O pinion
THE VIEW FROM HERE
How Do You Learn to Hate?
BY JOSHUA RUNYAN
I’VE BEEN THINKING a
lot about babies lately. Those
who know me might say that it
makes sense, considering that
our household has had at least
one child in diapers since our
first was born in early 2003.

But late last week, star-
ing at my newest son — who
was born the week before — I
marveled at just how uncom-
plicated, helpless and unadul-
terated is existence in those
first few days of life.

My son had not yet experi-
enced the trauma of the bris.

(That happened on Feb. 17, and
he was given the name Simcha
Meir.) According to studies, he
could really only see well half
a foot away. It’s the perfect
distance to study the face of his
mother, as well as the check-
ered pattern of his bassinet.

A baby is, in many ways, the
embodiment of political phi-
losopher John Locke’s idea of a
tabula rasa. As he explores the
world every second that he’s
awake, he has not yet formed
such complex ideas as hate or
anger. He lacks the capacity to
make the kinds of value judg-
ments that depend so much
on nurture, and not so much
on nature. He comes into this
world devoid of those emotions
that have wrought so much
destruction. So if the newborn doesn’t
hate, from where does the
anti-Semite derive his venom,
or the racist her hatred? The
simple answer, of course, is
that ironically, it’s inculcated
over time by, in many cases,
those who love him.

When last week’s issue of
the Jewish Exponent was going
to press, I was asked by the per-
son filling in for me whether
I wanted to write an install-
ment of this column. I decided
against it, my reasons rooted
as much in the fact that I was
understandably busy with the
demands of paternity leave as
in the idea that I wanted to
wait until the skirmishes over
freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar’s
latest anti-Semitic tweet sim-
mered down. I knew then that
I wanted to write about the
affair, but I wanted to see just
what would come out of it.

For those who could use a
refresher, Omar, a Democrat
from Minnesota and one of
two Muslim women elected to
Congress last November (the
other was Palestinian-American
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan)
over Twitter accused House
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy
of California of being in the
pocket of the pro-Israel lobby.

McCarthy, who has threatened
to take action against Omar
and Tlaib for their positions
on Israel, was motivated solely
by the “Benjamins,” Omar
said. When asked to specify
what she meant by a journal-
ist from The Forward, Omar
replied: “AIPAC!”
The exchange represented
yet another invocation of the
old anti-Semitic trope that
Jewish money makes the world
go around, but Omar isn’t the
first member of Congress,
Democrat or Republican, to
traffic in such a stereotype in
the last couple of years. Omar,
who several years ago accused
Israel of “hypnotizing” the
world, was rightly condemned
and forced to apologize by a
united Democratic leadership.

But even in her mea culpa,
she deflected the charge of
anti-Semitism by explaining
her stance as more rooted in
attacking the big money that
lobbies Congress. (Left out of
her statement was a denounce-
ment of the anti-Israel money
that funded her campaigns.)
But while Democrats and
Republicans were united in
calling Omar to task, President
Donald Trump, no stranger
himself to the use of a good
tweet with anti-Semitic over-
tones to score political points
(i.e., demonizing George Soros),
upped the ante by demanding
that Omar resign. Predictably,
she hasn’t, nor have many
Democrats urged her to do so.

That pretty much brings us
up to date.

Left in the back and forth
has been any meaningful dia-
logue on how someone like
Omar, who by all accounts is a
talented politician deeply com-
mitted to her own community,
came to traffic in hate in the
first place.

Left unsaid has been any
type of reasonable explanation
for how hatred — whether of
Jews or of blacks or of immi-
grants or of the rich or of the
poor — seems to spread so
easily among those tasked with
representing all of their con-
stituents and who have pledged
to preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution.

We know that they were not
born haters. Hate, if they truly
hate as opposed to just employ-
ing it as a cynical device to
achieve electoral success, had
to have been developed, deliv-
ered and inculcated in them.

Were Omar to step down,
we’d still be left with the most
basic of problems: how to pre-
vent hate from finding a home
in an otherwise rational mind.

The only solution I can
think of at the moment, still
admittedly under the spell
of my newborn son but fully
cognizant that it’s pretty much
worthless as a political strat-
egy, is to love each other a little
bit more and to have that love
be the primary mover of what
we do and say. Let’s start with
our children. l
important to them, but some-
times there are events that
reveal that Judaism is import-
ant to them. Some of the people
still have a pintele yid — the
spark of a Jew. It just requires a
special event to expose it.

Many years ago, I took a
tour of a religious enclave in
Borough Park in Brooklyn,
N.Y., during Sukkot. Our bus
was delayed, so I had a chance
to walk through the small
streets of what I suspect resem-
bled a European shtetl. In the
background, I heard Yiddish
music. I followed the sound
until I found its source.

There was a Chasidic man
playing remarkably joyful
music on an organ. In the
building, men were dancing
around the table, while in the
bleachers young men locked
arms and swayed from side
to side. Eventually, the men
left the shul and danced in
the nearby street. I stood there
with chills in what was the
greatest pintele yid moment of
my life. Later, I was to learn
that this was referred to as a
Joshua Runyan is the editor-
in-chief of the Jewish Exponent. He
can be reached at jrunyan@jewish
exponent.com. The Spark of the Pintele Yid
BY SAUL AXELROD
FOR THE PURPOSES of this
article, I have divided Jewish
Americans into three groups.

The first group consists of
people who clearly identify
as Jews. Some attend syna-
gogue services regularly and
observe the mitzvot as much
as they can, while trying to
enjoy the benefits of American
life. Others in this group are
not religious but relish their
Jewishness by enjoying much
of its culture and traditions.

They will often ask, “But is it
16 FEBRUARY 21, 2019
good for the Jews?” Most peo-
ple in the first group are strong
supporters of Israel.

Skipping to the third group,
there are Jewish-Americans
who want nothing to do with
Judaism or Jewish lifestyle and
might be at the forefront of the
opposition to the state of Israel.

I have no interest in this group
and will not address it further.

But there is a second group
of Jewish Americans that I
would like to discuss.

They are likely to be well-ed-
ucated and to be reasonably
financially secure. They are a
part of the fabric of American
life. Their connection to
Judaism is mostly during life
milestones. They might attend
synagogue services during the
High Holidays, if at all. They
might have some regard for
Israel, but are typically not
vocal supporters, nor do they
attend pro-Israel rallies. They
might connect to Judaism
through its food, its humor
and by occasionally reading
a Jewish American novel or
attending movies dealing with
the Shoah. They might tell
you that Judaism is not very
JEWISH EXPONENT
See Axelrod, Page 18
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



O pinion
This Super Sunday, Remember
that Every Dollar Counts
that go into every dollar raised
and spent. With many diverse
voices contributing to the pro-
cess, Jewish Federation donors
can rest assured that their dol-
lars are used in accordance with
our Jewish values to collectively
achieve the most good.

Through this process we are
creating bonds with those who
share our values and are dedicated
to the same cause. And we are
opening our doors and our hearts
to people and communities who
are in need of extra support.

It is not an easy time to be
Jewish: Following the terrible
events at the Tree of Life syn-
agogue in Pittsburgh and the
continued rise in anti-Semi-
tism in our country, I’m consis-
tently reminded why the work
KVETCH ’N KVELL
Instead of Aborting, Try Adoption
CONFRONTED WITH NEW York state’s newly adopted “late term
abortion” policy, I would offer an alternate solution for other states con-
sidering the same policy (“Where Religion Falls Short,” Jan. 31).

Given that our country now recognizes that loving relation-
ships come in all colors, beliefs and genders, rather than killing
these late-term babies, let’s offer couples who are looking to
adopt a beautiful child.

Rather than wasting a life, we would be fulfilling a dream
for prospective parents while still allowing the birth mother to
end her pregnancy. Viable preterm babies can live healthy lives.

Happily, the American population has melted into a beautiful
rainbow of colors, beliefs and gender combinations.

Let’s use this much needed and wanted congruence to permit
adoption of these fragile, but most certainly vibrant with life,
babies. Let’s give them a loving home rather than a medical waste
bag. If we want to allow all those wishing asylum to come to our
shores, can we not provide our youngest and most vulnerable
with a first birthday?
are building a stronger, more
inclusive community that truly
ON FEB. 24, Jewish commu-
benefits everyone.

nities will come together across
This year’s event is extra spe-
the Greater Philadelphia region
cial because Super Sunday is
to help raise crucial funds
coming right to our doorstep:
for the Jewish Federation of
Our Main Line community will
Greater Philadelphia.

conveniently have its own event
Super Sunday, as it’s called, is
at the Barbara and Harvey
one of the most important days
Brodsky Enrichment Center of
of the year for Jewish commu-
JFCS in Bala Cynwyd. By host-
nities and, ever since my first
ing five Super Sunday locations
experience nearly a decade ago,
across Greater Philadelphia,
I find it to be most inspiring.

our Jewish Federation is giving
On this day, we officially jump-
neighborhoods the opportu-
start our annual campaign to fund
nity to come together to raise
all the critical and lifesaving work
money, make new friends and
that the Jewish Federation accom-
show our collective strength in
Ann Krauss | Havertown
plishes each year. And we come
order to secure a strong Jewish
future for generations to come.

together to celebrate our success,
Nothing Cavalier Nor Easy About Abortion
In challenging times, it is
connect with new members and
enormously important for Jews A recent letter contains comments and assertions that are
learn more about where our sup-
port is most needed.

patently false (“Human Life is Worth the Inconvenience,” Feb. 7).

The Jewish Federation is
The writer draws the conclusion that women who have abortions
deeply enmeshed in the fabric of As Jews, we understand the importance of
do so for cavalier reasons.

our communities, affecting each
Nothing could be further from the truth. The decision to
and every one of our lives every building bridges and working with all people of
have an abortion is one that requires a great deal of thought. I
day. From young children who all faiths to strengthen our communities.

do not believe that any pregnant woman wakes up one morning
need access to pre-K education,
and says to herself, “I have nothing to do today, so I think I will
to the teens involved in leader-
go and get an abortion.” Any woman who contemplates ending
ship programs, to the adults who of the Jewish Federation is so to continue to help other Jews in a pregnancy does so for deeply personal reasons, and I do not
need career advice and network- important. Just one day after every step of their lives. Super question her thought processes.

ing and to the elder adults who this recent tragedy, the Jewish Sunday is the best way for the
Furthermore, the writer says that safe and legal abortions
need assistance to continue to Federation brought together Jewish community to meet were easily available in Philadelphia prior to the decision in Roe
live in their home — the Jewish people of all faiths for a com- face to face and work side by v. Wade in 1973. This is incorrect. A woman who wanted an
Federation is there.

munity vigil. And the day after side to ensure our most critical abortion in Pennsylvania prior to 1973 had to find two psychia-
Every day, this organization that, a high-level security brief- needs are met and that our chil- trists who would deem her unfit to take care of a child.

and its connected agencies pro- ing was organized to deliver dren will share a bright, Jewish
Let that sink in for a moment. A woman who was already a
vide lifelines to so many of our much-needed information to future. I look forward to seeing mother had to convince two other adults that she was an unfit
most vulnerable community all of our local Jewish groups. you there. And for those of you mother. Assuming she went through that ordeal, she had to find
members locally, in Israel and
As Jews, we understand the who aren’t able to make it, join a doctor who would agree to perform the abortion. This was not
around the world.

importance of building bridges in the spirit of the occasion and an easy task. The usual ways were through someone who knew
someone, or going to an unlicensed practitioner and risking infec-
With so many causes in need and working with all people of answer that phone call. l
tion and/or death; there was also the “do it yourself” method, also
of support, the Jewish Federation all faiths to strengthen our com-
eliminates any guesswork on munities. It is critical now more Jodi Krasilovsky Miller lives in
known as the wire coat hanger. Also, in 1973, many doctors would
where donations might create than ever for us to stand together Wynnewood. Super Sunday will
not prescribe contraception and, in many states, it was illegal.

the biggest impact. As chair of in order to continue to grow and be held on Feb. 24 at five locations
I always thought that Judaism defined when life begins as the
the Jewish Federation’s Women’s thrive. Fortunately, the Jewish across the Greater Philadelphia
moment when the head emerges from the birth canal and the
Philanthropy affinity group, I see Federation is poised to address region. For a listing of all locations,
soul enters the body.

firsthand the intricate budget, these challenges — and by giv- times and directions, visit jewish-
One thing I have learned in my 80 years is to try not to be too
allocation and strict evaluations ing to the Jewish Federation, we philly.org/SuperSunday.

judgmental of other people’s life decisions since I cannot possibly
know what is really going on in their lives and why they make the
choices they do. I think that it would serve the writer well if he
Statement From the Publisher
applied that philosophy to his own thinking and spent his time
We are a diverse community. The views expressed in the opinion columns and letters published in the Jewish Exponent are those of the
trying to make life better for the living. l
BY JODI KRASILOVSKY MILLER
authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and boards of the Jewish Publishing Group and/or the Jewish Federation
of Greater Philadelphia. Send letters to letters@jewishexponent.com or fax to 215-569-3389. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words
and may be edited for clarity and brevity. Unsigned letters will not be published.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
Jean Stein | Media
FEBRUARY 21, 2019
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