By Amy Zewe—
Between the COVID-19 crisis that is replete with questionable government mandates and policies that may rival many a free-nation’s constitutions and much of science—albeit so much is still unknown about the facts of COVID-19—the US is now enduring yet another racially charged period of riots and protests. Protests which are not unwarranted, but perhaps the riots are.
Amid all this virus and racial flurry and fury, The George Washington University reversed a decision to appoint a BDS activist and known agenda-driven actor as Dean within the foreign policy department. I had posted on my Facebook and shared a petition to cry out against this appointment. I was especially concerned since I do have a graduate degree from that institution. But in the middle of if all news noise, GWU heard and heeded the outrage from respondents, one of which was me, and has rescinded that appointment. I am proud of GWU for their courage to realize an error and make it right.
But this all happened on the heals of protests and riots across America, including within Washington D.C., to protest the unjust and suspect death of George Floyd. This has ushered in yet another slow creep of appropriation of the issue surrounding American race relations and police policy and justice, with the lies and accusations that continually bombard Israel and Jews. Intersectionality is the name of this phenomenon. On the surface, you would think the two are unrelated (American Race relations among police and the plight of Jews) unless you are considering the solidarity that MLK had with the Jewish community as each have endured systematic victimization over the years. Within the last 200 years, black Americans endured and then were released from slavery and Jews endured the Holocaust—each still experiencing the attitudes and effects of what was supposed to be conditions outlawed by legislation. Each group finds brotherhood in a history of enslavement, discrimination, prejudice, and oppression—or so one would think.
While questionable origins exist of riotous crowds that vandalize, loot, and violently attack anyone they see, the anti-Zionist and anti-Semite crowd has joined right in to add to the chaos inserting and blaming Israel for a portion, if not all, of the cause! Moreover, countless Jewish communities in Canada and America have been targets of vandals and attacks in the name of justice for George—among others.
The Jerusalem Post and other outlets reported on synagogues and kosher shops being smashed during race riots. I am going to call them race riots to differentiate from the actual legitimate protest ongoing in many cities (who are not getting the press coverage of the riots and rioters). And let’s not overlook the friendly Canadians who also recently have had an uptick in vandalism in cemeteries, synagogues and hateful messages graffitied on Jewish property. And then there are the social media elites.
British pop celebrity, Dula Lipa posted equivalents of the now disgraced police officer in Minneapolis alongside photos of an alleged IDF soldier hurting a child. With nearly 46 million followers, the damage was done, though he eventually rescinded his tweet after much backlash. But it didn’t stop the trickle down. I saw posts from local teens and young adults in my area re-tweeting the fake photo of a poorly uniformed, armed man with an odd face-mask-type thing appearing to choke a child while the label on the photo is that it is an IDF solder. Upon careful analysis of the photo (with the naked eye), the man who has enough of his face revealed, did not look Israeli at all and he was clearly not in an IDF uniform. The weaponry did not look like standard issue, and his face and facial hair certainly didn’t look like regulation. The PA has a long history of faking and doctoring photos so that it can label the Israeli military the aggressor and the Arabs as mere victims. Many of these have been outed by finding cell phone videos of the staging or analysis to reveal the lack of accuracy in the actors in the photos or identification of the aggressor.
If you have time to research a bit of history, you will find that Rabbis in America worked in solidarity with Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. during the Civil Rights era. They felt a spiritual connection to recognize injustice, prejudice, and discrimination. The Jews having just emerged from the European Holocaust were eager to lock arms with Civil Rights movements, non-violent and reasoned protests and debate and legislative changes. Each continued to endure segregation to clubs and public establishments. But, changing laws is not the only fix, changing hearts is as well. In the words of Dr. King: “I am convinced that even violent temperaments can be channeled through nonviolent discipline if they can act constructively and express through an effective channel their very legitimate anger.”
May we apply these words to all our children of God and keep a firm and consistent stand on the pursuit of truth and justice—each of which are elements of the Father’s very character and image, in whom we should be reflecting.
Shavua Tov. Have a great week.