How is it possible that such a murky wave of hatred can emerge from among such moral people?

June Green
2 June 2023   
Photo: 
Courtesy of the photographer

Throughout Jewish history, we have experienced firsthand the bitter consequences of incitement. There were periods when Jews lived in peace and good neighborly relations with the Gentiles, respecting and helping each other. And then suddenly some factor appeared and began to stir up and incite hatred against the Jews.

Bitter experience has proven that it is very easy to turn friendly and neighborly relations into burning hatred.

Unfortunately, we are seeing this happening right before our eyes. The ugly outbreak of the wave of hatred against the ultra-Orthodox and religious is no accident. It was built as a planned and deliberate move by the headquarters of the struggle against the government. After entering into dialogue on the issue of legal reform, this greased headquarters looked for a new horse to ride, and decided to make the ultra-Orthodox a scapegoat.

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This incitement machine enjoys huge advertising budgets and enthusiastic media support.

Indeed, the Israeli crowd is no different from any other crowd. When hatred is incited and instilled, a large public is swept along by it. It too begins to believe that the ultra-Orthodox and religious are the source of all evil, looters of the state coffers, parasites and bloodsuckers.

The rodent supplier

We have also seen throughout history that even highly cultured people can quickly shed their cultural shell and descend to the depths of misanthropy. Process identifiers can also identify this process in us.

For years, we have been told that even though terrorists murder people, women, and children, we must not hate 'all Arabs.' We have been told that the fact that Arabs are behind most agricultural crime, vehicle thefts, and a significant proportion of home and business break-ins does not justify hostility toward the entire Arab population.

But then you look at the statements of those enlightened and cultured people towards the Haredi public and towards the settlers, and a small doubt begins to gnaw at you. Is there truly pure love of humanity here, respect for others and recognition that every person is a person? If so, how is it possible that such a murky wave of hatred towards entire communities can emerge from among such moral people?

Respectable media outlets are not ashamed to give a platform to blatant incitement, in a truly anti-Semitic style. Politicians are riding this wave of hatred. Editors who monitor online comments, and who take care not to immediately approve or delete any inflammatory statement against Arabs, approve or do not delete shocking, violent, and truly insane comments against Haredim.

Crossing all borders

This is not just a question of hypocrisy and double standards. Decent people, who consider themselves moral, cannot possibly be cowed by such an outpouring of misanthropy. One can argue and discuss anything, but here all boundaries are crossed. The consequences of hatred are felt firsthand by thousands of Jews, who come into contact with the general public.

Those who stand by in the face of this wild incitement, and especially those who support it openly or secretly, should at least not delude themselves into thinking they are moral and love humanity. This is utterly ugly racism and hatred of the other. No excuses or justifications will cover this disgrace!


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