Burned synagogue – night of broken glass
Kristallnacht is no longer just a dark memory in the world’s history, that night when evil emerged as a force that was not thwarted before it was too late.Destruction of synagogues and Jewish-owned stores, deaths of over a hundred and the expulsion of thousands, were encountered by the world’s silence. (Nov 9th 1938, ‘the night of broken glass’).
Today, Jews worldwide are constantly forced to deal with violent demonstrations, the burning of their synagogues, and antidemocratic laws disguised as formal judicial arguments. Up till now (Aug 3, 2014), in France alone, three synagogues were set on fire by Islamic radicals. Signs posted in Belgium taunted: Jews are prohibited to enter! Verbal violence can quickly escalate to life-threatening violence: less than a month ago, in Calgary, several participants in a Support Israel rally were attacked with severity enough to send them to hospital. Nor is Halifax immune: on July 29th, there was a pro-Hamas demonstration in Canada’s ocean’s playground. It was led by an American, who is a known associate of outlaws, an Imam named Jamal Bedawi. The demonstrators praised the Hamas and raised an ISIS flag. I am writing this column to warn you that the seeds of radicalism were planted in the indifferent streets of Halifax at that demonstration.
In 1938, that night between Nov 9th and the 10th was a checkpoint, a test. Hitler paused to see what the world’s reaction would be to the planned pogrom. Well, “the world” was not touched. The result of that? A green light flashed to Hitler to continue with the Final Solution.
What starts with Jews never ends there; hatred’s target is not only Jews. Throughout much of the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, Christians are being persecuted by radical Islamists. Baha’i in Iran, the Yazidi of Iraq, and other minorities, are being expelled and tortured wherever radical Islam rules. It must be emphasized that, in Islamic states, the victims of the radicals are, by and large, Muslims.
Ethical people should not tolerate hate-sponsored demonstrations on their city streets.
Moral action does not consist of listening to lectures about the value of ethics while passively ignoring the spread of immorality. True morality entails active protest when, unfortunately, such protest is needed. Evil such as we see today does not voluntarily leave. It needs to be fought and defeated.
What can we, citizens and residents of Halifax, do to act morally and to combat even the possibility of terrorism here at home?
A simple look at the recent pro-Hamas demonstrations on Halifax’s main streets would show hundred and fifty Hamas supporters versus a handful of Jews. But that is not the case. We were certainly outnumbered but we were not unheard. We flew two flags, the Canadian red and the Israeli blue. We saw the relief on spectators’ faces, as they realized that there are those who, like them, oppose radicalism. At the demonstration I realized a profound thing – we are not alone! The majority of the Canadian public do not want a radical pro-Hamas neighbor.
So, again, how can each of us stand against the radical Islamic bully?
– Speak out against Hamas, the Muslim brotherhood, ISIS, with as many people as possible. Talk to colleagues at work, chat with friends in social activities, converse with family, and let the discussion rise on the streets.
– Strengthen moderate Muslims who are suffering from inclusion with radicalism.
– Next time there is a pro-terror demonstration, be there! Encourage your friends of every denomination to participate in opposing the next demonstration. In this way, we will change the numbers, and stand as the majority we actually are.
– When you see pro-Hamas protestors in public places do not ignore them. Express your contempt and objection in a way that passersby’s will see the hatred and lies will not be tolerated on our streets.
– If you hear anti-Jewish or anti-Israeli comments, confront them outloud, in a way that will identify the speakers as the liars they are.
– Remember that there is one powerful way to fight lies – to tell the truth.
As representations of a modern society, believers in the God of peace, compassion, love and justice, WE ARE THE MAJORITY whose voice must be heard loud and clear declaring:
There is no room for radicalism of any sort on our streets!
On the eve of a new year, may we all merit:
תָּחֵל שָׁנָה וּבִרְכוֹתֶיהָ תִּכְלֶה שָׁנָה וְקִלְלוֹתֶיהָ..”
..there ends a year and its maledictions and a new one begins with its blessings”
Photo by Center for Jewish History, NYC