It\u2019s happened because of the rise of political extremism on the right and left, and because of populist politics that plays on people\u2019s fears, seeking scapegoats to blame for social ills. For a thousand years Jews have been targeted as scapegoats, because they were a minority and because they were different. But difference is what makes us human. And a society that has no room for difference has no room for humanity.<\/p>\n
The appearance of antisemitism is always an early warning sign of a dangerous dysfunction within a culture, because the hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews.<\/p>\n
At the end of his life, Moses told the Israelites: don\u2019t hate an Egyptian because you were strangers in his land. It\u2019s an odd sentence. The Egyptians had oppressed and enslaved the Israelites. So why did Moses say, don\u2019t hate.<\/p>\n
Because if the people continued to hate, Moses would have taken the Israelites out of Egypt, but failed to take Egypt out of the Israelites. They would still be slaves, not physically but mentally. Moses knew that to be free you have to let go of hate. Wherever there is hate, freedom dies. Which is why we, especially leaders, have to take a stand against the corrosive power of hate.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n We are so proud to host @rabbisacks<\/a> at CJP to learn together and discuss peoplehood, Israel, and our love for the Jewish people. pic.twitter.com\/2JOcZO6HUx<\/a><\/p>\n — Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) April 11, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n