Misguided Pity

Chad Gadyo

We as Jewish people have learned the Chad Gadyo lyrics from early childhood as we sat at the Seder table at Pessach and sang the songs of deeds and their consequences.  It describes that one action follows another without fail.  In our daily lives, this too happens, but not as fast as we would like to see it and, unfortunately, the evildoers are not always punished.  We, as Jews, have throughout our history been tormented, treated with hatred, lies, disrespect and accused of actions which we did not commit or have not created. We need only remember the six million innocent Jewish men, women and children who were murdered by  Adolf Hitler and his killers. The bigoted annihilators have now turned to Christians and other innocent religious groups for their violent instincts.  ISIS is one of these groups of irrational sadists who enjoy slicing heads of innocent people for existing on this earth.  Many of these victims live in countries considerable distances from our United States.  However, what is occurring is that these victims attempt to escape and leave the places where the murderers do their sadism with glee and sadistic joy.  There is no way of absolutely knowing whether in the escapees are hidden annihilators who are awaiting their opportunity to leave out their hatred on helpless humanity.  The countries who are overcome with the refugees have barely enough to keep their own people fed and protected from the weather.  Guilt is placed on Americans to open their doors and rescue the prospective victims.

The Jewish people have always had “Rachmones” (pity) on the poor, the different, the folk who are or appear to be suffering, who are plagued by circumstances.  They have always and still take a stand on behalf of those who are disenfranchised.  They are unfortunately often deluded and give to their enemies because their feeling of pity takes over, so they choose those for their charity who happily take from the giver without any difficulty and with pleasure.  They may secretly and not so secretly be hated by those who are the “nadvens” without taking into consideration that the takers will happily take whatever the Jewish people give to them and then talk and act against them, ascribing all of their misery to the Chosen People, the Jews.

It is good to be a giver, a person who gives to the needy and supports those who are allegedly hungry, abandoned, and of a different nation and a different color.  We must, however, be very astute and aware where our generosity ultimately arrives.  Let us give first to our needy families, our Jewish people who are poor, ill, and sometimes ill and old.  After that let us ascertain, carefully examine that we do not “feed” our enemies who are ultimately determined to annihilate us.  We frequently give to those who are our enemies and refuse to acknowledge that the takers will gladly steal from them, hold speeches against them, and will make them the innocent  scapegoats for existing.

We must all beware of taking away from those who love us, our brethren, the poor, the ill, and those who care for our neighbors and our friends.

 Lehitraot.

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

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