I know, I know, this is a horrible time for Jews. I read the same news you do.
It seems that everywhere we turn, we see another report of Jew-haters screaming, howling, balling, shrieking in front of some Jewish institution, hoping to terrify, intimidate, horrify, even cancel us.
The latest clip comes from a synagogue near Toronto, where a group of eager screamers were hoping to disrupt a Yom Kippur service.
“You’re going to Hell,” yelled a man using a bullhorn, while another one screamed “baby killer.” A woman entering the shul was called an “ugly Jewish bitch” – and, when the cantor went outside and smiled at a protester, another yelled: “The Jew smiles while he kills babies in Gaza.”
As I watched these eager screamers, I couldn’t help wonder what happens when these people get home.
“Wow, what a great day I had!” one screamer tells a roommate.
“What did you do?”
“I screamed outside a synagogue for three hours.”
“But that’s what you did yesterday!”
“I know, we’re planning another one for tomorrow.”
I don’t mean to make light of Jew-haters who make a living out of straining their vocal cords.
Actually, I take that back. I do need to make light of them, because if I don’t, they win and we lose.
For me, the most important thing is to remind myself that I would hate being in their shoes. Screaming in anger is not a joyful act. Do enough of it and after a while, it gets exhausting.
While some of them will be screaming somewhere tonight, many of us will be happily schmoozing with family and friends inside a sukkah.
Does the screaming get them anywhere?
What’s their dream?
I imagine that Jew-haters would love nothing better than to see Jews shut down their Jewish activities out of fear.
But when’s the last time we heard of a synagogue in America shutting down because of antisemitism? That’s right, never.
Think of the haters around the world who have invested millions of hours screaming, howling, balling and shrieking in front of some Jewish institution. No matter how loud and how long and how often and how eagerly they have screamed, all they see are stubborn Jews who just keep going, Jews who can’t be stopped.
It’s not only about having good arguments and debunking lies. The mere fact of Jewish continuity drives the haters nuts. It’s our real ace in the hole.
Of course we must continue to defend ourselves against physical violence and illegal harassment. But that doesn’t mean we should give the screamers more power than they deserve.
They’ve been exhausting themselves pretty much non-stop for three years, and they still haven’t stopped us from singing, rejoicing, loving, creating and living our Jewish lives.
For me, that’s a win.
Shabbat shalom and chag sameach.
