NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

The Worst Enemy of a Jew Will Always Be Another Jew

By Norma Zager

"Who hates the Jews more than the Jew?" Henry Miller

The other night I attended a Jewish Federation event about how Jewish people can learn to have a peaceful discourse about Israel and agree to disagree in a friendly manner.

This was apparently necessary because the subject has grown to such aggressive proportions, Jews, who never had the capacity to get along anyway, are actually threatening the very health and welfare of the Jewish State.

Why am I not shocked to learn that Jewish people engage in vicious self-destructive behavior, even where their own people are concerned?

I wish I could say I was surprised to learn Jewish people are incapable of peaceful coexistence, but why on earth would I be?

The very panel that was selected to discuss the issue presented a most perfect example of the schism within the Jewish religion. The differential in language and belief systems that would allow for such a discourse was apparent. When you are speaking different languages, how on earth can you converse?

A conservative, reform and orthodox Rabbis discussing how Jews should get along?

Am I the only one who sees the irony here?

And the only one who sees the hopelessness in the Jewish DNA?

I spoke with my Rabbi and he brought a great perspective to the discussion. One that was never even touched upon at the Federation meeting yet is probably the real crux of the issue. His comments brought a real dose of reality to the conversation.

"There will always be a divide amongst Jews on how to deal with giving away land in Israel," he said.

"This is because there is a division on what is a Jew's claim to the land. Those who believe that the UN voted for Jews to have a State on Arab land and call it Israel, feel we stole the land from those living there before.

"Then, there are those who claim, 'I do not need the UN to tell me what is mine. It's been our homeland for 4000 years as dictated by the Torah' (the same Torah quoted by Christians and Muslims).

"Therefore, as long as Jews feel guilty for stealing land in 1948 with the UN vote, they will always fight and argue, trying to please and appease the Arabs. Those who see the only claim to the land from the Torah will fight for their birthright to the land, with the same vigor as shown by the Muslims.

"My question to those who do not believe that the Torah is the source for the Jews to own the land of Israel is: What claim do we have to that land, guilt via the Holocaust? Why did you celebrate in 1948 if the Arabs were living there? Why do you continue to donate to Israel, knowing that we have no other claim to the land than our stealing it through the UN?

"I would suggest that Jews should look at the 1948 vote in the UN as follows: The world finally agreed that this land belongs to the Jews and told the Arabs get off our rightfully reclaimed land."

The Rabbi's point that the Jew who understands Israel was given by God, the same God that gave us the Torah, and those Jewish people who see it as a political issue cannot be reconciled.

Therefore there can never be any discussion, because it is being spoken in two different languages.

I am highly suspicious Jewish people are born with a special gene that renders them unable to get along with other Jews, like two magnets repelling one another. Especially, with those that harbor an opinion different from their own.

Jewish people just make me sad. They are an unappreciative lot. They attack one another far more than they attack those who would see them wiped off the face of the earth.

Any enemy with half a brain would understand that the Jewish people will eventually disappear like the Dodo bird through assimilation, the disconnection of the young people from Israel and their religion and through wars with and attacks from enemies.

It is an inherent part of our DNA to separate ourselves from one another. Despite the fact we have always lived in ghettos, Jewish people are experts at the divide-and-be-conquered mentality. That is why it has always puzzled me that we have so many enemies.

Torah teaches one to converse about the issues. Jewish men consider sitting and studying Torah an ultimate obligation.

The old joke about two Jews, three opinions, is not without merit.

The true conundrum rests in the fact that for a people who are considered so smart, Jewish people do the dumbest things and heap the most trouble upon their own. I imagine that is why Proverbs 11:29 actually advises: "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart."

You would think we would have learned that in unity there is strength.

The Rothschilds escaped an oppressive ghetto in Prussia and became the most powerful banking family in the world despite their Judaism because they spoke with one voice and stood together against a hostile, Gentile world.

Only once have Jewish people spoken with one unified voice.

When the State of Israel was reborn in 1948, Jews throughout the world cried in unison, blessing the miracle. Their cries became Israel's strength. AIPAC, because it spoke in support of Israel with a strong, united voice, rose to a powerful lobbying position in Washington.

Jewish people gave money, they agreed, every Jewish child planted trees in Israel in Sunday and in Hebrew Schools. Israel prospered and became a light among nations.

Oops. And they're off and at it again. Just when things were getting good for the Jewish people, they messed things up!

They are like a cancer-ridden body with the bad cells attacking the healthy ones until the body is weakened and dies. That is exactly what is happening to Israel at this very moment. It is being attacked by its own cells, the Jewish people, and cannot possibly survive.

Suddenly, everyone is a critic: "Israel should do this and that, and what about the poor Palestinians?"

Reminds me of mid-century America when the Jewish people fought for civil rights and helped organize the NAACP. Any fool can look around and see how much that effort was appreciated. Black leaders are among the most anti-Semitic people in America. Decrying Jewish people and Zionism every chance they get, while they enjoy the very freedom to do so because of Jewish money and blood given for their cause.

Will we ever learn? No way.

The worst enemy of a Jew will always be another Jew.

We have tolerance for every people and religion on earth except our own. No wonder Freud was Jewish. Only a Jew could recognize how sick and self-destructive people can be after growing up a Jew himself.

What these bleeding-heart liberals who have tolerance for everyone except Israel fail to remember is that when the last days come, our destroyers will not ask, "were you a Jew for Peace or ZOA? Were you Orthodox or Reform? Were you a Democrat or Republican?"

Only one vital question will be asked and answered. "Are you a Jew?" Yes, then die.

The Muslims have learned. They speak loudly and in one unified voice. Even the moderate Muslims who do not agree with the extreme elements of their religion are quiet. That is why the Muslims are becoming stronger than any other religion. That voice is why they are allowed to murder Christians and Jews and anyone they care to, even their own people, and no one defies them. Their voice is too loud and too powerful to be stopped.

It is just as the unified Jewish voice was after World War II that brought prosperity to the Jewish homeland.

The Christians believe that multitudes of voices raised in prayer can move mountains. They are correct, and so too can voices of criticism and negativity flow through the world and cause destruction and evil.

After the discussion the other evening about how to speak civilly toward one another and where and how to disagree, one Rabbi summed it all up beautifully with a story.

"It seems the Jewish community in the Venice Ghetto was greatly divided and could not get along."

Big surprise there!

Anyway, apparently they built five separate synagogues within a few-block area to practice as they wished. In later years when the foundations were being repaired due to decades of water damage, workmen discovered there were tunnels leading from each of the synagogues to the others. This was done in the event one congregation was attacked, they could then flee to safety in another.

This is proof we know better and have the ability to do better for ourselves and for our Jewish Homeland.

The only enemy Israel cannot overcome is its own people. We need our voice back; that one powerful voice for the sake of Israel and for the good of the Jewish people.

It is far past the time to grow up and stop allowing the crazies to run our asylum. We have been at odds with one another far too long and we are quickly running out of time. We need to build some new tunnels or there will be no place left for us to run.

In the series 'Postcards from Israel,' Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports from Israel as seen by two sets of eyes: Bussel's on the ground, Zager's counter-point from home. Israel and the United States are inter-related - the two countries we hold dearest to our hearts - and so is this 'point - counter-point' presentation that has, since 2008, become part of our lives.