This claim of unique Jewish specialness is preposterous and offensive. If the Irish, the Chinese, the Arabs, the Catholics, the Buddhists, or any other ethnic or religious group made such a ridiculous universal claim about themselves, we would likely find it both disgusting and laughable. Foxman makes this absurd statement, but if we dare to say it is absurd, immediately he would counter that we are anti-Semitic to say so.
A half century ago there were only a few of us Jews in America who were willing to be openly anti-Zionist and publicly question Israel's brutal conduct toward the Arab inhabitants of Palestine. Rabbi Elmer Berger and I used to tangle with the Anti-Defamation League even way back then. We were labeled self-hating Jews, and our criticisms of Zionism were thus largely dismissed. Berger passed on from this world in 1996, but I am still around to attempt to refute the many distortions of Abraham Foxman and the present ADL.
Fortunately, I am no longer alone in my old age to make these challenges! Younger Jewish people in America and Europe and throughout the world are now bravely and eloquently speaking out. The Washington Post printed on July 6, 2002 the following Letter to the Editor by a Board Member of "Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel":
As an American Jew, I am outraged by Abraham Foxman's irrational conclusions from the Anti-Defamation League's poll on anti-Semitism in Europe [op-ed, June 27]. Although attacks on synagogues are undoubtedly troubling and cause for concern, Foxman's assessments of the trends associated with these attacks are so contrived as to be utterly puzzling.
A half century ago there were only a few of us Jews in America who were willing to be openly anti-Zionist and publicly question Israel's brutal conduct toward the Arab inhabitants of Palestine. Rabbi Elmer Berger and I used to tangle with the Anti-Defamation League even way back then. We were labeled self-hating Jews, and our criticisms of Zionism were thus largely dismissed. Berger passed on from this world in 1996, but I am still around to attempt to refute the many distortions of Abraham Foxman and the present ADL.
Fortunately, I am no longer alone in my old age to make these challenges! Younger Jewish people in America and Europe and throughout the world are now bravely and eloquently speaking out. The Washington Post printed on July 6, 2002 the following Letter to the Editor by a Board Member of "Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel":
As an American Jew, I am outraged by Abraham Foxman's irrational conclusions from the Anti-Defamation League's poll on anti-Semitism in Europe [op-ed, June 27]. Although attacks on synagogues are undoubtedly troubling and cause for concern, Foxman's assessments of the trends associated with these attacks are so contrived as to be utterly puzzling.