I Am Proud to Be Jewish
We have survived and thrived, standing firm against oppression and persecution
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As a proud Israeli Jew, I am a vital piece of a chain that has strengthened over thousands of years. My identity is like a challah woven with stories that allow me to celebrate my Eastern-European-Jewish heritage. Our traditions include being dedicated to giving back through tzedakah (charity), honoring our parents, and upholding values of life, justice, and equality. Being Jewish and carrying these values forward to future generations is an honor. I am grateful to be part of this unbreakable chain that has brought joy and morality to the world.
But being a Jew is not easy.
I've been accused of every imaginable wrongdoing. The Black Death in 1348? That was all on me. Kidnapping Christian children and consuming their blood? Yep, guilty again. And let's not forget about the financial crisis of 2008, which I caused single-handedly. Oh, and taking over the world? Just another day in my life. Genocide? That one's fresh off the press at the United Nations last week. You name it – I've heard it all: insults, libel, blatant lies. It's just another part of being who I am.
Countless times, I have been forced to flee from my home. France cast me out in 1182 and continued to do so on multiple occasions. Hungary followed suit in 1349 and 1582, while England rejected me in 1290. The Netherlands closed its doors to me in 1442. The Expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 and Poland did the same in 1648. In Russia, I was confined to a small area known as the "Pale of Settlement." Even in the Arab world, I was not welcome, being chased out in 1948. And even some parts of the United States were not safe for me, including a brief expulsion in 1862. Such is the life of one constantly on the run, never truly finding a place to call home.
And never shall I forget Germany. That was a nightmare beyond belief—a doozie. The entire country, under the control of the Nazi empire, made it their sole mission to eradicate me from existence. Every resource and weapon they had was used in their relentless pursuit. And as I desperately sought escape, countries that I believed would offer sanctuary turned their backs on me, branding me as "undesirable." This forced me back to a place where one-third of my people and countless others were mercilessly slaughtered. But even in such horror, I refused to give up, fighting until the end for survival against all odds...
The heinous lack of morality and complete disregard for human life is truly astonishing. As the dust settles from the horrifying Hamas attack, a swarm of individuals emerge to minimize the ruthless massacre or even outright deny its occurrence. It's as if they are convinced that Hamas carried out a routine military maneuver against enemy troops. These October 7 deniers are like present-day Holocaust deniers, inhabiting a dark abyss of moral bankruptcy and deplorable ignorance. The stench of deceit and denial wafts through their words, a sickening reminder of the depths of depravity some people can sink into.
Despite the challenges of exile and persecution, my community has shown enduring resilience. We have survived and thrived, standing firm against oppression and adapting to the demands of modern life. We have reclaimed our ancestral homeland, Eretz Israel, and transformed it into a thriving nation. And we remain dedicated to improving global welfare through our core principle of "Tikkun Olam."*
*Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew saying that signifies "repair the world" or "mend the world."
As Christians we were raised to be kind to all but especially to the Jews, who were God's chosen people. I was even circumcised by what Ma always said was a real traditional person for that, I guess a mohel? On the eighth day. I never looked that up so I don't know why. We were supposed to be on the lookout for Jews and angels, who could visit unawares. The Jews are certainly special--just surviving through all that. All those travails and travels. They're like those Bic pens--take a lickin' but keep on tickin'. Keep on Tikkun Olam.
There was a time when it was believed that everyone had fundamental human rights, which were accessible—equally—to everyone on the planet. It cannot be argued any longer that such rights are being taken away from some with impunity and claimed with pious self-righteousness to be of higher value for some over others. This was not the promise of the god of Abraham and has only taken place because of the successful efforts of atheists and non-believers to displace our Creator and proclaim themselves the higher power over Humanity. We have seen this movie before, and it always ends the same way. God bless you for standing up for what you believe... As an unashamed Christian, I stand with you.