Zachor – Remembrance

Without remembering past events, we are doomed to repeat the same fatal mistakes.

This has been proven endlessly over the millennia of Jewish history and is as relevant today as it was in past years.

This past week, Jews commemorated Shabbat Zachor and read the passage from Exodus, commanding a remembrance of how Amalek attacked the vulnerable Israelites as they trekked to the Promised Land. That singular Biblical event and its annual recitation set the scene for what is a communal determination to remember and act against those who plot our demise.

As we celebrate Purim and the deliverance of Persian Jews from genocidal machinations the lessons of the past should be foremost in our minds. At no time since the end of the Shoah have those plotting evil against Jews been more vocal and active.

It is unfortunate but not surprising that, once again, we face a largely indifferent world. Expressions of solidarity are swamped by cynical votes against Israel at international gatherings. Today’s successors of Haman plan their latest version of Jew cleansing and the world prefers to pretend that it’s all a bluff.

A brief survey of the latest developments should be a wake-up call for sceptics who see nothing amiss, optimists who prefer to pretend that peace beckons at the end of the rainbow and realists who fear that time is running out.

Purim this year is still being celebrated in the shadow of post-7 October 2023 traumas with Israeli hostages, dead and alive, being held by Hamas for ransom. The deadly consequences of Islamic terror are a potent reminder of the carnage that results from underestimating the nefarious designs of our detractors.

In a unique twist of irony the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is also being observed at this time. Based on past experiences, this is likely to unleash increased violence and terror. For devout Muslims, it is a time of fasting, reflection and communal gatherings. Unfortunately for an increasing number of jihadist militants it has also become a month when Islam is hijacked and used as a weapon against those they perceive as “infidels.” An upsurge in terror-related activity in Israel is usually the norm. As expected, the usual groups have issued clarion calls for violence with the Temple Mount being a convenient excuse.

Missing in action are denunciations of this kidnapping of Islam by increasing numbers of fanatics. The almost total silence of Islamic clerics and political leaders in the face of this wave of hate is very noticeable. Are they silent because of a fear of retaliation by their own followers or does their silence signify passive approval?

Just as bad is the silence of Christians and many Jewish religious and lay leaders in countries outside of Israel. In many places interfaith gatherings are organized which purport to demonstrate that we are all mates together and nothing is amiss. Unfortunately, celebrants fail to remember underlying worrying narratives. The results can be soul-destroying, especially when illusory mirages are cruelly shattered.

This is exactly what has recently occurred in the United Kingdom.

An attempt at a Jewish – Muslim reconciliation was attempted whereby a much-touted pact was signed by several UK Islamic notables and Jewish leaders, including the Chief Rabbi. This declaration of fraternal friendship was presented to King Charles amidst much fanfare and media hoopla. I wondered how long it would take before a counter-reaction would be forthcoming from Islamic representatives who saw this as some sort of a betrayal.

Sure enough this week, just in time for Ramadan, the expected denunciations were forthcoming.

A coalition of UK Muslim organizations rejected this pact aimed at improving relations between the two communities because of the “involvement of British Chief Rabbi Mirvis” who they denounced as a “staunch Zionist. He has supported Israel’s war on the Palestinians in Gaza. We cannot in good faith acknowledge these accords when the Chief Rabbi has made public statements supporting Israel despite the horrific actions of the Israel occupation forces.”  They went on to state that they would only accept and support the accords if the UK Chief Rabbi condemns the “genocide and apartheid being enacted against the Palestinian people.” We reject these accords “made purportedly on behalf of the Muslim community.” In conclusion they said that “a central facet of Islam is the complete rejection of oppression. As a community we do not shy away from rejecting oppression in all its forms against anyone.”

Remembering past and current experiences of Jews and others one can only marvel at the breathtaking claims. The number of Christian and Jewish infidels put to the sword since the advent of Islam is most probably only surpassed by the number of Muslims murdered in the name of Allah by other Islamists.

The irrational and poisonous strain of anti-Jewish hate combined with an obsessive objection to any Jewish historical sovereign rights is the “elephant in the room” that needs addressing. A cowardly silence and a fake friendship in the face of stark realities is not a recipe for any sort of genuine reconciliation or tolerance.

Next up is a classic example of how remembrance can be classified as non-diplomatic.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK was sacked this past week for the “crime” of articulating plain truths instead of utilizing diplomatic double-speak.

It seems that the hapless diplomat was asked his opinion about Ukraine and President Trump’s policies. Instead of repeating the politically correct and banal responses of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, High Commissioner Phil Goff mused that he had just read the comments of Winston Churchill spoken in 1938. After British PM Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich with “the deal of peace with honour and for our time” he was hailed as a latter day messiah and saviour of humanity.

Churchill’s famous retort to this outbreak of collective euphoria about selling Czechoslovakia down the river and making dubious deals with international terror patrons remains relevant.

“You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war.”

No doubt, New Zealand’s diplomatic representative to the UK found this a most appropriate observation, taking into account that Russia has territorial ambitions in the Ukraine. His further observation that he doubted Trump’s grasp of history was no doubt the final straw as far as Wellington was concerned.

His dismissal for articulating inconvenient truths is yet another example of how hypocrisy flourishes in the corridors of international diplomacy.

It has been revealed that “negotiations” have been taking place between a US negotiator and Hamas about releasing a dual US hostage and extending a ceasefire.

This has thrust the whole question of whether one should deal with terrorist organizations into the debate. Is it better to talk to these murderers or should we deal with them in the only real way that they understand?

Israel has, at times in the past, tried indirect negotiations with terror facilitators, and the end results have always been a complete fiasco. The most prominent example of this failed policy was the rescue of Arafat and his terror cronies from a sure end in Lebanon in 1982. Allowed to go into exile in Tunisia with his supporters this deal with the PLO laid the groundwork for subsequent legitimization of everything to do with “liberating Palestine.”

This disastrous gesture was then subsequently made even worse when the infamous Oslo Accords granted them an internationally blessed certificate of approval. A deal bringing a terror entity to our border sanctified the PLO as a “true” partner when in actual fact it really guaranteed the death of Israelis and perpetual murderous deeds.

Hamas has obviously taken on board the lessons of Oslo because after the latest futile attempt to involve it in meaningless talks it issued a triumphant statement claiming that “it sees these talks with the USA as the beginning of gaining international legitimacy.”

It is, therefore, appropriate at this time for Israeli decision-makers to remember the painful lessons that Purim teaches us.

Our response to Amalek was not one of the deals but the uncompromising determination to defeat terror and ensure that the murder of Jews would never go unpunished.

Likewise, the lessons of the Purim episode are not to hide but instead thwart nefarious schemes against Jews.

We must constantly remember in order to avoid the lethal pitfalls of the past.