By Michael Kuttner…
There are times when inconvenient realities demand a robust response rather than a shameful silence.
There are situations where Jewish spokespersons and organizations need to put their heads above the parapet instead of sinking beneath the waves and hoping the problems magically vanish.
The proverbial “elephants in the room” are currently rampaging in every corner of the globe and in many instances are unchallenged in any meaningful manner.
Three examples encompassing disparate yet somehow interconnecting themes illustrate the conundrums confronting Jewish communities worldwide.
The first deals with the politically loaded topic of Arab and Islamic support of Nazi Germany’s crusade against Jews and Judaism during the period between 1933 and 1945 as well as its lingering poisonous aftermath today.
This is a subject which is vitally relevant if one wants to understand the background which shapes the ideologies of Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Moslem Brotherhood and Iran amongst others. Without knowing about the events prior to and during the Shoah it is impossible to grasp exactly from where these aforementioned entities get their agendas.
It also perpetuates the convenient myths about the Israel/ Arab conflict as being solely connected to territory and the calamity of Israel’s rebirth.
A short historical summary will put the basic facts into sharp focus.
A renowned US historian, Jeffrey Herf, has written a book dealing with the subject. His comments are very pertinent in the light of current events.
The Nazis found common ground with Arab collaborators in a shared antipathy towards Jews, Zionism and the Allies and introduced their Arab allies to modern antisemitic conspiracy theories. Their most famous collaborator was Palestinian leader Haj Amin al-Husseini, the grand mufti of Jerusalem.
One of the Nazi broadcasts told listeners: “You must kill the Jews before they open fire on you. Kill the Jews who have appropriated your wealth and who are plotting against your security. Arabs of Syria, Iraq and (mandated) Palestine, what are you waiting for? The Jews are planning to violate your women, to kill your children and to destroy you.”
Today’s jihadist followers are following the exact same agenda as formulated by their Nazi tutors. The October 2023 massacre perpetrated by Hamas, their charter and the aims of their fellow supporters all make the ultimate aim crystal clear.
As Professor Herf explains, many on the left “believe Hamas is aligned with progressive, leftist and anti imperialist movements.” They also view Israel “as a form of Nazism and Fascism which requires the destruction of the Jewish State.”
With historical amnesia at an all time high the urge to ignore and avoid the subject in order not to ruffle feathers must be avoided at all cost. Now is precisely the best time to confront the ongoing revisionist narrative.
The second example where robust responses should be a “no brainer” revolves around the saga of a political party which has been registered to participate in the forthcoming New Zealand General election.
Scheduled for 7 November this election could very well prove to be a defining moment in the country’s history. It is also likely to have a major impact for Jews insofar as their connections and support of Israel are concerned.
For the first time in the country’s history, which admittedly dates only from 1840, a political party has been registered which has as its main platform the elimination and erasure of Israel as the Jewish national home.
In order to be registered as a legal political party the applicant must satisfy certain strict criteria. Once approved, they are entitled to compete and receive taxpayers’ money towards their campaign.
The requirements which need to be satisfied include a suitable name, 500 paying members who are entitled to vote, rules about party membership and an auditor. In addition they must supply a sample of the logo which can go on the ballot paper.
If these requirements are approved, the Electoral Commission will usually ask for public feedback and submissions.
In this particular case a party entitled “Free Palestine – from the river to the sea” applied for registration.
One would have imagined that a party with such a name and whose manifesto comprises the elimination of a legally established State would in all logical likelihood be refused approval.
One would also anticipate that there might be an avalanche of submissions protesting the very idea of registering such a party. The anticipated tsunami did not materialize however. Out of a population of 5.36 million people (and 22.78 million sheep) there were a grand total of 207 objections.
Objections were received from the NZ Jewish Council and Israel Institute of New Zealand both of which pointed out the obvious, namely that the party promotes for an end to Israel and promotes anti Zionism using public resources.
Back in the days we lived in NZ it could be guaranteed that all Zionist organizations would have vigorously objected. Where are they today? Do they still exist and if so where were their public voices?
Another important submission was made by the Coalition of Ministers supporting Israel. This coalition represents 136 Protestant Christian clergy members across various denominations. The Anglican Church which years ago purged the psalms of any “Zionist” taint is not mentioned nor is the Roman Catholic Church.
Also missing it seems is any reference to Jewish Orthodox and Progressive religious and lay leaderships. Does this mean that they ran for cover in the hope that their presence would be overlooked? Will the prayers for Israel and the IDF be next to disappear? Will the return to Zion no longer feature in their liturgy?
The bottom line is that the Electoral Commission approved the party’s registration after having found no legal impediment. Apparently the party’s name and objectives raised no red flags. Only the logo which featured the “Palestinian” flag was disallowed.
Amazingly this bizarre decision did not precipitate a storm of protest from either the established political parties or the wider public. Only one non Jewish individual to his credit lodged an objection with the Ombudsman which needless to say was unsuccessful.
Jews are a miniscule minority with zero political clout. The implications are not good and will return to haunt them in the near future.
Last, but certainly not least, is the increasingly sordid situation which now confronts British Jews.
The disunited kingdom is steadily becoming ever more hostile to anyone expressing solidarity with Israel and the Zionist movement. Tragically far too many Jews refuse to acknowledge the warning signs and like large swathes of their American compatriots prefer to believe that nothing is amiss.
When the Inquisition ruled Spain and Portugal, Jews were faced with converting, emigrating or trying to exist as secret adherents of Judaism.
Unbelievable as it may sound, today’s British Jews may soon be faced with a similar problem.
Whipped up by anti Israel agitators and anti Zionist groups the UK Charity Commission is currently embarked on an inquisitorial crusade against Jewish communities, organizations and charity donors. The object is clearly stated, namely discovering and identifying anyone or any group making donations towards what it describes as “illegal settlements.” This covers anything in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Golan.
For example donations to Yeshivot, educational institutions, first responders and the Jewish National Fund are all being investigated for the alleged crime of supporting Jews in their historical heartland.
In addition and this is where it gets more menacing, any activity associated with marketing homes in these “forbidden” dens of iniquity is a serious crime which the Charity Commission will investigate and punish.
Now to the latest scandal which so far has been kept under wraps.
A new Shabbat publication, produced in Israel has recently become available. It is called “Kiddush Times” and contains commentaries relating to the weekly Torah reading plus other subjects of topical interest. It is now also available in the USA and was intended to be distributed in United Synagogues in the UK.
Well informed sources connected to the Kiddush Times advised me that the United Synagogues has now refused to have these booklets on their premises because they are terrified that the Charity Commission will cancel their charitable tax exemption. The reason it seems is because these Shabbat publications contain advertisements for projects over the fake “green line.”
In a nutshell, printing, mentioning, promoting and being associated with supporting Jews living in our Biblical homeland is, as far as the UK Government concerned, an act punishable by cancellation of charitable status.
The next logical step presumably is the banning of any activity and support for Zionism and Israel.
One would have imagined an upsurge of outrage and countermeasures on the part of concerned UK Jewish Communal groups. So far complete silence has prevailed.
Is this yet another case of running for cover and hoping it all disappears? Is not mentioning the obvious now the prevailing strategy?
If so it will not end well.
The logical corollary will be that Israel and Zionist supporters will need to either carry on in secret like the Marranos of Spain or emigrate.
Who says that history does not repeat itself?
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel.
[This article was originally published on J-Wire and is reproduced here with permission from Michael Kuttner.]
