Why Be Jewish In A Time Of Rampant Antisemitism?

American Thinker

"For those Jews questioning their allegiance to Judaism in these trying times, this is a reminder of the myriad blessings that flow from fealty to the faith."

"Why should any Jew want to remain a Jew, given the long-standing, rampant anti-Semitism in the world? There must have been evolutionary advantages. Otherwise, Jews and Judaism would have disappeared over the millennia. The following mechanisms embedded in Judaism make it not only palatable, but desirable for Jews to remain within the fold.

"First. At its heart, Judaism touts the Ten Commandments. Let’s begin with “You Should Not Murder!” If murder is forbidden and this restriction applies to all members of the Jewish tribe without exception, everyone is safer without having to resort to the revenge behavior common in pre-Biblical times to obtain justice. Expectations of intra-group safety have always been part of Jewish communal life.

"Second. The commandment to “Honor Your Mother and Father” makes parental abandonment of children less likely. It is a form of social security that enshrines the principle of reciprocity across generations. If parents care for their children with great and continuous affection, the children may remember and feel obligated to care for their elderly parents.

"Third. The observance of the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) is an amazing commandment. The Biblical punishment for violating Shabbat restrictions was death by stoning (with only one reported case). Nonetheless, the Jews had to be coerced, with threats of capital punishment, into taking one day in seven for rest. Perhaps opposition to Shabbat restrictions arose because “rest” extended to wives, children, slaves, servants, and work animals.

"In short, Shabbat was a major move toward civilization. A sanctioned day away from labor was essentially nonexistent in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Ages before the Biblical commandment was promulgated. It was costly to skip work for one day in seven, but Shabbat increased opportunities for rest, health, and joy. During Temple times, singing and playing musical instruments were proper activities for the day of rest, as recorded in King David’s Psalms." . . .  More.