I think there is something to be said for the comment about Gentiles not caring about Jews. I know it was said as an over-generalization, and that the fact that there have been some, too few, very very very much too few, but still, some, Gentiles who cared when Jews were attacked, and that they have been memorialized in books, doesn't make the extraordinariness of the gesture made by the Christian congregation less. The feeling must have been as described-- shock, and relief, and joy, that these attacks were not going to be faced alone. And I'm just pointing out that those feelings came from experience, the book titles, and the historical exceptions, notwithstanding.
I have friends who are active in their Conservative temple. They are doing 'mitzvahs' (that may be misspelled), or good deeds, toward others all the time. Others in the multiracial, multicultural community in which they live. It appears to be part of their religious duty. Their children, at the ages of 7 and 3, always have their own 'mitzvahs' on which they are working.
I believe anti-Semitism is increasing subtly but horrifyingly in America, and in their community. I see it, reading between the lines, in local papers, and hear it on local radio. Sometimes one doesn't have to read between the lines; it's blatant. I think an aura of 'political correctness' is attaching to an anti-Semitic stance, even.
It is very seldom that anyone acknowledges it, though my friends are profoundly distressed by what they are seeing. I think the members of my friends' temple would be surprised, and moved beyond what they should be, given all they've done for their community, if there were an attack on their temple and following it there were an outpouring of support from non-Jews, all the books written on the handful of Christians who risked their lives during WWII to save Jews notwithstanding.
I think there would be support, I should say; but there has been no revulsion expressed at the covert, subtle anti-Semitism that has been going on and has increased; and that's why I think the support that would follow an incident as violent and undeniable as a bombing or other such physical attack would be felt as a profoundly welcome surprise. |
