Page 58 - issue
P. 58
idealistic people into rationalizing a in large part to an apathetic public, return the hearts of the fathers to their
which looks the other way when “lower” children, and the hearts of the children
most horrific crime – the kidnapping of strata of society suffer. The prophets cry to their fathers.”
out throughout Tanach about the
children: “They breed so often, so oppression of the weak. Why is it that I conclude with one of the salient
what’s the big deal if one is taken the frum community doesn’t mass and lessons of the Holocaust, which comes
away?” “The child will grow up in filth, demonstrate against the persecution of from a German pastor, Martin
near-starvation, and poverty.” “Why the weak the way it does against chilul Niemöller (1892–1984) who spent the
should childless couples who survived Shabbos or forced conscription of last seven years of Nazi rule in concen-
the Holocaust and lost their families yeshiva students? Is it simply a case of tration camps. Niemöller is best
be denied their right to love and raise “it is their issue, not mine”? remembered for this poem:
children?” “Why can’t these children
from such primitive backgrounds be Third, we might ask, why do these First they came for the Socialists,
given a new lease on life?” Then, after long-ago deeds matter to us living and I did not speak out – because
years of Yemenite protests, they further today? The answer is that those who, I was not a Socialist.
though not involved in the crimes, con- Then they came for the Trade
rationalize, “Why open old wounds? tinue to hide them are guilty of hijack- Unionists, and I did not speak out –
How can we break this to the adopted ing history. The Amram organization because I was not a Trade Unionist.
children – it will only harm them!” We wants to uncover the truth. We, too, Then they came for the Jews, and I
are talking about doctors, nurses, social must be vigilant not to be complicit in did not speak out – because I was
allowing the truth not a Jew.
workers and idealistic young people to remain buried. Perhaps the Then they came for me – and there
Yemenites, through evidence and testi- was no one left to speak for me.◆
who have devoted their lives to building mony, will crack the secular idols, false-
hoods, and myths surrounding the Sam Finkel is the author of Rebels in
up Eretz Yisrael! (Even the child traf- founders of the State and, in the the Holy Land: Mazkeret Batya, an
process, liberate the minds of future Early Battleground for the Soul of
fickers in this sordid affair rationalized generations. Perhaps it will bring about Israel. A new, expanded, second edition
the prophecy of Malachi: “And He will was just released, distributed by
that they deserved their cut for their Feldheim Publishers.
part in the “mitzva”!)
Second, the main reason the
Yemenites haven’t succeeded in their
quest for truth is not merely because of
their lack of savvy and power. I think
that racism is a factor, and it is also due
54 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
which looks the other way when “lower” children, and the hearts of the children
most horrific crime – the kidnapping of strata of society suffer. The prophets cry to their fathers.”
out throughout Tanach about the
children: “They breed so often, so oppression of the weak. Why is it that I conclude with one of the salient
what’s the big deal if one is taken the frum community doesn’t mass and lessons of the Holocaust, which comes
away?” “The child will grow up in filth, demonstrate against the persecution of from a German pastor, Martin
near-starvation, and poverty.” “Why the weak the way it does against chilul Niemöller (1892–1984) who spent the
should childless couples who survived Shabbos or forced conscription of last seven years of Nazi rule in concen-
the Holocaust and lost their families yeshiva students? Is it simply a case of tration camps. Niemöller is best
be denied their right to love and raise “it is their issue, not mine”? remembered for this poem:
children?” “Why can’t these children
from such primitive backgrounds be Third, we might ask, why do these First they came for the Socialists,
given a new lease on life?” Then, after long-ago deeds matter to us living and I did not speak out – because
years of Yemenite protests, they further today? The answer is that those who, I was not a Socialist.
though not involved in the crimes, con- Then they came for the Trade
rationalize, “Why open old wounds? tinue to hide them are guilty of hijack- Unionists, and I did not speak out –
How can we break this to the adopted ing history. The Amram organization because I was not a Trade Unionist.
children – it will only harm them!” We wants to uncover the truth. We, too, Then they came for the Jews, and I
are talking about doctors, nurses, social must be vigilant not to be complicit in did not speak out – because I was
allowing the truth not a Jew.
workers and idealistic young people to remain buried. Perhaps the Then they came for me – and there
Yemenites, through evidence and testi- was no one left to speak for me.◆
who have devoted their lives to building mony, will crack the secular idols, false-
hoods, and myths surrounding the Sam Finkel is the author of Rebels in
up Eretz Yisrael! (Even the child traf- founders of the State and, in the the Holy Land: Mazkeret Batya, an
process, liberate the minds of future Early Battleground for the Soul of
fickers in this sordid affair rationalized generations. Perhaps it will bring about Israel. A new, expanded, second edition
the prophecy of Malachi: “And He will was just released, distributed by
that they deserved their cut for their Feldheim Publishers.
part in the “mitzva”!)
Second, the main reason the
Yemenites haven’t succeeded in their
quest for truth is not merely because of
their lack of savvy and power. I think
that racism is a factor, and it is also due
54 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
