“America Iz Andersh”
And so we come now to America. ‘America is different’, they say. In old Russia, you know, a Jew was despised. And it wasn’t something behind closed doors – it was out in the open; good old anti- Semitism. The government made laws to consider Jews second-class citizens. We weren't admitted to government positions. Certain jobs we couldn’t have. We had to live only in certain areas. וימאן – they refused to let us learn from their ways
And the Russian Jews chafed at that. They complained among themselves. But actually they were enjoying the blessing of Hashem. They didn’t realize it maybe, but that’s the truth.
Escape to Freedom
What happened finally? They left Russia and came to America. Ah! America! They were received with open arms. You can become anything in America! And they became nothing. It was a big catastrophe, a big misfortune. More Jews were destroyed in the freedom of America than in the crematorium of Germany.
Now, we don’t blame America. We say ‘God bless America’. By all means Hashem should bless America. Such a good country! Of course many Jews, liberal Jews, are trying to ruin it but we say הוי בשלומו של מלכות מתפלל – Pray for the success of the government. And we should show it. It shouldn’t be only the Italians who hang out the flag! I'm telling you right now, you should go out and buy a flag and hang it out on legal holidays. Show your appreciation for this great country.
But when all is said and done we have to know that it’s a very big danger when Eretz Edom opens up its borders and welcomes us in. In America the entire Jewish community is standing on the precipice of the disaster of ישלחו הצדיקים בעולתה ידיהם. And that’s why Hakadosh Baruch Hu steps in. Even in a place of tolerance, He’s on the job; He’s pulling wires, the strings of לא ינוח שבט הרשע על גורל הצדיקים.
The Policy of Antisemitism
How? Very many ways. Oh, could I give you examples. If we had the time to sit together and study the history of the Jews in America we’d see so many ways that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is fulfilling this policy of separation. But of all of Hashem’s ways of keeping us separate, the most prevalent one is the principle of עשיו שונא ליעקב. It’s a halachah; it’ll always be so because the hatred from the gentiles is a policy of Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s.
Most of you don’t remember – you’re too young – when the Nazi party first started in America; a long time ago. Remember Fritz Kuhn, the head of the German American Bund? That was Hakadosh Baruch Hu sending a notice: ‘Wake up Jews!’ Or George Rockwell, alav hashnubbel? Eventually he was shot down by a fellow Nazi but Hakadosh Baruch Hu was sending another notice: ‘Jews wake up!’ ויט ישראל מעליו – Yisroel has to turn away from Eisav.
