Prof. Paul Eidelberg
Do you want to know why Jewish men, women, and children are being murdered
almost every day in Israel? Do you want to know why Prime Minister Sharon’s
Government merely reacts to Arab violence, which can only prolong Arafat’s
war of attrition against the Jewish state?
Some say Mr. Sharon fears that suppressing Arab violence may lead to a regional
war. A more basic reason is this: He is not sufficiently outraged by the daily
loss of Jewish life. More than anything else, this lack of outrage or lack of
Jewish pride will encourage Israel’s enemies to attack and annihilate
the Jewish state.
It’s a terrible thing to suggest that Mr. Sharon is not duly sensitive
to the loss of Jewish life. But I ask: Why has he done nothing to bring about
the release of Jonathan Pollard, whose health is deteriorating after 16 years
of being imprisoned for serving Israel? Why hasn’t he dispatched Israel’s
Chief Rabbis to President Bush to plead for Jonathan’s life and freedom?
Jonathan has ceased taking necessary medication. His will to live is dying.
But what about Israel’s will to live, when day after day Jews are being
murdered in a war that the Sharon Government is afraid to win?
Let me take you back to Jewish leaders of another era. In 1920, an event took
place in Palestine that redounds to the honor and courage of many Jews, secular
and religious. Indeed, since these Jews were then subject to British rule, their
noble conduct shines all the more brilliantly when contrasted to the base and
paltry behavior of today’s Jewish leaders. The event is recorded in Joseph
Shechtman's biography of Vladimir Jabotinsky.
At the end of 1919, Jabotinsky formed the Jewish Defense Corp (Haganah) in reaction
to Arab violence. On April 4, an Arab mob, inflamed by anti-Jewish speeches,
began attacking Jews in Jerusalem. "Soon Jewish blood was shed and the
mob rushed into the Jewish quarter to kill and to pillage… Instead of
assisting the victims, Arab police either adopted a passive attitude or joined
the attackers. The pogrom lasted two days and resulted in five Jews and four
Arabs killed, 211 Jews and 21 Arabs wounded; two Jewish girls were raped."
The only part of Jerusalem affected by the riots was the Jewish quarter in the
Old City, where Orthodox Jews refused to permit Jabotinsky's Jewish Self-Defense
Corp to operate. All other quarters of the City were guarded by Jewish patrols,
and no casualties occurred in these areas.
"Hardly was the pogrom over when the British administration started reprisals
against the Jewish defenders of Jerusalem." Twenty Haganah members were
arrested, including Jabotinsky. The men were brought into an interrogation room,
where they were surrounded by Arab guards with Turkish lashes in their hands.
On the order of the judge (an Australian captain), an Arab secretary started
the investigation by addressing Jabotinsky in Arabic: "What is your name?"
There was no answer. The question was repeated in French: “Votre nom,
Monsieur?” No answer. Finally in English: "Will you please tell me
your name?" No answer.
The judge lost patience, banged on the table and angrily shouted: "Why
don't you answer?"
Turning to the judge, Jabotinsky said quietly but firmly: "Your honor!
I shall not answer a court secretary who belongs to the tribe of the murderers
whose attacks upon innocent people, coupled with pillage and raping, are still
going on beyond these walls. Furthermore, I shall answer no questions unless
they are asked in Hebrew, my language, the language of the Land of Israel and
the language of my nineteen comrades."
"There are no nationalities in the Court; there are only officials,"
the judge sternly admonished him.
"If this is the case, I shall not reply to this official," was the
composed answer.
"Take him out of the room," ordered the judge.
This was quickly done. But the remaining prisoners firmly clung to Jabotinsky's
policy. The Court adjourned. Two hours later they were summoned again; a Jewish
sergeant, speaking English and Hebrew, was in the secretary's chair and his
opening question was in Hebrew: "Mah Shimcha?" (What's your name?).
Nor is this all.
We read in the sequel: "The Jews of Jerusalem learned that Jabotinsky and
his comrades ... were committed for trial, on Sabbath, April 10th. The same
day, 380 members of the Defense Corp who had not been arrested, signed a petition
to the Court declaring themselves at one with the twenty arrested men and asking
to be tried together with them.
"Simultaneously, in all synagogues signatures were collected under a petition
expressing full solidarity with Jabotinsky and stating that, although the signatories
had not been in a position to participate in the Self-Defense Corp, they would
have done so, had it been possible. The Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Kook,
was the first to sign the petition and authorized its signing on the Sabbath
by others.
2,500 Jews signed, among them 300 women who stated they had been urging their
husbands, brothers, sons to join the self-defense. The petition was submitted
to the Military Court, but was disregarded."
Jabotinsky and his comrades were tried, found guilty, and sentenced to fifteen
years penal servitude--this, for defending Jewish life and Jewish honor against
murderous and rapacious Arabs! Indignation seized the Jews in Jerusalem and
all the suburbs. Ha’aretz reported on April 20: "All the schools,
institutions, shops, etc. are closed. Nobody on the streets; no trading, no
newspapers, nothing. A total strike." The Rabbinate proclaimed the 26th
of April a day of general strike, fast, and mourning, with the sounding of the
Shofars in synagogues throughout the country. (What would happen in Israel today
if such a strike were called by all the country’s rabbis on behalf of
Jonathan Pollard?)
When news about the vindictive sentence reached London, a storm of public indignation
was aroused. Members the House of Commons were embarrassed, for Jabotinsky had
served as an officer in the British army during World War I, indeed, had organized
the Jewish Legion that fought on the side of the allies.
On July 8th, the High Commissioner of Palestine, Sir Herbert Samuel, issued
an amnesty for all those imprisoned in connection with the Jerusalem riots,
including two Arab rapists! Instead of being exonerated as he had insisted,
Jabotinsky and his comrades were placed on the same level as Arab rapists and
pogromists! He bitterly protested, but in vain.
A bright episode in Jewish history was thus dimmed by what we now call "moral
equivalence." But the Jewish pride and courage displayed by Jabotinsky,
his comrades, and his 2,500 supporters--let us again mention Rav Kook--should
serve to inspire Jews today confronted, as they are, not only by bloodthirsty
Arabs, but by a pusillanimous government that will not defend its own people,
nor come to the aid of Jonathan Pollard.