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Ellen W. Horowitz is the author of 'The Oslo Years: A Mother's Journal' (Gefen Publishing).
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By Ellen W. Horowitz
June 10, 2007
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[Note: Having had a proper and secure Midwest upbringing, the term "goy" has never been a part of my lexicon. It's Burg's word. It's liberal usage throughout this piece is not intended to offend the Gentile readership, but rather to agitate and rouse my own people to return to themselves.]
"To define the State of Israel as a Jewish state is the key to its end."
"Just as there was something astonishing about German Jewry, in America, too, they created the potential for something astonishing. They created a situation in which the goy can be my father and my mother and my son and my partner."
Avraham Burg: former Speaker of the Knesset
Interview with Ari Shavit in Haaretz, June 9, 2007
The goy as the father, the son, and the mother and the partner? What's that - a sort of trinity plus? Sounds like a very unkosher and unhealthy rendering of a godhead to me.
I beg to differ with businessman Burg, now a citizen of France (may he forever stay there). But the kind of thinking that inspires the former Israeli parliamentarian and former head of the Jewish Agency is, without a doubt, the key to our destruction. It's a toxic form of paganism conceived in Judeo-Christian thought, nourished by a galut mentality, and born of self-hate.
But this perverse and muddled line of thinking is not just prevalent among the anti-Zionist left. Unfortunately, a similar brand of idolatry also defines the dogma currently driving many of our top Zionist activists on the right side of the political spectrum. Only this particular fetish is born of self-doubt -- and it's equally destructive.
In response to my last article, The Judeo-Christian Divide, I received the following astonishing feedback from from the director of a pro-Israel organization which works primarily on U.S. college campuses with the aim of disseminating accurate information about Israel and the situation in the Middle East:
"I would think that without the support of Evangelical Christians, Israel would cease to exist."
Goy as savior?
That belief is simply not permitted among our people. In times like this, our allies are to be greatly valued and may be considered a godsend, but one need not be swallowed up by them in all-embracing stranglehold. As a matter of fact, it's that suffocating grip around our throats that prevents us from asserting and defending ourselves. And now with the sword up against our neck from some unquestionable enemies, one would think that we would take this awesome opportunity to reaffirm our Jewish faith in the one and only G-d; rather than place our absolute trust in people of other faiths.
And while the verdict is still out as to whether we're being kissed or bitten by our bible thumping friends, several pro-Israel organizations have embarked on projects which will throw evangelical students into the forefront of a campaign to bolster Israel's case on college campuses.
Goy as advocate, lobbyist, fundraiser and defender.
In theory it sounds like a great idea, but who will control the blazing evangelical drive to spread the gospel to our young people as part of that crusade? Then again, under the circumstances, do fears of missionary activity even matter anymore?
After all, Benjamin Netanyahu -- the man with the golden tongue and chronic case of clay feet -- has already baptized the Christian lovers of Zion by declaring, "They [the evangelicals] are not just friends of Israel; they are Israel."
Goy as Jew. Jew as Goy.
A Replacement Theology fait accompli -- and we didn't even notice, protest or feel the pain. And don't think for a minute that the Christians did it to us. We did it to ourselves. And in some respect, that's always been the case throughout our history.
It's an historic Jewish precedent: we forget our obligations, we blur the lines, we lose ourselves, and end up drowning in the mess we've made. But then G-d, in His mercy, remembers His promise to us and pulls out a significant remnant from the muck.
Play it again, Sam.
Our unwavering dependence on the evangelical Christian community obviously comes as a relief to Diaspora Jewry, as they can finally wipe their hands of the burden of Israel. The Jewish Federations, according to a Globes report, now feel free to invest their donations in the stock markets of countries that are enemies of Israel like Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia. American Jewry, do you know where your pledges go?
Heck, believers in Jesus are so Jewish these days that they claim to be a persecuted minority... in Israel. And they've repeatedly beseeched the U.S. State Department and Congress to come to their defense. Israel has been unable to get anti-missionary legislation on the books due to direct U.S. Government and church intervention -- including the threat of sanctions. The International Religious Freedom Act passed by US Congress in 1998 enables our big brother in Washington to do all he can to ensure that evangelicals in the Jewish state can continue to freely spread "the Word".
In addition to evangelical groups (including Jews for Jesus) complaining about undemocratic repression, harassment, threats, and visa issues; annual congressional reports also cite Israel's unfilled property and tax agreements with the Vatican (you don't think that our sages were correct in making the rather esoteric and elusive connection between Edom, Rome, Western civilization and Christianity, do you?).
Groups fearing anti-missionary legislation have called for members to apply "deliberate, continuous and intense pressure" on Israeli lawmakers. This kind of "unconditional love" is something I can do without.
Goy as oppressor.
Those of you who are outraged at -- and find incongruous -- my comparison of the virulent views of anti-Zionist Avrum Burg with those Diaspora Jews, Israelis and Christians who claim allegiance to the Zionist camp, need only read the following excerpt from an interview with Burg to see just how close you all could be:
"Would our ability to cope with Iran not be much better if we renewed in Israel the ability to trust the world? Would it not be more right if we didn't deal with the problem on our own, but rather as part of a world alignment beginning with the Christian churches, going on to the governments and finally the armies?"
The siren's song that lures left-wing, German Jew Burg to the "goyim"is not unlike the howl from the winds of war which cause some of those in the Zionist camp to tremble and to consequently pledge their blind allegiance to America, or to seek refuge in the church with their favorite preacher man.
Those of us who remain Jews for Jews march to another melody. It's the sound of the shofar that directs us. We know that what's good for America and the rest of the world ain't necessarily good for Israel, and what's god for the goyim is a disaster for us. And - whether the nations realize it or not - what's good for for the People of Israel is ultimately good for the world.
Regardless of the number of "goyish" eyes trained on us, and the clamor of Arab sabre-rattling and chaos around us; we're simply not afraid. Because we are fully cognizant and comfortable of the certainty that G-d's eyes remain fixed upon the land and the people of Israel.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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