Fast forward to today. I am the only one of her grandchildren who doesn’t yet live in Israel. Her great-grandchildren, armed with her courage, conviction and resolve, have been among those heroically serving in the IDF, fighting in Gaza and defending our people.
Much of what happened in Amsterdam parallels our past but there is a fundamental and glaring difference. This time, the Jews abandoned by the Dutch government were not alone. IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani announced: “The targeted attacks against Jews and Israelis in Amsterdam tonight are horrific and barbaric. The images of the violence toward Jewish people in Europe are a painful reminder of our history. The IDF has an historic duty of protecting our people, wherever they are. We are preparing to deploy a mission to rescue Israelis from Amsterdam.”
Indeed, two rescue planes, funded by El Al, went to Amsterdam to bring home to Israel those who were targeted, attacked, and forced into hiding. Jews around the world are not alone, never abandoned, or on our own. We are living in miraculous times in which G-d has granted us a country, one of the strongest and smartest militaries in the world, and an indomitable will to ensure “Never Again” truly means never again.
Our people’s existence is due to strong-willed, courageous people who didn’t surrender to circumstance or cower to enemies.
With G-d’s help, our people’s existence is due to strong-willed, courageous people who didn’t surrender to circumstance or cower to enemies. Abraham went to war against powerful kings to liberate his nephew. Moses took on the Egyptian empire with demanding that its leader Pharaoh let his people go. What if the Maccabees had considered the odds and facts on the ground and never revolted against the Greek oppressors?
What if Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai simply observed the power of Vespasian and never asked for Yavneh and its sages? What if in 1948 and 1967 the brave men and women of Israel had truly accepted the impossible chances of overcoming the many nations, people, and resources that sought to obliterate them?
The past 13 months have taught us that the world respects us and fears us when we show strength, might and Jewish pride, not when we cower, apologize, or take orders from others.
Don’t hide your Jewishness. Don’t cower or live in fear. Be responsible but be a proud and practicing Jew.
Let antisemites pay a price and face legal consequences for attacking a Jew. Instead of our fearing them, let them fear us.
