There is a huge problem with letting tens of thousands in from war-torn Muslim countries that cannot be properly vetted. We should at least be cautious.
Just when I think it is safe to read the weekly Reform movement email blast, I view the first “In the News” article. “The Exodus continues today and here is why it matters.
Ok, so far so good, here it comes …. We need to teach our children about our deliverance from Egypt and then relate it to the modern time whose freedom and redemption remain an ongoing journey.
Ok I get it, there are many displaced people from the turmoil in the Middle East. Some families are desperate. I don’t like to see little kids washing up on a beach either. It makes me ill. Being a refugee is a real sore spot with any Jew, especially after the Holocaust. I will never forget hearing a survivor speaking about how he was on an airplane after the Holocaust thinking, the world is so large, vast, why can’t there be a little place for me, a Jew, to live?
I don’t forget that our people were kicked out of almost every European country over the millennia. We are not called the wandering Jews for nothing.
There is, however, a huge difference here.
Comparing our Exodus to today’s refugee crisis is offensive. They are in a civil war with atrocities being committed on both sides. Is a military aged man who should be staying home and fighting the “bad” guys a refugee?
In a world of 1.6 billion Muslims with over 23 Arab countries, why are we responsible to take them in? They have nowhere to go? How many refugees has the rich desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia taken in? Here is a hint – they have taken in as many refugees as they have synagogues….. Zero.
The sage Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?” Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14
If not now, when? When the person whom you are helping doesn’t want to kill you!
Don’t we believe the Islamic State terrorists, said not too long ago that they would be sending millions of refugees to conquer Europe? Yes, they said it. In February 2015 they threatened to send 500,000 migrants to Europe as a psychological weapon.
Before Hillary Clinton and company decided to get rid of Gaddafi in Libya, he predicted that the Mediterranean will become a sea of chaos.”
ISIS has made no secret of its plans to seed these “refugees” with terrorist sleeper cells.
So why don’t we take these people at their word? After all, they may be horrible, terrible terrorists, but maybe they don’t always lie. ..
We also all heard recently that the State Department finally admitted that there is a genocide going on against Christians.
So what do our “social justice” warriors do or say? Nothing, whatsoever.
So why do liberal Jews focus on Muslim refugees? Why aren’t we talking about Christians? Where is the outcry from the organized Jewish community? Christians after all closely share most of our Western values.
In my opinion, Liberal Jews don’t like Christians, especially fundamentalists, because they are antithetical to their world view.
Strong words here, but think about it.
The religion of many Jews on the left is abortion, gay marriage and social justice. They do not share those values with many Christians. Evangelical Christians are anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and believe in conservative values.
What is ironic is that in most of these countries from where the refugees are coming, the culture is polar opposite to ours. Female circumcision is the norm. Homosexuals are thrown off buildings. Honor killings are acceptable. There is no free speech and no acceptance of any other religion. Try converting from Islam to anything else. Not gonna happen. At best, in some Muslim countries, infidels (Christians, Jews, and Baha’is) are permanent second-class citizens, or dhimmis.
Now let’s talk about the “refugees.” Have you seen the turmoil that is going on in Europe? Germany is putting women and men on separate trains. Why? There are actually classes about how Muslim men should treat women – hint, don’t rape them.
Many Muslims hate Jews and Christians and the very countries that they have immigrated to. While not every Muslim supports ISIS, many support terrorism in some form. Many are anti-Western and view Western society as evil and corrupt.
Notice I have not even mentioned terrorism or terrorists. I wanted to save that one for last. Even the Obama administration admits that they cannot with any degree of confidence confirm that we will not be letting in Al Qaeda and ISIS members. We all know how concerned he is about terrorists getting nuclear weapons. See the Iran deal …
So, sounds good to me, let’s let many more in. After all, Jews in the United States have enjoyed a renaissance, and anti-Semitism here is very low. Jews are represented in every profession and are an integral part of the United States. So, let’s mess that all up and invite millions in that don’t like or support us.
We will become like Malmo, Sweden, which once had a large Jewish community and is almost a complete no-go zone now for Jews. Jews cannot wear anything identifiable as Jewish in these areas.
I personally believe that immigration, foreigners, different cultures are an important ingredient is what has made our country great. You can have a neighborhood that has a Jew, an Arab, a Christian, etc. all living together. We celebrate other cultures. We do, however, have to be honest about this. There is a huge problem with letting tens of thousands in from war-torn Muslim countries that cannot be properly vetted. We should at least be cautious. If we don’t, we will end up like Europe. Many in Europe now feel that their relaxed tolerance has led to an influx of immigrants who are intolerant.
My parents used to say, finish your dinner because there are starving kids in Asia. There are millions who are facing oppression, starvation, religious persecution.
As Jews, as Americans, as human beings we should have empathy. However, our first responsibility is to survive and make sure that we are not committing suicide at the same time.
