Jews Are Going Underground

[babylonsister]

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/after-monsey-will-jews-go-underground/604219/?fbclid=IwAR06BbLM9EWaZ4t0I_oZM9Sgc-rZfvto51CLcYd9JQOMVkOHdaqlM1686JM

Jews Are Going Underground
A month of terrible anti-Semitic attacks culminated with a stabbing yesterday of multiple people at a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York.
10:51 AM ET
Deborah Lipstadt
Professor of Holocaust history at Emory University


In a month of terrible anti-Semitic attacks, including a stabbing yesterday of multiple people at a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York, the news that most depressed me did not involve violence. It was not something done to Jews but something Jews did. A synagogue in the Netherlands is no longer publicly posting the times of prayer services. If you want to join a service, you have to know someone who is a member of the community.

Do not misunderstand me. I was and am in a fury over the multiple assaults, culminating in the Monsey attack, which was the worst since the murders in Jersey City, which, some readers might not realize, was less than three weeks ago.

In Europe and the United States, Jews have been repeatedly assaulted on the street. Tombstones were desecrated in Slovakia. In London, anti-Semitic graffiti was painted on synagogues and Jewish-owned stores. A Belgian daily newspaper accused a lawmaker who is Jewish of being a spy for Israel. A Polish town refused to install small brass plates that commemorate Holocaust victims. In Italy, the town of Schio did the same because, the mayor said, they would be “divisive.” (Divisive to whom?) This intolerance is coming from right-wing extremists, progressive leftists, and other minorities who, themselves, are often the object of persecution. Anti-Semites seem to think it is open season on Jews. And maybe, given the many incidents, they are right.

So why has the news that a synagogue in the Netherlands stopped posting the time of services upset me above all? Because it is vivid proof that anti-Semitism is driving Jews underground in the West.

snip//

When Jews feel it is safer for them to go “underground” as Jews, something is terribly wrong—wrong for them and, even more so, wrong for the society in which they live. Jews have taken and are taking anti-Semitism very seriously. Non-Jews must do the same.

You must do so, not solely for the sake of the well-being of your Jewish neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens. (Though that would be laudable.) You must do so for the sake of the well-being of the societies in which you live. No healthy democracy can afford to tolerate anti-Semitism in its midst. It is one of the long-term signs of rot in that democracy. If you care about democracy, you should care about the Jews among you, and the anti-Semites too.

[badseedboy]

1. What,

in the most practical terms, is a non- Jew to do? Feelings of support are a start, but only that. Please, DU community, post actions. Thank you.

[dewsgirl]

2. I remember the story of the holocaust survivor from last year,

that said to her friend, "You may not see it happening again, but I do." right before she committed suicide, I believe she lived in NYC. I tried to find the article, I couldn't find it.

[burrowowl]

7. Yes it seems to be happening again

[UniteFightBack]

4. Well if I witness anything you best believe I'm going to say shit. Even though it feels very bad an

and dark I still believe we are still more open than we have ever been before. There are more accepting people in this world than there were 50 years ago, 100 years ago. Let's not forget that. They are loud...well we will be louder.

In the end...we always win.

[PatrickforO]

5. Yes. Each year, my family has a tradition of watching the movie

Schindler's List. That because we must never forget the Holocaust.

Last night was the night we watched Spielberg's masterpiece. My daughter asked how many Jewish people there were in Poland in 1940. The answer was three million.

Do you know how many Jews are in Poland now? Around 15,000.

So, no surprise at all that Jews are going underground and are taking Antisemitism very seriously. I'm sorry they are going underground. I'm sorry that Muslims also must worship in fear, as must African Americans.

I am sorry for the for-profit concentration camps all over this country that are charging taxpayers $750 per day per head to house brown-skinned people in filthy cages with inadequate blankets, medical supplies, toiletries and food.

And I'm angry about it. Very angry.

Furious at Donald Trump and his racist supporters.

Mark my words, there will be an accounting for these crimes against humanity, this genocide. Indictments of everyone responsible, from Trump down to the lowliest guard, trials in international tribunal and then the meting out of justice. I don't want to hear Democratic politicians giving these criminals a pass, saying things like, "Democracies don't charge past presidents with crimes."

No. We gave Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice passes for war crimes back in '08, but I'm DAMNED if we're gonna give Trump and his henchmen passes. Not for what they've done.

[Kaiserguy]

6. Yes they must be held accountable for their crimes

and for the hate that they have spread. No more looking the other way!

[JudyM]

14. If only we would hold them truly accountable. I wish I shared your view that it will happen.

[smirkymonkey]

8. K&R

[IronLionZion]

9. Any sign of why Jews are being targetted now?

I get that there is a global increase in nationalism and bigotry, but don't understand why Jews are being targeted even by minorities and immigrants.

This intolerance is coming from right-wing extremists, progressive leftists, and other minorities who, themselves, are often the object of persecution.

This is very disappointing. Jews, progressive leftists, and minorities should be united in these hateful times, and definitely should not be contributing to the hate.

[OhNo-Really]

15. This Atlantic article quote is not cited

The quote above is towards the end of this paragraph. Muslim immigrants are being blamed by some for anti-semitism in Europe.

Can we step back from blaming progressive left, minorities & immigrants all of which are hated by white supremacists?

The selection of blamed groups in the quote above could be white supremacist propaganda for all we know unless accompanied by credible unbiased research papers.

Pitting groups against each other is propaganda’s primary goal to create a vacuum of chaos.

We are all brothers & sisters sharing this moment in time. Those who accept this reality must stand together and watch our words carefully lest we accidentally espouse propaganda.

In Europe and the United States, Jews have been repeatedly assaulted on the street. Tombstones were desecrated in Slovakia. In London, anti-Semitic graffiti was painted on synagogues and Jewish-owned stores. A Belgian daily newspaper accused a lawmaker who is Jewish of being a spy for Israel. A Polish town refused to install small brass plates that commemorate Holocaust victims. In Italy, the town of Schio did the same because, the mayor said, they would be “divisive.” (Divisive to whom?) This intolerance is coming from right-wing extremists, progressive leftists, and other minorities who, themselves, are often the object of persecution. . Anti-Semites seem to think it is open season on Jews. And maybe, given the many incidents, they are right.

[roamer65]

10. While I may not always agree with the policies of Israel...

EVERY human being has the ABSOLUTE right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.

These anti-semites should be jailed for hate crimes...PERIOD.

[SQUEE]

11. One of the first steps.

Please stop equating Jews with Israel.

I don't feel the need to mention any African nations to say Black Lives Matter.

[roamer65]

12. I have actually gotten verbally attacked for being anti-Semitic when I criticize Israeli policy.

So I get a bit defensive on it, just by nature.

[EndlessWire]

13. I know this is a thread about being Jewish

but a lot of this thread contains sentiment that can apply to the gay community as well, and even our American Indian communities, too (may be a more PC name they want to be called, but I don't know it.)

It just seems to me that a Nazi philosophy has taken root, and since we have the Orange Ahole putting his stamp on everything, this is taking hold. This is seriously just awful, when whole groups are losing their civil rights, and we can't seem to stop it.

We have to stick together. We have to lay our burdens of prejudice against other people down so that we can work together to defeat Trump et al, and educate his base that like it or not, our nation is for ALL the People and we won't tolerate this crap.

We seem to be heading for a Civil War. Many people think it is foolish to talk this way, but when you read about Trump's base saying if he doesn't get reelected there will be war, what are you to think? Best to think it over now and plan your reactions to what we may have to deal with towards the end of 2020.

I, myself, despise Trump and those he appointed to threaten our Democracy, but I will use my anger to fuel my resistance. Study underground railroads, civil disobedience, ways to communicate without the internet, perhaps learn a second language, etc. etc. Stock up on supplies. None of this will hurt you, and you'll end up safer than you are today. And we have to be prepared to help our neighbors.

Trump is the most dangerous man in the USA, maybe the world. Wanna know something? He doesn't have to hold that danged election. That's the power WE GAVE THE PRESIDENT. We just never counted on the likes of this miscreant and his spawn to come along to totally destroy our country.

The world governments are s-l-o-w to wake up to throw Putin and his operatives out of their countries with Resistence of their own. But we are starting to see it.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. This really doesn't surprise me.

One only needs to look at comments about stories of anti-Semitism to see why some are choosing to lie low. We have those who treat acts of anti-Semitism as inconsequential; those who blame the Jews for acts of anti-Semitic committed against them; those who play the "whatabout" card, depending on the accused attackers (see recent attacks); those who make excuses for the attckers motives, even asking for sympathy for the attackers; and, those who ignore or minimize anti-Semitism when it is "inconvenient" for them.

I think, ironically, the very idea put forth in the article, is another reason people hate us. The idea we can "hide". It has long been a reason for people to hate Jews; and not just white supremacists.