Why I am embarrassed (at times) to be a Jew

Posted by High Priestess Kang as IJC, LOL J00z, Politics, Religion

The January 2008 - Tevet/Sh’vat 5768 issue of the Raleigh Cary Jewish Federation News landed in my postbox the other day. It’s interesting reading, even though I am not active in the local Jewish scene (for reasons you will glean from my post). Over a bowl of Rice Krispies, I peruse the paper and stumble across something rather upsetting. And embarrassing.

There is an article written by Susan Behrend about Dr Sandra Alfonsi’s address to Beth Meyer Synagogue in Raleigh. Dr Sandra Alfonsi is the head of Hadassah’s Curriculum Watch. According to the article (and some very brief googling), Dr Alfonsi speaks at various engagements, reporting on the, “widespread attempt on the part of educators to present material about Islam, to help students understand some of the conflicts in the world today, especially 09.11.” The article goes on to explore the sources which are universities with departments of Middle Eastern Studies and with money given by Saudi Arabia.

According to Dr Alfonsi, the text is riddled with inaccuracies about Israel and the Holocaust.

Furthermore, the article states:

• Lesson plans on the Israel-Palestine conflict direct students to pressure the government to cut off aid to Israel.
• Social Studies texts list the names of the world religions deleting all mention of Jews and Judaism.
• Discussion of the Bible starts at Exodus, not Genesis, thus deleting all connection of the Jews to the land that is currently Israel.
• Some material presenting Islam to American students has them practicing Islamic prayers.

The article goes on to report that Dr Alfonsi has met with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to express concerns and ask questions about textbooks being considered.

As Jews, it is imperative, per our teaching/scripture, to learn. The pursuit of learning is paramount to Judaism. And here we sit, as some sort of book-burning witch hunt, criticising what is in texts. Now, in practice, I do not disagree with being concerned about inaccurate portrayals of history. History has been revised for many years to facilitate whatever political process the student lives in/under. I do find it disconcerting that history may have been bastardized. I also find it disconcerting that the article fails to demonstrate exactly how history has been bastardized.

What really concerns me is this level of fear mongering, however.

Are Jewish children, Christian children, children who are agnostic, atheist, Buddhist, Humanist, etc… not supposed to learn about the Islamic faith? How are the children, the future of any society, supposed to learn without exploring all religions? And…why are demands being made that children learn one way but not the other?

The article cites valid concerns. I feel compelled to repeat that. On the other hand, I cannot help but take away a sense of witch-huntery and a strong, Zionist message.

One of the things that drove me away from routine worship was the fact that I could not find a synagogue that did not co-mingle politics and faith. I want to be able to worship without hearing dramatic accounts of how certain Jewish sects in Israel discriminate against others. I want to be able to worship without being hit up for bucks to support Israel.

All of this is very challenging for me to wrap my head around, since, as I age, I become more comfortable with the need for Israel. Jews do need a homeland to protect them from disgusting and horrific events such as the Holocaust. 5,700+ years has proven that the concept of being anti-Semitic isn’t going anywhere.

On the other hand, what does it say about a group of people who are expressing deep concern about children learning something which may be different? Doesn’t that show fear? Doesn’t that demonstrate some level of intolerance? Doesn’t that make us just as guilty as those who persecute us?

Sparky and Adam Smith’s son goes to a fantastic school in Morrisville. Shortly before Christmas, Dock and I went to Sparky and Adam’s house for a cup of holiday sneer. We looked at some schoolwork from Sparky Jr. It was a coloring book of all the major religious holidays, Christmas, Eid, Chanukkah (ok…that’s not major but you get my drift) and Diwali. The exercise was to teach the children that there is more out there than what is practiced in their home. This promotes tolerance. This promotes actual education. This promotes harmony and understanding. This makes me want to send whatever offspring I have to that exact, same school.

What happens if we take that which is different out of textbooks simply because of politics?

While I appreciate Dr Alfonsi’s desire to protect history and report, accurately, on the Jewish struggle, I cannot help but feel compromised by the fact that someone is willing to censor and limit knowledge. I cannot help but question our own actions. I cannot help but wonder if we are doing the same thing we, as a religious minority, resent in a Christian society.

So long as it is an, “us against them” mentality, there will never be peace in the Middle East or anywhere else for that matter. This is not to discount the great, “Islamic threat” to the world (and I gag as I write this). But there is also a great, “Christian threat” and a great, “Jewish threat.” So long as there is rabid ideology, understanding will never be reached.

One cannot demand accuracy, equal time and fairness without offering it up, themselves. One cannot condemn financing from one nation with a political agenda, while accepting and/or donating money to a similar cause. One cannot turn to an institute of higher learning for accurate facts to support their ideology and condemn those who do the same thing simply because they disagree. This stinks of hypocrisy.

Perhaps I am the, “Worst Jew in the World” for thinking this. Perhaps I will be ostracised for not fully supporting this endeavour. That is a risk I am willing to take. I cannot, as a Jew, ask for tolerance and respect without offering it up myself. I cannot, as a minority, expect equality when I’m not willing to grant it. I cannot, as a human being, allow anyone to remain fully ignorant so long as I have my keyboard and an internet connection.

The risk is too great.

It is one thing to ask for equal time and accuracy in historical reporting. It is another thing to act is if your message is the only message which needs to be heard.

Aren’t we better than this?

*note: unfortunately, this article is not on-line, otherwise, I would have done due diligence and linked it.