Wave of anti-Semitism is worst since Second World War

Israel Insider ^ | 7/15/2002 | Israel Insider

[Israel Insider]

Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior said yesterday that "the wave of worldwide anti-Semitic attacks in the last four months is the worst since the Second World War." David Rosenzweig, a 49-year-old Orthodox Jew from Toronto, was stabbed to death early Sunday in what local police are describing as a "hate crime." Vandals broke into the synagogue in the Welsh town of Swansea on Thursday, and destroyed a Torah scroll and drew swastikas on the walls.

Melchior, who is responsible for Israel's connection with Diaspora Jewry, said that in some countries, the number of anti-Semitic incidents has grown substantially in recent months. "We cannot look only at the symptoms. [The number of attacks] is so great, that we don't even manage to register them all," he told Israel Radio.

"The burning of synagogues and the attacks are only the symptoms. The dehumanization of society, which is reinforcing anti-Jewish violence, is extremely dangerous and we must fight against anti-Semitism because it is a threat to democracy and fairness in society."

Melchior added, "A dangerous environment has been created, which we have to fight at all costs." According to Melchior, efforts are underway to form a "coalition of sanity" of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders and public officials who are prepared to support the fight against anti-Semitism.

Anti-Semitic events have been reported in Russia, Australia, France, Italy, and the United States. Last week, the Hebrew Congregation building at Swansea, Wales was defaced with signs and slogans, windows were smashed, and the synagogue's 300-year-old Torah scroll was torn up and thrown outside. Every room of the building was vandalized and attempts were made to burn the building down. Local police stated that it was not yet clear whether the incident was "connected to events in the Middle East or to regular neo Nazi activity."

"Anti-Semitism has been getting worse here since the beginning of the year - when violence in Israel worsened," an anonymous 30-year-old London Jew told the BBC. "This is the most vulnerable I have felt as a British Jew. I don't want to suggest that British Jews are walking around terrified - we're not. But thanks to the fallout from the Middle East, we are starting to get uneasy."

Skinheads stab Jew to death Though Toronto police believe that Rosenzweig's death was "a murder motivated by hate," they added that he was an innocent passerby, killed "because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

According to David Chazan, owner of the King David Pizzeria chain, the skinheads got into an argument at the pizzeria earlier in the evening, and returned to the store harassing customers and carrying a knife just after 1 a.m. Chazan said that one of his employees and the skinheads "had a pretty ugly exchange and then one of them pulled out a knife. The girl who was with them started begging them not to make any trouble."

Rosenzweig had arrived outside the restaurant to help his son with his car that had broken down. "He was approached from behind by two men and one woman. One of the men stabbed the victim in the back and the three suspects ran away from the scene," said Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino.

Police arrested one suspect, but are looking for Chris Steven McBride, 20, and Mercedes (Sylvia) Asante, 19, who they believe were also involved in the stabbing. Police sources said the suspects were all apparently skinheads.

Melchior contacted Rosenzweig's widow, expressing his condolences on behalf of the people and the State of Israel. Melchior said, "It pains us to hear of this event. This is a horrific action, and we are with you during this difficult time."

Paul Shaviv, headmaster of the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, told the Jerusalem Post that the Jewish community was "stunned... Toronto is regarded as a very safe city, both for Jews and for everyone. There have been very few anti-Semitic incidents in Toronto this year, and Toronto enjoys good relations between all its ethnic communities," Shaviv said.

Even so, Israeli consul in Toronto Zahavit Ben Hillel noted that the anti-Semitic tension in Toronto has been on the rise. "The police are still not ready to define this as a 'hate crime' but when a skinhead neo-Nazi stabs a Jew wearing a skullcap, it doesn't look good. Recently there has been inciteful graffiti on synagogues and Molotov cocktails have been thrown."

Additional sources in the Toronto Jewish community reported an increase in anti-Semitism in the city, including an incident last year during an anti-Israel demonstration, when some people called "Death to Jews."

Shaviv said that like other Jewish communities around the world Toronto Jewish community institutions have been stepping up their security arrangements, adding "the community's fear was from Arabs or terrorists, and this appears to be skinheads, which is another category of threats altogether."

The Mossad has recently increased efforts to track down and monitor outbreaks of anti-Semitism and violence against Jews in different parts of the world, including increased cooperation and exchanges of information with authorities in countries where there have been widespread anti-Semitic occurrences. The new initiative was triggered by the attack on the synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia, in which 12 foreign tourists and two locals were killed. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by an organization affiliated with al-Qaida. A Mossad official told Ha'aretz that according to information from terrorists detained in Europe, there are plans to attack additional Jewish institutions and communities. "The most terrifying threat today on the Jews of the world comes from this 'world Jihad,'" the official reported.

[JohnMac]

It's all Clinton's fault.

[blam]

Black Death, Burning of the Jews.
Flemish Chronicle, ca 1350

[Travis McGee]

What about anti Lower Slobovianism? What about anti Martianism? What about anti Realityism? What about anti Stayonthesubjectism?

[Austin Willard Wright]

You ain't seen nothing yet compared to some of the folks on FR who are willing to nuke Muslim babies at the drop of hat.

[Sundog]

Lets all oppose Antidisestablishmentarianism.

Cheers.

[Travis McGee]

You had no point, which was my point, durac.

[Travis McGee]

And adamantly oppose anti-Supercalifragilisticexpypalidociousism.

[Travis McGee]

Please explain the "subtext".

(That's the part that you make up in your subconscious mind, right?) It should be fascinating.

[onedoug]

Not this one. I just want to destroy their islamist leader's infrastructures, which, if we find pervade Islam itself, then that "faith" will have to be deconstructed as well.

Let those Muslims who would renounce islamism, do so.

[Jeremiah Jr]

How important are the dinar and the dirham to the deen of Islam?

  Al-Qurtubi (d. 1273), one of the greatest commentators of Qur'an, wrote in his renowned Tafsir about the following ayat of Qur'an,
"O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in command among you. ..."

Qur'an, 4, 59

  that the ayat is an order to "obey the Sultan with respect to seven things: the minting of the dinar and the dirham, fixing weights and measures, legal judgements, Hajj, Jumu'ah, the two Eids and Jihad."

  The minting of the dinar and the dirham is therefore the first obligation of the Sultan to be commanded and to be followed.

http://www.murabitun.org/WITO/introduction/05sell.html

Don't miss the links to other articles at the bottom of page.

To Buy and Sell
Can't buy or sell unless you use the 'mint' of the beast.

[CecilRhodesGhost]

The real headache starts for America and Israel once the world opinion starts openly associating free-trade & American-led globalization with old anti-semitism views. There is a dangerous potential for views that globalism (as led by America, and thus also by Israel) is linked to "Zionism" somehow. When the majority of the world links American trade issues to anti-Israel issues... a giant problem arises that could threaten to wreck the global economy and the US dollar.

[SJackson]

It all has to do with the idea of "anti-semitism" and its underlying meaning. Another facet is how it is viewed here on FR, as opposed to ill feelings towards other races, cultures, or creeds. Another is the Peter crying wolf syndrome....

It's Jew hatred, pure and simple.

Yo Larry, antisemitism, I think you're being pinged as an expert.

[vannrox]

"...It's all Clinton's fault..."

LOL! But, seriously, the outbreak of anti-Semitism is directly tied to Arab Sentiment directly related to the Muslim Population.

The Radical Islamic organizations have been permitted to grow and be nurtured to such a point that they are everywhere. While a number of leaders are key, the lack of action by Bill Clinton on Bin Laden, coupled with the polices by M.Aldbright, and the illegal weapons and financing arrangements with China has, in great part, created this situation.

THere is a long cause and effect chain that proves the link between the Clinton Administration and the current Anti-Semitism in the world. But it is not in the nature of Jews to question their leadership. In the United States, the overwhelming leadership idol has been and is currently the DNC.

As sad as it pains me to say this, I must. The Policies of American Jews have resulted in the rise of Anti-Semitic Attacks world wide.

[JohnMac]

I was only semi-joking about it being all Clinton's fault.