I remember the 1960s – and it was nothing like this. America is aflame and it is in trouble. It’s time for both a Bible lesson and a history lesson.

As much as the world changes, there are immutable facts that by definition never change. One that is crucial to remember as new and aspiring politicians vie for office is the often-quoted but all-too-often-forgotten statement made to Abraham in the Book of Genesis (12:3): “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse (or dishonor) you.” In the 60-million-plus evangelical world, this is well known and religiously pursued. In the non-evangelical world, it is at best hit or miss. One reason that America is blessed is that a majority of Americans adhere to this concept.

After the primaries held this past week, America may be heading to the tipping point. The “Squad,” consisting of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib, were the big winners with a string of victories, including the defeat of one of Israel’s and the Jewish People’s biggest and most ardent Democratic supporters, Congressman Elliot Engel.

If the trend continues, the Jewish people will start to feel very uncomfortable in the United States, and Israel will have to begin to worry that the $3 billion it receives in military aid annually from the US will be cut or, worse, terminated. Israel will also have the headache that President Obama’s last minute “quarterback sneak” and one of the most damaging moves made by a US president ever – allowing UN Resolution 2334 (stating that “Israeli settlements have no legal validity”) to pass without a veto – will be the rule rather than the exception. Of course, as the Bible points out, these actions would in the end hurt America.

Now, the history lesson. Although the Jews have suffered immense persecution and genocide, they have outlasted all of their tormentors. The Babylonians who destroyed the First Temple are left today with the poor and struggling country of Iraq. The Roman Empire, which brought about the destruction of the Second Temple, is now Italy. Italy is not a world power. Israel, on the other hand, is indeed a world power.

The toppling of monuments to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in Portland, Oregon, is an utter disgrace, but means the United States needs to learn more about itself than its liberal professors care to know and teach.

The Black Lives Matter movement has adopted virtually the entire Arab lobby. It has supported BDS, made many anti-Israel statements, and encouraged or condoned attacks on Jewish shops and businesses during the past month. In Fairfax, California, the Black Lives Matter movement was involved in the vandalization of five synagogues and three Jewish schools. Jewish businesses were looted.

This all flies in the face of history. The main slave traders were via the “Arab Slave Trade” or “Islamic Slave Trade.” This was also called the “Trans-Saharan Slave Trade” or the “Indian Ocean Slave Trade,” but it was run by the Arab world. The irony is that the Jews helped the Civil Rights Movement like no other group. Now, Black Lives Matter targets the very group that helped them the most and teams up with the Arab world, which hurt them the most. This is utter hypocrisy.

President George Washington gave credit to a Jewish man, Haym Salomon, for helping him win the Revolutionary War. Haym Salomon was Chief Financier of the American Revolution, and over 70 letters exist between Washington and Salomon, who died penniless.

America’s second president, John Adams, called the Jews “the most glorious nation that ever inhabited this earth,” and further said, “Jews have influenced the affairs of mankind more, and more happily, than any other nation ancient or modern.” Adams was also one of the first to call for the establishment of the State of Israel. In 1819, he endorsed the “return of the Jews to their Homeland, Israel.”

Thomas Jefferson based the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States upon the Bible. In Genesis (1:23), Scripture states, “So G-d created Man in His image, in the image of G-d He created him; male and female He created them.” The Declaration of Independence, penned by Jefferson, states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” This is one of many Biblical references.

The equality of Man is indeed one of those immutable facts. However, the violence, mayhem, bloodshed, occupation of cities, toppling of monuments, and revisionism of history will not bring progress. Unfortunately, it will bring the downfall of America and its blessed existence and perch. We must fix the problem before it gets too late. It is time to put out the fire.

Joseph M. Frager is a physician and lifelong activist.