What do all these things have in common? They all represent rabid anti-Semitism with nothing done about it.
The European Union sanctioned several Jewish organizations for “settler violence.” At the same time, they sanctioned terrorist leaders of Hamas, as though Israel and Hamas were on the same footing. One of the organizations they sanctioned was Regavim, headed by my nephew Meir Deutch. As Meir makes clear, Regavim is a think tank and policymaking organization dedicated to showing Palestinian encroachment on Israeli territories; this has nothing to do with violence. The other organizations are similarly peaceful, dedicated to establishing Israeli sovereignty over territories in Judea and Samaria.
The referencing of these organizations as violent is nothing short of a blood libel against the State of Israel. It is the EU being the EU in its one-sided treatment of the Palestinians over the Israelis. Yet, aside from some Israeli politicians, including Gideon Saar and Betzalel Smotrich, there has been no outcry from the outside world to what is an obvious anti-Semitic smear. Not a peep.
Nicholas Kristof, a venerated New York Times columnist, sank to an all-time low, as did the paper, for writing a horrific article claiming that Israel trains dogs to do bestial acts with Palestinian detainees. There was no independent evidence – only claims from pro-Hamas sources. Yet, this putrid piece of reporting was given front-page exposure in The Times. All this occurred while, at the same time, a report came out detailing the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, which The Times turned down.
Who screams about this travesty? A handful of Jewish organizations and the Israeli government. Nothing from outside sources.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani dug deep to show a documentary on the Nakba, the day that Palestinians call a “catastrophe,” when Israel expelled 770,000 Palestinians from their homes during the War of Independence. Of course, nothing is mentioned about the fact that five Arab armies declared war on Israel, necessitating Israeli resistance, nor about the fact that Arab leaders encouraged the Palestinians to flee, promising that all would be returned after the Arabs conquer Israel. Mamdani released this film under government auspices, allowing taxpayer money to fund it.
Did you hear any objections? I didn’t think so.
The Pulitzer Prize, that most esteemed award given to journalists, was awarded to the photographer who took the infamous picture of a Gazan mother holding on to her dear child. The child was pictured as having a skeletal outline of his spine, leading one to conclude that the child was suffering from starvation in Gaza, thanks to the Israelis. This picture was splashed across the front page of The Times.
The problem was that this child was suffering from cerebral palsy, causing his emaciated look. The mother did not look undernourished in the picture; why would her child be the only one suffering? But facts do not matter in the Israeli conflict in Gaza, and the prize was awarded, nonetheless. No outrage once again.
Locally, in Baltimore, a woman named Jill Carter, who oversees awarding city contracts, claimed that Jews control the media. How can this woman be expected to decide fairly in the case of a Jew applying for a contract? Again, silence.
It seems that Jews are fair game when it comes to anything that smacks of anti-Semitism. It’s sobering to think that we do not have the clout or the resolve, despite our many established organizations, to take on the big names.
That is something very concerning indeed.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.