Are you Running Scared?

Should we be scared? No! Should we be thinking of selling up? No! Should we be rushing to stock up on more Prozac, Lexapro or SSRI’s? No!

The obvious parallel many Jews are making today is with Kristallnacht and Nazi Germany. Not doing so invites the criticism of putting one’s head in the sand, as did hundreds of thousands of German Jews in 1930s, and who perished in the gas chambers. Am I reading your mind correctly?

But consider: In the late 1930’s the vast majority of the German population voted for Nazism (well over 90 per cent). The newspapers were unanimously 100 per cent antisemitic. Israel did not exist. And no world leader was prepared to defend us. Today those factors are very different – at the moment.

In a recent poll respondents thought only about 25 per cent of Australians were favourably disposed to Jews (or did they mean Israel; or does that make a difference?) Another quarter approximately, were unfavourably disposed. But about 50 per cent of Australians opposed religious intolerance. That suggests that half of Australia is tolerant to Jews. Is that a lot? A little? Does it mean they like us? Or are they being merely indifferent? I guess it depends which way the trend is moving, or what is the context of history, or the power of media, or how much Qatar is spending on professional agitation world-wide. Further, polls can be notoriously wrong. And the perceived distinction between Israel and Jew is also quite murky. Further, media drives people’s opinions much more powerfully in our age than before.

Jewish people have needed to be cautious for the near 2000 years of our exile, when we have been spread around the world. And yes, we are the canary in the cage. So, we can’t blind ourselves to dangers that are always around us. Most recently, we have enjoyed 75 years of a “golden age”. But now we are back to the “old normal” – uncertainty. And though my opening paragraphs are more positive than negative, when it comes to antisemitism we are aiming at a “moving target”.

One thing is for sure. Showing fear invites trouble. Hiding in the social woodwork is not a guarantee of a free pass. Yet, being provocative, or stupidly loud, loses friends and influences people – adversely.

Mr Gandel is a very generous worldly individual. He cares. He gives to Australia – hospitals, museums, human-care causes . Yet his foundation was on the receiving end of a major “Palestine” demonstration at the National Gallery of Victoria which bears his name. What does that tell us? Were Australians saying that they don’t care and don’t appreciate what he has done for Australia? Doubtful. When a riffraff crowd of placard wavers, consisting of professional (and paid) agitators, militant immigrant minorities, easily exploited cause-poor university students, and unemployed disgruntled, “intersect” at the “Palestinian meet” to further their own ideological ends, we shouldn’t take that as reflecting more than an admixture of anti-social “spoilers”.

But very much more concerning is the government’s non response. No arrests. No “move on”. This Victorian government is purportedly providing leadership. Is it a clever government, strategically tackling law and order? No. Does it have firm social values that translate into strong values-oriented government? No. Does it allow its police force to regulate what happens on the streets? No. Or should I say yes. The police seems very good at instructing the quieter, less vociferous, smaller grouping of Jews to “move on”, while the larger marching band of obscene-placard-waving, boisterous, provocative “Palestinian-cause” marchers force the closure of businesses and deprive people of their rights to roadways and thoroughfares. The government’s answer: we are implementing the law. No. You are implementing vote-getting. Talk of values!?

All this makes for a complex picture, which probably has no exact precedent. But as Mark Twain once said: History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes! One thing I do know. We Jews are the world’s most successful survivors in history. When years ago, the Dalai Lama sought me out during his visit to Melbourne, his main purpose for meeting with me was to ask how his people, who had suffered several decades of exile, could learn from we, Jews, who have survived millennia of exile.

The Torah tells us that our strength and survival depend on “these words” – which happens to be the opening phrase of this week’s Torah reading –  our  “survival handbook”. This week Moses begins repeating the blueprint of survival. He says: “These words…” words that he is now repeating. Why repeat them? Because that’s our nature – “hard of hearing”. We are great at listening. We can quote all the latest media pundits” and influencers” opinions. But we are not hearing the very words that guarantee our survival. Hence our assimilation rate; our divorce rate; our disillusionment rate – and today, our fear quotient!

Word and thoughts create realities. The great Tzemach Tzedek said: “tracht gut, un vet zein gut” (Think positive and you create a positive outcome). So let me ask you: Are you thinking positively? Or are you spreading fear? Are you expressing pride or are you hiding? And I direct these questions equally to our Jewish leaders! Or is it It is much “safer” and much more “As Mark Twain said: History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes! responsible” to yell “danger”, express pessimism, and encourage escape routes.

For me, I am prepared to stand and fight – spiritually, and physically if need be (which happens to be the gist of Moses’ words this week). But to tell you the truth, I feel really positive. Not only will we overcome but we will succeed beyond all predictions.

Rabbi Dr Laibl Wolf is a Melbourne-based rabbi, author and speaker.