Page 39 - Jewish News_March 2021

COMMENTARY March 2021 39A

Could it be cause and effect? I wonder…

By Rabbi Howard A. Simon
he Jewish Agency for Israel re- opening files in preparation to come thinking about moving.
cently announced that 20,000 to Israel. Antisemitism is on the rise
Tnew immigrants from almost There are, of course, a variety of throughout the world for a variety of
70 countries made Aliyah to Israel in answers to this question, but I believe reasons. Our people look at these sta-
2020. one stands out in large, unmistakable tistics, experience the reality in their mined they are going to live with these
The statistics dealing with this mi- terms that speaks volumes about the own countries and ask, “What do we people, with their fellow Jews.
gration are most interesting. Of those Jewish world of today. In the past year do to find peace in our lives? What Rabbi Howard A. Simon is the found-
people, 3,120 came from there have been more an- can we do to protect our children and ing chair of the Robert and Esther
Western Europe, including tisemitic attacks made guarantee they can grow up in a soci- Heller Community Relations Commit-
2,200 from France and 460 against Jews, Jewish syn- ety that respects them and their faith?” tee, formerly known as the Heller IAI.
from Britain. 2,850 indi- agogues and Jewish insti- For a growing number of people, the Crossword Puzzle
viduals came from North tutions than we have seen answer is the homeland of the Jewish
America, including 2,550 in years. In the United people. The answer is Israel. These Solution to puzzle on page 27A
from the United States. In States, the FBI reported same people know that Israel is threat-
addition to those making that 953 hate crimes were ened by groups such as Hamas and
Aliyah to Israel, 41,000 perpetrated against Jews Hezbollah. They know the pandem-
Aliyah files have been in 2019, a 14% increase ic has led to lockdowns. They know
opened, 28,000 coming from those recorded in there are economic problems facing
from Western countries. Rabbi Howard A. Simon 2018. the state.
There has been a 41% increase in files In Germany, the Human Rights However, they also know this is
opened by young adults ages 18-35. Watch group reported more than 2,000 a Jewish state where 6.8 million Jews
All of this has taken place when attacks on Jewish individuals and Jew- reside, where a Jewish life, no matter
Israel faces some of the greatest prob- ish institutions. The Kantor Center for how that life is defined, can be lived
lems it has known in years. Concerns the Study of Contemporary European happily among fellow Jews. Am Yisra-
produced by Covid-19 has led to the Jews located at Tel Aviv University re- el Chai – the people of Israel live – and
nation’s third shut down. Economic ported that far-right groups and some 20,000 new immigrants have deter-
problems now affect the majority of far-left groups used the pandemic to
Israel’s citizens and we are facing the circulate antisemitic libels such as the What do you think?
onset of the fourth national election one that infers that Jews developed a
in the last two years. In the midst of vaccine, but will only sell it if it pro- The Jewish News wants to know!
all these problems, none of which will duces a large financial profit.
be solved in the near future, the new Another charge against Jews is that Send an email to jewishnews18@gmail.com.
immigrants are coming from places Israel and the United States created the
as diverse as Germany, France, the virus to weaken Iran and the Muslim Letters Policy
United States, Canada, New Zealand community. Add to this the fact that Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words, must be typed, and include
and South Africa. This leads one to today there are 60% fewer Jews in the writer’s name, mailing address and phone number. Letters can be submitted
ask why such large numbers are com- Europe than there were 50 years ago via USPS or email (jewishnews18@gmail.com). Not all letters will be published.
ing to Israel and why other Jews are and you see why people might be Letters may be edited for length and content.
build. advocate.

remember. support.

Bridges

We build bridges between people by visiting synagogues, churches and civic groups to make
presentations about Israel, antisemitism and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement
(BDS). In addition, we send clergy and community members on missions to Israel to
experience and learn about the land while forging friendships that deepen
and continue back home in Sarasota-Manatee.

^ Builds Bridges
Robert and Esther Heller
CRC ^ Advocates through Government Affairs

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE ^ Remembers the Holocaust

Outreach

Fighting antisemitism is an ongoing battle. We have CRC
Ambassadors ready and able to educate the community to

better understand what antisemitism looks like and how
to fight it alongside the Jewish community.

HELLER CRC’S MISSION

To build relationships within the
Jewish and non-Jewish communities
and to advance common interests

through education and advocacy. jfedsrq.org/HellerCRC