By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

Anti-Semitism has existed for millennia.  It didn't begin with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.  Decades ago, I visited Dachau, and saw the results of Man's inhumanity to his fellow beings.  Because my paternal ancestors came from Germany in 1849, I was interested in learning how and why it might have occurred.  My search and questioning ended when an elderly German woman told me that the only thing wrong with Hitler was that he hadn't killed all of the Jews.

I was stunned.  But put into perspective, her family had been wealthy; they hailed from Munich; and they helped to finance Hitler's rise to power.  When she told me, she had no remorse or equivocation.  And I didn't lay a guilt trip on her, because I was trying to learn and get straight answers, not to challenge, reform or punish anyone.  Too often today, those who despise anti-Semitism engage in ridicule, censorship or worse, which doesn't make it go away.

One man today, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, has done more to rekindle anti-Semitism than anyone on the face of the earth.  Before Hamas did anything recently, he was trying to avoid prison for his crimes.  He was hated by Ariel Sharon and the Rabins; and Leah Rabin blamed him for her husband's tragic assassination.  She believed that peace was impossible with Netanyahu at the helm of Israel's government; and her views were prescient.

It can be argued that decades ago he morphed into his ancestors' Nazi oppressors; and that everything he has done since then was predictable.  Tragically, in league with the "Settlers" and Zionists, he has used and misused Israelis, and hurt Jews in Israel, the United States and globally.  For every action there is a reaction, and anti-Semitism has been growing exponentially for decades.

Perhaps my deepest concerns are for American Jews, and especially those whose ancestors came here long ago—in the 1800s, in some cases, or even before—and who were not immigrant Jews.  And I am concerned about innocent Jews who live outside of Israel and the United States, and who are denying their "Jewishness."  It is tantamount to me denying my heredity, or that I am an American or a Christian.

My maternal ancestors came from England, Ireland and Scotland, with the earliest one arriving in 1770, and the others arriving in 1850.  Yet, in those countries, anti-Semitism is rising today, just as it is here in America.  If anyone believes it will go away because the "thought police" condemn it, they are naive.  Right or wrong, much of the world looks at the actions of Zionists since the state of Israel was born in 1948, and condemns them.  Like Netanyahu, it can be argued that they morphed into their Nazi oppressors.

Why is any of this important to each of us?  Because what is happening in Israel today can spin out of control and be the spark that ignites World War III.  And because WMDs can be obtained that would end Israel's existence and that of innocent Jews and others.  Just as no one should be surprised that anti-Semitism exists, and has existed for millennia, no one should be surprised if a spark ignites a vastly-wider war that might be unstoppable, and impact all of us and our loved ones.

Hatreds need to be wound down, not exacerbated.  Israel and its haters need to be pulled back from the edge of an abyss of unfathomable depths.  Killing never solved anything, much less when it has occurred on a wholesale basis.  Quite to the contrary, killing can beget more killing, and spin out of control.  God blesses the peacemakers, not those who edge ever closer to the Gates of Hell.  Cooler heads need to prevail, not the firebrands.[2]

_____

© 2023, Timothy D. Naegele

_____

[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/  He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, and Who's Who in Finance and Business.  He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See, e.g. https://www.timesofisrael.com/sad-scared-proud-alone-how-us-jewish-teens-are-feeling-amid-israel-hamas-war/ ("Sad, scared, proud, alone: How US Jewish teens are feeling amid Israel-Hamas war") and https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/116627/israel-hamas-jewish-arab-clashes ("Jewish residents chant 'death to Arabs' outside Palestinian student dorms") and https://www.npr.org/2023/10/30/1209380561/israel-presses-into-gaza-as-pro-palestinian-protests-spread-worldwide ("Israel presses into Gaza as pro-Palestinian protests spread worldwide")

On a personal note, this morning I received an announcement from a website reminding me of the death of a Jewish friend and former client.  He died in 2002, and I remain the only person who has posted a tribute to him, which is surprising.

I grew up with Jewish friends in Los Angeles; and many remain my friends to this day.  My former client was very wealthy, but my friends have always included those who have nothing—or very little—materially.