Philly’s Palestinians organize a Kristallnacht

Thursday will be the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, during which the Nazis went on a two-day rampage throughout Germany, smashing Jewish stores, buildings, and synagogues. Streets everywhere were filled with broken glass. It was the harbinger of things to come.

Those things included isolating, demonizing, and ultimately liquidating Jews.

When it happened, German police and elected officials stood by silently.

Here in Philadelphia, as you can see, the Philly Palestine Coalition is calling for a boycott of “Zionist establishments.”

And here they have revealed their hate-filled selves.

Not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism, and I have defended the rights of such critics, no matter how deluded or depraved I may have felt they were.

The Coalition is not calling for the boycott of Israeli products. It is calling for a boycott of “Zionist” businesses, meaning Jewish businesses. That is anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, straight up. It is Nazism.

“Zionism,” by the way, expresses the idea that the Jewish people are entitled to a homeland, and that it should be in their ancestral home along the Mediterranean, where two previous Jewish states existed. That is where today’s Israel is located. Zionism means a homeland for the Jews, nothing more.

Mayor Jim Kenney and every member of City Council — except for Mark Squilla — scurried away like rats when asked about the boycott by the Wall Street Journal. Only Squilla condemned this anti-Semitism for what it obviously is.

Can you imagine a similar silence from our oft-weepy mayor if some group had condemned and tried to isolate and threaten Blacks, or gays? The City Commission on Human Rights would be on them like chickens on corn. 

But when Jews, who are 3% of the Philadelphia population, are isolated? Crickets. 

Jews in this city are entitled to take a step back and ask themselves, where are we? Where are you? Where are our friends and neighbors? If you are a friend — speak out. (Thanks to you who already have.)

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia spoke out with a statement condemning the Coalition tactic.

“This tactic does not in any way support Palestinians – it only serves to intimidate, isolate, and scapegoat Israeli and Jewish businesses. Targeting businesses solely because of their Israeli and Jewish ownership is blatant antisemitism and only further contributes to the alarming levels of hate against Jews nationwide.

“No business should be villainized for rightfully condemning Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, whose purpose is to kill Israelis and Jews with no regard for Palestinian life.”

I have asked what action they are planning, especially toward the silent elected officials, and I am waiting to hear back. The Federation represents many Jewish organizations in this area and ought to have someone in cowardly Kenney’s office right now.

This incident puts me in mind, again, of the famous apology by Pastor Martin Niemoller:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

I don’t want your apology. I want you to speak up now.

After the Holocaust, the world said, “Never again.” but did the world mean it?