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.

Britain's New Prime Minister, Brexit, and Scottish Independence

ח׳ לחודש הרביעי תשע״ו

After the recent Brexit referendum, in which the majority of the British public expressed the opinion to leave the European Union [EU], the sitting Prime Minister of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" [UK],

"Great Britain" is made up of England, Scotland, and Wales. Scotland has already held one referendum for independence from the UK. It has been theorized that its majority "NO" vote on Brexit may be used to initiate another referendum on Scottish independence.

Of course, speculation has also been made as whether the Brexit referendum will be acted on in the first place.

The newly sworn-in Prime Minister Theresa May appears to answer these questions, or at least relays her objections regarding these questions, as of today.


Prime Minister May made a point of reminding, if not educating, the British People as to the full title of the current government's ruling party

"...the full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party. And that word 'unionist' is very important to me. It means we believe in The Union,...the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland." (00:50)

She later addressed the next question.

"Following the Referendum, we face a time of great national change. And I know, because we're Great Britain, that we will rise to the challenge. As we leave the European Union, we will forge, forge a bold, new, positive, role for ourselves in the world. And we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few, but for everyone of us. That will be the mission of the government I lead. And together, we will build a better Britain. (03:45)

Only time will tell if Scotland remains according to the Prime Minister's apparent wishes, and if the UK does, indeed, leave the EU.

Just one more thing, if the Scottish people believe that they can be be independent, by leaving the UK, and remaining in the EU (or returning to it, as the case may be), then the wool has truly been successfully pulled over their eyes.

I believe that either way, the powers that be have seen this coming, and will use nationalism against itself, Scottish, British, Catalonian, what have you.

Scotland Fails to Regain its Independence. So, What?

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ נצבים-וילך תשע״ד

Algameier: Scottish Rabbi, Creator of Jewish Tartan Says Country’s Jews Oppose Independence (INTERVIEW)

Rb. Mendel Jacobs

Dave Bender, September 16, 2014

Scotland’s only local-born rabbi, and the creator of the only official Jewish tartan pattern, believes that, “From the Jewish perspective, we’re hoping for a ‘no vote,’ in the vote for independence,” from the United Kingdom on Thursday. “From my understanding, a majority of the Jewish community, or ‘the’ majority of the Jewish community wants a ‘no’ vote,” Rabbi Mendel Jacobs, told The Algemeiner Tuesday.

“I don’t think a nationalist country has ever been good for Jews,” Jacobs said of fears within the 10,000-member community, and stressed “that if [the vote] went yes, anti-Jewish sentiments would increase.” (cont.)

(Tip: Daled Amos)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
By now, we have all heard that Scotland will not be reclaiming its independence, anytime soon.

Still, I cannot help but comment on it, not because I have any feelings about Scottish independence one way or another. But, rather, since I have become quite jaded over the years when it comes to "major" news items, why they are being reported on, and why others are not.

What is the issue of Scottish Independence designed to distract us from? The Ethnic minorities in Iraq who are getting slaughtered? Financial shenanigans going on behind the scenes? The British Parliament or other government voting on something completely unrelated, as the same time, so that no one will notice their rights being chipped away?

Your guess is as good as any. But, what concerns me, is whenever there are Jews who have been sucked into the process, albeit unbeknownst to themselves.

Rabbi Jacobs might just be one of those Jews.

In all fairness to Rabbi Jacobs, I have no doubt that he cares very deeply for Am Yisrael, and does whatever is in his power to assist and support the Scottish, Jewish community, and to bring its members closer to Torah and to maintain an environment, conducive to Jewish, spiritual life.

In addition, he does touch upon the issue of aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel),...

...unlike some Scottish Jews who have succeeded in resettling elsewhere, including in Israel, “some can’t leave – they’re stuck,” either due to age or infirmities. 

So, how about using any time and energy spent on dabbling in exile-related issues, such as goyshe designs to help Jews feel more comfortable in galuth (exile) and local referenda, on helping those who are "stuck" to get out, and resettle in Israel?

Another Jew from Scotland has a different take on the issue...

Nick Henderson, 26, was born and raised in Glasgow, and emigrated to Israel in 2004. While he’s friends with Jacobs – who is even sending him yarmulkes made with the “Chosen” tartan – Henderson, who holds an absentee ballot, told The Algemeiner on Tuesday that he has mixed feelings about Scottish independence, both as a Scot, and as one who left to make his life in the Jewish homeland.

While calling Scotland ”a safe place, a warm place, for Jews,” he pointed to unpleasant experiences, as an identifying pro-Israel Jew.

“You’re judged on your Judaism by how much you criticize Israel or not,” he charged.

“When I started at my previous job, the first thing my boss asked me was what I thought about Palestine and Israel,” adding that if Jews don’t hew to the popular anti-Israel tropes, “you’re seen as a Zionist, in a negative sense.”

He noted comments by Scotland’s pro-independence movement leader, First Minister Alex Salmond, who on Sunday equated Israel with ISIS, as exemplifying the hard left attitude towards Israel among some in Scotland.

The bottom line, either way you slice it, is clear. Which is better, an independent Scotland with an ignorant, Israel-hating First Minister, and citizens telling Jews they must possess anti-Torah beliefs, or be ostracized, or an United Kingdom with Scotland, already filled to the brim with potential murderers of Jews?

Nick Henderson, for whatever reasons, seems to have gotten the message somehow, left the country of his birth and exile, and came to live in his only true homeland, the Land of Israel.

One day, I pray, we will no longer see ourselves as Scottish Jews or American Jews, Russian Jews or Moroccan Jews (nor Ashekenazi, Sepharadi, Yemenite), but just Jews living in the Land of Israel.

Britain Growing Increasingly Anti- Semitic: Really? You Think?

כ״ב לחודש השישי תשע״ד

Britain Growing Increasingly Anti- Semitic
Lloyd Levy, August 18, 2014

I actually never thought I would have to write an article like this, from the green and pleasant land of England. However it is becoming truly frightening to be a Jew in UK. What is so remarkable is how quickly it all appears to have happened. One can now start to experience what it must have been like in parts of Europe under Nazi threat, when friends and neighbours suddenly and without warning, turn on you because you are Jewish.

In the last week or so alone, we have seen the Tricycle Theatre banning the annual JEWISH film festival, which is one of the most important Jewish events of the calendar. The famous Edinburgh Fringe arts festival has also banned Israeli connected theatre groups.

We have the Parliamentary Member from Bradford, a large town in Yorkshire, announcing his town to be “Israeli” free, as well as reading that a leading Scottish Nationalist has apparently declared that an independent Scotland will be “Israeli free”. None of us are surely naïve enough to not understand that in practice it means Judenfrei, unless individual Jews renounce their loyalty to Israel.

Leading Supermarkets have been invaded and ransacked by anti-Israel terrorists, threatening staff and customers. The supermarkets have succumbed to this terrorism, with rumours swirling around that they are soon to stop selling all Israeli products. Only a day or two ago, a major supermarket in Central London, actually took all kosher products off the shelf. Think about that… all Jewish products banned, many not even from Israel at all. Over 100,000 people marched through London recently in an anti-Israel and anti-Jewish orgy of sheer hatred. I know people whose life-long friends are putting the most hideous anti-Semitic ranting on their “Facebook” pages.

Our Jewish so called leaders have let us down. I personally haven’t seen nor read any leading member of our Jewish representative bodies, or Rabbis, standing up in public for our community.

This is not a good time to be a Jew in Britain . Apparently in France it is far worse. We are being cowed and terrorised by home grown anti-Semites, and by imported oriental ones.

Only in the last few days have some of the leading Newspaper columnists begun to wake up to the hatred they have themselves stirred up by their coverage of Gaza, replete with its ancient Jewish blood libel of deliberate child sacrifice.

Natan Sharansky said recently that Europe is death to Jews, and he is so correct. History shows that anything can generate the hatred. If it wasn’t Gaza it would be something else.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
What can I say? Natan Sharansky is right about at least one thing. Europe IS death to Jews.

The author of this piece, Lloyd Levy, is also right, and provides us with a comprehensive report of recent, Jew-hating events in England.

I am not in the least bit surprised by any of these events, and neither should any of the large number of religious British Jews. These attitudes and events are written all over the Tana"kh (Bible), and elaborated upon by Our Sages, may their memories be for blessings (HaZa"L).

What concerns me about Levy's piece is that he seems to write as if England being Judenfrei is a bad thing. Why is it a bad thing? Jews are not supposed to be living in England; we are supposed to be living in the Land of Israel.

Galuth (exile) is a punishment, a punishment which we have so easily forgotten is a punishment. It does not matter how well British Jews have survived oppression, and have battled against discrimination. It does not matter that British Jews have successfully contributed to British society, and have even produced a Jewish prime minister.

All that matters is that British Jews see the writing on the wall, read it, internalize it, and recognize that it is simply NOT going to go away.

"This is not your home!"

"Get out!"

When Levy says that our leaders have let us down, he is right for the wrong reasons. What would he expect them to do? Fight against Esau (The West) and Yishma'el (Arabs/Muslims) simultaneously?

"Our Jewish so called leaders have let us down. I personally haven’t seen nor read any leading member of our Jewish representative bodies, or Rabbis, standing up in public for our community."

Although correct in this regard, Levy fails to mention any solution to the problems faced by Jews in England and elsewhere, to which, of course, there is only one.

Attitudes such as "sticking around for the fight" and "not giving up" [on our countries of exile] are completely misguided.

Only recently, European Jewish Congress President Dr. Moshe Kantor expressed the same sort of sentiment. Kantor himself compared the current atmosphere in Europe with that of pre-World War II Europe, in other words, pre-Holocaust Europe. Kantor definitely appears to be one of those so called leaders which are letting British, and other European, Jews down.

Why are our so called leaders blind to this? Are they afraid of losing their power? Their positions? Their money? Haven't they thought about their lives? The families? Their future?

Is the answer to another Holocaust scenario really to stick around and fight? Fight for what? To continuing living in the Exile?

England is not the home of the Jewish People. Neither is France nor the U. S. of A. The Land of Israel is our home. However, even now that the gates to our Homeland have been opened, many of us are still stuck, unwilling to give up the lives that we know, in exchange for the unknown challenges of building a new life in Israel, which most of us still see as a foreign country, or at best, an historical tourist attraction.

And, before you get the chance to list the countless flaws of the Israeli Government, allow me to beat you to the punch. Whether we have the ideal people in charge, throwing orders around, or the ideal form of government controlling the Land of Israel, or not, is irrelevant. Either we will step up to the plate, and form a proper Jewish government, or wait around for Mashi'ah to do it for us. Either way, the Labor Zionist State of Israel is only temporary.

At the risk of being accused of being an alarmist and Apocalyptic nut job, I would like to suggest that it is only going to get worse. I would like to believe that The Almighty does not want to leave a single one of His People behind, and needs to get our attention somehow. As I said above, this should not come as a surprise. However, it does. This is the sort of thing which happens, after 2,000 years of being inundated by the influence of cultures, not our own.

Many of us, even rabbis, have gone so far as to internalize the confusion of Western, cultural values and sensibilities with our own. They are not one and the same.

Likewise, many of us, even rabbis, have internalized the confusion of Western lands of exile with our own true Homeland.

The thought of picking up and moving to Israel is the furthest thought from their minds!

And so, galuth is so deeply ingrained within us, that it have to take a particularly nasty kick in the pants to snap us out of it, and to get us ready, both mentally and spiritually, to come home.

May The Almighty have mercy on us!