Speak Up Before You Can't

Speak Up Before You Can’t
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
February 8, 2022

Andrew Doran, in his February 4 editorial in The Wall Street Journal, opined correctly that “Christians Need to Confront Anti-Semitism.” It is true that the “new” anti-Semitism is simply under the guise of anti-Zionism - the hatred of Israel down to its mere existence.

Doran mentioned the “majority of Americans still have favorable views toward the Jewish people.” That is a double-edged sword. Acceptance comes with assimilation and assimilation leads to inter-marriage, in the case of the Jewish people to the tune of greater than 50 percent. Assimilation - becoming Americanized - is a good thing, provided rituals are still practiced and observed. There is a healthy balance there. Inter-marriage, not so much. It dilutes the faith for the next generations, leading to a loss of practice and observance of ritual.

An issue that need be taken with Doran, is his assertion that “Anti-Semitism is resurgent on the political right. Untrue. All one has to do is turn their attention to Congress and the myriad anti-Semitic tropes, comments, and behaviors exhibited by Democrat Congresswomen Cori Bush (D-MO), Andre Carson (D-IN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), to name just a few.

But when addressing the need of Christians to confront anti-Semitism, and remembering that the Jewish people are typically the canary in the coal mine, Doran omitted one defining adage from German Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984). These words are rightly emblazoned on a wall at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Words by which to live, while millions did not.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN. He is a charter member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.