What can we do about anti-semitism

“Antisemitism” as Prime Minister Netanyahu said “is the most ancient disease.”

Anyone familiar with any of Jewish history (unfortunately perhaps with almost all) knows that irrational attacks targeted against Jews are just that (in fact the word anti-semite itself is  a misnomer – it was invented 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns under way in central Europe at that time.)

Ultimately, all acts of maliciousness (which includes bullying, targeting any group or nation as a whole….  for any rational thinker would never assume that an entire group or nation is evil) is obviously an issue – in the person who is attacking.

As Jews, we have three responses – there is the common: not to take it personal (as anyone with any life experience realizes…)
There is unfortunately also a reaction of fear (now as the word terrorism implies, it is there to frighten – unfortunately for those who fear – their tactic, then must be deemed a “success.” 

I personally took a pledge to never fear terrorism, for the consequence of fear is acquiescence (this explains the fool who instead of standing (as in the Helsinki syndrome) with the oppressed, takes the side (often as we see in J street insanity ) of the oppressor (to paraphrase Churchill, “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat them last.”)

However most importantly, a friend of mine, a couple who come to our synagogue and moved to Colorado – told me, that as they were getting into an elevator, a man began hurling antisemitic slurs.. (her husband, looks, with his Yarmulkah and beard, Jewish.)
Being converts they took it not too personal, but I asked her, “How did it make you feel?” – she said, “Well, I could see the person was obviously unwell, so I felt for him, sorry.”