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April 18, 2003/Nisan 16 5763, Vol. 55, No. 34
Freedom for all or freedom for no one
JOSEPH AARON
Chicago Jewish News
This week, the men of Umm Qasr, Iraq, walked down the streets of their town hitting themselves on the back and forehead with sticks.
Thanks in large measure to the Jews.
Please know that doing what they did was a blessing for the men of Umm Qasr. The men in question are Shiite Muslims and the self-flagellation ritual is an integral part of how they practice their version of their religion. A ritual that, if they had tried to practice while Saddam Hussein was running things, would have resulted in their execution.
Shiites are a majority in Iraq, making up 60 percent of the population. And yet, because Saddam is Sunni, the Shiites have not been able to practice Islam in their way.
But now, the Shiites of Umm Qasr, indeed, in all of Iraq, are free to be Muslims as their denomination of Islam calls for.
I've been thinking about what a blessing that is for them and how it is a blessing that would not have happened if it were not for Jews.
Before I proceed, I should admit I'm treading a fine line here. Anti-Semites, which includes virtually the entire Arab world and most of black radio in this country, have said the only reason we are at war is because of the Jews controlling the American government and because it is in Israel's interest for us to be at war.
Saying that is not fair criticism, but classic, virulent anti-Semitism. We are at war because many people in our government believe it is the right thing to do. Starting with George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice.
Not one of them Jewish. Indeed, it is as odious to say it's the Jews who brought this war as it would be to say it is the blacks, pointing to Powell and Rice as proof.
But calling anti-Semitism for what it is, understanding that anti-Semites always see Jewish conspiracies behind everything, is one thing. It is another, however, to be thankful for Jews making their eloquent voices heard in the pursuit of doing what is right.
I won't give a history lesson here other than to note that Jews brought forth the first liberation movement in history, an occasion we commemorate as Passover.
Passover tells the story of how the Jews became the first people in history to stand up to a tyrannical regime, to express loudly and clearly that all human beings deserve to live freely, that no people has the right to enslave another.
"Let my people go," has been a cry heard over and over in all kinds of places by all kinds of people, ever since Moses first said it. It is the primal desire we all share in every corner of the world.
But it was the Jews who said it first. And it has been the Jews who most often have said it since, not only for us, but also on behalf of others. Blacks in Selma, Cambodians in Pnom Penh, Jews in Moscow, South Africans in Cape Town.
It has been Jews at the forefront of virtually every revolution that has sought freedom and human dignity. And if not actual Jews at the head of the line, then Jewish ideas, starting, of course, with the Torah.
And so, I take it as a badge of honor that so many Jewish voices have been at the core of those who have advocated our taking action in Iraq, who have said that it is obscene for the world to sit and watch and do nothing as an entire nation has been enslaved at the hands of the pharaoh Saddam.
There are fewer than 50 Jews in Iraq, so clearly this has not been a matter of self-interest.
Jews don't turn away while others suffer, as so many have turned away while we have suffered. Instead of repaying the world in kind by ignoring the pain of others, we have instead adopted the pain of others as our own. Jews take seriously the call to be a light unto the nations, shining the light of caring everywhere, to everyone in every nation.
In January 1998, 18 prominent Americans wrote a letter to the president of the United States, urging that Saddam's madness be stopped. Half of those signing that letter were Jews.
I could not be more proud.
For it is, in large measure, thanks to those Jews - Jews like journalist William Kristol, Jews like top Defense Department officials Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith and Richard Perle - Jews at the forefront of explaining the intellectual and moral reasons for acting in Iraq, that today the Shiite Muslims of Iraq are free, to beat themselves with sticks.
Now, clearly there is no particular benefit to the Jewish community to have Shiites worship as they wish. Indeed, it's a pretty safe bet that those Shiites walking down the streets of Umm Qasr beating themselves probably wish for Israel's destruction. It is also pretty certain they don't feel any gratitude for the Jewish role in making that happen.
But truly wishing for, working for, the freedom of others means all others, not just the ones you agree with or who like you. If you believe we are all created in God's image, then it is our duty to help all people, of all colors and all creeds, to be free.
Too much of the world has put the Jews in the "except'' category, as in all people deserve to be treated fairly and live freely, except the Jews.
There are no "excepts" in the Jewish view of how each person is to live. Christians believe if you do not accept Jesus, no matter how good a person you are, you will not go to heaven. Muslims share a similar view, substituting their guy as the key guy. Judaism believes there is a place in heaven for all good people.
As Jews, we understand that the exodus from Egypt was our experience. But not so we would keep it to ourselves, but rather so that we would understand the blessings it has brought us, and then bring those same blessings, that same exodus from oppression, to the rest of humanity.
That is the powerful message we are once again reminded of as we celebrate Passover, a message especially powerful and meaningful this year.
And this year, it is a message we as Jews should take pride in as we see the faces of Shiite Muslims walking down the streets of Umm Qasr beating their backs and foreheads with sticks.
Enjoy the rest of Passover. And next year, may all the peoples of the world be free.
Joseph Aaron is publisher/editor of Chicago Jewish News. Contact him at (847) 966-0606.
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