Page 38 - Jewish News_March-2020

38A March 2020 COMMENTARY

SAY Anti-Semitism on the rise By Harold M. Halpern
in the United States

he following is an e-mail I sent
By Rabbi Howard A. Simon
to my friend Stuart in Jerusa-
Tlem.
e all read the account of the
I enjoy our correspondence. You
attack in a rabbi’s house on
“SHALOM” Wthe seventh night of Cha- of all faiths, races and ethnic identi- asked how the American Jewish com-
munity feels about President Donald
nukah in Monsey, New York. The per-
Trump’s Peace Plan. There is no one
petrator wounded five people and, if

voice. I’ll tell you
it had not been for brave Jews in that
ties, believe in the basic goodness of
my thoughts.
house attacking the individual hold-
humanity. We believe in the right of
The Plan has
every religion to practice its belief in
ing the weapon, the death toll and the
the Palestinians
far greater. We read of this attack, saw
tic terrorists entering their midst pre-
TO OUR HIGHLY number of injured would have been freedom, without the threat of domes- been rejected by
and pronounced
the attacker taken into
pared to kill and maim.
“dead on arrival.”
custody, thought how ter-
Is there a better way?
They will not ne-
rible this is and how it
Yes, there is. Reflect on

TARGETED should never have hap- the reality that took place terms of the Plan include: The principal
gotiate.
Harold M. Halpern
pened. However, did we
on January 1, 2020, at the
realize that in the month of
MetLife Stadium, home of
AUDIENCE December alone, 11 anti- the New York Jets and the ‹ Sovereignty of Israel over all set-
tlements in the West Bank and Jor-
Semitic acts took place in
New York Giants football
dan Valley
New York? Did we stop
teams. On that day, 90,000
to consider that accord-
uous state in an area equal to 70-
ing to FBI crime statistics Orthodox Jews gathered in ‹ A demilitarized Palestinian contig-
the stadium for a celebra-
data, incidents of attacks Rabbi Howard A. Simon tion more than seven years 80% of the West Bank
in churches, synagogues, temples and in the making. This was Siyum Ha- ‹ Israel to control the security of the
mosques increased 34.8% between Shas, Hebrew for “completion of the West Bank and its borders and air
2014 and 2018, the last year such data Talmud.” It marked the conclusion of a space
FREE was available? program of religious study engaged in ‹ Borders, maps and details of agree-
Take a moment and reflect on the by tens of thousands of Jews through- ment to be negotiated

tragedies that occurred in Pittsburgh, out the world. These dedicated people ‹ Jerusalem is the undivided capital
Pennsylvania, in Poway, California, had committed to reading a page of of Israel
and in the state of New York. Hatred the Talmud every day for 2,711 days ‹ Negotiations to be completed in
aimed at the Jewish community has be- until they had completed the entire four years
come an epidemic. The threat to the re- Talmud. ‹ During negotiations, Israel is not
New! become so real that last June the FBI those who had completed the Talmud, settlements
to build new or enlarge existing
The 90,000 attendees represented
ligious communities of our country has
S S S S Sition!
I feel that the timing of the release
members of their families who came
invited faith leaders to Washington to
2020 Ed ar ar ar ar ar a a a a a s s s s s o o o o o t t t t t a a a a a - - - - - M M M M M a a a a a na t t t t t e e e e e e e e e e discuss how to protect themselves and to kvell over their accomplishments, of the Plan is an effort to solidify the

base of both Trump’s and Netanyahu’s
their congregations from biased attack-
and friends who wanted to be in the
INSIDE
supporters for their upcoming elec-
stadium to cheer, not for touchdowns,
ers. Today, in Sarasota and throughout
na
na
na
Sarasota-Manatee
na
WELCOME!
To the Inaugural Issue the country, new safety measures have but for religious excellence. It was a tions.
In the long run, I don’t think the re-
DISCOVER ALL THINGS JEWISH been taken to ensure that congregants time of joy for one and all. It was an
Synagogues, Food, Culture & More are safe and, that if any attack should expression of Jewish belief vital to a lease of the Plan will have any impact
FIND THE LOCATIONS take place, organized steps will be tak- particular community. The celebration on your election. Its terms already had
On the Detailed Map Locator

en to lessen the threat of death and in- went off without any threat of attack, been leaked and commented on. There
M
SH A L L O M SR Q . o rg
A
O
SH
SHALOMSRQ.org
jury. This is necessary, but the greater without any harm to anyone. This is will be an initial burst of discussion.
A PUBLICATION OF
problem is why now? Why are there so how life should be experienced in ev- Netanyahu’s principal opponent to be
many attacks on houses of worship? ery synagogue, temple, church and Prime Minister, Benny Gantz – and his
Why has hate become an accepted way mosque. An expression of faith free of coalition – was positive about the Plan
Advertise in the ultimate guide to everything Jewish in Sarasota of life in our country? fear, free of dangers, free of attacks. as was Netanyahu. So there is no basis
and Manatee counties! SHALOMSRQ is a NEW magazine-style It has to stop. We live in America, This is what life in America should for an issue there.
resource guide that residents and visitors will keep on hand. where “the land of the free and the be. We pray that one day such will be After a short period, the campaign
home of the brave,” is the watchword the reality experienced by each and will return to its normal routine. Netan-
SHALOMSRQ connects your business to a powerful demo- of our country. Good people of all every faith. Hate will not triumph in yahu will claim credit for positive rela-
graphic; our readers are affluent, well-educated, established, faiths need to stand together and pro- our land. tions with the U.S. and attack Gantz as
and philanthropic. Over half have said they frequently pur- claim in the loudest voice possible, Rabbi Howard A. Simon is the found- beholden to liberals and Arab Israelis
chase products or services from ads seen in our publications.* “Enough is enough, we are better, ever ing chair of the Robert and Esther
so much better than this.” Hatred will Heller Community Relations Commit-
WHAT’S INSIDE SHALOMSRQ? not hold sway in our land. All people, tee, formerly known as the Heller IAI.
SHALOMSRQ covers everything a local resident, visitor you and me and our fellow Americans
or newcomer needs to know when it comes to “all things
Jewish” in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Letter to the Editor
• Synagogues & Temples • Jewish Youth & Teen
• Jewish Clubs Programs enjoy reading your monthly paper made kosher-style bagels at Nellie’s
Deli on Beneva at Fruitville. To my
and would like to add to the Febru-
• Jewish Cultural Arts • Jewish Calendar Iary 2020 article authored by Kim knowledge, these are the only authen-
• Jewish Education • Israel Connections Sheintal titled “Sarasota’s Jewish rela- tic, handmade daily on site, bagels cur-
• Jewish Food • History of Jews in Sarasota tionship with food.” rently in the area. These are available
• Jewish Gift Shops • Maps with Drop-pin Kim mentions bagels and names a in over 12 varieties, and we also make FUNERAL SERVICES
• Jewish Service Providers Locators few outlets which carry bagels in the bialys and challah breads. Nellie’s also
• Jewish Housing • AND MORE! Sarasota area. carries a wide variety of Jewish delica-
I moved from New Jersey in 1985 cies in its restaurant and marketplace.
AD PLACEMENT and opened Better Bagels on Tamiami I just wanted to update any of your The Area’s ONLY Jewish Owned & Operated Funeral Home
Ads are placed into one of our regional sections — North, Trail. We opened a second outlet in the readers who are in search of the “real
thing.”
Landings in 1987. Both were closed as
Central, South — with drop-pin locations included on its of 2001. However, I still make hand- – Jonathan “Jay” Kroll, Sarasota
regional map; readers will be able to find your business easily! Specializing in local burial, out-of-state transfers,
Opinions printed in The Jewish News of Sarasota-Manatee
INTERACTIVITY do not necessarily re ect those of The Jewish Federation and burial in Israel

All ads that include a website have the URL embedded into of Sarasota-Manatee, its Board of Directors or sta .

the ad for quick access from the SHALOMSRQ online version • REFORM • CONSERVATIVE • ORTHODOX •
to your website.
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*Statistics from a survey conducted by the Circulation Verification Council.

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