Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday issued a special message to Jews around the world in the wake of the dramatic resurgence of antisemitism, especially the hostilities and intimidation against Jewish students on college campuses across the US.
Herzog said: “To our sisters and brothers, to our friends on campuses and in Jewish communities across the United States and all over the world, to those who stand by and defend the Jewish people and the state of Israel, to all people of good will: from Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, I say to you: The people of Israel are with you. We hear you. We see the shameless hostility and threats. We feel the insult, the breach of faith and breach of friendship. We share the apprehension and concern.”
“We see prominent academic institutions, halls of history, culture, and education contaminated by hatred and antisemitism fueled by arrogance and ignorance, and driven by moral failings and disinformation. We watch in horror as the atrocities of October 7th against Israel are celebrated and justified. We hear you. We recognize your heroic efforts. We are with you, and we are here for you.”
“In the face of violence, harassment and intimidation, as masked cowards smash windows and barricade doors, as they assault the truth and manipulate history, together we stand strong. Together we will continue building a flourishing, life-affirming nation. As they chant for intifada and genocide, we will work – together– to free our hostages held by Hamas, and fight for civil liberties and our right to believe and belong, for the right to live proudly, peacefully and securely, as Jews, as Israelis – anywhere.
“Next week the Jewish people will mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. We will speak of the dark times of the past, and we will remember the miracle of our rebirth: in our ancient homeland, the Jewish, democratic State of Israel, and throughout the Jewish world. Together, we shall overcome.
“In the face of this terrifying resurgence of antisemitism: Do not fear. Stand proud. Stand strong for your freedom. Israel stands with you. Israel cares for you. We care for you. We are here for you. We will know better times ahead. And together we will say: Am Yisrael Chai.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
He speaks well and he speaks from his heart. He speaks from a true commitment to the Jewish People and to his country.
Only one thing, perhaps the main thing, he got very wrong. The Jewish People have NEVER had a “re-birth.” We were born in Mitzrayim as the Eternal People and as the “Eternally Free” people for we went out from there “li’cheirus olam.” Believing otherwise is to deny who/what we are and to cheapen our existence by comparing us to any and all other nations.
Let Mr. Herzog first take care of the violent antisemitism in his country for the last 75+ years, culminating in the worst murder against Jews since the Holocaust on October 7, before he worries about non-violent antisemitism in other countries.
@ujm –
1) “non-violent”? Really?
2) There is only ONE form of antisemitism; The one where non-Jews hate Jews (i.e. Eisav sonei es Yaakov). It is not as if this type is intolerable and this one tolerable. It all comes from “Sinai” and as we count down to the Sinai event, we need to focus on that. It is from there, and only from there, that our Yeshuah will come. It is one of the reasons that Torah is “meigen u’matzlah.”
UJM there has been a lot of violent antisemitism in America and Europe over the past 10 years. If not for a state of Israel for Jews to move to the countries would tell the Arabs to have at it and the college riots would look like Kristalnacht try to not look through a NK prism for once.
Joseph,
You’ve made it abundantly clear with your mockery of hostage posters and letter-writing that you don’t give a damn about “the worst murder against Jews since the Holocaust on October 7”. I’ll bet you haven’t shed a single tear or lost a moment of beauty sleep over it. It’s all some ideological talking-point to you.
For someone who claims to “live in Meah Shearim part of the year” you seem to love your little yerushalaim of Brooklyn much more than the real one. You also seem very confident that the “non-violent antisemitism in other countries” will remain that way. Do you think that more Torah is learned in any of them than in Eretz Yisrael? The Torah of Europe didn’t protect it from the Holocaust so perhaps you shouldn’t be so glib about your safety here. If your local “non-violent” anti-Semites had the opportunity, they’d flay you alive.
““Next week the Jewish people will mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. We will speak of the dark times of the past, and we will remember the miracle of our rebirth: in our ancient homeland, the Jewish, democratic State of Israel, and throughout the Jewish world. Together, we shall overcome.”
Actually, the Zionist people, not the Jewish people, will mark their Holocaust Memorial Day. They will not speak of the “dark times of the past”, as in the Holocaust, certainly not the parts about how the Zionists caused it and contributed to it.
And of course his heresy about “rebirth” is exactly that. The Jewish people are no less Jewish and no less a people since the Roman exile 2,000 years ago. The Zionist imposter State is certainly no rebirth of anything other than the idol of the golden calf.
The Zionist leader is, of course, propagandizing, including conflating Judaism and Zionism. Zionism is, of course, the polar opposite of Judaism. Zionism has been a cataclysmic disaster for Jews worldwide.
GadolHadofi:
The Torah certainly did protect the Jews of Europe, but the Zionists used their bechirah to be the angel of death for Jews there.
Hakatan,
So you believe that the Zionists, who caused the churban, Crusades, Inquisition, blood libels, Chmielnicki massacres, WW-I, WW-II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and all problems throughout history, are more powerful than Torah.