Two weeks past the global Jewish community suffered a huge loss by the murdering frenzy targeting Jews in France in a kosher supermarket. The huge loss suffered is not only from the fact that four innocent members of the Jewish community of France were killed. Granted that is a huge tragedy in it own right, and not one to be easily glossed over, but merely thinking about the tragic deaths, mourning the incalculable loss and demonstrating for freedom, all good attributes, is failing to understand the greater picture that has deadly consequences for Jews all around the world.
Drawing on similar type of behavior exhibited by Islamic fundamentalists, or whatever other category of labels one would appropriate individuals involved in planning and executing last week’s and similar attacks, quite apparent it is, that Jews will not escape this fight either.
Similar coordinated attacks to the one in France that set an entire population in panic by individuals running amok while wreaking murderous havoc, were the coordinated attacks in Mumbai, where as part of the attackers’ plotting and planning did not fail to leave out as a target, the Chabbad of Mumbai, and the attack in Toulouse France, where Jewish School children were targeted as part of a larger attack against other installations, military and civilian.
More and more obvious is the scene that either as part of the target or as a method to distract, the Jewish community is sought after and included as part of the attackers’ coordinated killing operation.
Obviously one’s mind, including my own, wants to bask in the safe and secure understanding we Jews in New York and vicinity are all too accustomed to, one has got to at least conjure the potential for attacks to occur in the same nature as did elsewhere, against Jews here.
Although one may argue the unlikeliness in america of such scenarios that occurred to Jewish communities abroad, only a fool would argue to prepare when the storm hits rather than before. It is as though the writing is on the wall.
I pose simple questions:
- What would you and your family do if the area you, your family and friends commonly frequent are under attack?
- What would you do if your children’s school located in the heart of the Jewish community you live in was under attack?
- How would you react?
- Would you call the Police? Do you think the Police can protect you, your friends and loved ones in such a situation?
- What if there is a coordinated attack similar to the ones referred to in this article, do you think the police force serving your area is really capable of responding and dealing with the attack freeing your child from harm?
- Are we ignorant to think that our communities have not already been scoured, investigated and sought out as potential targets?
- Does the Jewish community really have the ability to deal with these determined people bent on killing?
- Do we even know how to set up strategic defenses to prevent such scenarios from playing out, and if we do then what are they?
Obviously these questions are really hard to answer, even for me. I am not satisfied to say that I have all the answers to these very difficult questions of preparedness. But why wait till the storm hits when we may still have time to prepare now!
How illogical is it to have included alongside a Hatzalah kit donated to almost every Jewish Synagogue, a twelve gauge shotgun and someone licensed and trained to know how to use it, as part of common practice to protect ourselves? Sure some of you reading this must be wondering how delusional I am , that is fine, you are entitled to your opinion. But be honest with yourselves in answering these difficult questions and discussing them amongst your friends, since our lives could be on the line next.
Easy it is to say that the social climate in France and Europe is entirely different than in the Jewish communities near us. One may have an easy time concluding the unlikeliness of similar scenes playing out around us. But what if you are wrong? Say what you want about the social climate in France, but were there any warning signs September 10, 2001? The answer to that is no.
No one wants to have to think what type of action is necessary to prepare appropriately to stop such a coordinated attack, as the ones in France and Mumbai and other places I have not mentioned. As the news hit and the pictures of the incidents were published, the police in Paris and surrounding jurisdictions did not resort to pacification when dealing with such an imminent and lethal threat. They used guns! I hope that through reading this article I am not interpreted to be saying that I do not believe that the pen is mightier than the sword, I believe it is, that is why I am writing.