By Alan Caruba
New Jersey –-(Ammoland.com)- Sometimes I think that Jews are going to have to arm themselves in order to celebrate Chanukah.
These days, merely praying in a synagogue, whether it is in Jerusalem or Brooklyn has become hazardous.
Of course, those who hate Jews don’t really need an excuse to attack them. In November, Palestinian attackers killed five Israelis, four of whom were rabbis, in a Jerusalem synagogue. On December 8 2014, a lunatic shouting “I want to kill the Jews” stabbed an Israeli student in the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Brooklyn. The student survived the attack. Police killed the attacker.
December 16 through 24 2014 marks this year’s celebration and one can only hope that it will be enjoyed without providing an excuse to attack Jews around the world. Chanukah celebrates an ancient military victory.
Known also as the Festival of Lights, the menorah that holds nine candles is the widely recognized symbol of the holiday; eight for the days and one to light the others. It celebrates the overthrow of an oppressive Greek ruler, Antiochus IV, and the rededication of the temple. Chanukah is not mentioned in formal Jewish scripture though the story is related in the book of the Maccabees. In 1948, Jews restored the nation of Israel.
Chanukah is a relatively minor Jewish holiday compared to the holy days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or Passover. Because it falls close to Christmas, American Jews have incorporated it into their celebration and one suspects that most are likely to exchange gifts on December 25th to blend both holidays together as one
Of the estimated 14 million Jews worldwide approximately 5.5 million live in America. An estimated 6.2 million live in Israel, with 2 million in Europe, and about 100,000 in Africa, most of whom live in the nation of South Africa.
Fourteen million Jews may sound like a lot, but they represent about 0.2% of the world’s population. You could put them all in Texas and few would notice.
In the Middle East, Christians and Jews have been driven from their homes where many families had lived for centuries. In Syria and Iraq these days Christians are being crucified and beheaded for their faith. Muslims divided by whether they are Sunni or Shiite are also dying. It all seems so pointless.
Worldwide, religious and other forms of bigotry continue during this Chanukah and Christmas season as ever before.
One need look no farther than the United Nations which, on December 10 2014, celebrated the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In 2014 the UN General Assembly adopted twenty more resolutions against Israel than any other nation for alleged violations of human rights. To put this in perspective, not one resolution was directed at China, Russia, or Saudi Arabia, among a long list of nations that deserve criticism.
Citing the Religious Freedom in the World Report 2014, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks noted that “Freedom of religion has deteriorated in almost half the nations of the world and sectarian violence is at a six-year high.”
Here in America, as the first Chanukah candle is lighted this year we are days from celebrating Christmas. These holidays are a good time to remind ourselves to resist those for whom religion is a reason to hate others as well as those who reject spiritual faith and seek to deny its message and joy to everyone.
These holidays are a time to rededicate ourselves.
c Alan Caruba
About:
Alan Caruba’s commentaries are posted daily at “Warning Signs” his popular blog and thereafter on dozens of other websites and blogs. If you love to read, visit his monthly report on new books at Bookviews.
I agree with Martin. Furthermore, American Jews have, until now, been primarily urban types who thought they could just dial 911 and be delivered from danger as if by the hand of G-d. As that illusion fades and they see our government in the clutches of brigands and Islamists, they (we!) are increasingly joining the ranks of armed pro-gun Americans!
Dave, Read your history! The Israelis have reestablished their Nation out of what was a desert. There has never been a Palestinian nation, ever. The Jewish Religion with all of its errors over the centuries has long been established since well before Christianity came on the scene. Islam was the pipe dream of a failed murderous, pedophilic merchant who preached death, destruction and submission. Where the Jewish and the Christian Religions have redeeming qualities the Muslims have none except for hatred of all who are not them and then that depends on your sect – Sunni or Shia! OBTW, Merry… Read more »
Screw both the Israeli government and the Islamic terrorists. If they destroyed each other the world would be a better place.
@RDNK – I’ll put a firearm related ‘spin’ on this posting for you. In the world right now Jews and Christians are targets of Islamic terrorism. No government anywhere should diminish or curtail their God given right to self defense!
I still dont understand how these jewish related articles by this Caruba dude has a damn thing to do with Ammoland and firearm related topics !
RDNK- It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak out and remove all doubt.