This is how Jews live in Switzerland.
On Thursday, the community I belong to sent an email to all its members warning them to stay away from a pro-Palestinian (or in reality, anti-Israel) demonstration on Friday. They also assured members that the normal security at the synagogue and community center would be bolstered by the presence of city police. (And it’s not like the regular security staff are amateurs; in fact they’re so rigorous they often receive complaints from members who feel they’re being interrogated.) But the largely ex-IDF team is not enough in the face of the hatred that abounds in Europe during a period of IDF activity in the West Bank or Gaza.
Last Sunday in Paris, hundreds of Jews were barricaded in a synagogue — where they had gathered to honor Eyal, Gil-Ad and Naftali — as pro-Palestinian protesters hurled stones and chairs at the police protecting the shul. There’s a story in this week’s IJN about a similar ‘demonstration’ in Antwerp, where “slaughter the Jews” was repeated as a refrain.
In Switzerland, social media surrounding plans for tonight’s demonstration have been filled with hatred, including calls to take the action into the Jewish neighborhoods and attack the synagogues and Jewish citizens there. “Let’s smash their faces in” was one of the choice comments made. The comments were so vitriolic they sparked a story in the one of the national papers and on the evening news.
So can you blame the community?
When I first received the email I was frustrated; why stay away? Why the fear? Let’s face these people, and be proud of who were are, was my initial reaction.
The Swiss Jewish community has maintained a near radio silence on events in Israel: no solidarity rallies as in Denver, no communal gatherings. The other day, several lay people, including many members of Keren Hayessod, organized a demonstration in one of Zurich’s downtown plazas, Paradeplatz. A member of Keren Hayessod made sure to emphasize to my colleague that he was there in a private capacity and that this rally was not an official Keren Hayessod effort. Why not? Keren Hayessod did, like JEWISHcolorado, open a fund to support Israelis in Israel affected by Operation Protective Edge, but when it comes to being vocal in the Diaspora, the fear sets in.
Apparently this is what centuries of anti-Semitism, whether latent or active, does to a Jewish community. It’s that mentality of keep your head down, don’t draw attention, then maybe everything will be fine, a myth shattered by the Holocaust. But the survival instinct is still there, and many people continue to hope, if we keep our heads down…
And I really don’t know if I can fault the Jewish community for its reticence.
A few days ago, a friend related an anecdote about how his boss was attacking him about Israel. One of the boss’ comments? “Isn’t 60 years long enough?” You know, why don’t Jews just get over it. And this person is also one of those who will claim he’s not anti-Semitic, just anti-Israel, although will have no qualms about describing the Israeli army as “Jewish”.
The same goes for these pro-Palestinian demonstrators, many of whom are really Jew haters in a different guise. It’s amazing how quickly the word Jew pops up in comments on pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel social media postings, and how quickly calls to “exterminate all Jews” are made. Of course, there’s always the ‘moderate’ voice, who calls for the distinction between being anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist, but then, in a total lack of self awareness, will go on to compare Zionists and Israel to Nazis and and are ‘generous’ enough to hold only those Diaspora Jews who support Israel accountable. So I’m becoming a little skeptical: Are people engaging in these events and discussions because of their genuine sympathy for Palestinians? Or is it just another excuse to rage on Jews?
The rally is set to start in about an hour, and I think I’ll stay home. I’ve learned that it’s far better to participate in a positive event, like the pro-Israel demonstration earlier this week, than try and communicate with people entrenched in hatred.
Call it fear, call it reticence, either way, it’s one of the less pleasant aspects of Jewish life in Europe.
