Rabbi Jason S. Rosner writes: “How did this happen? The tropes should sound very familiar in the United States. Xenophobia, racism, protectionism, a failing rural economy with high levels of wealth inequality. Generational divides in wealth and success here in Britain are some of the highest in the world. Ultimately, all these factors led to a rise in far-right-wing politics and a rage-vote of no confidence in the EU.”
“We must not allow hatred, fear, and xenophobia to govern the democratic process. Here in London the fear is the Syrian refugees and Muslim ‘terrorist’ migrants (if you want to know what this looks like, google “the Jungle” in Calais). As Jews, the echoes should be obvious: a group of people fleeing an oppressive government, camped on one side of a narrow strait of water looking for a way to get across to safety. If the Biblical echoes aren’t enough, we only need to reach back a few decades to see our own people fleeing from Iran, Ethiopia, and Poland.”
The rabbi does not say anything about Israel having a moral obligation to absorb people who hate it. Only gentile countries must swallow this poison.
Comments posted at the Jewish Journal:
* The Brexit movement started well before the recent influx of refugees. Probably the biggest problem with the EU in recent years has been the growth of EU bureaucracy and the general view that it has been becoming more self-serving than really useful. Add to that the genuine incompetence and lack of courage on the part of political leaders and the stress from the wave of refugees and other migrants who refuse to assimilate into European cultuer, and you naturally get an explosive mixture. Sound familiar?
There is nothing xenophobic about insisting that immigrants play by the rules. Contrary to the ranting in the mainstream media, Trump and the Republicans are not calling for a ban on all immigration, not even Muslim immigration. We are calling for immigration by the rules and that the rules be adjusted to promote the interests of the USA by encouraging immigration of productive folks while discouraging those who want to get the free goodies. We also do not want people coming to the USA who favor ridiculous, totalitarian systems such as Sharia. What’s wrong with that??!! We have had laws for generations which are intended to keep supporters of totalitarian systems such as fascists and communists out of the USA. Sharia is just as rabidly totalitarian as national socialism, and supporters of Sharia have just as little right to be in the USA as Nazis.
* This attack on the majority of British people who voted for Briexit reflects the hubris of the elites who sneer at the common people: those who have to bear the consequences of the elites’ narcissism, mandatory deculturation policies and social engineering. Indeed, it is clear that this charactistation of them as fascists and sub human was a significant factor in the revolt. They cherish freedom and sovereignty over the class interests of the ‘progressives’ and predations of commercial capitalism.
* What a fool! His self image as a caring, intellectually superior teacher is delusional and dangerous. He is anti-democratic and blithely dismisses the majority view. His borderless prescription is just what our dear Israel needs. Fewer reform Rabbis like this and more common sense must prevail.
* How can you blame those who wanted to leave the EU? As the above Rabbi said the inequality of the populace is one reason but as I see it the real reason is that Britain had no control over immigration.
As such they feared the onslaught of the Muslim immigration and the push towards Sharia law in Britain. Also the same fear of Isis agents infiltrating the refugees. In my opinion that was the real reason for the leaving of the EU. Whether we like it or not that is their wish and it seems to transend everything else.
As one who listened to the Blitzkrieg of Poland in 1939 and witnessed the entire war and horrendous actions of the Nazi’s and now Isis, I can understand the older people’s fears. The Younger people were not alive at the time and they can’t relate to what was happening during the 2nd World War. Because of that they are more accepting.
Its not racism that caused the resulting vote it was realism from those who lived through the war and immediately after.
There is a big difference between putting your hand on a hot burner and telling about the pain resulting from it.
* Stop with the ‘immigrant’ issue; it wasn’t the major reason for voting Leave. People of the UK want to take back rule of their country and not leave it to bureaucrats ruling from Brussels, imposing strangling rules on them. And how many of those Jewish immigrants included possible terrorists?
