Who Will Save Us from Ourselves?

“If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.” Albert Einstein

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Watching the weary state of world affairs from a perch in my quasi-quiet American city, I ponder daily the descent and decline of my people. To whom shall I affix blame for the dwindling numbers and diminishing dedication to an ancient religion, seemingly becoming more irrelevant each day? Can facts explain the plight of the Jewish people? Or is it much more than anti Semitism, hatred and a callous indifference to the struggles of the past? Who are these enemies intent on our destruction? Do they even exist at all? Prior to World War II approximately 16 million Jews populated the earth. That number was cut to 10 million or so after the war, and now there are about 14 million Jews in the world, less than half in Israel. In 61 years the Jewish population of the world has introduced only four million. What is wrong with this picture? I never cease to be fascinated by so much ado about so few. There is always so much talk about our enemies, intent on wiping us out of existence. The insane leader of Iran called Israel a stinking corpse. As crazy and evil as he is, the truth hurts. How can a people who have managed to introduce only four million into its population in the last 61 years look to outsiders for their plight? I am not certain, but we do. Any Jew who looks inward must arrive at the conclusion it is the Jewish people who are destroying Israel and the Jews, no one else can, or ever will. The very military might we possess arguably ensures our existence, but who will save us from ourselves? Although Israel is an amazing country brimming with science, technology and probably the hope of the future in so many areas of research in medicine, the Jewish refusal to repopulate, combined with assimilation and the Jewish propensity for liberal communist and socialist leanings will prove to be the ultimate destroyer. The great irony of the Jewish people is its inherent schizophrenia. Combined with a desperate penchant for appeasement, it leads to serious trouble. Hated for their capitalist money-oriented history, Jews have been despised for an ability to create wealth for themselves and others. Yet, they have displayed a sympathy for communist ideals, not only in some of their most famous offspring like Karl Marx, but even creating kibbutzim, pure communism, even before Israel’s birth. How can a people who have been driven to create such enormous wealth, despise the very system at which they excel? Jewish people in America served two masters. The socialism of now infamous union organizers like Saul Alinsky, Rose Schneiderman, socialist and suffragist, and Emma Goldman, deported to Russia during the 1919 Red Scare in America, are but a few. Add to this the other side of the coin, a Schiff, Warburg, Straus, Goldman, Guggenheim or Sachs and you have capitalism at its purist. Why this dichotomy? Some theorize it is guilt at our own success. Guilt and Jews? As closely tied as Hamas and Iran. Perhaps buying into the envy and hatred others felt toward a Jewish talent for banking and discovery in areas of science and medicine, we bought into others’ hype about us. On a more positive note, it may be that Jewish people understand well the plight of the down trodden, and so are bound to battle the oppressors wherever they arise. But can you have it both ways? Perhaps the current state of Jewish affairs speaks to that very question. Whatever the reason for this paradox of loyalties to an ideal, it is now beginning to take a serious toll. There is great irony in the fact that Jews have been despised outcasts, yet no people on earth have ever possessed such self-loathing as the Jew. It was Christ who taught forgiveness, perhaps as a Jew realizing how desperately his own people needed to be forgiven. But for what? Do not the words “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” translate to “enough already with the guilt?” Unfortunately, we are now suffering the consequences of our folly. It seems we have at last achieved our great goal as a people, to be irrelevant and good for no more than to serve as an excuse for others insane agendas. Bravo Jewish people. Shall we examine whether this plan has worked in our favor? The only members of the faith populating with any regularity are the orthodox who are quite alienated from the moderate and reform sects. Jewish intelligence has always been praised and envied, but now that very intelligence has led to beliefs that have greatly weakened the religion. Many young, highly educated professionals under the age of forty no longer consider religion positive. They have examined the question from the perspective of a world-view and decided too many innocents have died in the name of God. It is far more beneficial to live a life without interference from ideals that promote hatred and war. How can one argue this logic when the evidence is more apparent today than ever before? At the end of the day, it isn’t even about the Jewish people any longer. We have been relegated to the status of a kitchen tool to be used when a soup needs skimming or a chicken liver chopping. Were Israel no longer useful as a weapon in the hands of a crazy manic group of dangerous despots, no one would notice the daily flights of El Al bringing scores of tourists to wander ancient biblical lands coexisting alongside the many modern miracles Israel provides the world. Perhaps the only hope for the Jewish people is to once again embrace a healthy Jewish ego and ignore the desperate need for self-loathing and guilt. We must respect our right, and the right of Israel to thrive, and stop fighting amongst ourselves so viciously and destructively. To once and for all time accept that no amount of land return or concessions will make our enemies want to stop murdering us. Until we as a people can stop blaming ourselves for our talents, intelligence and blessings from God, we are doomed to drive ourselves out of existence. And even the last pathetic remnants of Detroit’s finest clunkers will suffice to help us make the trip.