Time to Come Home
Gary Cooperberg
March 3, 2003
No better case for the recognition of the continuation of the process of redemption can be made than this plea from a young French Jew who sees the very soil beginning to burn under his feet. His observations are right on target. His fears are completely justified ... but his solution is all too familiar and pathetically off the mark.
Dear sisters, dear brothers,
My name is Louis Kemon of Paris France. I come to you today because my anxiety for the French Jew is very great. The French government leads particularly ambiguous politics concerning the Jews. Our survival will be questioned in the short run. I'd like to try to explain the situation.
France, after the exit of the colonial politics, kept powerful links with its old colonies. Petroleum, gas and the other major resources became the essential motivation for the successive French governments. The loss of the French cultural aura in the world and the political space which leaves the former USSR, in this way France have to find his allies in the Arabic world. THE AFP (Agency France Press) makes the biggest part of its turnover with the Arabic world so that's probably why we've got incomplete and partial information. But what's happen today?
On 60 millions of French people, one considers, about 6 millions of Arabic people, without counting probably the immigrants. All the urban suburbs are steered by Moslem black African or Arabic gangs. Violence, racketeering, and drug peddling are the daily fare of these suburbs.
Since the second "INTIFADA ", the suburb was set for the Palestinian. The Jews of France became Israeli for them. Every Jew is SHARON. There is more and more attacks. Jew, Torah, Mazel Tov became insults. A child is struck to have read a war memorial for Jews. A girl is beaten up because her Magen David star shone on her neck. Another girl is beaten too because one heard her talking about Torah to the telephone. Young people do not learn Hebrew any more in elementary schools. Shoa, (the holocaust) does not exist any more in schools. The list is too long. Thousand facts were listed in 2001 and double in 2002. It is not a novel it is reality! We begin to bow the head.
A member of French congress from the North of France (one of the strongest Arabic community) officially declared that Israelis are Nazis and accuses the Jews of France of creating anti-Semitism because they support Israel. The French politics on the Iraq problem is obviously partial. Commercial interests are a priority. It seems obvious, that the Jews will be sacrificed for the French politic choices. 6 or 7 millions of Arab voters will always be better than 600,000 Jews.
The situation of the French Jews is going to be degraded very quickly. And if I am right ? it's maybe time to worry about it? I think there are few ways. To stay and wait or to leave for a friendly country . Can you help us? Can you help me? We have to establish together a constructive dialogue of exchange for jobs and place to live for the future candidates leaving France to US. We have to make a bridge between our two countries. We have to stretch out a hand for our brothers. French proverb says: It is better to prevent than to be cured. I thank you so much for any kind of responses.
Brotherly,
Louis Kemon
Dear Louis,
Your poignant letter was forwarded to me via email. Your story is not really a new one. Actually you may remember that it was the Dreyfus trial which sparked Herzle upon the path which eventually led to the re-creation of the Jewish State in the Land of Israel. Indeed your observation that political and financial motivations seem to be the root causes for this renewed spate of antisemitic behavior in France is well taken. But I urge you to think a bit more deeply.
We Jews have been on the receiving end of hatred in just about every country in the world for over two thousand years. Ever since our Exile began we sought a place of refuge where we could simply live peacefully among our neighbors. We contributed to every society in which we lived and became loyal citizens of countless countries. In many of them we made good lives for ourselves. But, eventually, our welcome wore out and we were expelled, if we were lucky, and murdered if not.
Being exiled from our homeland gave us no choice but to continue to look elsewhere for refuge. Throughout the centuries we wandered from one exile to another, keeping a low profile and rolling with the punches until we had no choice but to seek yet another refuge.
As one who was born and raised in France, no doubt you are greatly disappointed at a situation which you correctly see as requiring you to make immediately plans to leave. What puzzles me, my friend, is your desire to go to yet another country of exile? Can you not recognize the fact that every country of exile is but a temporary haven? Can you not see that even in the great United States there will only be a limited respite from all that you fear in France? If you are already determined to start a new life in a new country, why has it not occurred to you to come home? Israel is the only country in the world from which you will never be expelled and which you can truly call home. Prior to 1948 we had no choice. . . we had no home to which to return. Today we do.
Instead of seeking ways to get into the United States and begin your wandering anew, I urge to you come home to Israel, where you will be warmly welcomed. We are living in a generation where the Exile is rapidly coming to a close. The only safe place for the Jew will be in the Jewish homeland, Israel. I know it is not perfect. We have many very serious problems. But it is still our only home.
With Blessings from Hebron,
Gary M. Cooperberg
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