Bomb Threats and Other Religious Antagonisms

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The young year has given us a new form of hatred: bomb threats called in to Jewish community centers or synagogues. News sites report that over 100 bomb threats have been made against Jewish shuls, temples, and community centers in the first two months of 2017. Today that news came home. I drove past the local Jewish Community Center on my way to my allergist to get my shots. Police cars had all entrances to the center and the synagogue next door blocked. I turned on the news and discovered that, shortly before noon, a bomb threat was made and the center had to be evacuated. The sad thing is that this really isn't unique to Judaism. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 Sikhs were shot because of the way they dress. Churches have been torched -- not just "historically black" churches (a phrase that brings to mind somethingi that a famous Baptist preacher -- Martin Luther King -- said: "the most segregated hour of Christian America is 11 o'clock every Sunday morning") but all churches. Mosques have also been firebombed. What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here? This country, founded on freedom of religion (which is the very first thing mentioned in the Constitution, before freedom of speech, press, or right to be secure in your home!), has become very antagonistic toward religion in general...and Jews in particular. Ironically, Purim is this weekend. It is the Jewish holiday based on the book of Esther, which tells the story of a wicked man who had the whole world bowing at his feet but became enraged because one man -- a Jew -- would not bow. Wicked Haman is long dead but his spirit lives on in people who want to harm Jews....or Christians....or peaceful Muslims...or Sikhs....or any other religion just because they follow that religion. Those who cannot learn from the past are condemned to repeat it. -- George Santayana