[Jerusalem Post] Rabbi Marvin Hier - The new anti-Semitism is largely fueled by Islamic fundamentalists whose real objective is the destruction of Western civilization. Those who counsel us to understand what it is that motivates these fanatics should remember that billions of people live on this planet suffering from intolerable living conditions, illness, hunger and poverty without seeking to avenge their cause by becoming suicide bombers who target innocent civilians. Let us take an example from the survivors of the Nazi Holocaust who lost their entire families, had no homes to return to, found no countries that would harbor them, yet, despite this, picked themselves up, married, had children and taught them to love rather than to hate, how to dignify the world rather than destroy it, how to rebuild a community rather than demean it. Those are the people who need our understanding and who merit our admiration. The writer is the dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
2007-03-09 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive