As a teenager, I recall reading in Mad Magazine, that Hitler was alive and well, running a used Volkswagen dealership in Bayonne, New Jersey. While Iâd like to consider myself of a different caliber than the writers at Mad Magazine, I cannot help but speculate what would happen, if Haman, and not Hitler were alive today. No used Volkswagen dealership for Haman, of that I am sure. Haman in my musings, would be serving in the U.S. Congress, having been elected by the large Iranian constituency in Nassau County, Long Island. And since a leopard does not change his spots, (Jeremiah 13:23), Haman would be voicing his utter contempt for Jews. As an added feature, Haman would also be making known his diatribe against Israel. Oddly enough, I would not be troubled by any of Hamanâs comments, however factually incorrect and ludicrous they would be. What would give me agita though, would be those who would rise up to protect Haman from well-founded criticism and well deserved reprimand.
Given those Jewish voices that were recently heard in the media, however few they have been, protecting a freshman Congresswomanâs ill-advised comments about Jews and Israel, I cannot help but feel, that those very same Jewish voices that spoke up in defense of the freshman Congresswoman, would have weighed in similarly on Hamanâs defense as well. Their comments would in all probability be not all that different than the three paragraphs that follow:
In no way was Congressman Haman anti-Semitic. He was merely pointing out how terribly unhealthy the relationship is between the United States and Israel. If Congressman Haman is guilty of anything, it is that he did not speak out four years ago, when an Israeli Prime Minister had the chutzpah to lecture Congress and tell Congress how it must deal with yet another foreign country. This was Congressman Hamanâs beloved Iran that the Israeli Prime Minister was vilifying. Are we Americans so heartless, that we cannot feel Congressman Hamanâs pain?
Surely, Congressman Haman possesses neither hatred nor prejudice against Jews or any other people. Surely, Congressman Haman possesses neither hatred or prejudice against Israel or any other country. Otherwise, how could he have been elected to Congress in the first place? Iâm not asking that you necessarily agree with Congressman Hamanâs well thought comments about American Jews and Israel. Iâm asking that as Americans, you accord him honor and respect. After all, isnât that what freedom of speech is all about in this country?
As, a Jew, I strongly condemn, anti-Semitism, whether it comes from Congressman Haman or from the person behind the counter at the bakery, where I shop. Let us not however, equate anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of the âShanda Governmentâ in Israel. When Congressman Haman said, âitâs all about the Benjamins baby,â his remarks were taken out of context. What Congressman Haman meant to say, is that American Jews have no right to support an apartheid, fascist, government that treats its Arab citizens worse than the way the Nazis treated our people in World War II. As an American, as a Jew, I implore you! Let us never deny Congressman Haman, the right of legitimate debate and certainly, the right of free speech.
Congressman Haman apologized to me the other day â not only for the words he used â he apologized to me as a Jew. He did not have to. I admire him for that. I want to tell you, that being a Jew, is to be welcoming to the stranger. And I want to tell you, that Haman is from Iran. Who are we to call him out for anti-Semitism? Yes, anti-Semitism is a huge problem, but so too is the way we view the Ayatollah, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei and his government. Shouldnât we Jews serve as an example to learn from other cultures, rather than criticize them? As Jews who know only too well what itâs like to be a refugee, how dare we treat Congressman Haman, a refugee himself, in such a condescending fashion! It is we who owe Congressman Haman an apology. Let us seek to establish dialogue with Congressman Haman. Letâs work toward peoplehood, peace and good. Let us seek love, understanding and coexistence. Why canât we all just get along?
As one who takes the message of the Megillah very seriously, I pray that next weekâs grating sounds of the graggers, penetrate the auditory nerves of groggy Jews who make it a point to defend those who vilify Jews and the Jewish State, for it is they who ultimately they pose the greatest danger in what they say.