at the bottom page of each listing to do so... if you go to ebay community pages... you can find out exactly which items should !! be banned ... i myself do not want to even put those words and names in print here.... please help me.. as when i have the time i police ebay.
(5) Slade, September 6, 2007 6:06 PM
Also in the USA
While I agree anti-Semitism appears more prevalent in Europe and Asia, it can be felt even here in the US. We live in Florida, and my children deal with hurtful comments at their school and in our neighborhood.
(4) Dvirah, September 6, 2007 1:24 PM
Factual Criticism Only, Please
Criticism of Israel is, of course, everyones perogative. It should, however, be founded on FACT. Too often, the criticism is based on lies and distortions. This is immensely harmful as one stops listening to such criticism (knowing its falacious basis) and soon stops listening to ALL critism, thus possibly missing a vital point that could (and probably should) lead to change.
(3) aNDY, September 6, 2007 9:59 AM
i prefer to read the antisemitic press about all the Jewish power
Seems to me that at this time of year those who have faith need to pray to God to reveal Israel as his people. Jews, if able to accept that role should truly undertake to do more mitvith.If not they should do more of the mitzvoth that they can buy into.Tzadakka,visiting sick, honoring parenst etc. As Zimmerman stated "don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
(2) Anonymous, September 4, 2007 7:23 PM
A disfunctional stare or familyneeds a sczpegoat
Pschoanalysts know that DISFUNCTIONAL STATE SEEKS A SCAPEGOAT
SO IT IS WITH CERTAIN ARAB STATES AND ORGANISATIONS,, AND EUROPEAN ONES TOO
cNANNOT THEY LEARN TO PLAY SPORT AND LEARN TEAMWORK..
NO INSTEAD THEY ARE JEALOUS OR JEWISH AND in the meantime for the sakeof the dmagogues hperbole.. innocent people sufferIRAELI ACHIEVEMEMT AND WANT TO DESTROY AND CILIFY WHICH IS THE SAME THING...i WISH THESE PEOPLE WIILL SEE THE LIGHT...
(1) Renata, September 4, 2007 5:05 PM
Thanks for doing the right thing!
Thank you, Mr. MacShane for recognizing a problem which not only risks citizens' lives, but undermines democracy as we know it. As we all know, anti-Semitism has led to the deaths on many millions of men, women, and children during the Holocaust. How quickly old lessons are forgotten by so many! As the Holocaust required the overt and covert compliance of many local European citizens, from politicians to farmers, I am not surprised that many still want to kill Jews and crush Israel (either militarily or politically). Thank you for having the courage to stand up to bullies who threaten our democratic way of life.