Okay, the Jews Leave…and Then? |
Attacks against Jews, like the mass murder in Sydney, always raise the question: should Jews just leave?
Firstly, I do not believe that Jews are going to get up and leave Western countries. Additionally, I don’t know if Israel is the perfect destination for every Jew and Jewish family. I know many people who have come here and fallen in love with the land and the people. I know others who could not handle the way of life here and pined to go back home. Jewish communities in Western countries go back ages, and I don’t expect them to shut shop and move to Israel. Remember, a lot of German Jews figured that Hitler would blow over. Those with shops found it hardest to leave all that they had. I am sure that many regretted not reading the signs as they were sent to concentration camps.
Let’s do a thought experiment.
Let’s imagine that the constant threats and the not infrequent attacks simply cause Jews to up and leave. They fly endless El-Al emergency flights to empty Australia and other countries of their Jews. Clearly, a very large “aliyah” would be a challenge for Israel and her citizens. But let’s focus in this article on the countries they left behind. Obviously, the Muslims would be thrilled that their efforts, if they did not lead to the death of the Jews, at least got them out of the country. Already, after the murder of 15 people at Bondi Beach, local Muslims set off fireworks to celebrate. Okay, so the Jews are gone: what comes next?
One could talk about the loss of culture, or high-worth individuals, or the lost contributions of Jews to all walks of life. I still have family in Australia, where my father and his family fled in 1939. But with the Jews gone, the locals will make do. The question becomes: what will the growing Muslim community do? I doubt very much that they will rest on their laurels and say job well done: as Hasan Nasrallah pointed out, the Jews all coming to Israel makes Islam’s job of........