Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/669073
viewpoints » S e n d l e t t e r s t o : l e t t e r s @ t h e j e w i s h n e w s . c o m 8 April 21 • 2016 A gainst the backdrop of the most- observed holiday on the Jewish calendar, namely Passover, the question arises: Can European Judaism survive the anti-Jewish fervor sweeping the continent, a centuries-old bastion of Jewish life before Adolf Hitler's assump- tion of power in Germany during the 1930s? Jews everywhere must take heed. "People understand there is no future for Jews in Europe," said Avraham Gigi, the chief rabbi of Brussels, last November — setting the stage for thoughtful con- sideration of this wrenching issue. The rabbi expressed his fear in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks in November, when French synagogues shut down for the first time since World War II. He only could have reaffirmed that fear last month after Islamist terrorists again struck — at an airport and a sub- way station in Brussels. To its credit, the European Jewish Association (EJA) quickly countered Gigi's lament. It vowed to help ensure "that the 3 million Jews who live on our continent" could continue "to command a safe home" and "freely and proudly identify themselves as Jews." TRYING TO COPE Amid rising anti-Semitism and brew- ing terror across Europe, European Jews have stepped up aliyah to Israel as well as emigration to places like Canada and the U.S. But in the spirit of Jews digging in their heels when the going gets tougher, Jewish communities throughout Europe have dedicated new synagogues, Jewish schools and other Jewish institutions. "We urge all European rabbis and com- munity leaders to stand up in defense of the right of European Jews to remain in their historic homelands should they choose to, to support and encourage their pride in their European heritage and to similarly fight for their safety and security as, God forbid, we should instill yet more fear in already very worrying times," EJA's director, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, said in a stirring plea reported by JTA. He's absolutely right. Even as Jews choose to make aliyah out of love for their Jewish ancestral home- land, Jews in the diaspora shouldn't auto- matically reject their modern homelands out of fear for their wellbeing. Still, it's natural for people fearful for their lives to question their government's ability to adequately guard against orga- nized terror — which is now the scenario for Jews and others not only in France and Belgium, but also in places like England and Germany. STAYING FOCUSED On Passover, which begins Friday night, celebrate the religious freedom we have in America; it's special. But don't forget the religious turmoil confronting Jews and others elsewhere, wherever seeds of hatred have been sown. At the seder table, where families gather to reflect as well as enjoy a meal together, Jews recount the story of liberation from slavery in Egypt about 3,300 years ago. Religious and civil freedom, so limited around the world, is at the core of who Jews are. It drives us to defend our faith against vitriol aimed at Jews and the Jewish state — as well as to battle on behalf of the downtrodden anywhere. The Jerusalem Post predicts 2016 will show an increase in anti-Semitic violence in Europe, based upon find- ings of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. It's not far-fetched to predict a worldwide increase in such terror. For sure, neo-Nazis, fascists and revisionist-leaning Christians belong on our watch list. But radicalized immigrant Muslims present the greatest danger in Europe, argues Hebrew University's Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism. As Europe works to improve how it forecasts anti-Semitic activities and trends, it can't overlook addressing the hundreds of thousands of Muslim immi- grants — and the budding terrorists and jihadists lurking among the vast majority of peaceful people. Combating anti-Semitism to the extent possible in Europe is essential to European Jews believing they don't have to consider uprooting for safer, more secure surroundings. Jews comprise a unique people; we're not just individuals. This Passover season, it behooves American Jews — blessed with relative wealth and security — to remember not only our ancestors' deliverance from Egypt, but also today's plight of European Jewry amid a caul- dron of anti-Jewish enmity. * editorial Europe's Anti-Semitism Is Our Concern letters New LGBT Laws Are Discriminatory Not in my 92 years of living on this Earth have I been so outraged, enraged, upset or unhappy with my life in the United States. The newly passed LGBT laws smack of the days when black people in the South had to sit in the back of the bus and use their own designated toilet facilities; when Jews in Germany had to wear the yellow star on their cloth- ing during the Hitler regime. Now we have legislators in North Carolina, Mississippi and even in Michigan trying to pass or passing laws telling human beings what toilet facilities they may use. What is becoming of the U.S. being "the land of the free and the home of the brave"? Ruth Vosko Farmington CLARIFICATION • "Palestinian Watchdog" (April 14) should have stated that Bassam Eid's talk at Hadassah House in West Bloomfield on March 23 was sponsored by StandWithUs-Michigan and co- hosted by the Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah. Letters to the Editor: We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letters published will include the name and city of resi- dence of the writer. Letters submitted must contain the name, address, title of the writer (if applicable) and a daytime phone number. We prefer emailed letters. Please email to letters@thejewishnews. com. (Letters sent by U.S. Postal Service must be hand-signed and mailed to the Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034.) Religious and civil freedom, so limited around the world, is at the core of who Jews are. continued from page 5 The day moved on with speeches by countless journalists and politicians, all articulating the two major threats facing the Jewish people. The first threat is the overall label- ing and boycotting of products made in Israel. The boycott is hurting the Israeli economy and is also hurting the livelihood and security of the people the boycott is claiming to be helping. It does that by taking away economic and financial resources for Israelis as well as Palestinians. It was made clear during the conference that peace cannot be achieved until both sides can work out a plan and trust the other. The second threat facing the Jewish people is the growing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric on American and international college campuses. Many calls to action were set before the audi- ence, and one strong statement was made clear: There is a need for Israeli and diaspora Jews to become more edu- cated about the problems Israel faces. It is time for the Jewish people to take a strong stand against hate. The conference emphasized the importance of young Jews on campuses being proud of who they are and being given the opportunity to learn how to defend Israel and fight against anti- Semitism. The keynote speaker, longtime vocal Israel advocate and Hollywood actor/ director Roseanne Barr, stated in her speech that Jews should no longer put our heads down. It is time for us, Jewish people all over the world, to speak out and fight for the rights of Israel and the Jewish people, and against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) move- ment. After returning from this conference, I am inspired to continue working on behalf of Israel. As a strong Jewish com- munity, it is our responsibility to fight for Israel in the face of hate. It is up to us to help educate others while educat- ing ourselves on the facts — not just personal stories. Israel needs our help to survive. It is our call to action to par- ticipate in making peace and upholding our right to have a homeland — Israel. I was proud to be a participant in this conference and to continue the tradition of our family in supporting Israel. I am proud of my mother, brother and grand- parents, Annette and Russell Meskin, who were honored this year with the StandWithUs Michigan Beacon of Light Award. * Deena Martin of Sylvan Lake currently lives in Ben Shemen Youth Village in Israel. See a related story on page 22. » c o m m e n t a r y Homegrown Advocate