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Rabbi Dov Avraham Ben-Shorr , originally from Cleveland, Ohio, lives with his family in a small community in the Hebron Hills. He is the founder and dean of Beith David Yeshiva. He also a writer, shohet (ritual slaughterer), mohel (circumcision), and Sofer Stam (Scribe).
www.beithdavid.org
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By Rabbi Dov Avraham Ben-Shorr
March 20, 2005
The Knesset (parliament) of Israel, is considering a bill, passed recently in committee, outlawing the use of the term "Nazi" or any symbol associated with it, except in a strictly scholarly context. At first blush, this seems peculiar: why would a Jewish community need such a restriction? German National Socialists and their movement represent the main (though unfortunately not the only) perpetrator in the in the attempted extermination of the Jews, known as the Shoah or the Holocaust. For the Germans, or for that matter any European country, to have such a law makes sense, since it is there where the roots of such ugly hatred have proven to blossom.
For a society of Jews to find it necessary to enact legislation against the use of such terminology or symbolism, something must have changed. Either the term "Nazi" no longer carries the same associations, or its use points to a much deeper societal problem within our "society of Jews." In either case, outlawing the "terms and symbols," of Nazism, will be as effective at addressing the real issues as taking an aspirin to treat a broken leg. It might assuage the pain temporarily, but the leg will remain broken.
On the one hand, the term has lost, or been robbed of, much of its original meaning. Many people in the world today use the term as a strong synonym to "oppressor," "fascist," or "occupier."
In this regard, the term has been bandied about regularly by the members of the Israeli left, as well as foreign enemies of Israel to "describe" the Israeli army. Yet, this has rarely bothered anyone, for most sane individuals recognize the utter absurdity of such a charge. It is an attempt to unjustifiably vilify the Israeli army by using the most exaggerated charge possible, as well as belittle and "normalize" the actual Holocaust. This phenomenon has been in existence since the existence of the State of Israel, and hasn't necessitated the passage of legislation. The most vociferous are either censured or ignored.
Nazism was, of course, far different. From the socio-political perspective, it was a totalitarian movement, designed to direct and control all aspects of society. Centralizing and focusing all power in the sovereign government, the movement's design was to weaken the individual and make him utterly dependent upon the state. Freedom was exchanged for total equality. However, this is not the connotation that causes the Jew to shudder at its mention.
It is Nazism's other connotation, that extends from its root existence, that cause it to be such a sensitive term for Jews, even if most don't understand why. The Nazis were the modern manifestation of the nation of Amalek whose sole raison d'etre was the destruction of the Jewish nation, even at their own expense (It is not a struggle over territory or power).
In this regard, the Nazis weren't any different from the Amalek of the Tanakh, or Haman from the Purim story, albeit they may have been somewhat more efficient at their attempt. "Amalek-ism," as with "Nazism," isn't simple anti-Semitism or racial prejudice that can be combated by "tolerance training." It can only be understood truly, from the religious perspective as a struggle between good and evil. This is what gives the Jew such angst when he hears the term, for even the irreligious Jew recognizes, in the depths of his soul, that it refers to an evil bent on the destruction of his very existence.
In fact, it is for the secular Jew that the use of such terms causes the most angst, for in a sense, it signals a defeat for his way of life. For the only antidote to the evil of Amalek/Nazism is its total war (everyone knows that the German Jew was the most assimilated into his surrounding culture). There can be no compromises, no tolerance or sensitivity conferences, nor attempts at finding an "understanding." The current proposed legislation is an attempt to hide from this reality.
The religious Jew, untroubled by such angst, thus has little trouble using the term or its symbols, when it, albeit possibly exaggerated, truly does touch on it actual meaning. At least from their perspective, the current government's actions "fit the term." The government has increasingly restricted freedoms in the name of democracy while at the same time threatened the existential existence of the Jewish people.
In fact, it seems to me, a better term could not be found, to awaken one's fellow Jews to the implications and dangers of his actions. It is precisely because of its being applied appropriately, that it cannot be ignored or censured. Today, it is being used as an accusation that those who would promote "Disengagement," are serving evil, albeit possibly unwittingly, and giving aid to the archenemy of Israel, Amalek. It is no coincidence that Amalek attacks the nation of Israel, only after the nation itself became "tired" and began having self-doubts in the righteousness of their path.
Curtailing freedom of expression won't answer the accusations. Only public debate of the issues will, but unfortunately, that is something that modern Israeli society is not prone to do. It is much easier to eliminate external terms and symbols (as it is to use them) than to enter into a serious discussion about the nature of our society and the directions that we should be traveling. The latter requires too much introspection, and many in our society are more than a bit fearful of what they might discover. It is much easier to eliminate the accusations of "Nazi" or "Amalek" than the fatigue and self-doubt that engenders them.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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