This past Tuesday was “Giving Tuesday.” I am certain that you were inundated with requests for donations—from places that you have supported in the past, from organizations that you believe in, from institutions that offer help to people throughout the world. I was inundated with requests, but this year I experienced a lot of heartache. After October 7th there are a few organizations to which I contributed in the past that will not receive contributions from me anymore.
October 7th changed the perspective of most Jews throughout the world. The barbarity of Hamas’ actions shocked us, and some of the world’s reactions left us with a broken heart. The way in which the terrorists raped, captured, and slaughtered people in the State of Israel was hard enough for all of us. The responses of some groups to the actions of a terrorist organization was beyond unacceptable. It seemed like there is always a logical explanation when Jewish blood is spilled, when Jewish women are raped, and when Jewish babies are subjected to unimaginable torture. And it seems that the same reason applies for harassing Jewish students in university campuses, or for killing Jews in peaceful demonstrations, as well as chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” (if one doesn’t understand why this is a problematic statement, please look at a map, and see that this sentence means the obliteration of Israel as a state). I guess it is perfectly fine for certain foreign governments to condemn Israel for doing what must be done to bring the hostages back, instead of pressuring Hamas and other terrorist organizations to release them (after all, Israel is a Jewish State). It is acceptable for the press to not cover at all, to misrepresent the intent of the gathering, or to underestimate the hundreds of thousands who marched on November 14 in Washington, DC (most of the marchers were Jewish). There is a name for all that: it is called Jew Hatred. I do not like to call it antisemitism—this term doesn’t really convey the underlying sentiment motivating all these actions. Let’s call it what it is, which is the hatred of Jews and Judaism. There is no reason that can explain the savagery perpetrated by Hamas in Israeli soil on October 7th. There is no explanation for spreading historical misinformation about Jewish presence in Israel throughout the ages. There is no cause for harassing Jews throughout the world, or for prejudiced reporting. These actions do not bring a solution to the conflict in the Middle East. These actions will not change the lives of Palestinians or help alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians. They just reflect the hatred of Jews and Judaism.
Some American organizations felt the need to provide statements about the conflict, castigating Israel and supporting Hamas’ actions. That hurts me in a profound way. I marched in support of many causes; I supported many organizations in the past. I gave financial contributions to these causes, and to liberal media organizations, based on what I believe that my tradition requires of me. But no more. As an example, I hurt when I hear feminists and some women’s organizations failing to condemn the methodically planned rape of Jewish women. Violence against women is violence against women, wherever (and to whomever) it is perpetrated. I will not change what I believe—I will just refrain from supporting these causes with my time and with my money, channeling these funds to Jewish organizations that are helping Jews wherever we are, in Israel and in the diaspora.
I know that many people helped JILLI this past Tuesday, as well as throughout the years. I am grateful for all you do to keep us educating people and creating strong emotional ties with the Jewish tradition. I count on your support. Let’s continue to strengthen the connections with God, with our community, and with our tradition, and work on changing one mind at a time, with honesty and respect for all.