The news was bad but not surprising, considering. Anti-Semitism is on the rise. Even though Jewish hate crimes and anti-Semitic incidents have fallen 7 % nationwide, they have risen worldwide and 21% in the fair state of California.
Locally, there has been more vandalism to synagogues, an Orthodox Jewish man was recently beaten up, and Jewish children have been taunted and beaten in Los Angeles schools and in Santa Clarita public schools.
Anti-anything is not good especially when you are a member of that group, but for other ethnic groups it often means an insult here and there or temporarily wounded pride and dignity. For the Jews, it means not only that but that one of us will usually wind up dead or maimed.
I am lucky, though. I was born well after the Holocaust, the Spanish Inquisition and the pogroms in Russia, and I am able to sit behind my computer and type out what I think. If someone paints a swastika on my door, I can declare it a hate crime and go to the police. My forbearers weren’t so lucky. They had to grin and bear it or pretend to ignore it or act as if it didn’t bother them or that they weren’t afraid. At times, they also had to move from place to place or hide.
Motivated by their stories, I developed one of many missions in my time on this planet. I decided to speak for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. It has become one of my raison d’etres.
The problem is that anti-Semitism’s always going to rear its ugly, old head. The question is what can be done to help stop it? And the answer is constant vigilance, gritted teeth and education.
To that end, here are ten questions and/or comments people sometimes ask about Judaism along with some answers.
1.) Why are Jews so cheap?
We are not cheap. We happen to give more charity than any other ethnic group. Speaking of which, can I write you up for a donation?
2.) What about Bernard Madoff?
Every ethnic group has its apple that fell from the tree. The Germans had Pope John Paul II, who seemed like a basically decent and nice man especially compared to this one, but they also spawned Hitler. What are you going to do? You can’t judge the whole barrel by one or two bad apples.
3.) Why do Jews like money?
Outside of hippies, have you ever met anyone who didn’t like money? Money is important.
4.) Why do Jews sing when they pray?
Because we are a musical bunch.
5.) Why do Jewish men make good husbands?
Because I said so.
6.) Why are Jewish women are materialistic and demanding?
Like Paris Hilton’s such a peach? Come on.
7.) The Jews run Hollywood.
Hollywood was much better when the Jews were in charge.
8.) The Jews own the newspapers, or what’s left of them.
If we did, there’d be a lot more comics and an expanded stock market analysis.
9.) The Jews own the banks.
10.) Why are the Jews more intelligent than everyone else?
Allow me to quote Golda Meir who once said, “If the Jews are so smart, then how come we picked the only land that doesn’t have any oil in the Middle East?” It is something to think about, isn’t it?