Jews are Thinking of Leaving Scotland. Good!

ז' לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ט

Times of Israel: Scottish lawmakers pan anti-Semitism, as many Jews said thinking of leaving
Community leader last year told parliament meeting on religious freedom that small Jewish population is ‘not feeling at home’ 

By Stuart Winer, 6 January 2019

Two members of the Scottish parliament spoke out against the anti-Semitism faced by Jews in the country, after it emerged that many members of the community are considering leaving Scotland due to feelings of alienation and vulnerability.

Jackson Carlaw, the acting leader of the Scottish Tories, said, “Scotland’s Jews are entitled to feel safe, to feel valued and to look forward with the same optimism as any of us,” the Herald on Sunday reported.

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine called for lawmakers to condemn local anti-Semitism.

“It’s truly horrifying that more and more Scottish Jews do not feel welcome in their own country, and would actually consider moving away,” she said. “Politicians of all parties must be vocal in condemning the disturbing rise of anti-Semitism.”

Their remarks came in response to a parliamentary committee meeting about the fears of the local Jewish community.

Ephraim Borowski, director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJec), told a gathering of the Cross-Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief last year that local Jews feel that times have changed.

“Mostly the Jewish community used to feel that Scotland was a good place to be Jewish but for many that has reversed,” he said, according to the minutes from the meeting outlining his presentation. “Many Jews actively discuss leaving Scotland because they feel alienated, vulnerable and not at home. 

“The general message is not that it is terrible being Jewish in Scotland,” Borowski said. “But, in recent years, there has been a very worrying increase in the level of anti-Semitism in the country, with the result that many Jewish people report they are actively considering emigrating from Scotland.” (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Many Jews will praise these members of the Scottish parliament for speaking out against anti-Semitism.

Still other Jews will encourage the Jews in Scotland to "stick it out," and "not to leave without a fight," believing that they should "not let the anti-Semites win."

They are both wrong.

Mostly the Jewish community used to feel that Scotland was a good place to be Jewish but for many that has reversed.

This makes total sense, at Scotland, along with all other countries outside of the Land of Israel were meant to be temporary dwelling places.

Many Jewish people report they are actively considering emigrating from Scotland.

As they should be.

Scottish Jews do not feel welcome in their own country, and would actually consider moving away.

This is the main problem. Scotland is NOT these Jews' country. The Scottish  MP's believe they are being helpful to Jews. And maybe in the short-run, they are, preventing one or a few more incidents.

But the signs are there, and it is high time to leave, not out of fear but out of love and excitement for the opportunity to return to the ONLY TRUE homeland of the Jewish People, the Land of Israel.

Many Jews actively discuss leaving Scotland because they feel alienated, vulnerable and not at home.  

Good. That's how we're supposed to feel. After all, the exile from the Land of Israel is a punishment, a fact which so many of us have failed to remember.