As hate crimes against Jews by pro-Palestine agents spreads across US cities, Jews have been forced to hide their identity in a reminder of anti-Semitism during the Nazi era.
If anti-Semitism is a variety of racism, it is a most peculiar variety, with many unique characteristics. In my view as a historian, it is so peculiar that it deserves to be placed in a quite different category. I would call it an intellectual disease, a disease of the mind, extremely infectious and massively destructive.
– Paul Johnson
Many Jews who were living in Germany and Austria during the rise of the Nazis did not realise the gravity of the threat and the impending systematic annihilation of the chosen people at an industrial scale. Many Jews in Germany thought it was just a period of unrest and it will pass as it generally did. However, today it seems quite possible that a similar situation could develop in the United States as violence against Jews by pro-Palestinian supporters increase.
For the Jews, anti-Semitism, and bigotry had become part of their lives for centuries and they were so used to it. For them as long as they were left unmolested, no matter what anyone said it did not matter.
Not many know or would like to discuss that when Jews were fleeing Germany and other parts of Europe, most saw the United States as their safest bet but visas were refused to tens of thousands on the grounds of national security. President Franklin Roosevelt himself argued that refugees posed a serious threat to national security. But one could argue that those were times of great confusion and uncertainty.
In a Gallup poll conducted in 1939, public opinion ran 2:1 against bringing 10,000 Jewish refugee children from Germany into the country.
The wife of the US immigration commissioner (who was a cousin of President Roosevelt) testified that “20,000 charming children would all too soon grow into 20,000 ugly adults”.
Antisemitism which ran deep in America also played an important role in the decision-making process of the politicians who then as they also do now valued public opinion. Catholic priest Charles Coughlin, known as “the radio priest,” who could be called the precursor of modern-day tele-evangelism started the first Catholic religious services over the radio that reached millions. Coughlin preached antisemitism in his speeches.
He used the age-old stereotype of accusing the Jews of manipulating financial institutions and conspiring to control the world which many Islamists to this day propagate. Also, automobile pioneer and father of the assembly line industrialist Henry Ford was antisemitic.
Aftermath of Israel-Palestine conflict
While there are perfectly legitimate criticisms that one can make of Israel or the actions of its government – and I have never been shy about making them – those criticisms cross the line into anti-Semitism when they ascribe evil, almost supernatural powers to Israel in a manner that replicates classic anti-Semitic slanders.
– Bari Weiss
The same environment of hate against the Jews is now being seen in the United States as many supporters of the left movement along with Muslim organisation and the Palestinians are going on a rampage across the US. Just as the Nazis attacked synagogues (Jewish Temple) in Germany, mobs have attacked synagogues across the US all due to the recent Israel-Palestine conflict.
Hamas which is a Sunni Islamists terrorist organisation launched several rockets over the civilian population in Israel. When Israel retaliated, many Palestinian civilians regrettably lost their lives but the fact remains that Hamas used them as a human shields.
The ensuing violence against Jews in the US has resulted in many Jews hiding their identity like prayer shawls and yarmulkes which many Jewish men wear on top of their heads. But now if any Jew in cities like New York is seen with Jewish identity, they are attacked with vengeance.
The perpetrators are supported by a group of six Democratic Party members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. They have since been joined by Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri and are known as the most progressive and left-wing members of the Democratic party in the United States Congress.
The left and the Islamists in the US are also getting a lot of support from the social media influencers and entertainers who provide a platform of moral equivalency and supporting the talking points of Hamas, a terrorist organization that is hellbent on killing every last Jew in Palestine.
After the Biden administration came to power the disease of anti-Semitism has only spread wider. How can Muslims in America who live under the constitution be allowed to behave as if they are protected under the Sharia law which gives them the right to attack the Jews?
In Los Angels, pro-Palestinian demonstrators attacked Beverly Grove restaurant by singling out and attacking Jewish diners. The attackers were caught on camera and shouting “death to Jews” and “free Palestine.”
The Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their German citizenship and made them stateless in their own country and it seems if this continues, many Jews may be forced to consider their options.
What everyone is witnessing in America is quite similar to Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass, also called the November Pogrom(s) against Jews carried out by the Nazi Party but in this case, the liberal left intellectuals are allowing Islamists to systematically target Jews.
(Author is a freelance writer and blogger. He is also the host of Bharat Vichar on YouTube. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. The opinions expressed are author’s own and does not necessarily reflect the views of SamvadaWorld)
Balaji is a freelance writer with an MA in History and Political science and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Saisha Kamla Dudha 
Sahana A