6 minute read
Colleyville: Don’t ignore antisemitism
By Joel Pittelman, Antisemitism Task Force Chair
If you’re Jewish, you think about antisemitism. Some are lucky that their thoughts are vague hypotheticals. They may have to remind themselves that they could become entangled in some unfortunate event. Others live with memories and fears that they wish could be forgotten. Reminders are a daily, deeply troubling occurrence. The recent episode of outrageous antisemitism in Colleyville, Texas reminds us that no Jew is immune to it. We are all potential targets.
Thankfully, we have our Rabbis and other Jewish thought leaders to provide moral guidance to help us channel our fears, anger and sorrow in useful and calming directions. Throughout our long history, Jews have learned to survive the most outrageous indignities, cruelties and atrocities. Our spiritual leaders teach us to look to God for strength; to be thankful for the love and support we get from those in our community who show us comfort and sympathy; to give thanks to law enforcement officers who provide rescue and safety; and to courts and government offi cials who provide justice and assistance.
In moments like this, I’m supposed to express sadness; to seek solutions and preventive measures. But on Colleyville, I’m not there yet. I’m still too angry about both the act and the response from our “protectors” to do the things our rabbis would suggest.
We saw and heard the hostage-taker interrupting the livestreamed Shabbat service, saying (as reported by CNN): He chose this synagogue because “Jews control the world. Jews control the media. Jews control the banks. I want to talk to the chief rabbi of the United States.”
With the clarity of both the words and the actions of the hostage-taker for all to see and hear, I am astounded and offended by the words of those who are presumably concerned about our safety and welfare.
From the FBI, we heard, “We do believe from our engagement with this subject (the perpetrator) that he was singularly focused on one issue, and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community. But we are continuing to work to find [the] motive.”
While searching for a singular focus, the FBI somehow dismissed or ignored the clear meaning of the perpetrator’s words. I think any of the hostages could provide clarity: the perpetrator had two clear and unequivocal goals, not a singular focus.
The first was to use the threat of killing innocent Jews as an inducement for the second — to freea prisoner. Why Jews? Because he was blindly misguided by antisemitism. That should have been the FBI’s clear focus because the hostage-taker’s second objective had no urgency. There was never a possibility that his fantasy of a prisoner’s release could occur. The antisemitic act should have occupied the FBI’s full attention. They somehow missed that point.
Instead of recognizing the perpetrator as an antisemite intent on using the threat of killing innocent Jews in their house of worship, the federal government’s Joint Terrorism Task Force spent its time debating whether the hostagetaker properly meets the defi nition of terrorist or whether he was simply a deranged individual.
I can help with that. He was a hater of Jews. He wanted to demonstrate to all Americans that they were being controlled by Jews so that more Americans would become haters of Jews. He was prepared to kill Jews because they are Jews. This is clearly a hate crime. Call it terrorism if you like, it doesn’t make it better or worse. This hate crime, like most hate crimes, was intended to intimidate not just a single victim, but the entire group to which the victim belongs. It was intended to create fear among all Jews and to get retribution from all Jews.
Both governmental entities are tasked to protect us and are equipped to make quick and accurate assessments in crisis situations. That they both failed to identify the hate crime and call it antisemitism indicates a problem in their understanding of Jewish needs.
[Editor’s Note: This article was written shortly after the event in Colleyville. One week later, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force revised their fi ndings, calling the incident a hate crime and an act of terrorism against Jews.]
We are beingtold by groups monitoring antisemitism that, nationwide and internationally, the number of antisemitic incidents has increased dramatically. Here in Greater Naples, we apparently live in an oasis of harmony. For the last two years, there has been not a single reported, verifiable antisemitic incident. Even though we hear whispers of problems in the schools and housing communities, no one has come forward to report an incident to the Jewish Federation or the ADL.
Has there been no reporting because there have been no incidents, or is there a fear that highlighting antisemitism will only increase its prevalence?
It is time to be reminded that ignoring or denying antisemitism will not make it go away, it will only be an encouragement for further abuse. Here in Naples, we have a procedure that is intended to insulate a victim of antisemitism from further acts following his or her reporting of the incident. If it is the victim’s preference, Federation’s Antisemitism Task Force will stand in the victim’s place, making it possible for the victim to continue to live and interact comfortably with the community. All the victim needs to do is contact Federation when he or she feels victimized by antisemitic bias.
We urge everyone to contact Federation of Greater Naples if they see an antisemitic incident or feel fearful for their fair treatment, safety, and the safety of their property. The Antisemitism Task Force will follow the matter through and take appropriate action.
Why are so many responsible people unwilling to talk about and label acts of antisemitism? We must ask our officers of the law, our governmental leaders, and all people of good conscience to identify and label events, such as Colleyville, for what they are: vicious antisemitic hate crimes against innocent Jewish people. Similarly, we, as Jews, cannot ignore the more subtle and covert acts either.
Isn’t it time to remind the public and ourselves what happens when good people start to ignore the real issue? Memories can get fuzzy over the span of 75 years.
