Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Come to Israel now




Come to Israel now
 by Dr. Haim Shine

Many years ago I visited Antwerp, Belgium. There I discovered a vibrant, well-established and self-assured Jewish community. Many of the community members were diamond and gem dealers. Some of the profits were donated to charity and funded diverse social programs. The city’s synagogues were full of worshippers and the sounds of the Torah could be heard from every corner.

This community managed to preserve its Jewish character, and there were nearly no mixed marriages. Many of the younger community members were active in the Bnei Akiva youth movement, which taught them Zionist values and a love for Israel.

An opulent mosque has since been built on the very spot where a Bnei Akiva branch once stood. The mosque serves the many Muslims who have gathered in Antwerp in recent years. The Muslim invasion of the city, and the simultaneous rise in anti-Semitism, have prompted the city’s Jews to once again grab their walking sticks and migrate to other areas, where the community would have to be rebuilt from scratch. Fortunately for modern-day Antwerp Jews, today there is a Jewish state where they know they can always immigrate and immediately be granted citizenship.

On my last visit to Antwerp, when I told them that there was no future for the Jews in Belgium, they refused to believe me. They couldn’t fathom that they would ever again be considered outsiders in a country that lived through a Nazi invasion. But what they thought was just a nightmare is now turning into a menacing reality.

In the city of Raanana, where I live, one often runs into nice families that emigrated from France and Belgium. They saw the emerging reality and came to the obvious conclusion -- immigration to Israel.
Many European countries are filling up with immigrants from Muslim countries. There are entire neighborhoods in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Stockholm that have lost their European character altogether. Listen to the resonating sound of the Muslim call to prayer, and you could be forgiven for confusing Europe’s famous cities with neighborhoods in Turkey, Pakistan or Afghanistan.

European governments are trying to deal with the Muslim migration but it looks like whatever they are doing is too little too late. What began as economic migration has now turned into an attempt at a hostile takeover.

The rise in Muslim immigration across the European continent, coupled with government inaction, has led to a surge in right-wing radicalism. Nationalist parties, with slogans reminiscent of the 20th century’s darkest times, are gaining strength in countries that were previously known for their tolerance and moderate views. Every mosque built in Zurich, Copenhagen and Oslo brings out the radical elements in the local population.

A population that feels threatened can do wildly irrational things. European Jews are convinced that the current nationalist trend is not aimed at them, but there is no guarantee that nationalistic ideologies won’t include all foreigners, and Jews, as we know, are still foreigners wherever they live, even after 1,000 years.

The obvious conclusion is that Europe’s Jews should seriously consider moving to Israel right now. In today’s reality, the state of Israel is an island of economic stability. Housing prices are declining and its ultra-modern communications networks allow anyone to conduct any business from anywhere at any time.

At the same time, Israel should launch a large-scale campaign to help Europe’s Jewry come to Israel and to integrate them into Israeli society. There are beautiful areas with breathtaking views in the Galilee that could remind them of the homes they left behind. That is how Israel can realize its fundamental goal of serving as a homeland for all the Jews.

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=1365

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