Kehillat Ma'arav - Santa Monica, CA | Conservative Synagogue

Voice Articles

Home > Education > Voice Articles > President's Message > October 2007

President's Message
October 2007

ARE WE GOD'S WARRIORS? REALLY?

At the end of August, CNN broadcast a disturbing three-part series entitled, God's Warriors. The trailers for the series billed it as a examination of people and movements who want to put "God back into their daily lives" and "back into the seat of power." That innocuous description misdirects the viewer away from the infuriating premise of the series, specifically, that Jewish (and Christian) fundamentalism are equivalent to violent Muslim Jihad.

I was only able to watch about one hour of the first installment entitled, God's Jewish Warriors, before turning the television off in disgust. That episode purported to "reveal" the grave threat to the stability of the Middle East, and indeed the world, posed by Jewish fundamentalism in the form of the settler and ultra-orthodox movements.

The very few cases of true Jewish terrorism were cited, without reference to the overwhelmingly negative reaction to such acts in the Jewish community, while former President Carter explained to the viewing audience that no U.S. Congressman could vote against aid to Israel and expect to be re-elected due to the power of the Jewish Lobby. (President Carter should go to Texas to hear anti-Israel Republican Ron Paul or stay close to home in Atlanta and listen to Democrat Cynthia McKinney, among many others).

One does not have to be a defender of the settler or ultra-orthodox movements to call the foregoing premise nonsense on stilts. Jews are certainly capable of evil just like any other human beings. However, as a social, political and theological community, we condemn acts of terrorism.

The few cases of true Jewish terrorism brought up by the program involved individuals who were arrested, tried and jailed for their crimes against Muslims. There is simply no organized support for such individuals in the Jewish community.

By contrast, and as you are well aware, much of the Muslim world celebrates violence against Jews. If opinion polls are to be believed, a very large minority, if not a majority, of the world wide Muslim population would be delighted if the Jews were relocated (from the planet).

While there are certainly brave Muslim voices who speak against terrorism, Muslim terrorists have numerous state and private sponsors. I know that I am preaching to the proverbial choir here, but CNN has a somewhat larger reach than this column and an audience somewhat less well-versed in the history of the Middle East.

I do not know why CNN and its anchor, Christiane Amanpour, would lend their prestige to such a ridiculous and insidious premise. I am pretty sure that Amanpour is not anti-semitic, given her choice of husbands (former State Department spokesman James Rubin). Perhaps it was just to make money or a misguided attempt at evenhandedness. I am not sure which is worse.

One thing I am sure of however. Our community is in big trouble if the West cannot distinguish between Jewish fundamentalism and Islamic Jihad.

Jamie Green
President