February 2004 The Incurable Disease (Excerpts from Rabbi Kass' sermon of January 3, 2004) By Rabbi Alvin Kass In 1882 Leo Pinsker wrote in his Auto-Emancipation that anti-Semitism is an "incurable" disease. Tragically, recent history continues to prove him right. The consequences of anti-Semitism were so horrendous at the time of the Holocaust that subsequent Jew enmity, while still extant, was no longer respectable. What is most disturbing about the Jew hatred that has erupted worldwide during the last few years is that once more it has become politically correct to condemn, to despise, and to kill Jews. Why the change? Why is it now so "in" to hurt Jews? Surely a key factor is the contemporary linkage of anti-Semitism with anti-Israel sentiment. Ironically, Theodor Herzl, the father of Modern Zionism, believed that once Jews had a country of their own, they would be a normal people like everyone else with the result that Jew hatred would disappear. But the volume and the tone of enmity are now greater than ever. Unbelievably, Israel is widely viewed as the world's number one enemy! That is true, not only in Arab countries but in places like the European Union, where one would expect more reasoned and reasonable analysis. Even on many college campuses in this country Israel is vilified as the world's principal villain. The Israelis are viewed as racists, imperialists and colonialists, as bad as the Nazis in their cruelty. They stand accused of genocide, apartheid and fascism. Prime Minister Sharon is regarded as no different from Hitler, and the Israeli Defense Forces as brutal as the Nazi Wehrmacht. The Palestinian communities of Ramallah and Jenin are considered the equivalent of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Never mind that Israel is a democracy which includes Arab representatives in the Knesset. Never mind that it is the only country in the Middle East with a thriving free press. Never mind that, notwithstanding all the terrorism, a majority of Israelis still supports a two-state solution. Does anyone doubt that even if Sharon gave in on every Palestinian demand, the Jew hatred would be as virulent as ever? Has everyone forgotten that when Ehud Barak was Prime Minister at the time of the Clinton presidency, Israel offered Arafat 97% of the territory he wanted, including sovereignty over the Temple Mount and East Jerusalem as the capital of the new Palestinian nation. Nevertheless, Arafat rejected the deal, refused even to negotiate or to make a counteroffer, just stormed out of the meeting and revived the Intifada. Yet the world sympathizes with the Palestinians and hails the suicide bombers as freedom fighters. None of this makes any sense until you recognize that the real issue here is Israel's right to exist. If the "Zionist entity" has no legitimacy then Israel cannot do what every other nation has a right to do, namely, to protect its citizens. Whatever Israel might choose to do is a priori wrong. All this anti-Zionism is just a new version of the anti-Semitism which has flourished for thousands of years. Thus, Egyptian television is currently presenting a 41-part series to corroborate the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion which maintained that the Jews are masterminding a conspiracy to control the world. Quite similarly, the idea is being circulated in many quarters that were it not for the Jews the Twin Towers would still be standing in New York City and the Iraqi War would never have happened. In other words, all the world's problems would vanish, if the Jews could be made to vanish. Pinsker was right. Jew hatred is an incurable disease. But don't despair. This has been going on since the beginning of recorded history and we're still here. We are not alone. We have some friends, most especially the United States of America. If, in spite of everything, we're still here, then Somebody up there must like us! With God's help, we shall overcome.