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August 23, 2016

Another Olympics is over.  Rio provided a beautiful backdrop for the event.  The games are supposed to be an example of using sport to foster brotherhood. It is a lofty ideal that athletes often forget.  Four randy members of the U.S. swim team decided to get drunk and make fools of themselves.  An American fencer received accolades because she was so brave to wear a Hijab.  Never mind her social media is full of anti-Israel hatred. Fortunately, most of our team represented the best America has to offer. 

However, Rio also served as a place to sport blatant anti-Semitism.  It began early. The delegation from Lebanon refused to ride on the same bus with the Israeli team. Instead of pulling the Lebanese athletes off the bus and making them wait until they could be “accommodated,” it was the Israel whose team had to wait for a bus to take them to the Olympic Village. If the Lebanese had snubbed another group, there would have been a consequence, but alas it was only Israel. Saudi Arabia and Syria, scions of human rights, also sent athletes to the games.  When they were to face opponents who represented Israel, both countries were willing to forfeit their chance to compete for Olympic gold. 

Pity.  Maybe it is because their country’s sent them not to compete, but to make a point.  They did.  They do not walk in the shadow of the Olympic spirit.

The award for bad behavior goes to an Egyptian Judoka, Islam El Shehaby. At least he did compete against his Israeli opponent, Or Sasson who won the match.  Afterward, Sasson offered a handshake in sportsmanship (something an Olympian is supposed to do).  El Shehaby refused the handshake and walked away.  The crowd showed its disapproval and booed him.  Some athletes forget the Olympic motto is “Faster, Higher, Stronger” not Stupid, Stupider, Stupidest.

Most western news outlets found the Egyptian’s behavior disgusting.  However, The Economist (a magazine whose anti-Semitic bent cannot be understated), published an amazing statement regarding the incident. “Mr. El Shahaby’s snub seems mere tokenism compared to the bullets that killed 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972.” 

This is not a joke.  The writer is serious.

We should be so grateful to be the target of Jew hatred.  At least, we are not dead.  Jews, especially those who live in Israel are deserving of Dhimmi status.

That attitude, exhibited by a major Western publication cannot be tolerated.  It would not be tolerated if it were written in regards to any other religious or ethnic group.  It is clear to the Economist and many others (American college campuses come to mind) that Jews are different. 

As someone who did not grow up Jewish, I have always been amazed by the Jewish tolerance of hatred.  Not hatred of others.  When it comes to hatred and intolerance, Jews are on the front lines.  They give eloquent speeches decrying racism, sexism and every other kind of “ism.”  They march hand in hand with others who simply disappear when that “ism” is directed toward Jews.  Jews tolerate hatred that is directed toward them.  They make up excuses for it.  Until I became a Jew, I had no idea what a self-hating Jew was.   When I questioned that “peculiar” hatred that is anti-Semitism in my church bible class as a teenager, I was told “hatred of Jews is different.”  Indeed, our Secretary of State would say there is a “rationale” for it.  I don’t think most Jews realize that.  We should just be glad that despite its best shot, the destruction of the Jews has yet to succeed.  That attitude is sickening.  The oldest hatred in the world is becoming fashionable once again.  It is a cancer. We must stop it.

Or Sasson in one simple moment proved he is a mensch and an embodiment of the Olympic ideal.  He posed proudly with his medal.  He flew home, chatting with passengers and posing for pictures.  He rose above politics and hatred. He proved Citius, Alitus, Foritus; Faster, Higher, Stronger is still a worthy ideal.

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