Arad

Vandals in black frock-coats

On the 20^th of June, around 10 am, before the very eyes of the people passing by, three hooligans burst into the chess club – a place rented by a citizen of the USA, Eddie Beckford, and situated near Arad’s market. The hooligans broke several chairs, overturned the bookcase and trampled the books down.

Eddie turned to the police. The defenders of the law and order forbade Eddie (!) to appear in the club for two weeks – for he, you see, used physical force. By contrast, the bearded hooligans were treated with indulgence by the police, since the trampled books were Christian literature, which is usually sold openly in bookshops. These were both the Gospels and the Torah (Old Testament).

And that is happening in democratic Israel. A short time ago in Guantanamo, in the prison where the terrorists-murderers are kept, American soldiers supposedly “desecrated the Koran” – and a real international scandal followed! American authorities had to justify themselves, to apologize… The conflict there was between some not very well educated soldiers and Muslims-criminals, while our conflict in Arad is between “experts of the Torah” and a Christian philanthropist who helps the poor and the hungry – and shelterless chess-players as well (Eddie is very fond of chess himself).

Among Israeli citizens – besides Jews and Arab Muslims – there are also Christians who are members of Jewish families. They work, pay taxes, serve in the army. Sometimes they shed their blood and give their lives for us, when they defend us from our mortal enemies. These people have the right to pray according to their beliefs (religions are different, but G-d is one!), to celebrate their holidays and to read their sacred books… And there is nothing against Israeli laws in the fact that Christian literature can be obtained from Eddie Beckford.

As I see it (a Jew who, unfortunately, does not keeps all the Commandments), what “Orthodox” hooligans do is not only a violation of Israeli civil laws, but these people also “turn people away not only from themselves, but also from G-d. ‘Hilul Ha-Shem’ (blasphemy, desecration of G-d’s name) is a sin, which Judaism considers as unpardonable… Talmud acknowledges the influence of religious people’s behavior on the attitude of others to G-d and Judaism.” That was a quotation from “The Jewish World” by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin (from the chapter called “Jewish ethics and the basis of faith”).

On Fridays, when Eddie provides dinner for the needy, two-three dozens of “black hats” come to the club and start shouting and dancing wildly, demonstrating their zeal for defending Jewish souls from “perfidious missioners.” Their other “mitzvoth” (good deeds) are: punching the tires of Eddie’s car and damaging the padlocks on the door of the club, which is daily attended by around fifty elderly people – chess- and domino-players. I have never heard any discussions on religious subjects in the club (Eddie speaks English only), but what does happen are regular chess tournaments, which are held, first of all, on every Jewish holiday – Purim, Passover, Shavuot – and on the Victory Day!

A video of the bearded hooligans’ outrage has been made. I think it should be sent to American Jews who sponsor these congregations of “Orthodox” idlers. Let the sponsors see these people in all their glory! And then, perhaps, the Americans will help to restore justice quicker than the police of Arad will.

Now, when the fate of humanity is being decided in the opposition between Judeo-Christian civilization and Islam, the behavior of our Arad’s pogrom-makers is obviously causing damage to the unity of our civilized nations in front the global terrorism and militant Islam.

Now, therefore, the following question arises: on whose side will Arad’s municipality and the police finally be?

German Gurevich