By Joseph Aaron
We are our own worst enemies. That’s not how we feel. But it’s the truth.
Because we don’t understand that, we are failing to fix problems within, while needlessly obsessing about non-problems without. The result is that internal problems are getting worse, while tiny external problems are blown out of proportion, scaring us for no reason.
I have felt this way for a long time, but never more so than recently. An incredible number of things have taken place in recent weeks that made it clearer than ever:
• Birthright Israel is slashing the number of participants on its summer trip this year because of funding problems.
I have not been a big fan of Birthright, which provides a free 10-day trip to Israel for 18 to 26 year olds. But this is not about me, it’s about those who do see Birthright as a way to keep young Jews Jewish and get them to care about Israel.
Those who have backed Birthright include Israel, the North American federation system and 14 philanthropists. They agreed to provide funding of $210 million over five years.
This is chump change, considering how much the American Jewish community raises and spends yearly. Yet, Israel and the federation system haven’t come up with their share and aren’t likely to. For a program they have called a revolutionary way to strengthen Jewish identity.
So several thousand young American Jews wanted to go to Israel this summer at a time when Israel badly needs visitors and young Jews badly need Israel; but they have been turned away with “Sorry, no money.” Indeed, one of the major backers of the program, Michael Steinhardt, has said the program may have to be shut down.
How are we going to blame the Palestinians for that one?
• An agreement has been reached between Germany and the Claims Conference on providing compensation to victims of Nazi medical experiments. Under the agreement, each of the 1,778 victims will receive a one-time payment of $5,400.
I don’t remember when I’ve read such an obscene story. $5,400 for Jews who underwent such things as sterilization, amputation of limbs, organ removal, infusion of infectious diseases, immersion in ice water.
Of course, no amount of money is enough for those who endured such pain and torture. Gideon Taylor, executive vice president of the Claims Conference, calls it “symbolic payments to the victims.”
If they are meant to be symbolic, why not $6 million to each victim. Better yet, why not take the symbolism of Germany finally acknowledging its responsibility and apologizing for what was done in its name, and leave it at that, not taint it with money, especially an amount that makes a mockery of the powerful symbolism of the act itself.
How a Jewish organization could have agreed to this is beyond me.
• A new survey shows that Jerusalem is the poorest large city in Israel.
Jerusalem, the holy city, the hometown of God, the place where the temples were and the Western Wall is. A place we cherish more than any other, have prayed and fought to have back in our hands for more than 2,000 years. A city we’ve let go to seed. Shame on us.
• Finally, anti-Semitism. We spend so much of our time and resources worrying about it, fighting it, fearing it, talking about it. We let it affect all we do and are — for no reason.
Consider. Israel, for the first time ever, recently held a national day against global anti-Semitism. That same week, the following took place:
• France announced it will provide more than $18 million for security at Jewish institutions. Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin announced that during a meeting of his new Cabinet committee on anti-Semitism.
• Malaysia’s former prime minister called for greater tolerance between Muslims and non-Muslims. Yes, this is the same nut who said Jews run the world. That got huge play in our community. But now he says “Muslims should accept other people’s religions.” Isn’t that as significant, if not more?
• Thirty countries have written to the International Court of Justice in The Hague opposing the hearing scheduled there for this month on Israel’s West Bank security fence. They include the United States, the European Union, Canada, Russia and South Africa.
• European Commission President Romano Prodi proposed that the European Union adopt an annual Holocaust remembrance day.
• A new poll shows that 73 percent of Americans oppose U.S. aid to the Palestinians.
I could go on and on. It all shows that, yes, there is anti-Semitism, but this time governments are on our side.
One more item: The government of Israel announced recently that violent anti-Semitic attacks were down worldwide in 2003. Yes, down.
By the way, guess how many such acts there were that year. Try 235. For every country on the face of the earth. Showing yes, there is what to be concerned about, but there is nothing to get freaked out about.
Real problems within, we ignore. Lesser problems without, we go nuts over. If you want something to worry about, I’d start with that.
Joseph Aaron is editor and publisher of the Chicago Jewish News.
Loading ...