(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . No, Your Jewish Friends Are Not Ok. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-13 Today has been a hard day for me. An undercurrent of disorientation and discomfort set in my mind. I didn’t know why I was short with people. But from morning to evening, I just kept getting more and more angry. And now, I have finally connected the dots. I am stunned by both the overwhelming news coming out of Israel and also the depraved indifference I have experienced at that same news. I have spoken to two people today that were quite unaware that the largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust occurred just a few days ago. And when they heard the news (as I showed them the newspaper headlines) and given the reason for this killing, “wow, that’s terrible” were the perfunctory words that came out of their mouths. And 10 seconds later, they were on to other things, because you know, life goes on. Today is the Global Day of Jihad, according to the former Hamas chief, who wants to call on all Muslims to kill Jews today, wherever they are in the world. Last night, parents were demanding to know what their local schools were doing to keep their children safe. I have received 3 emails from my synagogue today about increased security, and because it’s Friday, that we should feel free to participate in our weekly Shabbat service from the comfort of our homes. New York and Los Angeles police departments are on heightened alert for danger and escalation. On September 11, 2001, the United States was the victim of terrorist attacks. Shock, sadness, fear, and anger. These were felt by practically every American, and indeed a great percentage of the world. We were in effect, unified. Today, it seems very much different. I read more anti-Semitic tropes as the Palestinians are being subjugated by the Israeli government. Forced to live a miserable life at the end of a tank’s turret. Surely, there is a humanitarian solution out there to bring us all together and recognize that we are better united than we are divided. But since time immemorial, Jews have been the scapegoat for the world. Easy to pick on because largely, we keep to ourselves, I guess. To be honest, I don’t understand that hatred. It never felt justified to me. The first time I have ever experienced fear for being Jewish was my freshman year of college. I was working in a bank, and an older customer who shared my last name asked me “Has it happened to you, yet?” I had no idea what he was talking about. He re-asked if the hatred and vitriol for being Jewish, has it come my way. “No,” was all I said. But it shook me up. Six years later, an anti-Semitic classmate of mine in business school was talking trash in the locker room of our gym. He said, that he’d “Jew them down,” over some such thing that I can’t recall. I told him that I was Jewish and didn’t appreciate his words. This guy was ex-navy and had muscles on top of muscles. He was about 6’3”. At best, I’m 5’7. He didn’t apologize or recognize his hate. He just mumbled something. I dropped my towel and I put my arms out. I’m standing stark naked in front of him in all my glory. I said, “Here I am. Do your best.” He left me alone. But I was shaking for weeks after. One time, on the campaign trail, when I knocked on someone’s door, I handed the man who answered my flyer. “Ken Rosenberg for City Council.” He took it from my hand, wrinkled it up, and stepped out of his front door and onto the porch. He said, “Rosenberg. You a Jew?” I said “Yes. And I don’t need your vote.” I couldn’t continue canvassing for a few hours, and to this day, the hairs on the back of my neck still stand up when I remember that event. Terrorism works. It makes people afraid to live their lives and do the things that are ordinary and normal. I had a guy once use a fake gun (really, just his fingers) and point it at me. He was arrested for “terrorist activities.” As a country, we still are reacting to 9/11 in the way we govern, the USA Patriot Act is still in existence, and we still have to take our shoes off to board an airplane. We feel off-kilter, but it is the new normal. The kibbutz that was attacked is no longer. It had been there for 70 years. It was a site of a massacre. Hostages were taken, and some are confirmed dead already. It’s barbaric. What is the proper response? As I was leaving my gym today, a guy I have known for years came up to me and said that “Hamas has to be exterminated.” I received a text from a former boss today saying, “I’m thinking of you and your family.” A lifelong friend reached out offering me words of care and comfort, as if this has happened to me, personally. And he is essentially right. There are approximately 7.6 million Jewish people in the United States, or about 2.4% of the population. In the world, we are about 16.1 million or .2% of the 8 billion souls on Earth. We’re a tiny group. Should we fight to exterminate another group? At the moment, for me, the answer is a resounding yes. Will this, plus the Russia/Ukraine war bring the United States and most of Europe into another World War? Time will let us know, but the odds have increased. I realize that I don’t understand that magnitude of what happened in Israel. But I know that in my lifetime, things will never be the same. And I fear that things will get a whole lot worse before there is an ease, a comfort, and a peace. I am still angry. 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