A Light Unto Other Nations

The amount of hatred that has risen from the shadows of the world, has been nothing short of staggering. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I am surprised that I’m surprised. Having grown up constantly (and I mean nonstop) discussing the horrors of the Holocaust and anti Semitic behavior, it would make sense that I expect it. One one hand, part of me does, and I have spent countless hours (years?) theorizing why Jews are so hated, blamed, and deserving of the hateful bile the world throws at us. Defending us will never be cool. Muting for us on social media will never be on trend. Rappers, pro athletes, musicians, actors, government officials, and my favorite; college professors, seem to have unlimited license to disparage us, blame us for the world’s ills, and stay silent as we are continuously attacked, blown up, gassed, shot, beat up, and threatened. Self proclaimed warriors of social justice who “fight for peace”, are themselves mute when it comes to condemning anti Semitic acts. Helpful hint; if you are one who needs to self proclaim anything, you’re most likely trying to convince yourself. Genuine people don’t need to work to fill a role, since they’re too busy legitimately walking the walk. Perhaps my favorite social justice warrior samurai move, is where they flip our own painful history on us by comparing us to Hitler and Nazis (which is ironic because such a comparison is Hitler’s worst nightmare. Cue grave rolling). There is no other race I can think of where this would be considered acceptable. Imagine taking any group of people that had suffered tremendously, and drawing comparisons between the victims and their oppressors. Kim Kardashian got slammed for wearing cornrows. SLAMMED, and she’s a wife and mother to African Americans. If a hairstyle can be deemed offensive due to it being seen as cultural appropriation, how is it ok to condone gas chamber t shirts? By the way, if said hairstyle is an area of sensitivity, then I completely respect that. It is any group’s right to own their pain. We don’t have to understand it to abide by it. Sensitivity, kindness, and respect are essential parts to any relationship. We must sacrifice our own egos for the sake of any healthy relational dynamic. My point is, is that if the world is now focused on how people are offending via hair, it makes no sense to turn a blind eye to actual evil, dangerous, threatening, and hateful acts of vandalism and murder. Let’s just say we have horns and tails, are akin to vermin, have caused all the world’s financial problems, and are the reason the Middle East isn’t yet a peaceful, utopian society. Does that mean it’s ok to shoot us, blow us up, destroy our places of worship, run us over while we are trying to light a menorah, or deface Anne Frank?? How does disliking us justify what you see below, which is a drop in the bucket. Are our children deserving of threats and attack? You don’t have to like me, that’s your choice and karma. If you want to spend your precious life weighed down by darkness, go for it. But don’t use your own feelings as an excuse to dissolve into a vengeful demon and harm others. It’s simply a recipe for failure on a “people” level. Liking? Optional. Actively harming? Nope, not acceptable. Silence while others actively harm? Just as bad (where’s your bullhorn now? Out of batteries?).

So while one part of me, admittedly the Jewish part, has come to expect anti semitism, the soul part of me is still taken aback. The soul is only love. It is pure, innocent, complete, and unsullied. It cannot relate to hurting others, and so it’s blindsided by evil. I am deeply grateful to be a human who does not want to hurt others. I really don’t and never have. I truly want to help. I take my job as a human being seriously, and the more I uncover my soul force, the more driven I am to contribute positively. Each time I’ve experienced an opening personally, I have felt it directly connect to how I want to exist in the world at large. Included in that is my discomfort with the notion that Jews are the Chosen People. It feels elitist and separatist, and sounds like we are better than everyone else. It is a story we and the rest of the world seem to need to cling to in order to explain both sides of the argument: why we have outlived insane amounts of genocide and persecution, thereby having more staying power than so many of the mighty, advanced nations that have died out, and why we make anti semites so uncomfortable. They cannot fathom our survival, our thriving, and our commitment to living. We must be chosen in order for any of this to make sense. If we are chosen by a higher power, rendering us untouchable, the world can do and say whatever they want, right? FYI, even if you personally aren’t vandalizing Anne Frank or making Auschwitz jokes, that doesn’t mean you aren’t anti Semitic. It just blows my mind that in a year in which accusations of hatred and racism were thrown around, the subject of Jewish hatred hasn’t made the approved list of what’s necessary and important to talk about. The only word for it is hypocrisy.

However, and for me this is a big “however”, we have a choice. As always, we have a choice as to what we are going to do with hate. We have agency and power in deciding how to respond to anti Semitism. Can it go away? Of course. Likely? Sadly, no. Humans, unless they are at peace and at one with their sovereignty, will instinctively look for a scapegoat. Jews are the go to scapegoat, and have been throughout history (make up your minds; are we disposable vermin or powerful magicians?). Hurt people hurt people. This is a fact. And unfortunately most people walk around filled with their own pain, and exist in their own individual hellscape. Unless people heal themselves on an inner level and work to free themselves from hating themselves, hatred towards others will remain. This is the human predicament, and I can only control my own response to hatred, violence, and fear. The Hebrew term “or la goyim” translates to us tasked with being “a light unto other nations”. I wasn’t comfortable with this either, because it too felt elitist. However, during our Festival of Lights, in which we were mercilessly attacked for simply celebrating our story of survival, I have come to frame it differently. Jews have always lit menorahs as symbols of light, to serve as tangible reminders that light can illuminate the blackest darkness. One light is more powerful than an army of dark forces. One light as a beacon for a ship that’s been tossed about on dark, violent seas. One fire to warm a family that’s been cold for so long. One match is indeed a miracle to anyone needing heat, direction, and light. For all of us, slipping into darkness is much easier than returning to the light that is our nature. I was so inspired by all I heard and read, from our rabbis and leaders in response to these despicable acts during Chanukah. Each one said that we must not let the darkness of hatred overcome the light of love and strength. We must show that there is another way, no matter what is being thrown at us. This is the Buddhist way as well, and the way of Christ. Love must be stronger than fear, and fear is what gives rise to hate. I now understand “or la goyim” as an opportunity to demonstrate the human capacity to live by this principle. Not because we are better, but because we can. Somehow, against all odds, Jews have tapped into that. THIS is why we have survived, not because we control the banking system. You can choose to hate me, and I can choose to respond with light. I don’t have to like you, but I refuse to add more hatred to this world. I can choose to love the inner light we all share. We will always be bound by soul force, whether we know it or not. I know what internal path I have to take regardless of external circumstances.

May the light of my inner teacher continue to guide me in my actions, thoughts, words, and deeds. May that be so for all of humanity. If we can breathe we can choose.