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Our Own Enemies

Commentary by Dr. Ursula A. Falk

 

  An Analogy Between the Jewish People and Creatures of the Animal Kingdom

 

For centuries in Europe and elsewhere, the Jewish people were peaceful G'd fearing people.  They worked at whatever work paid for their necessities, were outstanding citizens wherever they made their home, and were family oriented.  They were harmless human beings who attempted to follow the ten commandments as best as was possible.  They lived peacefully beside their neighbors.

There was always anti-Semitism.  The Jewish people were the object of vicious unfounded hatred.  They were denounced, labeled, became scapegoats of the land in which they lived.  False rumors were heard around them.  They were denounced, falsely accused, belittled, and often attacked without cause.  The more they bowed before their enemies, the greater became the hatred and the consequences for them.  In Nazi Germany, for example, they were segregated from their neighbors, their possessions were stolen from them, they were singled, out, could not vote, were robbed and beaten.  Ultimately six million were killed in Nazi Germany after being starved, segregated from their spouses, thrown into concentration camps, and ultimately annihilated by being tossed into gas ovens naked.

For centuries the Jewish people did not defend themselves.  They allowed themselves to be minimized like slaughtered cows.  They began to think of themselves as unwanted creatures.  They believed their jailers and their destroyers.

Their situation changed when a small number of Jewish folk moved to Eretz Yisroel.  The Israelis led the way.  They would not allow themselves to be "non persons," destroyed at will by their fellow men.  They founded an army with guns, ammunition, planes, and everything that was necessary to keep themselves from being overrun by their opponents.  They are proud of themselves and the strength which they discovered in themselves and their Jewish compatriots.  They acted together to save each other and any just human being who needed help and who is unjustly attacked.  They have won and retained their land Eretz Yisroel.  Other Jewish people have found their strength from their Israeli compatriots.  Those who live in America and other civilized countries now stand up and are "counted."  They have found their own worth and know they must defend themselves and their brethren.  Injustice will not be tolerated!

The analogy is the story of the sheep, the sheepdogs, and the wolves (written by Dave Grossman).  Sheep are helpless creatures who do not defend themselves.  The sheepdogs are there to protect them and keep them out of harm's way.  The wolves are the murderers who tear the sheep apart, killing them mercilessly.  Unfortunately, the Jewish people had no sheepdogs to protect them.  Israel and its courageous citizens are protecting one another.  They are armed, courageous, capable, and strong.  They will take no viciousness, will not join in their own destruction, and will protect themselves, their Jewish brethren, and their fellow men.

Unfortunately, there are some Jewish people who fight their own Jewish kin, and who believe that their "Wiedersächer" (antagonists) are to be respected.  These folk are their own enemies and have not learned to recognize the reality of death traps. Basically they are cowards who believe they are heroic when they fight against their own people to be part of the majority or believe they will be accepted by them if they throw away their religion and their rightful place in the world.

  Lehitraot.

 Dr. Ursula A. Falk is a psychotherapist in private practice and the author of several books and articles.

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