Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman, for this excellent page from your Notebook. Here is a small addition ;) which is what an ex-pat and student of history has observed living in Germany over the years:
A big problem we have in Europe are the former members of that eastern block behind the former Iron Curtain. Countries who were part of the K&K monarchy like Hungary were from the get-go anti-semitic. Interestingly, many of the big industrialists (ie. in Vienna) who were often philanthropists pre-WW1 were Jewish, and often had family connections all over Europe. After the Hitler years, eastern Europe fell into the hands of the Soviet Union. West Germany, being under the control of the U.S. and its European allies, went through a systematic "anti-nazification" program. Those countries controlled by the Soviet Union did not, especially East Germany. It´s painful to see the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany), cheered on by Musk and Vance, move up the charts to being the top competitor today for the ruling CDU (Christian Democratic Union)/SPD (Social Democrats) coalition. Most of the Neo-Nazi movement originated and festered on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Like a cancer, they have spread throughout "modern" Germany, and have become strong political players. What I fear is that too many Germans will awaken too late to this danger from the far-right (which has spread to some other European countries). These small, fragile Jewish communities in Germany live in fear, not daring to wear any signs of their Jewishness in public. Police patrol in front of the "fortress" housing the Jewish school here in Munich 24/7, holding machine guns.The complex, built in 2006, houses the safest buildings in Germany, including the main Synagogue Ohel Jakob and the Jewish Museum. The threat comes less from the German public, than from near-eastern immigrants. And, once again, ignorance fuels and falls for right-wing propaganda. I just hope German citizens awaken to the danger soon enough! And that Israel´s leader stops fueling anti-semitism world-wide.
Re the BBC report that Orban first got the idea to focus on Soros from "a Jewish American political consultant" - a quick search online confirms that the reference is to the notorious GOP strategist Arthur Finkelstein, who died in 2017. The guy was an evil genius. His fingerprints are all over many of the Republicans' most disgusting and divisive political ads and strategies. One example: He came up with the idea of making a campaign issue out of opposing gay marriage to help George W. Bush wi the 2004 election. Finkelstein himself was gay and had a long-time partner whom he eventually married in a legal ceremony in Massachusetts. A documentary film about Finkelstein came out in 2022 entitled "The Consultant."
An echo of history in Steven Miller, the Jewish man who is widely seen as the architect of the MAGA attack on ALL immigrants and peoples who are not white or Judeao-Christian. Ironic that two grand American fascists were Jewish. It's clear that Jews don't have any claim on moral righteousness anymore than the white racists who are carrying out their evil plans to smash American liberalism. Humans - whatever their culture or religion - need to be defined by what they DO and what values they bring to life. George Soros is a strong supporter of liberalism - I admire him not because he is or isn't a Jew, but for what he has done. What other lens would you have us see people?
You are ignorant, sir. The largest American ANTFA organization in history liberated Nazi concentration camps in 1945. It was called, “The U.S. Army”. The largest international ANTIFA organization in history was the Red Army. It did the same.
You make a valid point. Patriotism is synonymous with anti fascism. What patriotic American could possibly admit to being “pro” fascist? Unfortunately, the attack on my intelligence at the beginning has no place in civil dialogue. Everyone is entitled to a mulligan, and I suspect you didn’t mean to offend (you did call me “sir), but next time please think twice before clicking “send.” Thank you.
Thanks for your brief against the malicious importing of antisemitic conspiracy theory. The adopting of Viktor Orban’s Soros fixation from Hungary is probably the ugliest import of group hatred in American history since The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the antisemitic Czarist secret police fabrication that you noted, was republished by Henry Ford in his newspaper The Dearborn Independent in the 1920s and a decade later on national radio by Father Coughlin. (Imported malice in the era between World Wars I and II was bolstered by the homegrown extremism of the Second Ku Klux Klan, which expanded from the South to the Midwest particularly in the 1920s and introduced white robes, cross-burning (which greeted one of my grandfathers in northwest Ohio), and a racist message that added hatred of Catholics and Jews to the earlier anti-Black, South-only version of the Klan.)
Jewish Americans who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s lived in an era of reduced antisemitism that may have reflected a revulsion against the genocidal horrors of Nazi Germany and the greater preoccupation of many nativists with the imagined global reach of the Pope in Rome. That anti-Catholic fixation peaked with John F. Kennedy’s run for President in 1960 and disappeared by the 1970s when the pro-abortion decision in Roe v. Wade decision forged new political alliances against abortion that included many Catholics and Protestants.
Your image of an anti-Soros sign at the Hungarian border in 2017 reminds me of a similar anti-Soros poster in the Kossuth Lajos / Parliament stop in the Budapest metro that I saw in 2023. Then and now I’ve been struck that a man over 90 remains a poster child for repeated fearmongering by rightwing radicals in Hungary and the US. The Fox News anti-Soros item is particularly disturbing because the item reflects remarks by Senator Ted Cruz, who seems to be migrating from traditional conservatism to right-wing conspiracy-mongering.
So right about the fantastical caracatures of George Soros as a dog whistle for anti-semitism and, I might add, a fanatical slam on liberalism and human rights. But, I take issue with your brief allude to the NYC mayoralty race as being pro-Hamas. I don't think that's what ANY of the candidates are saying - and you have misconstrued their position. Like so many of us who value human rights, the cry is for respecting human life, for proportionate and effective military responses to the threat of Hamas and not the bombings of hospitals, schools, shelters and buildings by the IDF who claim "Hamas may have been there." It's the reason why the ICC has ruled that the IDF and Netanyahu have violated international laws and not respected human rights? This seems to be sufficient for you to call them anti-Semitists. I call bullshit. When Nazi leaders were called to justice at Nuremburg, did no one ever say "they were just good Germans." A slam, calumny - but the Germans let it happen in their country. Many if not most were all in on National Socialism and Hitler's solution. So to expect that the leaders of the grotesque war on civilians in Gaza would not be tainted by the extreme callousness and brutality of the IDF (against civilians not armed combatants) is a gross error in judgement. Anti-semitism condemns ALL who have Jewish heritage or blood. One candidate vocalizes our dismay and horror at what Israeli leaders have done in the name of making it safe. Maybe Donald Trump is affecting your thinking, he seems to think that exterminating of antifa (or liberals) would be the best way to make the USA safe for his fascist state.
i agree with you Rabbi. i will not attend the protests today because of the Jew hatred. the #1 reason for the protest in my area is the "genocide of the palestinians." the entire mission of palestinians, who are hamas, is to murder all Jews. hamas/palestinians are the ones who committed crimes against humanity and will continue to do so. how terrifying is it that so many otherwise intelligent americans are falling for the tactics of the terrorists? and an air force base in idaho for qatar. we are in big trouble.
Clearly you have made a choice in the hierarchy of facing evils. The "No Kings" rally is sponsored by hundreds of civic and liberal organizations, I didn't see Hamas as a listed sponsor. My take on your comment is that you WOULD DO anything to see Israel vanquish its opponents - no matter how deadly - and are pro-Trump by extension. By the way, what does Israel's war have to do with being Jewish? Are all Israelis Jews? Are all Jews entitled to kill those with a claim on land in the ME? Your position is contradictory and gives little value to human life. For me, religion is not anywhere near the MORAL value of human rights. For all. No Kings for me. I've made my stand.
Your reply shows that you invoke passion and hatred and not reasoned judgement. Your conclusion makes no sense. If you love and care about people - then human rights are paramount. No other position can stand against anti-semitists or others who seem to think that "race" - which has no biological meaning - is an excuse for special treatment. I pity you and your wrapping yourself in self-exalted judgment and hatred of those who don't see logic or moral power in your views.
Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman, for this excellent page from your Notebook. Here is a small addition ;) which is what an ex-pat and student of history has observed living in Germany over the years:
A big problem we have in Europe are the former members of that eastern block behind the former Iron Curtain. Countries who were part of the K&K monarchy like Hungary were from the get-go anti-semitic. Interestingly, many of the big industrialists (ie. in Vienna) who were often philanthropists pre-WW1 were Jewish, and often had family connections all over Europe. After the Hitler years, eastern Europe fell into the hands of the Soviet Union. West Germany, being under the control of the U.S. and its European allies, went through a systematic "anti-nazification" program. Those countries controlled by the Soviet Union did not, especially East Germany. It´s painful to see the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany), cheered on by Musk and Vance, move up the charts to being the top competitor today for the ruling CDU (Christian Democratic Union)/SPD (Social Democrats) coalition. Most of the Neo-Nazi movement originated and festered on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Like a cancer, they have spread throughout "modern" Germany, and have become strong political players. What I fear is that too many Germans will awaken too late to this danger from the far-right (which has spread to some other European countries). These small, fragile Jewish communities in Germany live in fear, not daring to wear any signs of their Jewishness in public. Police patrol in front of the "fortress" housing the Jewish school here in Munich 24/7, holding machine guns.The complex, built in 2006, houses the safest buildings in Germany, including the main Synagogue Ohel Jakob and the Jewish Museum. The threat comes less from the German public, than from near-eastern immigrants. And, once again, ignorance fuels and falls for right-wing propaganda. I just hope German citizens awaken to the danger soon enough! And that Israel´s leader stops fueling anti-semitism world-wide.
Re the BBC report that Orban first got the idea to focus on Soros from "a Jewish American political consultant" - a quick search online confirms that the reference is to the notorious GOP strategist Arthur Finkelstein, who died in 2017. The guy was an evil genius. His fingerprints are all over many of the Republicans' most disgusting and divisive political ads and strategies. One example: He came up with the idea of making a campaign issue out of opposing gay marriage to help George W. Bush wi the 2004 election. Finkelstein himself was gay and had a long-time partner whom he eventually married in a legal ceremony in Massachusetts. A documentary film about Finkelstein came out in 2022 entitled "The Consultant."
An echo of history in Steven Miller, the Jewish man who is widely seen as the architect of the MAGA attack on ALL immigrants and peoples who are not white or Judeao-Christian. Ironic that two grand American fascists were Jewish. It's clear that Jews don't have any claim on moral righteousness anymore than the white racists who are carrying out their evil plans to smash American liberalism. Humans - whatever their culture or religion - need to be defined by what they DO and what values they bring to life. George Soros is a strong supporter of liberalism - I admire him not because he is or isn't a Jew, but for what he has done. What other lens would you have us see people?
You are ignorant, sir. The largest American ANTFA organization in history liberated Nazi concentration camps in 1945. It was called, “The U.S. Army”. The largest international ANTIFA organization in history was the Red Army. It did the same.
You make a valid point. Patriotism is synonymous with anti fascism. What patriotic American could possibly admit to being “pro” fascist? Unfortunately, the attack on my intelligence at the beginning has no place in civil dialogue. Everyone is entitled to a mulligan, and I suspect you didn’t mean to offend (you did call me “sir), but next time please think twice before clicking “send.” Thank you.
A “valid point”? “Valid point”? A “point”?
Dude. Get your nose out of the Torah. You can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality.
Thanks for your brief against the malicious importing of antisemitic conspiracy theory. The adopting of Viktor Orban’s Soros fixation from Hungary is probably the ugliest import of group hatred in American history since The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the antisemitic Czarist secret police fabrication that you noted, was republished by Henry Ford in his newspaper The Dearborn Independent in the 1920s and a decade later on national radio by Father Coughlin. (Imported malice in the era between World Wars I and II was bolstered by the homegrown extremism of the Second Ku Klux Klan, which expanded from the South to the Midwest particularly in the 1920s and introduced white robes, cross-burning (which greeted one of my grandfathers in northwest Ohio), and a racist message that added hatred of Catholics and Jews to the earlier anti-Black, South-only version of the Klan.)
Jewish Americans who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s lived in an era of reduced antisemitism that may have reflected a revulsion against the genocidal horrors of Nazi Germany and the greater preoccupation of many nativists with the imagined global reach of the Pope in Rome. That anti-Catholic fixation peaked with John F. Kennedy’s run for President in 1960 and disappeared by the 1970s when the pro-abortion decision in Roe v. Wade decision forged new political alliances against abortion that included many Catholics and Protestants.
Your image of an anti-Soros sign at the Hungarian border in 2017 reminds me of a similar anti-Soros poster in the Kossuth Lajos / Parliament stop in the Budapest metro that I saw in 2023. Then and now I’ve been struck that a man over 90 remains a poster child for repeated fearmongering by rightwing radicals in Hungary and the US. The Fox News anti-Soros item is particularly disturbing because the item reflects remarks by Senator Ted Cruz, who seems to be migrating from traditional conservatism to right-wing conspiracy-mongering.
So right about the fantastical caracatures of George Soros as a dog whistle for anti-semitism and, I might add, a fanatical slam on liberalism and human rights. But, I take issue with your brief allude to the NYC mayoralty race as being pro-Hamas. I don't think that's what ANY of the candidates are saying - and you have misconstrued their position. Like so many of us who value human rights, the cry is for respecting human life, for proportionate and effective military responses to the threat of Hamas and not the bombings of hospitals, schools, shelters and buildings by the IDF who claim "Hamas may have been there." It's the reason why the ICC has ruled that the IDF and Netanyahu have violated international laws and not respected human rights? This seems to be sufficient for you to call them anti-Semitists. I call bullshit. When Nazi leaders were called to justice at Nuremburg, did no one ever say "they were just good Germans." A slam, calumny - but the Germans let it happen in their country. Many if not most were all in on National Socialism and Hitler's solution. So to expect that the leaders of the grotesque war on civilians in Gaza would not be tainted by the extreme callousness and brutality of the IDF (against civilians not armed combatants) is a gross error in judgement. Anti-semitism condemns ALL who have Jewish heritage or blood. One candidate vocalizes our dismay and horror at what Israeli leaders have done in the name of making it safe. Maybe Donald Trump is affecting your thinking, he seems to think that exterminating of antifa (or liberals) would be the best way to make the USA safe for his fascist state.
i agree with you Rabbi. i will not attend the protests today because of the Jew hatred. the #1 reason for the protest in my area is the "genocide of the palestinians." the entire mission of palestinians, who are hamas, is to murder all Jews. hamas/palestinians are the ones who committed crimes against humanity and will continue to do so. how terrifying is it that so many otherwise intelligent americans are falling for the tactics of the terrorists? and an air force base in idaho for qatar. we are in big trouble.
Clearly you have made a choice in the hierarchy of facing evils. The "No Kings" rally is sponsored by hundreds of civic and liberal organizations, I didn't see Hamas as a listed sponsor. My take on your comment is that you WOULD DO anything to see Israel vanquish its opponents - no matter how deadly - and are pro-Trump by extension. By the way, what does Israel's war have to do with being Jewish? Are all Israelis Jews? Are all Jews entitled to kill those with a claim on land in the ME? Your position is contradictory and gives little value to human life. For me, religion is not anywhere near the MORAL value of human rights. For all. No Kings for me. I've made my stand.
sorry you are so ignorant but being stupid has no moral value. your comments prove you are a fascist and a Jew hater.
Your reply shows that you invoke passion and hatred and not reasoned judgement. Your conclusion makes no sense. If you love and care about people - then human rights are paramount. No other position can stand against anti-semitists or others who seem to think that "race" - which has no biological meaning - is an excuse for special treatment. I pity you and your wrapping yourself in self-exalted judgment and hatred of those who don't see logic or moral power in your views.