Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

I have mentioned before that I volunteer twice a week at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience here in New Orleans. I love the experience of guiding people through over 430 years of the American Southern Jewish Experience.

Did you know that the first Jews in America came from Spain in the 1500s? Did you know that they settled in the Caribbean Islands before coming to the U.S.? And that they came through Galveston, Texas as their port of entry some 300 years before the great Northern European Migration to New York?

As I guide these museum goers through our history, we come to the year 1948 and the re-creation of the Jewish Nation of Israel. I tell them that in order to be a “People” you need two things: A place you are from and a language.

Jews have both: Our native language is Hebrew and the place we are from is Israel. Jews can trace their heritage back all those centuries ago to the Land of Israel.

I do not wait for the visitor to ask about the Arabs. I talk about their heritage as well. Arabs have a language. It is called Arabic. They have a land, a country. It is called Arabia. If you want to know its history and how the British and the French stole 90 percent of it, look up “Sikes Picot” (I covered that in another column).

The United States is also a democracy. In America there are but two active political parties that count. And among those in the active party that loses there are those who, rather than facing the truth, refuse to agree with the outcome of some elections. Same thing in Israel.

However, there is a difference — now. When an election campaign is over and the results are counted in Israel, the decision of the people is final — no question. Yes, the parties that lose are not happy. Of course they aren’t. BUT: They accept the results and move on. The losers grumble, plan their strategy on how to work with the new government, debate them vigorously in the Parliament and plan their next campaign.

Since Trump it seems that the campaigns here in the U.S. never end. They are denied and debated and challenged and fought over long after the campaign posters have been sent to the dumpsters.

Long since Trump has gone, there are still those who refuse to trust or believe in our system. They call it corrupt, illegal and worse. Wherein the system actually runs more smoothly and trustworthy than ever before, these Right Wing fanatics continue to doubt, complain and even threaten our Democratic System.

In the U.S. there are but two active political parties. Yes, the Democrats are somewhat disorganized and fight within themselves (I often go all the way back to 1901 when the American Humorist Will Rogers stated “I don’t belong to any organized political party – I’m a Democrat.”).

In Israel there are many political parties from far left to far right. Most of the elected governments are really combinations of “minority parties” – so they debate and argue and hold onto their attitudes and beliefs. But, the Government rolls along its bumpy trail while the losers say “Wait ‘til next time!” and try to bring that about sooner than later.

Jews argue. No Jew denies that. It is in our genes. Stop your car in Israel and ask someone directions. As he begins to tell you, another Israeli will come up and join the conversation. He will immediately disagree with the first Israeli. He will then give his own directions. This will result in an argument between the two Israelis. You might as well drive on, because this is not going to end quickly.

In the American System, unfortunately, the debate often grows heated and may end in violence. What is there with us? Why should Jews care?

Because when it comes time to blame someone for bad times or bad government or economic upheaval: The Jews are always a prime target.

In Israel, Jews argue. But they never argue that they live in a Jewish nation run by Jews – even those with whom they disagree. They know they are in their Country with all its warts and woes. And like a Shabbat Challa – they are separate until you put the heat on them — then they come together.