Growing up in the southern United States after World War II, I was never really affected, or even understood, what happened during ?those war years.? Oh sure, my father was in the US Navy during the Second World War, but I wasn?t around to be involved. Life in Atlanta, Georgia was easy. The Jewish population, at least my peers, knew very little of the ravages that happened throughout Nazi Germany. We were far, far removed. Yet, kids can be so cruel. I remember one nice little girl named Irene who went to my school. She dressed funny and talked with an accent. We heard she had come from one of those countries where that war had been. No one could have imagined the horrors that she had gone through. She later died as a result of the ?experiments? she suffered through in the concentration camps.
I don?t know when I became more aware of my ?roots? in Israel. Maybe it was on the trip that I took that last summer before entering college. Although, frankly all I remember about that trip was how good-looking the Israeli guys were (maybe it was the combination of Sephardi and Ashkenazi that gave them those handsome genes). So the years went by. Although not involved with Israel or being raised particularly religious, I began to feel connected. That was the time I refer to as my ?Hadassah or ORT? years. No matter how many charitable organizations I worked for or devoted my time to, the charity always linked to Israel. Somehow the realization began to form that, although living in the affluent South, Israel represented a safety net.
Slowly, but surely, I found the connection to the Israeli Jews something that, for the lack of a better word, was in my best interest. Because, although not greatly touched by Anti-Semitism in the South, we accepted the fact without question that private clubs and resorts restricted Jews. Later, I watched ?A? Jewish students not being accepted to local universities while ?C? WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) students were accepted in their place. It was called the ?quota system.? So, if we were 3% of the Atlanta population, then, once that quota had been reached, no matter how high the grades, Jewish students would be refused.
Later, I was to meet and spend time with the leader of the Jewish Defense League, Rabbi Meir Kahane. We opened up Jewish Discussion Groups and kosher food lines along the East Coast, for the Jewish inmates in various prisons. Our long discussions about the need for a strong Israel apparently made an impression. Slowly, I began to realize how anti-Semitism had almost destroyed the Jewish people and could very well do so again. Had Israel been available to the victims of the Holocaust in Europe, we would have had a sanctuary and one-third of our people would have not perished. Kahane taught me the motto of the JDL, ?Never Again?, and all that it meant. Nonetheless, thank G-d, I have never felt really concerned about the sub-human behavior of the European community repeating itself. After all, this is the dawn of the new millennium. Times have change? Haven?t they?
Apparently not. I am appalled, horrified and yes, very frightened by what I see happening in the European community. The synagogues are being burned in France. Jewish school children beaten up during soccer games. Cemeteries around the world are being desecrated. Britain and the rest of Europe are obviously experiencing more and more acts of anti-Semitism. I have always felt an affinity for the Italians, seeing them as a friendly and joyful people. I couldn?t even believe that they were aligned on the side of Hitler during the war my father had fought in. Yet, the reports are trickling in. Outrageous stories are reported that Jews use Christian blood in the Passover bread and willing journalist rush to report and embellish such blasphemy. I had dinner with tourism ministerial staff from Italy recently and brought the point home to them that as long as their newspapers are filled with anti-Semitic rhetoric, all the Jewish people that I know are in fear of traveling there. Germany of all countries are putting pressure on Israel and favoring the Arabs. G-d forbid we see them marching in goose-step again, but with that country it could happen. For the moment, they?ve embargoed spare parts for the tanks that had been sold to Israel.
Yes, I grew up in the southern United States, secure in the knowledge that ?It could never happen here.? Yet, the list of anti-Jewish incidents is growing. Once again, I am far away and removed from danger. Or, am I?
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Arlene Peck is an internationally syndicated columnist and television talk show hostess. She can be reached at bestredhead@earthlink.net..
I don?t know when I became more aware of my ?roots? in Israel. Maybe it was on the trip that I took that last summer before entering college. Although, frankly all I remember about that trip was how good-looking the Israeli guys were (maybe it was the combination of Sephardi and Ashkenazi that gave them those handsome genes). So the years went by. Although not involved with Israel or being raised particularly religious, I began to feel connected. That was the time I refer to as my ?Hadassah or ORT? years. No matter how many charitable organizations I worked for or devoted my time to, the charity always linked to Israel. Somehow the realization began to form that, although living in the affluent South, Israel represented a safety net.
Slowly, but surely, I found the connection to the Israeli Jews something that, for the lack of a better word, was in my best interest. Because, although not greatly touched by Anti-Semitism in the South, we accepted the fact without question that private clubs and resorts restricted Jews. Later, I watched ?A? Jewish students not being accepted to local universities while ?C? WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) students were accepted in their place. It was called the ?quota system.? So, if we were 3% of the Atlanta population, then, once that quota had been reached, no matter how high the grades, Jewish students would be refused.
Later, I was to meet and spend time with the leader of the Jewish Defense League, Rabbi Meir Kahane. We opened up Jewish Discussion Groups and kosher food lines along the East Coast, for the Jewish inmates in various prisons. Our long discussions about the need for a strong Israel apparently made an impression. Slowly, I began to realize how anti-Semitism had almost destroyed the Jewish people and could very well do so again. Had Israel been available to the victims of the Holocaust in Europe, we would have had a sanctuary and one-third of our people would have not perished. Kahane taught me the motto of the JDL, ?Never Again?, and all that it meant. Nonetheless, thank G-d, I have never felt really concerned about the sub-human behavior of the European community repeating itself. After all, this is the dawn of the new millennium. Times have change? Haven?t they?
Apparently not. I am appalled, horrified and yes, very frightened by what I see happening in the European community. The synagogues are being burned in France. Jewish school children beaten up during soccer games. Cemeteries around the world are being desecrated. Britain and the rest of Europe are obviously experiencing more and more acts of anti-Semitism. I have always felt an affinity for the Italians, seeing them as a friendly and joyful people. I couldn?t even believe that they were aligned on the side of Hitler during the war my father had fought in. Yet, the reports are trickling in. Outrageous stories are reported that Jews use Christian blood in the Passover bread and willing journalist rush to report and embellish such blasphemy. I had dinner with tourism ministerial staff from Italy recently and brought the point home to them that as long as their newspapers are filled with anti-Semitic rhetoric, all the Jewish people that I know are in fear of traveling there. Germany of all countries are putting pressure on Israel and favoring the Arabs. G-d forbid we see them marching in goose-step again, but with that country it could happen. For the moment, they?ve embargoed spare parts for the tanks that had been sold to Israel.
Yes, I grew up in the southern United States, secure in the knowledge that ?It could never happen here.? Yet, the list of anti-Jewish incidents is growing. Once again, I am far away and removed from danger. Or, am I?
----------------------------------
Arlene Peck is an internationally syndicated columnist and television talk show hostess. She can be reached at bestredhead@earthlink.net..