Antisemitism in America.
As I write these words, I am shaking my head. I never would have thought …
I don't believe that I am naïve. I know that there are and have always been some people who harbored hostile thoughts toward us because we are Jewish. But as a mass movement? Crowds of people chanting. Demonstrating. Threatening.
Not here. Not any more. Or so I thought.
I believed in America. And I still do. So, how do we respond?
I think our best response is to take a lesson from other marginalized groups who have faced similar hostility. Our best defense is a good – and positive – offense. We need to be loud and proud. We need to be what we are, openly, honestly and without apology.
I am Jewish. I have always been and always will be Jewish. I celebrate my holidays. I worship my way. I eat my foods and live by my customs.
I can respect other people's traditions but I will not copy them, or adopt them, or in any way compromise my traditions, my beliefs or my way of life.
I will – however – plug my own books. All of my books depict Jewish people living as Jews and contributing in positive ways to American life. I hope you enjoy them. I hope you learn from them. I invite you to share them.