With each passing day I see how accurately the title of last week’s column – “Purim In Real Time” –portrays the insanity unfolding before our eyes. If it weren’t so tragic it would be laughable.
Recently, a State Department deputy spokesperson revealed the true cause of Islamic terrorism: Poverty and lack of education.
These terrorists cut up human beings as though they were pieces of meat. They lock people up in cages and proceed to burn them alive. They kidnap and enslave young girls, forcing them into prostitution. All of this, according to the State Department spokesperson, because they are economically and academically deprived.
With apologies to the professionals, I would suggest it is not depravation but indoctrination these people are suffering from; indoctrination in torturing or killing any individual or nation that does not embrace their ideology.
The time has come to awaken from our slumber. Rather than rationalize satanic evil with psychobabble, let us call a spade a spade; let us learn to identify the enemy and not leave ourselves open to more sinister attacks.
As for terrorists’ supposed poverty and lack of education, consider the case of Jihad John Muhammad Emwazi, the public and quite articulate face of ISIS, capable of beheading multitudes with perfect precision and without even flinching or revealing a pang of conscience. Jihad John takes pride in his barbaric skills and he’s proud to display them on social media.
Or consider the late Osama bin Laden, chief strategist of Al Qaeda; or the late Muhammad Atta, star pilot of the 9/11 attacks; or Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the doctor who massacred thirteen people at Fort Hood, Texas; or Ayman al-Zawahari or Umar Farouk Abdulmatallab or hosts of others – all of them highly educated killers from stable middle class or even wealthy families.
Dr. Mark Sageman, a former CIA officer and author of the landmark 2003 study “Understanding Terror Networks,” has stated that two-thirds of Al Qaeda members were university educated and that the vast majority of terrorists come from middle class backgrounds. Placing the onus of responsibility for their satanic evil on poverty and lack of education only obscures their real story and their real agenda.
When western civilization absolves murderers of any accountability by attributing their heinous acts to social victimization, the floodgates of anarchy are loosed. And that is the beginning of the end.
If ever there has been a nation that has suffered almost unceasing oppression, persecution, torture, and enslavement it is we Jews. Not even eight decades ago we were cast into the flames of the crematoria and forced to breathe the deadly fumes of the gas chambers – and yet not one of us opted to terrorize the world, to maim and rape and slaughter and bring darkness upon mankind.
To the contrary, we came forth from our unimaginable grief and pain with the light of faith and through that faith illuminated the world and our own path.
Over the centuries those who sought to destroy us resorted to the bow and arrow, then to the sword, then to the gun. By the 20th century scientific advancements made possible the mass murder of our people in Nazi gas chambers.
I know that no matter what those who hate us do they will never realize their plans, for G-d Himself promised we would stand as eternal witnesses to His Holy Name and declare His Torah to all mankind. I knew that even as a little girl; my saintly father, HaRav HaGaon Avraham HaLevi Jungreis, zt”l, taught me well: Hashem will always preserve us.
Six million of our people were killed but G-d held to His promise. Against all odds we survived as a people and returned to Israel, our G-d-given homeland.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, despite all the abuse and slurs that were flung his way, came to Washington last week to tell his story, to appeal to the hearts, minds, and souls of the American people – the most charitable, freedom-loving, and benevolent people of our time.
Even as Queen Esther of old approached the king and pleaded for the life her people, so too did Netanyahu plead for his people, asking that Iran be stopped before it gets its hands on nuclear weapons that can be launched against Israel.
Netanyahu was received with great respect and admiration by most members of Congress, but there were others – among them, I’m ashamed to say, many Jews – who lambasted him for daring to speak up.
I learned a long time ago that Jews never win. Those who hate us will condemn us for speaking out, and if we remain silent they will judge us for remaining passive.
As if this were not enough, upon his return to Jerusalem the prime minister had other detractors to deal with. Elections in Israel are imminent and the shrill sounds of politicking are heard everywhere in the country. Many of his opponents were quick to pounce on him, not caring how that attack would be read by the world at large. Thus we see the onslaught from within and from without.
Queen Esther’s call, “Go gather all the Jews,” rings louder then ever before. But in contrast to the days of Mordechai and Esther, we are back to the same old infighting that led to the destruction of the Holy Temple.
I understand election campaigns are rough and tumble affairs, but for Jews to mount ugly and ferocious public attacks on one another is as dangerous as it is foolish. It can only spell disaster.
If only we would learn and really take to heart those beautiful and immortal words of the Psalmist: “Hineh mah tov – how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in harmony.”