June 19, 1999

"Iran’s Blood Libel -
Never Again"

Iran is engaging in classical anti-Jewish behavior. Facing internal political conflict and a worsening economy, the Iranians have created a diversionary smoke screen by turning public attention to a supposed common enemy. . .the enemies are Jews, or as Radio Tehran calls it, the "Zionist Regime," meaning Israel. As is now well publicized in the media, thirteen Jews were detained and charged with espionage. Iran accuses these men, one of them a sixteen-year-old boy, of spying on behalf of Israel and the United States. The charges are absurd and totally false. These Jews will soon be tried and probably convicted. The Iranians waste little time between conviction and implementation of sentence. Espionage in Iran is a capital offense. In simple language, they will take them out and, heaven forbid, murder them. What can we do?

Indolence and quiet diplomacy have long ago proven to be ineffective, and in the matter of Iran, behind-the-scenes efforts are virtually impossible; however, we are by no means helpless. The Reverend Jesse Jackson’s well publicized efforts on behalf of these innocent victims deserve our support and applause. If Jackson succeeds in delivering these people from a certain death, he should receive our warmest accolades in spite of past statements unfriendly to Jews and the State of Israel. In fact, he deserves our approbation even if he fails. But neither is this the only avenue to pursue.

Arafat enjoys a good relationship with the Iranians even though they disapprove of his ostensible advocacy of peace with Israel. The new Israeli Government should terminate future negotiations with him unless he demonstrates serious efforts to retrieve these Iranian Jews, and this, too, is not the only course of action available to us.

The Saudis have recently resumed a relationship with Iran. The United States government and President Clinton must compell them to pressure the Iranians. The European Union has already strongly protested and demanded the release of the Jewish detainees as has Amnesty International and other human rights organizations.

Although the Foreign Minister of Russia has protested the arrests, the Russians enjoy an unusually good relationship with Iran. They must be made aware of the magnitude of Iran’s actions. A conviction of these Jews will lead to mass riots and attacks against the twenty-five to thirty thousand Jews in that country. If this does happen, Israel will have no other alternative but to engage in military action against Iran. The Middle East could turn into an inferno with the rest of the world drawn into a massive conflagration of incredible proportions.

Israel’s responsibility for Jews everywhere was demonstrated in the past. The events at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda asserted Israel’s position: no Jew shall ever be abandoned to demagogic exploitation and violent assault. The world be damned. . .Jews will not suffer another Holocaust! One victimized Jew is tantamount to six million.

The United States and its NATO allies engaged in a humanitarian war on behalf of the Albanians in Kosovo, a just and noble action. How does this equate? If we fight for Albanian Moslems, should Iran not be told that this policy applies to anyone, including Jews? I don’t think the Iranians would consider their lust for Jewish blood worthy of the same mass destruction suffered by the Yugoslavs. They must therefore be warned.

As Jews, we must know that apathy, indifference and indolence on our part are immoral and unacceptable. We have come a long way since the Holocaust. No longer are we the helpless Jews of Poland or any other part of the world where Hitler’s cohorts acted without impediment in the mass murder of our people. We created a state and built a military force stronger than any other in the Middle East and mightier than most on earth. Neither did we passively sit by in Kosovo. Ten percent of the relief provided for the refugees came from Israel. American Jews contributed heavily as well in aid for the dispossessed Kosovars. The few Jews in this world showed far greater concern for Albanian Moslems than the world’s one billion Moslems, many of them drenched in oil riches. We rightfully care for all people, and it is incumbent upon us to demand justice and freedom on behalf of our own, the Jews of Iran who are now under serious threat.

Jews need to know that the word "Zionist" spells J-e-w, regardless of how we consider ourselves. It is the nomenclature given us by today’s anti-Semites. In their eyes and propaganda, all assimilated, Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, and Secular Jews are Zionists. I only wish it were true. But fact remains that there is no getting away from the Zionist identity.

In my heart, I believe that we will succeed, and thirteen innocent hostages will be set free. I am also convinced that it will happen only when our voices are united, strong and passionate. We Jews know the meaning of false accusations. . . .in the past, they took the form of "blood libels," and today, they call us "spies." Our enemies must know that times have changed, and so have we. We are no longer passive, sitting ducks awaiting accusations and walking to slaughter without resistance or retribution. To the Iranian mullahs and ayatollahs, I would declare, "The Third Reich was more powerful than you will ever be, but it ultimately fell, and its despotic leaders became ashes floating in the sewer of defeat." We will overcome for G-d has kept the promise. "Never Again!" the Jew’s oath against another hateful assault of our people, is a reality. Iran must alter its course or face similar consequences.

Shabbat Shalom