(cont.)
About the Jews & the Bolshevik revolution.
I present the following:
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of ... Bolshevism:
Many members of the Bolshevik party were Jewish, especially in the leadership of the party. The idea of overthrowing the Tsarist regime was attractive to many members of the Jewish intelligentsia because of the oppression of non-Russian nations within the Russian Empire. For much the same reason, many other non-Russians, notably Latvians or Poles, were disproportionately represented in the party leadership. This was abused by the Tsarist secret police, the Okhranka, which used anti-Semitism and xenophobia as a weapon against the party.
The Jewish origins of some of leading Bolsheviks and their support for a policy of promoting international proletarian revolution - most notably in the case of Trotsky -led many enemies of Bolshevism to draw a picture of Communism as a political idea pursued to benefit Jewish interests. In Germany, the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler used this theory to paint a picture of a supposed "Jewish-Bolshevik conspiracy". Even today, many anti-Semites continue to promote the idea of a link between Judaism and Communism. However, the concept that an entire ethnic group can be held responsible for the actions of a few is very widely rejected. The Bolsheviks seem to have been personally rather atheistic and internationalistic, more concerned with the plight of the working class in general rather than with any ethnicity or religious group. (See concepts of proletarian internationalism, bourgeois nationalism).
Most of the Jewish "Old Bolsheviks", along with their Gentile counterparts, were purged by Stalin during the 1930s. However, Stalin's ambitions to undertake a more general purge of "rootless cosmopolitans" (a euphemism for Jews), expressed in the preparation of the trial of the Doctors' plot, were never realised due to his death in 1953.
While there were a significant number of Jews in the Bolshevik Party the percentage of Jewish party members among the rival Mensheviks was much higher. The vast majority of Russia's Jews weren't in any political party.
From http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jso ... sia.html#l:
As the borders of Soviet Russia sharpened, large numbers of Jews who had previously been under Russian control found themselves outside of the Soviet Empire. Only about 2,500,000 Jews remained under Soviet control. The Bolsheviks rejected anti-Semitism and loosened civil restrictions on the Jews. Under the influence of influential assimilated Jews, the Bolsheviks began to see the assimilation of the Jews as the only solution to “the Jewish problem.” Jewish nationalist expressions, be they expressions of the Jewish religion or Zionism, were clamped down upon. While the Bolshevik leaders clamped down on Jewish separatism their fight against anti-Semitism gained them wide support among the Jewish masses. Jewish youth enthusiastically joined the Red Army (founded by a Jew, Leon Trotsky). In 1926, Jews made up 4.4% of the officers in the Red Army (more than twice their ratio in the general population). Jewish elites also took part in the administrative rebuilding of the country. While a small but influential group of Jews helped rebuild Russia, the Socialist Economic Policies weakened the masses. The Bolsheviks also set up a special “Jewish section” in government in response to the fact that millions of Jews were attached to the Jewish religion and Hebrew language (at least as a language of prayer and Judaism). The Communists put secular assimilationist Jews in charge in order to foster hatred towards the Jewish religion, Hebrew, and Zionism, though temporarily allowing its replacement with secular Yiddish culture. In August 1919, Jewish communities were dissolved and properties confiscated. Traditional institutions of Jewish education and culture, such as yeshivot and cheder, were shut down. Hebrew study was prohibited and it became forbidden to print Jewish books. In 1928, it was forbidden to even print religious books and Jewish calendars. In 1927, Rabbi J. Schneerson, the leader of Habad Hasidism, was imprisoned and expelled from Russia. Yet “underground” religious activity still continued, though after World War II, hundreds of Hasidism left Russia to Eretz Yisrael. The growing restrictions on Jewish religious life strengthened Zionism.
Yiddish was also strengthened by the forming of a “Jewish proletariat culture.” A Yiddish press and Yiddish newspapers were established, though the writing of Yiddish was phoneticized into Russian script so as to cut its ties with Hebrew print. Russians granted Yiddish official status in that tribunals were held in Yiddish and significant resources were invested in the development of Yiddish school systems. After awhile, however, Jewish parents rebelled against these schools whose only connections to Jewish culture was a few lines of Yiddish literature and which taught anti-religious sentiment. As the quality of the schools declined (weak to begin with), they began to disappear.
The disappearance of Yiddish was replaced by cultural assimilation. Jewish children spoke Russian and attended Russian schools. Mixed marriage became common. Jews began to play an important role in Russian cultural life.
During World War II, much of the attempts to persecute the Jews were halted. When World War II began, Jews played an important part of the Soviet military effort. Their role in the front lines was disproportionately higher then other national groups. While much of Soviet Jewry was decimated in the Holocaust, those living in Russia proper were mostly spared. After World War II was concluded, however, the attempts to suppress Soviet Jewry were resumed. Until Stalin’s death in 1953, Soviet Jews were placed in the gulag and were faced with significant physical oppression. In 1952, Stalin had a number of leading Russian Jewish intellectuals murdered in the “Night of the Murdered Poets.”
Even after Stalin’s death, the attempt to suppress Judaism and Jewish culture continued. Jewish books and religious articles had to be smuggled into the country and attempts to study the books and utilize the religious articles had to be clandestine. The covert nature restricted access to Jewish life to only a few individuals. The few Jews who continued participation in Jewish life were called refusniks, and were severely punished by the Soviet authorities. By 1965, only about 60 synagogues remained in all of Russia. It was not until Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and his policy of glasnost that restrictions on Soviet Jewry lessened.
I cite http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=114407:
Inter-Religious Peace Conference concludes in Moscow
Wednesday, March 3 2004
MOSCOW, Russia - The Second Inter-Religious Peace Conference concluded tonight in Moscow. The conference was attended by representatives of those faiths traditionally represented in Russia and the CIS. Over 30 Chief Rabbis of cities and countries of the CIS attended, along with senior representatives of Russia's other key faiths - Russian Orthodox Christian, Islam, Buddhism, Georgian and Armenian Orthodox Christian.
A other religious leaders also addressed the conference including: the Patriarch of Moscow and Russia, Alexiy II; the Chairman of the Muftis' Council, Ravil Gainutdin; the Head of the Buddhist Sangha in Russia, Pandito Hambo Lama Damba Ayushev; the Head of Administration of Caucasus Muslims, Sheikh Ul Islam Allahshukur Pahsa-zade; the Patriarchy of Georgia, Ilya II; Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad; the Patriarch of Armenia, Garegin II; and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who is President of New York's 'Appeal of Conscience' Foundation.
Georgiy Poltavchenko, the President's representative in the Central Federal District, opened the event by relaying a message from Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "Today, when society encounters revelations of extremism and faces attempts to abuse religion for unjust goals, the word of religious figures in defending peace is extremely important," expressed President Putin. Participants also heard greetings from Armenia's President Robert Kocheryan, Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov, and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Both religious leaders and state officials, including Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov, stressed that constructive dialogue between religions is not only extremely important, but is an inalienable part of cooperation between civilizations and cultures.
Chief Rabbi Lazar said that cooperation between representatives from different religions towards achieving a common positive goal is of fundamental importance. "We need something more than tolerance - we need each other," said Rabbi Lazar. "Together we can change relations between people, just as relations between nations and religions, to be able to raise children in the spirit of common values." He stressed the need to embrace the seven Noachide laws that provide the basis for a moral and stable society, as well as the need to reach out to influence all members of society, even those who do not practice a religious faith.
In his address, Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Azriel Chaikin noted the positive advances in religion in the CIS, following 70 years of communism. He also spoke about the campaign of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory, which aimed to promote a moment of silence at the outset of a school day, even in public schools, so that all pupils can reflect on the creator exclusive of their religious identity. Rabbi Chaikin explained how, if taught correctly, this method could enhance the development of the larger society, particularly when the different religions are at peace.
Throughout the conference, religious leaders spoke out against any form of violence and terrorism performed in the name of religion. The dialogue proved to be a very positive signal for the future development of constructive relations between the traditional religions of the CIS.
We remember atheistic communism as a blight on humanity that should properly be assigned to the dustbin of history. I posted the foregoing because I sincerely believe that believing orthodox Jews & believing orthodox Christians can & should work together. If the Chief Rabbi of Russia & the Russian Orthodox Patriarch can see each other as colleagues & friends, shouldn't we learn from our respective spiritual leaders and follow their example?
Regarding Israel Shahak, see this 1966 article by the then Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth Lord Immanual Jakobovitz (of blessed memory): http://tinyurl.com/des2.
Melk, your historical analyses are accurate and well-written. You posted:
...many Orthodox(aka religious) Jews, especially those from Traditionally Greek or Middle Eastern families will tell you that Jews got along fine with Christians in Israel until the Catholics came in the Crusades...Go to the walk of the "Righteous of the Nations" in Israel and count the number of Orthodox Bishops and Metropolitans that worked so hard during WWII to save Jews, most especially in Bulgaria where the Church there managed to save all of their Jews from the Nazi death camps.
Correct. We remember the Serbian Orthodox Church's very noble efforts to protect & help Jews during World war II (in strong contrast to the Catholic Croatian Ustashi & the Catholic Tizo regime in Slovakia).
Please understand that for a Jew, especially one from Western Europe, the Cross is a very offensive symbol. It has been the symbol of persecution and death.
Also correct. Thus it is not surprising that some in the orthodox community, particularly in the ultra-orthodox community, are still stand-offish (at best) and hostile (at worst) to efforts at interfaith dialogue in particular & Christianity in general.
One other thing that we have in common is bitter memories of the Crusades. We remember the Rhine Valley & Jerusalem massacres; you remember the treachery of 1204.
To say that the Talmud has a hatred toward Jesus or Christianity is to continue to spew forth anti-semetic, white supremacist lies.
Correct yet again! See http://talmud.faithweb.com/ & http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Cyprus/8815/.
As far as most Orthodox Jews being against the state of Israel, you need to check your facts. There only remain two sects of Hasidic Jews who still stand against the state of Israel.
Correct. See http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jso ... onism.html & http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jso ... sm/nk.html. Neturei Karta is a t-i-n-y group whose extremist views place it outside the mainstream of ultra-orthodoxy, to say nothing of modern orthodoxy. Indeed, the extremism & viciousness of their rhetoric and their ability to generate publicity for themselves are in inverse proportion to their size, influence and relative importance within the ultra-orthodox community. The vast majority of modern orthodox Jews (like myself) do support the State of Israel. Modern orthodoxy is very pro-Zionist & very supportive of the State of Israel & has always been so. It is our ultra-orthodox ([haredi in Hebrew) brethren who span the spectrum of pro-Zionist, to non-Zionist, to downright anti-Zionist (even militantly so). But the ultra-orthodox world, particularly here in Israel, has , in recent years seen a shift from anti-Zionism more towards non-Zionism (although there certainly are plenty of militantly anti-Israel ultra-orthodox Jews). This has been partly due to events such as http://tinyurl.com/65txd which hit the ultra-orthodox community here very hard. NK was a marginal group to begin with & they have become even more marginalized in recent years, all their pathological shrieking that they embody the essence of normative orthodoxy notwithstanding. They are legends in their own minds (but in nobody else's). Opponents of Israel have seized on them and fawn all over them because NK's views neatly dovetail with their own.
You might find this http://www.vbm-torah.org/yyerush/atz59.htm, entitled "The Religious Significance of the State of Israel" by Rabbi Yehuda Amital interesting.
Lastly...
Orthodox Christianity & orthodox Judaism (despite our rather obvious differences) have much in common, I think. Our views on many ethical & moral issues are similar. But beyond that, ours are faiths with rules, with authority & structure & with discipline. Ours are not make-it-up-as-you-go-along faiths & never have been (I suppose Protestantism & Reform Judaism are like that). Rather than mold the faith to fit the individual, I think that we believe that it is the individual who must mold him/herself to fit the faith. The late Rabbi Jakobovitz once said that a faith which demands nothing is worth nothing. To be an orthodox Jew demands a great deal & the little I know about Orthodox Christianity (I minored in religion way back as an undergrad) tells me that to be an Orthodox Christian is similarly very demanding.
I have one teensy-weensy request. One of my very few cyberrules is that I will not discuss the Israeli-Arab conflict on line, in any form. Such discussions all too often turn into undignified, emotional flame wars that have very little to do with honest, mutually didactic and friendly (I hope) interfaith dialogue.
Be well!
MBZ