Seasonal allergies

Certain seasons precipitate allergic attacks and cause misery for those afflicted.

Seasonal allergies affecting Jews and Israelis are prevalent all year round. It makes no difference whether it is autumn, winter, spring or summer. The toxic spores that circulate and generate hate, incitement, and violent reactions remain potent no matter what time of year it may be.

Religious celebrations and commemorations are a favourite time for the appearance of such attacks.

As we have increasingly seen over the years, public gatherings by Jewish communities have become more fraught with danger. In many countries, there is almost a siege-like atmosphere as security is increased and armed police and security personnel are mandatory. The situation has now become so dire that public displays of Jewish observances are vanishing and being transferred to indoor venues.

It is not just that Jews have to now barricade themselves behind well guarded walls but that in many cases the venues themselves are a closely guarded secret. Gaining access is permitted only after prior registration and presumably vetting to ensure that no undesirables might infiltrate and cause mayhem.

These precautions are perfectly understandable given the threats that exist worldwide.

They do, however, raise inevitable questions.

What sorry state of affairs have we descended to that in the civil year 2026, Jews are compelled to isolate themselves behind ghetto like walls when they want to gather collectively?

Who could have ever imagined that armed guards would need to be a permanent feature outside Jewish schools, places of worship and communal gatherings?

What will become of those Jewish schools that have non-Jewish pupils? Will the parents of these students now be so fearful of being targets of terror that they will withdraw their children? How will that affect schools that can only financially survive with a mixed roll of children?

How many Jews will decide that, given the current situation, keeping an invisible profile is now desirable and indeed inevitable? Increasing numbers are already removing visible signs of Jewish identification and running for cover. Many are now terrified of having their names mentioned in any public forum.

In some countries where Jewish newspapers still exist, it has become normal for them to be wrapped in plain paper so that when posted, no clue as to their origin is visible.

This year, the public display of Chanukah menorot, especially in the UK, USA and Europe, has been accompanied by vandalism and graffiti.

Security in Israel is also very tight, but at least here we are able to defend ourselves and ensure that the perpetrators of hate are dealt with swiftly and expeditiously.

Once upon a time, especially during the heady days of the Shtetl in Europe, there were two particular seasons of the year when anti-Jewish allergies would erupt with deadly consequences.

These were Easter and Christmas, which often coincided with Passover and Chanukah. The former gave birth to blood libels, which interestingly still circulate today, albeit badly disguised as anti Zionist/Israel libels.

The latter revolved around the birth of a baby in a Jewish town called Bethlehem. This bequeathed millennia of persecution of Jews and has mutated today into a new revisionist version of history.

The story of a Jewish baby being born in a Jewish town in Judea on the outskirts of Jerusalem has now morphed into a “Palestinian” child who eventually became the “first Palestinian martyr.”  Those Islamist jihadists who propagate this fiction know that repeating the same lie long enough will make it become the accepted gospel, and so it has transpired. Any lie is valid, it seems, as long as it denies Jewish history and invalidates any sort of legitimate Jewish presence.

Bethlehem is a perfect example of how anti-Jew hate and denigration of Judaism may have started out as a minor allergy but has since morphed into something far more viral.

What was once a Jewish town hosting Jewish pilgrims on their way to the Temple in Jerusalem eventually became a town with a Christian-Arab majority, where tourists from all parts of the world would flock at this time of year.

With the advent of Arab and Islamic fanaticism, the situation has now drastically changed.

The PA, under the patronage of President-for-life Abbas, now controls this town. Lo and behold, instead of three wise men, the Ramallah kleptocracy holds sway. The result has seen Christians fleeing.

What was once an 80% Christian majority has now shrunk to a 10% minority.

Terror gangs, rampant intolerance and jihadist agendas are responsible but guess who gets the blame for this situation?

International connivance with historical revisionism and tolerance of jihadist ambitions ensure that Israel, the nation state of the Jewish People, is branded eternally with the simple sin of actually existing.

The disgusting persecution of Christians and other minorities in Islamic countries is a perfect example of international hypocrisy running rampant.

The Christian and Druze citizens of Syria are subjected to the most horrendous persecutions. It is Israel that tries to help and defend them. Medical aid and life-saving operations are undertaken, and the UN and its willing partners still condemn its efforts. Even worse, President Trump lifts all sanctions against the Syrian regime and promises more “goodies.”

Christians in Africa are being kidnapped, raped, attacked and harmed and yet the world yawns. The Vatican offers its usual platitudes, and Anglican Church clergy prefer to criticise Israel instead of condemning jihadist terror in plain and straightforward language.

Politicians are no better.

Their default position is to unleash a torrent of condemnations against Israel while remaining mute in the face of unrestrained hate against Christians in Islamic majority countries.

This accounts for their sinister double standards over Iran. As the mullah regime is tormenting Baha’is and Christians, leaders of democratic countries stay silent.

If this is the situation when Christians are being persecuted and killed, is it any surprise when hypocrisy rears its ugly head over Israel and Jews?

Some individuals and groups wax ecstatically when memorial ceremonies are conducted for massacred Jews.

Those politicians who fail time and time again to safeguard their Jewish communities never admit that it is their own rhetoric and lack of resolve to confront uncomfortable realities which inevitably lead to dead Jews.

Projecting candles and other images on iconic buildings may produce a warm glow in some quarters, but it is no substitute for real action.

Eulogies, no matter how eloquent, if not followed by a forceful follow-up, are merely hollow words articulated in the hope that the masses will be mollified.

Banning weapon possession will not prevent terror supporters from carrying out their pogroms.

Tolerating hate incitement in any form merely spurs those inciters to further outrages.

Pretending that delegitimising Zionism and Israel has nothing to do with being anti-Jewish is a cop out.

Refusing to name jihadist terror for what it really is will not make the threats disappear.

We are facing a tsunami of allergies which if not tackled will infect the lives of all Jews everywhere.

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 and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.