The Shir Ha Ma'a lot, Psalm 126 says:  "We were like dreamers."  This is not merely a statement about those who dreamed about a return to Zion.  This statement describes sleepwalkers in every age.  In our time many subliminally knew of the rhetoric of Jew-haters but refused to believe its reality.  It's like the rhetoric of Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf.  Hitler was forthright in telling of his hatred of Jews.  But most people took his words to be mere ranting, meaningless in reality. As we mark Yom Ha-Shoah, we know that we were asleep to the threat that Hitler brought to the Jewish People.

Today with the Intifada, some are still dreamers--  sleep walkers who have not awakened to the words of our enemies.  Thus we are stunned at their consequences.  Some are in positions of leadership with access to intelligence reports of Chairman Arafat's words, the preachments of Moslem clergy in countless Mosques, to textbooks studies and videotapes of young children marching with guns, screaming bloodthirsty oaths about Jews, yet pay little or no heed to such outpourings.  Others of us are more or less ignorant of all the hatred directed at Israel and Jews.  And all of us who have heard CNN or PBS know that Prime Minister Sharon is frequently depicted as some type of bloody handed heartless killer, who refuses to surrender his hatred of Chairman Arafat and causes all the problems in the land of Israel.

Hate, Lies, and distortions have fueled the rising tide of Arab and Moslem rage that has given rise to Suicide bombings in Israel, and Synagogue burnings in Europe. 
Are we awake yet or still dreaming?  Can we understand that the hate rhetoric is not empty of response!  Do we fathom the dimensions of this hate campaign leveled against Israel and its supporters, in textbooks, video films, Mosque sermons, articles and political cartoons?  Do we believe that such a deluge of media depicting Jews as murderers can have no terrible consequences?
 And yes, a Saudi Minister pulled out the old blood libel in 2002 no less.  Also, maps where Israeli cities are shown as Arab, and offering bounties to the families of Suicide bombers.

Wake-Up!

Will Secretary of State Colin Powell finally secure Chairman Arafat's word promising to say in Arabic what he says in English?  Will Powell see action to curb terror, or only hear more promises?  At this writing I don't know the answer.  But I know the direction. 
If every Jew is a monster, a target, if every Jewish city is an object of terror and mayhem, if there is continuing glee at the death of Jews sitting down to a Seder, riding a bus, eating pizza, drinking coffee, then quit dreaming and face the reality that every Israeli faces.  All of this makes clear the need To Protect Our Heritage.

If we are awake to the threat of Jew-haters, then we must surely recognize the task that lies before us.To Protect Our Heritage means speaking the Truth about our people and our aims.  We must address the media.  We must address our leaders.  We must support those elected officials who are our friends.We must band together to respond in an organized fashion To Protect Our Heritage.

Join us.  Learn more about us.  Help us.  It is all of our cause!

Rabbi Victor Weissberg
Founder and Chairman of To Protect Our Heritage PAC

April 2002

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