IT'S NOTHING NEW

Dear editor:

So many people are acting amazed at the horrendous story that came out of Pittsburgh last week. They stand shell shocked that a massacre of Jewish people in a synagogue (or anywhere) could happen. Evidently they don’t know the history that preceded it, from ancient times forward.

All thru history we find Jews being massacred. In 66CE Agrippa II exterminated all the Babylonian Jews in Transjordan. Then the Greeks slaughtered the Jews in Damascus, 50,000 Jews in Alexandria and 20,000 in Caesarea Maritima. Skip forward to the Crusades. When Urban II ordered the First Crusade, the only infidel in Northern Europe known to the crusaders was the Jews, who were considered the enemies of Christian society.  And so, in Trier on the first day of Passover in 1096 the Hebrews were offered conversion or death.  Most committed suicide with the balance being massacred.  In March 1096 a large army of Crusaders attacked the Jewish communities of France and Lorraine.  They were given the choice of baptism or death, and when they refused they were slaughtered.  The crusaders massacred Jews in the Rhineland and as they proceeded along their route they became more and more violent, murdering Jews in ever increasing numbers.  This continued in town after town as the mob of murderers rampaged thru Europe. Of course history contains massacres such as these all thru the centuries. There isn’t a country in Europe that at one time or another hasn’t exiled all Jews living there. And don’t forget the “Inquisitions” that killed thousands in many countries, including Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Everyone knows (or should know) of the “Final Solution” (Holocaust) planned and executed by the Third Reich of Nazi Germany during the 1940s.  While 6,000,000 Jews were killed, Hitler did not hit his goal as planned at the Wanasee Conference in January 1942, which listed country by country, the expected total evacuation (killing) of 11,738,684 Jews. There are many deniers of the Holocaust, BUT IT HAPPENED. In 1939, Hitler closed all ports to keep out “unwanted persons” and to stop Jews from escaping from his future plans. But he did allow 900 Jewish refugees to embark aboard the MS St. Louis from Hamburg.  All had visas for Cuba. Upon arrival in Cuban waters the ship was not allowed entry. It then sailed up the US coast, begging President Roosevelt for the right to disembark in the USA. Because of politics, the upcoming election and the “America First” movement in the country (sound familiar?), they were turned down and the ship returned to Europe, landing in Belgium.  Many were accepted in European countries but approximately a quarter of them died in Nazi death camps. This is all just a smattering of examples.

Many instances have happened in the USA.  I personally remember the bombing of the Temple on Peachtree in Atlanta in the 1970s. The center of Holocaust denial, which is now an international movement, is the Institute for Historical Research.  Founded in California in 1979 it disseminates denial literature and Nazi books, pamphlets, tapes and videos throughout the world.

Don’t forget what happened in Charllottsville prior to Pittsburgh. When our leadership in Washington doesn’t specifically call out and condemn any hatred, including Anti-Semitism, it is encouraging acts such as happened in Pittsburgh.