Response to Hernroth-Rothstein's "Seeking Shelter"

י"ב לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ד

Mosaic: Seeking Shelter
Why I am filing for asylum in my own country, Sweden.
Annika Hernroth-Rothstein | November 17, 2013

Norway, Sweden, and Finland

Here in Stockholm this fall, we in the Jewish community have enjoyed our 21st annual Jewish film festival, a klezmer concert, and a number of other cultural diversions. I choose the word “diversions” advisedly. It’s thanks to such entertainments that so many of my fellow Jews can allow themselves to say that we’re doing okay here—that there’s no need to rock the boat or cause trouble...

...Absurd? No doubt. I can only expect that my application will be summarily dismissed. But the situation is beyond absurdity, beyond op-eds and strongly worded letters of protest. The situation calls for action. I would like to think that in making this statement, I am fighting on behalf of Swedish Jewry as a whole for the right to live a religious life, to preserve our cultural identity, and to be who we are without fear of persecution—the same rights enshrined in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and guaranteed in the Swedish constitution. Is Sweden, is Europe as a whole, truly no longer willing to enforce its own standards of justice where European Jews are concerned? (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Annika, you are brave, and raising awareness about very important issues regarding our people. And, yes, I get that this is for publicity.

I believe you one fundamental error, though.

Sweden is not your homeland, nor is the U. S., or Canada, France, or the U. K.

We have so easily forgotten that exile is a punishment. We have worked hard to be accepted as "one of them," but that was only supposed to be for our survival, while temporarily residing in "their" lands.

I appreciate your care and concern for your fellow Jews in Sweden, in Europe, and around the world facing similar or identical forms of oppression. Let's call it what it is. Oppression.

But, now we are able to return to our only true home, Eretz Yisra'el (the Land of Israel).

Will it be difficult? I can say from experience as resounding Absolutely!

But, it's home. Not only that, but The Almighty gave it to us. Let us not forsake it.