Thursday night’s news told of a Hamas plot to attack Jewish communities throughout Europe. Hamas’ covenant has for years made clear that Jews, wherever they are, are their enemies. So, in the light of the horrors of Hamas’ Oct. 7...
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Thursday night’s news told of a Hamas plot to attack Jewish communities throughout Europe. Hamas’ covenant has for years made clear that Jews, wherever they are, are their enemies. So, in the light of the horrors of Hamas’ Oct. 7 rampage of torture, mutilation, rape and murder, and seeing the riots of Hamas wannabes in New York and on college campuses, I worried what the responses would be from my Jewish community and from the larger community in which we share citizenship.
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Yes, reported anti-Semitic incidents are dramatically up, all around the world. Yes, as of just last night, there are plenty of reports on the web of menorah vandalism and the like (obviously only anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic!), and, yes, we received reports from our own rabbis’ organization of increased threats and the need to coordinate security. I will not downplay any of these things.
But I am happy to report that Chanuka has been peaceful in Dayton, Ohio. Our security officer (he’s a pastor as well) has been with us all week as we have run public events to celebrate the miracle of Chanuka, when, more than 2,000 years ago, a determined band of deplorables stood up against a big empire’s desire to coerce religious behavior — and succeeded. And either he’s scared off the bad guys or the decency of regular Americans in red flyover land has not budged, no matter how hysterically the college protesters screech and go about their tantrums, and no matter how much Ivy League presidents blow smog with their sophistry and clever rationalizations. (RELATED: Copy That, Claudine)
I won’t deny our security guard his deterrent power, but it’s the people too. Terrorists, like the woke mob, believe that their political enemies are cowardly and weak and only need to be scared to collapse in a puddle of tears. But it is the terrorists who are the true cowards. They may be mighty strong against babies and women and stoned teenagers at a rock concert, but the moment responded to by a resolute armed force, they hid behind their own women and children and issued piteous cries from their bunkers about starving and needing some more fuel and some weapons too. (Those prisoners, stripped to make sure they had no concealed explosives, sure didn’t look underfed. A large portion of these he-men seemed to need a bra. Maybe some of their fans in the Woke Alphabet Alliance can help.)
But for all the mighty cultural assault over the past decades, I saw a lot of happy faces at the indoor mall on the first night of Chanuka, eating Israeli-style donuts and potato pancakes, watching the giant menorah lighting and singing Chanuka songs. Another pastor had come by with some congregants to join in, and there were smiles and the buzz of happy conversation, as well as delighted passersby who sampled food and good cheer.
Public menorahs were up in the airport and at other malls and other public spots. No problems.
Just holiday cheer, and in larger measure, as people seemed to feel it important to respond to the darkness with light. Even before Chanuka, though, the larger community was stepping up. A local mainstream denomination church, whose national board has been shockingly anti-Israel for some time, wrote a letter, signed by its pastor and many congregants, expressing its steadfast support for Israel and for our Jewish community. Others called; others have chimed in online. My Muslim study partners join me in study as before, with warmth and personal regard. We look into the deepest spiritual literature in our traditions to find what the terrorists do not bother to seek as they worship their own tyrannical rage. (RELATED: Muslim Women Visit Israel to Show Solidarity Against Hamas)
There is so much work to be done. Nor can we afford to substitute blithe and blind optimism for the work and the sacrifice that are being demanded to halt the hideous evil that is champing at the bit to destroy lives, hope, and sanity.
But seeing the deep strength of America here, there is reason to have sober hope. We have what it takes to overcome and to triumph the attempts to destroy Western civilization. Find where your work is and the battle that needs you. Keep shining the light.
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