Jewish
American Privilege
As a Jewish child, growing up in America, I was so privileged, I
didn’t even realize I was privileged.
I knew that as a child, my mother got beaten up by Christian kids
because “Jews killed Jesus” but that happened to her, not me. I never knowingly
experienced antisemitism or discrimination.
I knew that my
grandmother fled Russia and fought for the founding of the Jewish State but
she did that, not me.
I knew that my father grew up without his family because they
shipped him off to America as a very small child to save him from the
Holocaust. I don’t know what happened to them, most Hungarian Jews ended up in
Auschwitz. It was later that I learned that the US government knew what
was happening in Auschwitz, could have bombed the train tracks to stop
more Jews, my family, from being shipped off to their deaths but chose not to.
America bombed factories all around the train tracks to damage the military
industry but not the train tracks. Why damage the Nazi death industry?
I knew. But none of those things happened to me. I lived in a
nice house, went to a nice school, had friends, took dance lessons. I was never
cold or hungry. I didn’t know what it was like to have friends murdered in
terror attacks or to have missiles shot at me.
I had no idea how privileged I was.
When Joe Liberman ran for US Vice President, I didn’t understand
why my grandmother was horrified at the idea. Wouldn’t it be a good thing to
have a Jewish man in such an important position? She told me, “You don’t
understand. If he succeeds and something bad happens Jews will be blamed.
Israel will be blamed. We will be accused of dual loyalty. We will be blamed.
It’s better for a Jew not to be in such a prominent position.”
I didn’t understand.
When I made Aliyah and learned how difficult it is to integrate
into the country, I didn’t understand why people from previous waves of
immigration didn’t make it easier. Every single wave of immigrants has had to
fight to become Israeli, to prove their worth, and to belong. Some had bigger
gaps to bridge than others, but all had a hard time, including privileged me.
Why did those who had made their own Aliyah look with skepticism
on new immigrants? We all want Jews to come home, why are there hesitations and
difficulties in embracing those who come? Why the duality in attitude?
I didn’t understand.
When he was Prime Minister Ariel Sharon coined the term “things
one can see from here, you don’t see from there.” He was referring to the
different perspective he gained sitting in the Prime Minister’s seat. Understanding
changes when perspective changes.
Now I understand.
Now I know what it is like to have missiles shot at me because I
am a Jew and I live in the Jewish homeland.
Now I know what it is like to stand at a funeral for a girl the
same age as my son, murdered because she was a
Jew, serving the Jewish State.
Now I know what it is like to stand each year and mark the names
of all the people who were murdered for being Jews – just those who belonged to
the same school my boys attended. Once I would not have understood why there is
empty space
on the Memorial Wall at the school, space for more names. I certainly would never have
wondered what will they do when the wall is full. WHEN it is full – not IF it
becomes full.
Now I know what it is like to be worried about MY soldier. To be
terrified of the knock on the
door.
To have my guts twist in helpless agony for friends who did experience that
life-changing official knock, announcing that your most precious was ripped
from you, that your family will never be the same again.
Now I know many things I did not know before…
Now when I see the propaganda telling me
that I must agree with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky because he is
Jewish, I am reminded of my grandmother’s reaction to Joe Liberman’s run for
VP. Zelensky is looking out for Ukrainian interests (as he should). All kinds
of people, with varying agendas (including Zelensky) are pushing his Jewish
roots and using Holocaust memory to manipulate Israel into action – with no
regard for Israeli interests or security.
Now I understand the duality of attitude regarding new immigrants
to Israel. How do we know that they are even Jews? We want ALL JEWS, from
everywhere in the world, especially from areas where they are in danger, to
make Aliyah. All of them. We will find the means to take care of them and do so
happily. But non-Jews? Especially non-Jewish refugees from a notoriously
antisemitic country?! No. Just no. Israel has already accepted way too many
non-Jewish USSR ex-pats who just wanted to improve their standard of living.
America didn’t accept them but they learned to manipulate the Israeli system,
so they came here instead.
There are many voices, particularly those backed by progressive
Jewish, American-based organizations declaring that Israel needs to stand on
the side of morality and help ALL Ukrainian refugees, without inquiring if they
are Jewish or have any connection to Israel.
No. Just no.
One of the most fundamental lessons of Jewish morality teaches
that one must look after the poor of one’s own town before looking elsewhere.
Morality is looking after our family, friends, and neighbors before looking
after strangers. The Jewish State is responsible for Jewish lives and a Jewish
future. Those who are so privileged they don’t realize they are privileged
might not realize that we can not take the existence of a Jewish State and a
Jewish future for granted.
Privileged or malevolent. Sometimes, it is hard to tell the
difference - particularly when the result of adhering to their advice is
destruction.
No one on the face of the earth has any right to demand that Jews
or Israel do anything else. No one else will protect us. Israel DOES send
assistance to all kinds of people, all over the world but we do so because we
chose to, not because we must or because morality demands it.
It might be reasonable to demand we assist other nations when
there are no poor people left in Israel. When none of our elderly have to choose
between heating their homes in winter or buying medicine. When the government
doesn’t have to choose which medicines to subsidize because there is enough money
to find treatments for everyone (Jews AND non-Jewish Israelis). When we are not
in a constant battle for the right to exist.
Then, maybe, it will be reasonable to demand we use our resources
for other people and other nations. Until that time, no. Just no.
