| The Jewish Establishment |
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bincludes Jews in their ranks.’ And so we find that assaults on
bmerchants who are predominantly Jewish is not really a
bJewish issue; that reverse discrimination and quotas that
beffectively hit Jewish students and businessmen and work-
bers more than others is not really a ‘Jewish problem’; that
bcrime in Jewish neighborhoods is not really aimed at Jews as
bsuch and is, therefore, not a ‘Jewish problem.’
b“There is irony in these arguments coming from groups
band men who, in the Jewish name, take sides on such
b‘Jewish’ issues as Vietnam, the Christmas stamp, abortion
breform, South Africa, and the electoral college. There is also
btragedy. It is the tragedy of lack of sensitivity to Jewish pain,
bof the de-Judaizing of Jewish problems, of the bankruptcy
bof the Jewish Establishment. If Jews, as part of a general
binjustice or general harassment or general persecution, suf-
bfer, that is a Jewish problem precisely because Jews are
binvolved. Whether de jure or de facto, it is immaterial to the
bsensitive Jew, to the one who is consumed by Ahavat Yisroel.
bThe trouble is that our Jewish leaders are assimilated Jews,
bJews who have lost touch with the common Jew. They are
battempting to subtly melt into the gentile background.
b“Had they lived in czarist Russia, they would have stated
bthat the general Russian campaign to Russify all minorities
bwithin their borders—including Poles, Ukrainians, and
bWhite Russians as well as Jews—was not a Jewish problem.
bWoe unto a people with such leaders!
b“Nevertheless, there is no room for Sinat chinam (need-
bless hatred), either. It was needless hatred between Jews that
bdestroyed the Second Commonwealth and brought about
bthe destruction of the Temple and the beginning of the long
bnight of Exile. It will be an overabundance of love between
bJews which will bring about the reconstruction of the Jewish
bpeople and its elevation to greatness again.
b“In our concept of Ahavat Yisroel, the Land of Israel has a
bspecial place for us too. One need not be an official ‘Zionist’
bmovement to bear a special affection, love, and dedication
bfor the Land of Israel. A Jewish homeland is a concept that
bimplies freedom, security, and the opportunity to achieve a
bcomplete Jewish life. Such a land is one that must be com-
b