Conference taveng::bagels

    The Board of Deputies of British Jews, is a group of people elected 
    to represent the Jewish opinion (is opinion a plural :-)) 
    to the Government and the wider community an matters that might be 
    of direct concern to the Jewish community. (My definition, not theirs). 
    
    It tends to be very establishment, and as such would be the last 
    group to call for vigilanteism. I'm sure that they would not call for 
    any action which is outside the law, and that they would be more 
    concerned to raise security awareness in the community, and that 
    this should be done in co-operation of the police forces. 
    
    Other activities include defending the right of the community to 
    slaughter animals according to the laws of Kashrut, the ability to 
    keep religous observance, and non-participation in Christian religous 
    observance which is the normal requirement in schools. 
    
    Malcolm

    ok, i saw a letter from lionel kopel...(sorry i can't remember the
    spelling) who's the top guy in the board of deputies in yesterdays
    times. he said that the first guy ( whose name i can't remember) didn't
    speak for the board of deputies. He also talked a little about
    community security organisations and how they should fulfil any
    necessary security requirments (along with the cops). what i am curious
    about however is how british (or other) jews feel about the apparent
    recent resurgence of antisemitism. i come from ireland where this
    hasn't happened as far as i know since 1902, but in france recently and
    also in the uk there has been a spate of grave desecrations. do people
    feel a need for a more 'agressive' response than the one offered by the
    board of deputies? i never found out what happened to the jdl inn the
    states. but i am curious about the whole seen.
    
    	-colin benson
    

    Colin, I worry about anti semitism, a disease of hate.  Whether it
    manifests itself in the condemning postures in the UN or the threats
    of Saddam, whether it be property damage or assault, it's everywhere
    and every day.  50 years ago the world became conveniently deaf and
    blind.  The disease has not been cured and the apathy towards it
    remains the same.
    
    Bernice 

    I don't think your being fair Bernice. Ok, so there are people who
    don't give a damn but i'm not sure that the world feels that way as a
    whole anymore. The grave desecrations in France this year apparently
    stirred up a lot of anti right wing opinion. I remember hearing about a
    march in the town where it happened with a lot of important people
    attending.  Having said that I also remember picketing outside a
    performance of the russian ballet in dublin a  few years ago and asking
    one man on his way in to the performance to remember the plight of
    soviet jews refused exit visa's (this was pre-Gorbi (darling of the
    media!)). His reaction was to tell me that he hoped they stayed there.
    I was quite stunned by this for a while but the only option other than
    becoming paranoid is to assume that he was a relatively isolated idiot.
    In this way I tend to find myself on a different side of the argument
    depending on whether i am speaking to a jew or a gentile. to a jew i
    say that the proper reaction to antisemitism is to stare it in the face
    till it runs away. to a gentile I constantly find myself defending an
    atitude of 'presume everyone is out to get you and keep your head
    down'. I think i really tread a line down the middle but what i find
    intrigueing is the way a can hold a different opinion with equal
    conviction depending on the religion of my companion. 
    
    The best answer is probably that it only takes one antisemite to ruin
    my attitude for a long time. It  is so muchh easier to tar everyone
    with the same brush but in doing so one becomes no better than the
    people who caused the trouble in the first place. Its too early in the
    morning to worry about this any more. let me know what you think.
    
    	-colin.

    Colin, I'm afraid I don't believe that was an "isolated idiot" in your
    unfortunate encounter.  Yes there are exceptions, we are aware of the
    brave, heroic efforts of some Gentiles who risked their lives and the 
    lives of their families to help the Jews during the holocaust.  
    
    I would give anything to be wrong.  Wouldn't it be an ideal world if
    there truly was brotherly love and goodwill towards all mankind? 
    
    Shalom,
    Bernice

    i don't think i like what i'm hearing. are you saying that the majority
    of the world is anti-jew. it seems to me that there are a few people
    who really do hate us and at times of crisis ( like the holocaust ) a
    lot who are two frightened of losing their own skins to help. to
    presume that everyone is out to get you is sensible only in the most
    desperate situations.  it makes you less than human to do it all the
    time though. the people who hate jews run on exactly the same kind of
    logic "they're different and therefore dangerous and out to get me".
    what i'm saying (i think) is that although it may appear safest in the
    shot term to take a defensive posture it only screws you in the long
    run. life is for living WITH other people not against them. 
    
    	-colin
    
    p.s. i think we're digressing from my original questions on this topic.
    if you agree than feel free to take me up by  mail. cb

>    i don't think i like what i'm hearing. are you saying that the majority
>    of the world is anti-jew. it seems to me that there are a few people
>    who really do hate us and at times of crisis ( like the holocaust ) a
>    lot who are two frightened of losing their own skins to help. 

	Suggestion:  do some reading on this topic.  I think you might
	be in for a bit of an eye-opener.

	One place to start:  Prager and Telushkin:  "Why the Jews?"
	(available in paperback).

don feinberg