Don’t Bother Coming Home

Brainwashing
It happens all the time.
We think it’s a technique that works on children or the feeble minded.
We think we can spot it, recognize it and avoid it.

Much of hatred and antisemitism is caused by brainwashing techniques. The constant bombardment of repeated lies, racial slurs and hate symbols penetrate the mind.
Unfortunately we have been forced to deal with mass shootings, terrorism and national security threats which undoubtedly started out as “small things” like racist graffiti and hate speech.

We all know that if we don’t deal with racism properly things get out of control quickly.
Antisemitic acts accomplish the goal of demeaning and instilling fear in the Jewish community. Every swastika, obscene cartoon, curse and death wish hurled our way eats away at our pride. Not only do we start to hide our identity in public but we start to question our own self worth.

It isn’t just our enemies that are brainwashed to hate but we too are being brainwashed to hate – hate ourselves. As an abused people we have victim mentality and believe something must be wrong with us. We search within and that is when the blame game begins.

They separate themselves as if they are better than everyone else.
They are too involved in the world, entertainment, stock market, politics, medicine.
They dress differently, act differently, and are too conspicuous.
They are too assimilated.

I have heard many people complain when the ultra orthodox move into their neighborhood. I have heard nasty remarks and ugly jokes. I have also heard quite nasty things said about the “secular”. We all know the hate goes both ways. If we can’t tolerate one another why would we think that the rest of the world should tolerate us?

I watch my fellow Anglo Israeli friends wave their flag and declare, “come home!”, as if that will solve the problem.

It won’t.

Sure we’d all be home in Israel but we’d self destruct or become easy prey for the enemy due to our infighting. The only answer for our security here, there or anywhere is to stop the judgement and stop the hate. Let’s open our hearts and minds to one another and do our best to live in peace together as Jews first, then maybe we can conquer external hate. David alone can defeat Goliath, but only when David himself is whole and complete.