Here we go again...

[Behind the Aegis]

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!

Well, we are seeing round four of bomb threats, bring in the state total up to 25, literally half of the US have JCC's or synagogues which have been targeted, not to mention the ADL, and , of course, the recent desecrations of cemeteries in Philly and St. Louis. Personally, I am not afraid I am PISSED!

I am pissed at these attacks, I am pissed at the casual (IMO) nature with which these reports are getting, and I am pissed at the enablers of anti-Semitism, including those who use these attacks as a way to attack the "bad" Jews by screeching about "What does Bibi have to say? What does evil, rich Jews of the right have to say? Evil Jewish first-daughter, worships at banks, not synagogues, isn't pulling her weight!" While most of these attacks come from non-Jews, there are those in our tribe who relish showing off their own fangs by either endorsing these thinly-veiled hate distractions or engage in them themselves.

So, nu? How are you feeling?

[JudyM]

1. Sadly, I believe if churches were the object of the threats and violence the police would be

forming special task forces throughout the country, to great fanfare of news reporting. We are just not getting the level of concern this deserves. Feels eerily familiar, frankly.

[MosheFeingold]

2. I've made this post before

I am sure there is a mishmash of differing people involved in this, each with their own motives, getting their ideas from the news.

I suspect (in order):

1. Kids, probably boys. Including Jewish boys who didn't want to go to JCC basketball practice.

2. Cranks, of no particular political persuasion, who think it's funny.

3. Bit players in the traditional reservoirs of anti-Semitic belief in this country --- who are, statistically: Muslims, Blacks, and now college kids with misguided beliefs about Israel (BDS types)

You know who I don't suspect: real terrorists or real white Aryan types.

Terrorists that kill Jews don't make threats. They want casualties and no warnings.

Aryan Nation types are bad guys and don't play in bomb threats, unless it's to evacuate a court room and cause a mistrial. They are an organized prison gang that sells drugs and participates in human trafficking. And you know what else? They are amazingly law abiding except for their chosen profession. They are generally ex-cons and avoid stupid trouble because getting popped making a terrorist threat is not probation to them, but rather hard time. Similarly, a guy with a trunk load of meth doesn't break traffic laws or make threats against people. They just cruise on by.

This is a long way of saying, this is a pain in the ass, at most. Ignore it. It will pass.

Also, while I despise Trump, his violent supporters are among the least likely to make threats or scratch cars or any stupid crap like that. They would strike without warning.

[EllieBC]

4. You are probably right.

Probably kids. They still need to be stopped and have it explained why it's wrong. And if it's our own boys...they need to be very firmly spoken to.

[MosheFeingold]

8. Well guesses, parts 2 and 3 were right

Glad he was caught. Feel bad for his ex-girlfriend.

[MosheFeingold]

11. Suspect list No. 1 was right, as well

I should have been a criminal profiler for the FBI.

[EllieBC]

12. This is awful.

We didn't need this.

[MosheFeingold]

13. Concur

We did not.

It is, however, a caution of avoiding histrionics (not that you were guilty of it).

I was cringing every time someone blamed Trump or whatever, because, statistically, petty crap like this is internal, for internal reasons. Better to not draw attention to it, both to avoid copy cats and to avoid cheapening when real and serious external events occur.

Remember my advice was "ignore this and it will go away." I still stand by that advice, learned over 90 years of life.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Kudos.

Nothing like adding fuel to the stockpile of anti-Semites who were claiming this was a Jew all along. There has to be a happy medium between my position, which you call "hysterics", and your position, which I will call "don't give a flying fuck". In the grand scheme of life, it is true, hoaxes like this aren't at the same level as loading people into boxcars, but it never starts that way, now does it? I was and still am pissed at the volume of threats which were launched. I was and am still pissed at how nonchalant some people treated this. Basically, their advice: wait until you have some dead bodies, then complain. Personally, I don't think it should have to come to that. Now that it has been revealed the terrorist is a Jew, well, that just makes it even worse. False reports and hoaxes are the exceptions, not the norm when it comes to hate crimes. Yet, when shit like this happens, especially for this length of time and to this extent, this little shithead has done quite a bit of damage to the Jewish community and will be a cautionary tale from people of the right and the left. The other asshole, well, he will only be used by the right, the left will ignore him because he is the wrong religion, ethnicity, and political persuasion.

While I was hoping it really was a hoax, I also realize there are those groups who use this type of intimidation tactic to keep minorities in line.

A campfire should always be watched! Always! While true not every one will lead to thousands of scorched acres of land, the possibility is there and should be treated as a possible threat until extinguished.

[MosheFeingold]

15. Actually I found you quite reasonable

And not hysterical at all.

And I do "give a damn." But I'm not going to get upset, either.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Then, I owe you and apology; two, actually.

I apologize that I misrepresented your position, and misunderstood your characterization of my position.

[MosheFeingold]

17. Nah

No apology needed. I wasn't even particularly thinking about anyone in the Jewish Forum (or really anyone).

I was thinking about a lady at a JCC where I walked on the treadmill that was crying hysterically and screaming because we got a bomb threat because the decision was made by many (including myself) to ignore it and not evacuate.

[EllieBC]

3. Angry.

I'm also feeling like this is not truly getting the press and collective anger it should. And I mean from everyone.

I'm a member of a very large FB group for Jewish women. Many members have kids who attend JCCs targeted. They are terrified and feel like no one from the right or the left actually cares. Everyone pays lip service to what happens to us but they don't really care.

I live in an allegedly polite and tolerant country. Yet i hear nasty antisemitic things often.

We are coming up on Purim and Pesach. And it's only reminding me that we are still very much unwelcome wherever we are.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. I hear you.

Like you, I don't think this is treated as if what is happening is considered "real" bigotry. It is treated more as "well, that shouldn't be." I am afraid until something really bad happens this nonchalance will continue. However, even if something does happen, it will get the "Paris treatment", that is to say, it will be overshadowed by something else, and more focus will be put upon the attackers, Israel, right-wing/leaning Jews, and/or some other story which is tied to it.

Given recent events, lackluster coverage, and nasty enabling/apologist/excuses types of behavior, I have wondered; how many people even know someone who is Jewish? There are only about 7 million of us in the US. I know here, I have been the first "real" Jew they have ever met. How fucking strange is that in the 21st century?! I take it beyond "knowing", to wonder; how many people interact with someone who is Jewish on a regular basis? It is my own conclusions that most people don't know a single Jew with whom they are very familiar and, therefore, anti-Semitism and Jews are still a mystery to them.

Some only seem to be concerned with us when they need donations or votes, outside of that, they don't give two shits about us. We are an invisible minority and should that cloak be lifted, then we are blamed for the bigotry against us, excuses are made, we are reminded of the plight of other people, as if to say we aren't as important, and we are held responsible for the actions of other Jews. What really pisses me off...Jews who do the aforementioned! The ones who only seem to flaunt their Jewishness to give them "street cred" when they refuse to acknowledge anti-Semitism or pull anti-Semitic shit themselves. Of course, that is something the left and right share, along with their anti-Semitism. Sure, it may vary in degrees, as the right is much more anti-Semitic, but too many turn a blind eye when it is "their" side committing the infraction.

[EllieBC]

6. Yes!

I have often said we are expected to turn out for every cause yet we can count our allies on one hand on a good day. Sometimes I wonder if this is because we are an invisible minority. We "pass", especially if we aren't observant. So we get lumped in with those considered to have privilege. No, we are a minority and often find ourselves at odds with employers, schools, and even the community. And you are correct, this even comes from our own fellow Jews sometimes as well.

Canada is not exactly Jewish-friendly. Israel Apartheid Week was started in Toronto which has the largest Jewish population in Canada. Vancouver has a relatively small Jewish population for the size of the city. Only 20k total I believe. Most people do not know anyone Jewish. When people find out I am I am often asked my opinion on Israel. I carefully consider my answer based on how long I have to argue sand what I can quickly gather about the questioner. And we moved away from Van to a smaller town 45 minutes away. I swear there are not enough Jews here to even form a minyan. It's a pretty warm and tolerant and open minded community, or so I thought. There was a recent incident where a student at the local junior high was the victim of racial and antisemitic harassment. She's Jewish and Jamaican and was attacked on both fronts. The town rallied around her and responded to the racism but coolly ignored the antisemitism. When I mentioned in the local moms group on FB that I put her mother in touch with Nico Slobinsky at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, I was asked why I had to involve "them". I explained that the kid is Jewish. She was sent antisemitic texts by classmates. And the damn school encouraged her to erase them! I was told I am just going to stir up more issues. Ok I get it. The Jew needs to sit down and shut up and not stir the pot.

I'm getting tired of having to defend Judaism, Jews, and Israel seemingly everywhere. Wouldn't be as tired if I it was just one side I had to fight but lately it's coming in from all directions and I am just exhausted.

[MosheFeingold]

7. Pick your battles

I've learned that in my life. This is why I don't hyperventilate about little or questionable things. And, in fact, come to the defense of people who may merely be assholes, but I see not evidence of antisemitism. There is plenty of bad fruit to be pruned. Just pick the ones that have clearly rotten to the core and fallen on the ground, and you'll have plenty to do.

And on these, you'll get a lot of backlash; witness here the thread where the school teacher said, in writing, that Jews needed to be killed, along with a whole host of similar things. Clearly a rotten fruit.

And note, even here (or perhaps especially here, as the antisemites are trying to hijack the progressive movement*), the antisemites came crawling out.

* Witness, for example, Linda Sarsour, the supposed leader of a recent woman's march. She's deeply in bed with Hamas.

[Mosby]

10. I'm not happy.

I had to delete my last post.

I'm just going to keep my mouth shut.