Obliterate Amalek
(יז) זָכ֕וֹר אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֲמָלֵ֑ק בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֥ם מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (יח) אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָֽרְךָ֜ בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וַיְזַנֵּ֤ב בְּךָ֙ כָּל־הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִ֣ים אַֽחַרֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה עָיֵ֣ף וְיָגֵ֑עַ וְלֹ֥א יָרֵ֖א אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (יט) וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ ה' אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ מִכָּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהוָֽה־אֱ֠לֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ (פ)
(17) Remember what Amalek did unto you by the way as you came forth out of Egypt; (18) how he met you by the way and smote the hindmost of you, all that were enfeebled in your rear when you were faint and weary; and he feared not God. (19) Therefore it shall be when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget.
The Threat of Amalek is Everlasting
(טז) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־יָד֙ עַל־כֵּ֣ס יָ֔הּ מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַה' בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃ (פ)
(16) And he said: ‘The hand upon the throne of the LORD: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’
The Details
(א) למחות זרעו מן העולם - שנצטוינו למחת זרעו של עמלק ולאבד זכדו מן העולם, זכר ונקבה, גדול וקטן, ועל זה נאמר (דברים כה יט) "תמחה את זכר עמלק'', שבכלל זכר הוא הכל...
(ב) משרשי המצוה. לתת אל לבנו שכל המצר לישראל שנאוי לפני השם ברוך הוא, וכי לפי רעתו וערמת רב נזקו תהיה מפלתו ורעתו, כמו שאתה מוצא בעמלק כי מפני שעשה רעה גדולה לישראל שהתחיל הוא להזיקם צונו ברוך הוא לאבד זכרו מני ארץ ולשרש אחריו עד כלה...
(ד) וזאת מן המצות המוטלות על הצבור כלן, ... ובאמת כי גם על כל יחיד מישראל הזכרים מוטל החיוב להרגם ולאבדם מן העולם...
1) We are commanded to eradicate the seed of Amalek and destroy its memory from the world, man and woman, child and adult...
2) The source of the mitzvah: to put into our hearts that anyone who causes trouble for the Jewish people is hated by G-d and the response by G-d will be just like the wickedness of the perpetrator. Amalek was the first to attack and therefore they have been condemned to destruction...
4) This mitzvah is incumbent upon everyone. It is a commandment on the individual as well as on the nation...
BDS = Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
A. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ B. http://bdsmovement.net/bdsintro
Boycott: A. “to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with … to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions.”
B. “Boycotts target products and companies … that profit from the violation of Palestinian rights, as well as Israeli sporting, cultural and academic institutions…. Campaigners and groups call on consumers not to buy Israeli goods and on businesses not to buy or sell them.
Israeli cultural and academic institutions directly contribute to maintaining, defending or whitewashing the oppression of Palestinians, as Israel deliberately tries to boost its image internationally through academic and cultural collaborations. As part of the boycott, academics, artists and consumers are campaigning against such collaboration and ‘rebranding’.”
Divestment: A. “finance
: to sell (something valuable, such as property or stocks).”
B. "Divestment means targeting corporations complicit in the violation of Palestinian rights and ensuring that … university investment portfolios and pension funds are not used to finance such companies. These efforts raise awareness about the reality of Israel’s policies and encourage companies to use their economic influence to pressure Israel to end its systematic denial of Palestinian rights.”
Sanction: A. “an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.”
B. “Sanctions are an essential part of demonstrating disapproval for a country’s actions. Israel’s membership of … diplomatic and economic forums provides both an unmerited veneer of respectability and material support for its crimes. By calling for sanctions against Israel, campaigners educate society about violations of international law and seek to end the complicity of other nations in these violations.”
Raise awareness about Israel’s ongoing settler-colonial project and apartheid policies over the Palestinian people.… The apartheid analysis of Israel has helped highlight the colonial context of Zionism. Israeli Apartheid Week uses this framework to make historical and concrete connections with other struggles against racism, discrimination, and colonialism.
Building support for the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Ten years since its launch, the BDS movement is now widely recognized by Palestinians, the solidarity movement, Israel and its supporters as a key way in which we can hold Israel to account and end international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.
A. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ B. http://bdsmovement.net/bdsintro
Boycott: A. “to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with … to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions.”
B. “Boycotts target products and companies … that profit from the violation of Palestinian rights, as well as Israeli sporting, cultural and academic institutions…. Campaigners and groups call on consumers not to buy Israeli goods and on businesses not to buy or sell them.
Israeli cultural and academic institutions directly contribute to maintaining, defending or whitewashing the oppression of Palestinians, as Israel deliberately tries to boost its image internationally through academic and cultural collaborations. As part of the boycott, academics, artists and consumers are campaigning against such collaboration and ‘rebranding’.”
Divestment: A. “finance
: to sell (something valuable, such as property or stocks).”
B. "Divestment means targeting corporations complicit in the violation of Palestinian rights and ensuring that … university investment portfolios and pension funds are not used to finance such companies. These efforts raise awareness about the reality of Israel’s policies and encourage companies to use their economic influence to pressure Israel to end its systematic denial of Palestinian rights.”
Sanction: A. “an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.”
B. “Sanctions are an essential part of demonstrating disapproval for a country’s actions. Israel’s membership of … diplomatic and economic forums provides both an unmerited veneer of respectability and material support for its crimes. By calling for sanctions against Israel, campaigners educate society about violations of international law and seek to end the complicity of other nations in these violations.”
- BDS traces its roots to a 2005 call from Palestinian Civil Society to apply non-violent resistance to punish Israel. According to the International Socialist Review, BDS can be traced to the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, where a draft statement opposed “movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas, in particular the Zionist movement, which is based on racial superiority.” Palestinian activists met with the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and later received support from Archbishop Desmond Tutu about stark similarities between the Occupation and South African apartheid.
- The BDS Movement is a global network of individuals and organizations who aim to isolate Israel politically, economically and culturally. Their objective is to challenge Israel’s right to exist as the sovereign homeland of the Jewish people, which is often called delegitimization.
- Their strategy is to delegitimize Israel’s very existence in order to secure a one-state solution to the conflict through Israel’s dissolution as a Jewish and democratic, multicultural state.
- Divestment Campaigns in Student Government, Boards of Trustees, Boycott of Israeli goods and speakers
- Israel Apartheid Week
- Guerilla/Street Theater (Mock Checkpoints, Die-Ins, Disrupting Cultural Events and Speakers
Raise awareness about Israel’s ongoing settler-colonial project and apartheid policies over the Palestinian people.… The apartheid analysis of Israel has helped highlight the colonial context of Zionism. Israeli Apartheid Week uses this framework to make historical and concrete connections with other struggles against racism, discrimination, and colonialism.
Building support for the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Ten years since its launch, the BDS movement is now widely recognized by Palestinians, the solidarity movement, Israel and its supporters as a key way in which we can hold Israel to account and end international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.
Is BDS (or other Anti-Israel Activity) Anti-Semitism?
US State Department Fact Sheet SPECIAL ENVOY TO MONITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM June 8, 2010
"Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
--Working Definition of Anti-Semitism by the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia
What is Anti-Semitism Relative to Israel?
EXAMPLES of the ways in which anti-Semitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel, taking into account the overall context could include:
DEMONIZE ISRAEL:
http://www.state.gov Home » Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights » Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor » Releases » Fact Sheets » 2010 » Defining Anti-Semitism
US State Department Fact Sheet SPECIAL ENVOY TO MONITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM June 8, 2010
"Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
--Working Definition of Anti-Semitism by the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia
What is Anti-Semitism Relative to Israel?
EXAMPLES of the ways in which anti-Semitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel, taking into account the overall context could include:
DEMONIZE ISRAEL:
- Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis
- Comparing contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis
- Blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions
- Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation
- Multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations
- Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, and denying Israel the right to exist
http://www.state.gov Home » Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights » Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor » Releases » Fact Sheets » 2010 » Defining Anti-Semitism
Rabbi Sacks's Explanation of BDS
Former UK Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks has released a whiteboard animation to explain what lies beneath the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and why it is so dangerous.
In the six-minute video, created in partnership with Israeli company White Animation, Lord Sacks outlines his views on why “Jews, humanitarians of all faiths and of none, and all those who value a free society,” must stand up against BDS activists as Israel Apartheid Week begins on campuses around the world.
The video includes graphics of a tree’s roots wrapping around Israel and smothering it, as Lord Sacks argues that the BDS campaign “looks less like a campaign for human rights, and more like a campaign against Israel’s very right to be”.
He adds: “I support the rights of Palestinians to a state of their own, and the right of Palestinian children to a future of dignity and hope, but the BDS campaign will achieve neither of these things.”
Referring to the battle against “vicious hatred of Israel that occurs online,” Lord Sacks said the video would act as just one resource in the ongoing battle against anti-Semitism, adding that it will be translated into Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Lord Sacks pointed ahead to the upcoming Israel Apartheid Week by warning of its consequences: “Over the coming weeks, Jewish students around the world will face the prospect of vicious Israel Apartheid Weeks on their campuses. The Jewish people’s fight against BDS is a serious challenge.
“We need to utilise every resource possible in defence of the State of Israel, making our arguments in increasingly innovative and creative ways in order to capture the widest attention.This includes battling the vicious hatred of Israel that occurs online.”
Former UK Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks has released a whiteboard animation to explain what lies beneath the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and why it is so dangerous.
In the six-minute video, created in partnership with Israeli company White Animation, Lord Sacks outlines his views on why “Jews, humanitarians of all faiths and of none, and all those who value a free society,” must stand up against BDS activists as Israel Apartheid Week begins on campuses around the world.
The video includes graphics of a tree’s roots wrapping around Israel and smothering it, as Lord Sacks argues that the BDS campaign “looks less like a campaign for human rights, and more like a campaign against Israel’s very right to be”.
He adds: “I support the rights of Palestinians to a state of their own, and the right of Palestinian children to a future of dignity and hope, but the BDS campaign will achieve neither of these things.”
Referring to the battle against “vicious hatred of Israel that occurs online,” Lord Sacks said the video would act as just one resource in the ongoing battle against anti-Semitism, adding that it will be translated into Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Lord Sacks pointed ahead to the upcoming Israel Apartheid Week by warning of its consequences: “Over the coming weeks, Jewish students around the world will face the prospect of vicious Israel Apartheid Weeks on their campuses. The Jewish people’s fight against BDS is a serious challenge.
“We need to utilise every resource possible in defence of the State of Israel, making our arguments in increasingly innovative and creative ways in order to capture the widest attention.This includes battling the vicious hatred of Israel that occurs online.”
Israel Aparthied Week
How is it possible? How is it possible to go from Auschwitz in 1945 to Israeli Apartheid week in 2017? In just 72 years, Jews are once again being told that they “are a people of robbers,” are part of a conspiracy to control the government, and Israelis are being boycotted in an attempt to economically damage them.
In fact, this blog does not need to be more than a few sentences long. It’s simple – the ICC definition states that apartheid consists of “inhumane acts committed in the context of an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression.” Yet in Israel, incitement to racism is a criminal offence. Therefore – by definition – Israel is not an apartheid state. Ever.
Surprised? Don’t be. A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on. Thankfully, I have my shoes on.
Last week I travelled around Poland in both an emotional and physical sense. Every person in our group came away with their own thoughts and feelings, and I will not attempt to speak for everyone in the group, but will share some of my own thoughts.
A theme I noticed appear several times during the timeline of the Holocaust was the dehumanisation of the Jewish people. It instantly reminded me of several news headlines which attempted to do the same.
In fact, throughout the trip I saw history repeating itself in today’s society. Boycotts of Jewish businesses? Tick. Anti-Semitism coming from political officials? Tick. Anti-Semitic tropes being used to show how Jews are evil? Tick.
As a Jewish student on campus in the UK, the trip to Poland, followed by the start of Israeli apartheid week really hit home. I would perhaps go as far as to say that certain aspects of the Holocaust have not been left behind. Accusations of running the media and the banks, still ring through the student body – in my experience on campus anyway.
One day I stood in Auschwitz-Birkenau learning about how Jews were persecuted, dehumanised and murdered. The next I was listening to someone elaborately deny the fact that Hamas sending tens of thousands of rockets into people’s back gardens in Israel is somewhat inconvenient to people living there. Or the fact that since 2015 the 364 terror attacks committed in Israel are any issue at all. Israelis have already been dehumanised in this individual’s mind.
How do we stop this? How do we stop the lies and hate from spreading through society like wildfire?
We must do more to stand up to that which we see as lies. We have an obligation to help each other, to call out anti-Semitism wherever it manifests. Make no mistake, anti-Israel activities do not affect our brothers and sisters in Israel in any way when compared to how it affects us here in the UK. Jewish students do not feel safe on some campuses in the UK due to despicable anti-Israel activities. Therefore, in my mind if Jewish students do not feel safe then this is clearly anti-Semitism, whether it be explicit or not.
There are campaigns, Bridges not Boycotts organised by UJS, Israel Party and Information weeks, or even a Falafel for Facts campaign I have started in Liverpool. These are the first stage of combatting the lies and misconceptions surrounding Israel, because they are not going anywhere.
You probably disagree with me. Anti-Semitism isn’t a problem in the UK, I’ve never experienced it so it can’t be such an issue, these people are all talk and no action, etc. etc.
Luckily for you you’re in the majority, much of Polish Jewry would have also agreed with you. They made up 10% of the Polish population in 1939, yet they now make up less than 0.01%
We can’t ignore anti-Semitism and must stand up and make our voices heard. I will carry the message of the Holocaust with me onto campus and beyond. I will make sure the world never forgets, never repeats and never stands by as anti-Semitism rises.
In fact, this blog does not need to be more than a few sentences long. It’s simple – the ICC definition states that apartheid consists of “inhumane acts committed in the context of an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression.” Yet in Israel, incitement to racism is a criminal offence. Therefore – by definition – Israel is not an apartheid state. Ever.
I don’t need to talk about the countless other facts and examples of the freedom that Israeli Arabs experience. I don’t need to tell you that Israeli Arabs experience more freedom in Israel than they do in any other Arab country, all of which are equal to Jewish Israelis. LGBT and women’s rights in Israel are light years ahead of any other country in the Middle East. Israeli Arabs hold seats in Israeli Parliament, again a fact that shows that Israel is not apartheid by definition.
Surprised? Don’t be. A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on. Thankfully, I have my shoes on.
Last week I travelled around Poland in both an emotional and physical sense. Every person in our group came away with their own thoughts and feelings, and I will not attempt to speak for everyone in the group, but will share some of my own thoughts.
A theme I noticed appear several times during the timeline of the Holocaust was the dehumanisation of the Jewish people. It instantly reminded me of several news headlines which attempted to do the same.
In fact, throughout the trip I saw history repeating itself in today’s society. Boycotts of Jewish businesses? Tick. Anti-Semitism coming from political officials? Tick. Anti-Semitic tropes being used to show how Jews are evil? Tick.
As a Jewish student on campus in the UK, the trip to Poland, followed by the start of Israeli apartheid week really hit home. I would perhaps go as far as to say that certain aspects of the Holocaust have not been left behind. Accusations of running the media and the banks, still ring through the student body – in my experience on campus anyway.
One day I stood in Auschwitz-Birkenau learning about how Jews were persecuted, dehumanised and murdered. The next I was listening to someone elaborately deny the fact that Hamas sending tens of thousands of rockets into people’s back gardens in Israel is somewhat inconvenient to people living there. Or the fact that since 2015 the 364 terror attacks committed in Israel are any issue at all. Israelis have already been dehumanised in this individual’s mind.
How do we stop this? How do we stop the lies and hate from spreading through society like wildfire?
We must do more to stand up to that which we see as lies. We have an obligation to help each other, to call out anti-Semitism wherever it manifests. Make no mistake, anti-Israel activities do not affect our brothers and sisters in Israel in any way when compared to how it affects us here in the UK. Jewish students do not feel safe on some campuses in the UK due to despicable anti-Israel activities. Therefore, in my mind if Jewish students do not feel safe then this is clearly anti-Semitism, whether it be explicit or not.
There are campaigns, Bridges not Boycotts organised by UJS, Israel Party and Information weeks, or even a Falafel for Facts campaign I have started in Liverpool. These are the first stage of combatting the lies and misconceptions surrounding Israel, because they are not going anywhere.
You probably disagree with me. Anti-Semitism isn’t a problem in the UK, I’ve never experienced it so it can’t be such an issue, these people are all talk and no action, etc. etc.
Luckily for you you’re in the majority, much of Polish Jewry would have also agreed with you. They made up 10% of the Polish population in 1939, yet they now make up less than 0.01%
We can’t ignore anti-Semitism and must stand up and make our voices heard. I will carry the message of the Holocaust with me onto campus and beyond. I will make sure the world never forgets, never repeats and never stands by as anti-Semitism rises.