The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I
examine Hillary Clinton’s proposal which calls for the automatic voter
registration of every United States citizen on his or her 18th birthday:
REVOLUTIONIZING
VOTER REGISTRATION
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
With
a burgeoning Democratic field vying for the 2016 presidential nomination and a
crowded Republican field that is already bursting at the seams, each of the
presidential hopefuls are desperately trying to stand out and distinguish
themselves from their rivals.
One
of the most effective ways for the candidates to differentiate themselves is
through innovative and attention-grabbing policy proposals. Whether it be a
novel foreign policy proposition or a unique idea affecting programs on the
domestic front, the growing list of folks running for president are actively
and aggressively courting the press and seeking that big headline.
Even
Hillary Clinton, the presumed frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, is not
immune to the never-ending pursuit of a good policy-related headline. In fact,
I think it is Hillary that has put forth the one policy proposal thus far that
has a great degree of substance and the opportunity to impact this country in a
significant fashion.
During
a recent address at Houston’s Texan Southern University, in which she discussed
the dangers associated with disenfranchising voters, Hillary called for the
automatic voter registration of every United States citizen on his or her 18th
birthday.
“Every
citizen in every state in the union, everyone, every young man or young woman,
should be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18,” she declared. “I
think this would have a profound impact on our elections and our democracy.”
Hillary
Clinton and I are on the same page on this one. Putting aside politics for a
moment, the reality is that our electoral system is in desperate need of an
overhaul. Voting may be one of the fundamental privileges that we enjoy as U.S.
citizens, but it has sadly become somewhat of a forgotten right that too many
people fail to exercise.
Approximately
one-third to one-quarter of Americans who are eligible to vote are unable to do
so because they never registered. Whether they simply forgot to register or
simply chose not to, the fact is that there are far too many Americans who
simply do not have a voice in our democratic system of government.
In
February 2012, the Pew Charitable Trusts published a report that had been
commissioned by the Pew Center on the States, which found that the voter
registration system in the U.S. is inaccurate, costly and inefficient, and in
need of an upgrade. The report noted a number of staggering statistics,
including the fact that approximately 24 million, or one of every eight, voter
registrations are no longer valid or wholly inaccurate, over 1.8 million
Americans who are deceased are still listed as voters, and nearly 3 million
Americans have voter registrations in more than one state. In addition, at
least 51 million eligible United States citizens, or more than 24 percent of
the eligible population, are not registered to vote.
There
is no question that we have a problem. When it comes to voter registration and
ensuring the integrity of the process, we are severely lacking. While countries
such as France, England, Germany, and Canada enjoy exceptionally high voter
registration rates, the United States stands out for its ineptitude in this
critical area. We need to do something to fix what has become an archaic and
broken system.
Will
Hillary Clinton’s plan of automatic voter registration completely solve the
problem? The answer is probably not, although it is estimated that her proposal
could lead to 50 million new registrants, which is a noteworthy figure.
However, it will definitely enhance our electoral system and bring much needed reform
to the process.
The
concept of automatic voter registration, whereby the government would register
all eligible citizens on their 18th birthday unless they exert their right to
opt out, is not so different from the current practice in Oregon, where residents
are automatically registered to vote when they obtain a driver’s license. It is
a model that is rooted in common sense, with an eye towards encouraging and
enhancing the civic participation of American citizens.
Hillary’s
transformative proposal has the ability to infuse new life into our electoral
system and imbue a degree of excitement into a process that has long been
defined by voter apathy. If we can get the past the politics and the partisanship
and come together to explore the implementation of what I believe is a sound
policy proposal, we might be able to effectuate real change in an area that
very much needs a makeover.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and
principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political
consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com,
www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on
Twitter: @troodler
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Noam Boys Soccer Team Enjoying a Stellar Inaugural Season
The following article, which appears in the current edition of The
Jewish Link of Bergen County, marks my first foray into the wonderful world of
sports reporting:
NOAM BOYS SOCCER TEAM ENJOYING A STELLAR INAUGURAL SEASON
By: N. Aaron Troodler
It may be the first time in its history that Yeshivat Noam has fielded a boys’ soccer team, but this group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders are playing like a bunch of seasoned veterans.
Under the tutelage of Coaches Benjamin Book and Ehud Adler, both of whom are Yeshivat Noam graduates, the Noam boys’ soccer team is having an inaugural season for the ages. They began the season a perfect 6-0, with wins over Yavneh, Kushner, Ben Porat Yosef, and Hillel. After a 4-2 win over Yavneh to open the season, the Noam boys’ soccer team went on a remarkable run over the next five games, during which they outscored their opponents by a combined score of 30-0.
During that incredible stretch, they benefitted from the outstanding play of goalkeeper Avraham Kahan, who has quickly proven to be among the elite goalies in the league. Spectacular play from the starters Yonadav Rimberg, Natan Neugroschl, Dylan Breen, and Natan Rifkind, and from the second line of Yechiel Keiser, Joe Baron, Ozzie Jeselsohn, and Zachary Wolf, helped propel the team to its historic start. Key contributions were also made by Noam Troodler, Yonatan Naor, Daniel Dresdner, Eitan Weisrose, Uli Weisrose, Ehud Meir, and backup goalie Jake Rothenberg.
On Tuesday night, May 19, the Noam boys’ soccer team welcomed a formidable Moriah team into their home gym in Paramus. It was evident from the outset that it was going to be a highly competitive contest. The game was scoreless though most of the 1st period, until Moriah struck first by scoring a goal with 1:26 left in the period. Noam came back to tie the game at 1-1 when Yonadav Rimberg scored off an assist from Natan Neugroschl with just 16 seconds left in the 1st period. After a scoreless 2nd period, which featured terrific play from Noam goalie Avraham Kahan and Moriah goalie Isaac Froman, the two teams entered the locker room at halftime with the score knotted at 1 goal apiece.
The 3rd period featured some superb play from Moriah, which was led by Benny Matheson and Zali Tollinsky. With 6:34 left in the 3rd period, Moriah’s goalie got the ball to Matheson, who put it in the net with a nice header to give Moriah a 2-1 lead. Just two minutes later, with 4:37 left in the period, Moriah scored again to increase its lead to 3-1. With 2:26 left in the 3rd period, Matheson struck again and scored to extend the Moriah lead to 4-1.
Despite facing a 3-goal deficit, the Noam boys were not ready to go down without a fight. With just 18 seconds left in the 3rd period, Yechiel Keiser scored for Noam to make it a 4-2 game. Keiser scored his second goal of the game off of an assist from Joe Baron with 3:24 left in the 4th period to trim the Moriah lead to 4-3. During the final moments of the game, Noam tried to capitalize on several opportunities and tie the game, but solid play by the Moriah defense and stellar goalkeeping by Froman sealed Moriah’s 4-3 win.
Just two nights after its first loss of the season, Noam traveled to Yavneh and bounced back with a big 7-1 win. With a record of 7-1, Noam remains atop the standings in first place. With its high-powered offense, strong defense, and extraordinary goalkeeping, the Noam boys’ soccer team is going to be a force to be reckoned with as it prepares for its playoff run.
NOAM BOYS SOCCER TEAM ENJOYING A STELLAR INAUGURAL SEASON
By: N. Aaron Troodler
It may be the first time in its history that Yeshivat Noam has fielded a boys’ soccer team, but this group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders are playing like a bunch of seasoned veterans.
Under the tutelage of Coaches Benjamin Book and Ehud Adler, both of whom are Yeshivat Noam graduates, the Noam boys’ soccer team is having an inaugural season for the ages. They began the season a perfect 6-0, with wins over Yavneh, Kushner, Ben Porat Yosef, and Hillel. After a 4-2 win over Yavneh to open the season, the Noam boys’ soccer team went on a remarkable run over the next five games, during which they outscored their opponents by a combined score of 30-0.
During that incredible stretch, they benefitted from the outstanding play of goalkeeper Avraham Kahan, who has quickly proven to be among the elite goalies in the league. Spectacular play from the starters Yonadav Rimberg, Natan Neugroschl, Dylan Breen, and Natan Rifkind, and from the second line of Yechiel Keiser, Joe Baron, Ozzie Jeselsohn, and Zachary Wolf, helped propel the team to its historic start. Key contributions were also made by Noam Troodler, Yonatan Naor, Daniel Dresdner, Eitan Weisrose, Uli Weisrose, Ehud Meir, and backup goalie Jake Rothenberg.
On Tuesday night, May 19, the Noam boys’ soccer team welcomed a formidable Moriah team into their home gym in Paramus. It was evident from the outset that it was going to be a highly competitive contest. The game was scoreless though most of the 1st period, until Moriah struck first by scoring a goal with 1:26 left in the period. Noam came back to tie the game at 1-1 when Yonadav Rimberg scored off an assist from Natan Neugroschl with just 16 seconds left in the 1st period. After a scoreless 2nd period, which featured terrific play from Noam goalie Avraham Kahan and Moriah goalie Isaac Froman, the two teams entered the locker room at halftime with the score knotted at 1 goal apiece.
The 3rd period featured some superb play from Moriah, which was led by Benny Matheson and Zali Tollinsky. With 6:34 left in the 3rd period, Moriah’s goalie got the ball to Matheson, who put it in the net with a nice header to give Moriah a 2-1 lead. Just two minutes later, with 4:37 left in the period, Moriah scored again to increase its lead to 3-1. With 2:26 left in the 3rd period, Matheson struck again and scored to extend the Moriah lead to 4-1.
Despite facing a 3-goal deficit, the Noam boys were not ready to go down without a fight. With just 18 seconds left in the 3rd period, Yechiel Keiser scored for Noam to make it a 4-2 game. Keiser scored his second goal of the game off of an assist from Joe Baron with 3:24 left in the 4th period to trim the Moriah lead to 4-3. During the final moments of the game, Noam tried to capitalize on several opportunities and tie the game, but solid play by the Moriah defense and stellar goalkeeping by Froman sealed Moriah’s 4-3 win.
Just two nights after its first loss of the season, Noam traveled to Yavneh and bounced back with a big 7-1 win. With a record of 7-1, Noam remains atop the standings in first place. With its high-powered offense, strong defense, and extraordinary goalkeeping, the Noam boys’ soccer team is going to be a force to be reckoned with as it prepares for its playoff run.
Friday, May 22, 2015
The Vatican's Act of Blind Faith
The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey regarding the Vatican’s decision to
formally recognize a Palestinian state:
THE VATICAN'S ACT OF BLIND FAITH
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Support for a Palestinian state has been slowly building in certain segments of the international community, but the latest endorsement of this questionable concept came from a highly unlikely source.
With the Vatican’s recent announcement that it has reached an agreement with the Palestinians and that it would incorporate the term “State of Palestine” into an official document for the first time, the Catholic Church made a dubious foray into a highly explosive and particularly tenuous diplomatic situation.
The determination by the Vatican to confer a degree of international legitimacy to the Palestinian Authority by recognizing a Palestinian state, while it has no tangible effect, is troubling nonetheless.
Pope Francis has made tremendous strides during his papal tenure in enhancing the historically strained relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jews, which makes the Vatican’s pronouncement about embracing a Palestinian state extraordinarily perplexing. As someone who is a true champion of human rights throughout the world, the Pope’s enigmatic decision to overlook the fallacies of the Palestinian Authority, which include its vigorous support for terrorism and proud sponsorship of those who have perpetrated heinous acts of terror that have claimed the lives of countless men, women, and children, is antithetical to the causes and ideals that he has consistently advocated for.
Before endorsing a Palestinian state, Pope Francis should have encouraged the Palestinians to eschew their ties to terrorism and insisted that a prerequisite to statehood is a clear demonstration by the Palestinian Authority that it is committed to achieving a peaceful resolution to its longstanding dispute with Israel.
The Palestinian Authority has long sought to cement its place on the world stage. Through a series of unilateral overtures over the years, the Palestinian Authority has desperately tried to circumvent the peace process with Israel in order to achieve their ultimate goal. They have proven that they are not interested in engaging in a constructive conversation about peace with their Israeli neighbors, despite Israel’s demonstrated willingness to make painful concessions so that its citizens could one day live in peace and harmony.
Yet, despite all of that, the Vatican somehow saw fit to ignore the many shortcomings of the Palestinian Authority and its cohorts in Hamas who run Gaza with an iron fist and a system of fear and belligerence that has left its citizens impoverished and filled with hatred.
If Pope Francis and the Vatican truly wanted weigh in on the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in a substantive and significant way, its one-sided approbation was not the way to do it.
With its latest move, the Vatican missed what could have been a tremendous opportunity. With the great skill and sincerity that he has exhibited since assuming the papacy, Pope Francis could have and should have used his status to help bridge the gap between the Palestinians and Israel. The Pope could have and should have made it clear to the Palestinians that recognition on the world stage is not a matter of right, and that the legitimacy that is craves has to be earned through actions and deeds.
Instead, in a display of blind faith, the Vatican inexplicably handed the Palestinians international legitimacy on a silver platter. The Vatican’s conduct in this particular situation was not just a misdeed; it was a missed opportunity as well.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
THE VATICAN'S ACT OF BLIND FAITH
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Support for a Palestinian state has been slowly building in certain segments of the international community, but the latest endorsement of this questionable concept came from a highly unlikely source.
With the Vatican’s recent announcement that it has reached an agreement with the Palestinians and that it would incorporate the term “State of Palestine” into an official document for the first time, the Catholic Church made a dubious foray into a highly explosive and particularly tenuous diplomatic situation.
The determination by the Vatican to confer a degree of international legitimacy to the Palestinian Authority by recognizing a Palestinian state, while it has no tangible effect, is troubling nonetheless.
Pope Francis has made tremendous strides during his papal tenure in enhancing the historically strained relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jews, which makes the Vatican’s pronouncement about embracing a Palestinian state extraordinarily perplexing. As someone who is a true champion of human rights throughout the world, the Pope’s enigmatic decision to overlook the fallacies of the Palestinian Authority, which include its vigorous support for terrorism and proud sponsorship of those who have perpetrated heinous acts of terror that have claimed the lives of countless men, women, and children, is antithetical to the causes and ideals that he has consistently advocated for.
Before endorsing a Palestinian state, Pope Francis should have encouraged the Palestinians to eschew their ties to terrorism and insisted that a prerequisite to statehood is a clear demonstration by the Palestinian Authority that it is committed to achieving a peaceful resolution to its longstanding dispute with Israel.
The Palestinian Authority has long sought to cement its place on the world stage. Through a series of unilateral overtures over the years, the Palestinian Authority has desperately tried to circumvent the peace process with Israel in order to achieve their ultimate goal. They have proven that they are not interested in engaging in a constructive conversation about peace with their Israeli neighbors, despite Israel’s demonstrated willingness to make painful concessions so that its citizens could one day live in peace and harmony.
Yet, despite all of that, the Vatican somehow saw fit to ignore the many shortcomings of the Palestinian Authority and its cohorts in Hamas who run Gaza with an iron fist and a system of fear and belligerence that has left its citizens impoverished and filled with hatred.
If Pope Francis and the Vatican truly wanted weigh in on the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in a substantive and significant way, its one-sided approbation was not the way to do it.
With its latest move, the Vatican missed what could have been a tremendous opportunity. With the great skill and sincerity that he has exhibited since assuming the papacy, Pope Francis could have and should have used his status to help bridge the gap between the Palestinians and Israel. The Pope could have and should have made it clear to the Palestinians that recognition on the world stage is not a matter of right, and that the legitimacy that is craves has to be earned through actions and deeds.
Instead, in a display of blind faith, the Vatican inexplicably handed the Palestinians international legitimacy on a silver platter. The Vatican’s conduct in this particular situation was not just a misdeed; it was a missed opportunity as well.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
My letter in The New York Times about the Vatican and a Palestinian state
The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote
about the Vatican’s decision to
formally recognize a Palestinian state, which appeared in the May 19, 2015 edition of The
New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/opinion/the-vatican-recognizes-palestine.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0
To the Editor:
The determination by the Vatican to confer a degree of international legitimacy on the Palestinian Authority by recognizing a Palestinian state, while it has no tangible effect, is troubling nonetheless.
Pope Francis has made tremendous strides during his papal tenure in enhancing the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jews, which makes the Vatican’s pronouncement about embracing a Palestinian state extraordinarily perplexing.
The enigmatic decision of the pope, who is a true champion of human rights throughout the world, to overlook the failings of the Palestinian Authority, which include condoning terrorism by giving stipends and grants to terrorists in or released from Israeli jails, is antithetical to the causes and ideals that he has consistently advocated.
Before endorsing a Palestinian state, Pope Francis should have encouraged the Palestinians to eschew their ties to terrorism and demonstrate that they are committed to achieving a peaceful resolution to their dispute with Israel.
N. AARON TROODLER
Teaneck, N.J.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/opinion/the-vatican-recognizes-palestine.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0
To the Editor:
The determination by the Vatican to confer a degree of international legitimacy on the Palestinian Authority by recognizing a Palestinian state, while it has no tangible effect, is troubling nonetheless.
Pope Francis has made tremendous strides during his papal tenure in enhancing the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jews, which makes the Vatican’s pronouncement about embracing a Palestinian state extraordinarily perplexing.
The enigmatic decision of the pope, who is a true champion of human rights throughout the world, to overlook the failings of the Palestinian Authority, which include condoning terrorism by giving stipends and grants to terrorists in or released from Israeli jails, is antithetical to the causes and ideals that he has consistently advocated.
Before endorsing a Palestinian state, Pope Francis should have encouraged the Palestinians to eschew their ties to terrorism and demonstrate that they are committed to achieving a peaceful resolution to their dispute with Israel.
N. AARON TROODLER
Teaneck, N.J.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
The Uncivil War
The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I examine the friction that exists between some segments of the black community and law enforcement and discuss the need to put an end to the race war that is tearing our country apart:
THE UNCIVIL WAR
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
The issue of race is one which has torn at the very fabric of American society since the birth of this nation. Even after President Abraham Lincoln boldly issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, blacks in the United States continued to face great injustice and were forced to contend with a degree of inequality that continues to pervade American culture even today.
When Barack Obama became the first African-American president of the United States in 2008, some people hailed it as not just a historic milestone, but as a major breakthrough for the black community. However, history has proven that what could have been a giant step forward in the area of race relations has sadly proven to be a virtual non-factor. The progress that was eagerly anticipated by leaders in the black community never actually materialized.
As I watched Baltimore burn and witnessed the looting and violence that tore the city apart, I could not help but consider how we got to this point. Regrettably, we have become accustomed to viewing footage of war-torn cities around the world and seeing images of countries across the globe that have been ravaged by bloodshed. Yet, when we see an American city in that same state of devastation, it impacts us in a far different and more profound way. We find ourselves asking how a thriving and flourishing city could undergo such a violent metamorphosis in such a short amount of time. We ponder how this could have happened when it is not antagonists from a foreign nation who are waging war on our cities; rather, the people wreaking havoc and causing destruction on American soil are American citizens.
The United States is in the midst of a race war. We have seen how a level of distrust and discrimination could quickly sink our nation to new depths. We saw it in Ferguson last year. We saw it again in Baltimore last week. The reality is that we are a nation in crisis. We are a nation in need of healing and harmony. We are a nation in need of racial parity.
To be clear, the situation is spiraling out of control not because of one group or the other. We are a nation that is hurtling towards the precipice because of misgivings that exist both in the black community and among law enforcement. We are where we are today because of a deep-seated suspicion that has created a tremendous divide and, some may argue, irreparable damage.
Although I may believe in law enforcement and trust the police, I know that many of my counterparts in the black community do not feel the same way that I do. After repeatedly being the targets of racial profiling and experiencing the indignity of getting stopped by a police officer not because of any particular infraction but because of the color of their skin, I can understand why many in the black community harbor a deep sense of resentment towards the police. What I cannot understand is how that wariness of law enforcement is somehow a justification to resort to violence.
Demonstrations that lead to violence should not be deemed “protests;” they are criminal acts that further exacerbate an already tenuous situation. Engaging in an unlawful act and calling it a “protest” does a disservice to the many civil rights leaders who have dedicated their lives to improving race relations in a peaceful and proper way. Racial equality will not be achieved by torching police cars, burning buildings, and looting stores; racial equality can only be achieved by creating an environment of greater understanding and tolerance.
I have participated in numerous protest marches over the years. As a child, my parents took me to rallies in New York City on behalf of Soviet Jewry. I have marched in Washington in solidarity with Israel. I marched because I believed in a cause and wanted to call attention to the issue. The prospect of engaging in violence or criminality was never considered. They were all peaceful demonstrations that effectively spotlighted the issues we were advocating for. The slightest hint of misconduct would have turned these events into an utter embarrassment and would have been antithetical to our mission. We protested peacefully because that is the proper way to protest.
The violent demonstrations that appear to have become part and parcel of the response to deadly conflicts involving law enforcement and the black community are unhelpful and unbecoming. Instead of spotlighting the issue of race in America, the protesters’ violence becomes the story and completely dominates the news cycle. Rather than trying to find a solution, the violence aggravates the problem and causes an even greater rift.
On the other side of the equation, there are those in the law enforcement community that are equally culpable. Every time we hear about another black man who was killed at the hands of the police during an altercation, regardless of the circumstances, we cringe. Unfortunately, “white police officer shoots unarmed black man” is a headline that we have been seeing far too frequently.
Over the past several months, there is one particular phrase that we have heard quite often – “Black lives matter.” The truth is, black lives do matter, but so does every other life. There should be no racial distinctions when it comes to assessing the value of human life. The mere fact that we feel compelled to put a label on different ethnic groups is part of the problem.
The value of human life must be universal. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” said our founding fathers in 1776 when they signed the Declaration of Independence. This nation is built on the premise and understanding that parity and justice must be ubiquitous.
As they pick up the pieces in Baltimore and attempt to restore a sense of normalcy to the city, the question is what lesson, if any, was learned there. We saw another police shooting followed by riots and violence. It was a story line that we have seen before, and that we will in all probability unfortunately see again. It has become a vicious cycle of hostility that has thrown our nation into turmoil and which we desperately need to end.
When it comes to the issue of race relations, our nation needs to recalibrate its moral compass and reassess how it manages what has become a monumental societal problem. We are in the middle of a race war that is pitting the black community against the law enforcement community. Both sides need to do a far better job of containing this conflagration before it burns out of control. It is time to end this uncivil war. This has got to stop.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
THE UNCIVIL WAR
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
The issue of race is one which has torn at the very fabric of American society since the birth of this nation. Even after President Abraham Lincoln boldly issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, blacks in the United States continued to face great injustice and were forced to contend with a degree of inequality that continues to pervade American culture even today.
When Barack Obama became the first African-American president of the United States in 2008, some people hailed it as not just a historic milestone, but as a major breakthrough for the black community. However, history has proven that what could have been a giant step forward in the area of race relations has sadly proven to be a virtual non-factor. The progress that was eagerly anticipated by leaders in the black community never actually materialized.
As I watched Baltimore burn and witnessed the looting and violence that tore the city apart, I could not help but consider how we got to this point. Regrettably, we have become accustomed to viewing footage of war-torn cities around the world and seeing images of countries across the globe that have been ravaged by bloodshed. Yet, when we see an American city in that same state of devastation, it impacts us in a far different and more profound way. We find ourselves asking how a thriving and flourishing city could undergo such a violent metamorphosis in such a short amount of time. We ponder how this could have happened when it is not antagonists from a foreign nation who are waging war on our cities; rather, the people wreaking havoc and causing destruction on American soil are American citizens.
The United States is in the midst of a race war. We have seen how a level of distrust and discrimination could quickly sink our nation to new depths. We saw it in Ferguson last year. We saw it again in Baltimore last week. The reality is that we are a nation in crisis. We are a nation in need of healing and harmony. We are a nation in need of racial parity.
To be clear, the situation is spiraling out of control not because of one group or the other. We are a nation that is hurtling towards the precipice because of misgivings that exist both in the black community and among law enforcement. We are where we are today because of a deep-seated suspicion that has created a tremendous divide and, some may argue, irreparable damage.
Although I may believe in law enforcement and trust the police, I know that many of my counterparts in the black community do not feel the same way that I do. After repeatedly being the targets of racial profiling and experiencing the indignity of getting stopped by a police officer not because of any particular infraction but because of the color of their skin, I can understand why many in the black community harbor a deep sense of resentment towards the police. What I cannot understand is how that wariness of law enforcement is somehow a justification to resort to violence.
Demonstrations that lead to violence should not be deemed “protests;” they are criminal acts that further exacerbate an already tenuous situation. Engaging in an unlawful act and calling it a “protest” does a disservice to the many civil rights leaders who have dedicated their lives to improving race relations in a peaceful and proper way. Racial equality will not be achieved by torching police cars, burning buildings, and looting stores; racial equality can only be achieved by creating an environment of greater understanding and tolerance.
I have participated in numerous protest marches over the years. As a child, my parents took me to rallies in New York City on behalf of Soviet Jewry. I have marched in Washington in solidarity with Israel. I marched because I believed in a cause and wanted to call attention to the issue. The prospect of engaging in violence or criminality was never considered. They were all peaceful demonstrations that effectively spotlighted the issues we were advocating for. The slightest hint of misconduct would have turned these events into an utter embarrassment and would have been antithetical to our mission. We protested peacefully because that is the proper way to protest.
The violent demonstrations that appear to have become part and parcel of the response to deadly conflicts involving law enforcement and the black community are unhelpful and unbecoming. Instead of spotlighting the issue of race in America, the protesters’ violence becomes the story and completely dominates the news cycle. Rather than trying to find a solution, the violence aggravates the problem and causes an even greater rift.
On the other side of the equation, there are those in the law enforcement community that are equally culpable. Every time we hear about another black man who was killed at the hands of the police during an altercation, regardless of the circumstances, we cringe. Unfortunately, “white police officer shoots unarmed black man” is a headline that we have been seeing far too frequently.
Over the past several months, there is one particular phrase that we have heard quite often – “Black lives matter.” The truth is, black lives do matter, but so does every other life. There should be no racial distinctions when it comes to assessing the value of human life. The mere fact that we feel compelled to put a label on different ethnic groups is part of the problem.
The value of human life must be universal. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” said our founding fathers in 1776 when they signed the Declaration of Independence. This nation is built on the premise and understanding that parity and justice must be ubiquitous.
As they pick up the pieces in Baltimore and attempt to restore a sense of normalcy to the city, the question is what lesson, if any, was learned there. We saw another police shooting followed by riots and violence. It was a story line that we have seen before, and that we will in all probability unfortunately see again. It has become a vicious cycle of hostility that has thrown our nation into turmoil and which we desperately need to end.
When it comes to the issue of race relations, our nation needs to recalibrate its moral compass and reassess how it manages what has become a monumental societal problem. We are in the middle of a race war that is pitting the black community against the law enforcement community. Both sides need to do a far better job of containing this conflagration before it burns out of control. It is time to end this uncivil war. This has got to stop.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
Thursday, April 16, 2015
And They're Off!
The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I take
a look at the most recent developments in the 2016 presidential race:
AND THEY’RE OFF!
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
After months of speculation and conjecture, the race is officially underway. The starter pistol has been fired, the starting gate has opened, and the candidates have begun their run around the track. The 2016 presidential contest has formally commenced.
With much anticipated formal campaign announcements, newly unveiled websites, and fresh logos, a number of recently declared presidential candidates have hit the road to take their case directly to the voters.
On the Republican side, there is no shortage of declared candidates, with several others waiting not so quietly in the wings. Conversely, on the Democratic side there is but one confirmed entrant in the presidential race, setting up what may be one of the most anti-climactic primary seasons ever.
The first one to throw his hat into the ring was Ted Cruz, a Senator from Texas. With his ultra-conservative views and close association with Tea Party figures and ideals, Cruz will have an extraordinarily difficult time trying to get the various factions in the Republican Party to coalesce around his candidacy. Even if lightening was to strike and he somehow secures his party’s nomination, the Democratic candidate running against him in the General Election would quickly embrace the opportunity to paint his or her GOP opponent as a conservative radical who is completely out of touch with mainstream America. Running for president may boost Ted Cruz’s national profile, but it will not earn him a ticket to the White House.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was the next Republican to jump into the race. A libertarian who preaches fiscal conservatism and is a strong advocate for smaller government, Paul is also aligned with the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. As he tries to appeal to mainstream Republicans in an effort to garner their support, Paul runs the risk of alienating his base if he deviates from his conservative ideals in a substantive manner. It is a tough balancing act that I believe will fall short.
Perhaps the most intriguing candidate to enter the race thus far is Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. With his youthful exuberance, unbridled optimism, and boundless energy, Rubio is a candidate that is worth watching as he works to build a broad coalition within his party. With a pledge to look ahead and not dwell on the past, Marco Rubio is not only taking a dig at his once-mentor Jeb Bush and the 67-year-old Hillary Clinton, he is also endeavoring to blaze a trail to a better and stronger America that he hopes will lead him straight to the White House.
In the “I am strongly considering running for president” category, there is an array of other Republicans, all of whom believe that they are capable of being the standard bearer for the GOP and in the best position to retake the White House.
The aforementioned Jeb Bush, a scion of a powerful political family that has already seen two of its members take up residence in the White House, is expected to enter the race. With a vast fundraising network and a famous last name, it is anticipated that he will be a serious contender, though Jeb has his work cut out for him if he wants to successfully paint himself as his own person and not just another “Bush.”
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is another likely GOP presidential hopeful who has the ability to capture the spotlight as well as support. After recently leading a trade mission to France, Spain and Germany in a not-so-subtle effort to buttress his foreign policy experience, Walker is talking and acting like a person who is preparing to formalize his candidacy for the presidency.
New Jersey’s own Chris Christie is ramping up his presidential exploratory efforts as he inches closer to a formal announcement. With a recent trip to New Hampshire where he held a town hall style meeting, Christie is testing the presidential primary waters and assessing if his blunt approach to retail politics is the fresh approach that Republican voters in key states are looking for.
In addition, there is a long list of other Republicans who are purportedly contemplating running for president, including Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Dr. Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina, although I do not believe that any of these folks has the wherewithal to break through what it is already a crowded and competitive GOP field.
On the Democratic side, there are a number of people who are reportedly considering a presidential run. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, former Virginia Senator Jim Webb, and former Senator and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee have all expressed interest in running. Vice President Joe Biden is often mentioned as a possibility, although I do not think that he is serious about a White House run at this point. The problem for all of these Democrats is that there is another Democrat that has already staked her claim to the spotlight. That Democrat is Hillary Clinton.
With her much-anticipated announcement this week that she is indeed running for president, Hillary arguably locked up the nomination before a single vote has been cast in a primary. Almost immediately after she made her candidacy official through a web video, the endorsements started rolling in from scores of other prominent Democrats.
As she attempts to avoid the missteps that felled her 2008 presidential run, Hillary and her army of supporters are going to desperately try to dispel the widespread notion that this is a coronation and not a campaign. Securing a presidential nomination is not about entitlement; it is about exerting an extraordinary effort to sell oneself to the voters. As a former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State, Hillary is undoubtedly qualified to lead. However, the devil is in the details, and many voters are waiting for Hillary to articulate her vision for the future of this country before they commit to supporting the presumptive Democratic nominee.
With Hillary a virtual certainty to be on the ballot in the general election, it is the Republican contest that has the ability to captivate the nation in the months ahead. Should he decide to run, Jeb Bush has the ability to catapult to the front of the GOP pack. That being said, he should keep looking over his shoulder at the candidate that I believe is capable of shocking the Republican establishment.
In 2008, a young and relatively obscure senator named Barack Obama came out of nowhere to win his party’s nomination, and ultimately the presidency. In 2016, there is again the possibility that a young and relatively obscure senator could come out of nowhere to win his party’s nomination. That senator’s name is Marco Rubio.
With several candidates already having declared their candidacies and others sure to follow, the 2106 presidential race has officially begun. Hang on to your seat – this should be an exhilarating (and exhausting!) ride.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
AND THEY’RE OFF!
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
After months of speculation and conjecture, the race is officially underway. The starter pistol has been fired, the starting gate has opened, and the candidates have begun their run around the track. The 2016 presidential contest has formally commenced.
With much anticipated formal campaign announcements, newly unveiled websites, and fresh logos, a number of recently declared presidential candidates have hit the road to take their case directly to the voters.
On the Republican side, there is no shortage of declared candidates, with several others waiting not so quietly in the wings. Conversely, on the Democratic side there is but one confirmed entrant in the presidential race, setting up what may be one of the most anti-climactic primary seasons ever.
The first one to throw his hat into the ring was Ted Cruz, a Senator from Texas. With his ultra-conservative views and close association with Tea Party figures and ideals, Cruz will have an extraordinarily difficult time trying to get the various factions in the Republican Party to coalesce around his candidacy. Even if lightening was to strike and he somehow secures his party’s nomination, the Democratic candidate running against him in the General Election would quickly embrace the opportunity to paint his or her GOP opponent as a conservative radical who is completely out of touch with mainstream America. Running for president may boost Ted Cruz’s national profile, but it will not earn him a ticket to the White House.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was the next Republican to jump into the race. A libertarian who preaches fiscal conservatism and is a strong advocate for smaller government, Paul is also aligned with the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. As he tries to appeal to mainstream Republicans in an effort to garner their support, Paul runs the risk of alienating his base if he deviates from his conservative ideals in a substantive manner. It is a tough balancing act that I believe will fall short.
Perhaps the most intriguing candidate to enter the race thus far is Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. With his youthful exuberance, unbridled optimism, and boundless energy, Rubio is a candidate that is worth watching as he works to build a broad coalition within his party. With a pledge to look ahead and not dwell on the past, Marco Rubio is not only taking a dig at his once-mentor Jeb Bush and the 67-year-old Hillary Clinton, he is also endeavoring to blaze a trail to a better and stronger America that he hopes will lead him straight to the White House.
In the “I am strongly considering running for president” category, there is an array of other Republicans, all of whom believe that they are capable of being the standard bearer for the GOP and in the best position to retake the White House.
The aforementioned Jeb Bush, a scion of a powerful political family that has already seen two of its members take up residence in the White House, is expected to enter the race. With a vast fundraising network and a famous last name, it is anticipated that he will be a serious contender, though Jeb has his work cut out for him if he wants to successfully paint himself as his own person and not just another “Bush.”
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is another likely GOP presidential hopeful who has the ability to capture the spotlight as well as support. After recently leading a trade mission to France, Spain and Germany in a not-so-subtle effort to buttress his foreign policy experience, Walker is talking and acting like a person who is preparing to formalize his candidacy for the presidency.
New Jersey’s own Chris Christie is ramping up his presidential exploratory efforts as he inches closer to a formal announcement. With a recent trip to New Hampshire where he held a town hall style meeting, Christie is testing the presidential primary waters and assessing if his blunt approach to retail politics is the fresh approach that Republican voters in key states are looking for.
In addition, there is a long list of other Republicans who are purportedly contemplating running for president, including Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Dr. Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina, although I do not believe that any of these folks has the wherewithal to break through what it is already a crowded and competitive GOP field.
On the Democratic side, there are a number of people who are reportedly considering a presidential run. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, former Virginia Senator Jim Webb, and former Senator and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee have all expressed interest in running. Vice President Joe Biden is often mentioned as a possibility, although I do not think that he is serious about a White House run at this point. The problem for all of these Democrats is that there is another Democrat that has already staked her claim to the spotlight. That Democrat is Hillary Clinton.
With her much-anticipated announcement this week that she is indeed running for president, Hillary arguably locked up the nomination before a single vote has been cast in a primary. Almost immediately after she made her candidacy official through a web video, the endorsements started rolling in from scores of other prominent Democrats.
As she attempts to avoid the missteps that felled her 2008 presidential run, Hillary and her army of supporters are going to desperately try to dispel the widespread notion that this is a coronation and not a campaign. Securing a presidential nomination is not about entitlement; it is about exerting an extraordinary effort to sell oneself to the voters. As a former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State, Hillary is undoubtedly qualified to lead. However, the devil is in the details, and many voters are waiting for Hillary to articulate her vision for the future of this country before they commit to supporting the presumptive Democratic nominee.
With Hillary a virtual certainty to be on the ballot in the general election, it is the Republican contest that has the ability to captivate the nation in the months ahead. Should he decide to run, Jeb Bush has the ability to catapult to the front of the GOP pack. That being said, he should keep looking over his shoulder at the candidate that I believe is capable of shocking the Republican establishment.
In 2008, a young and relatively obscure senator named Barack Obama came out of nowhere to win his party’s nomination, and ultimately the presidency. In 2016, there is again the possibility that a young and relatively obscure senator could come out of nowhere to win his party’s nomination. That senator’s name is Marco Rubio.
With several candidates already having declared their candidacies and others sure to follow, the 2106 presidential race has officially begun. Hang on to your seat – this should be an exhilarating (and exhausting!) ride.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Merci Beaucoup
The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey,
in which I reflect on my recent trip to Paris and examine the challenges that
face the French Jewish community and European Jewry in light of the frightening
rise in anti-Semitism there:
MERCI BEAUCOUP
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
I did not even get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Not only did I not see the Eiffel Tower, I also did not see The Lourve, Champs-Elysees, Musee d’Osray, or the Arc de Triomphe. Though it was my first trip to Paris, I did not see any of the sights that this enchanted city is famous for. What I did see, however, was something that was far more important and meaningful than French tourist attractions.
My inaugural trip to Paris, which was professional in nature, lasted less than twenty-four hours. I landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and before I knew it, I was back at the airport early the next morning to catch my return flight to the United States. My trip may have been a whirlwind, but it was magical in a spiritually uplifting way.
It is a tumultuous time for the Jewish community in France. In January, just days after the brutal attack at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which twelve people were killed, an Islamic extremist entered the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket near Porte de Vincennes and began a day-long siege during which the gunman murdered four Jewish hostages.
In February, approximately 300 graves were desecrated in a Jewish cemetery in Sarre-Union, and there were swastikas drawn on headstones in Jewish cemeteries in Challans and Issoudun.
It was only three years ago that a gunman opened fire in a Jewish school in Toulouse, killing a teacher and three children.
Anti-Semitic attacks in France have risen drastically. In fact, there were twice as many anti-Semitic attacks in 2014 than in 2013.
The situation has deteriorated to the point that Prime Minister Netanyahu made a public plea for French Jews to leave their country and emigrate to Israel.
It was against this frightening backdrop that I made my first journey to France.
My first stop in Paris was not a famed Parisian landmark; rather, it was Les Docks de Paris, a convention center located on the outskirts of the city. It was there that my French spiritual journey began and ended.
Thousands of people filed into the cavernous convention hall with much anticipation and amidst a great deal of security. They were gathering to celebrate the conclusion of the seven-year cycle of the Daf Yomi B’Halacha, in which participants worldwide engage in daily learning of Jewish law. Dirshu, an organization that encourages Torah study in a wide array of subject matters with a particular emphasis on review and retention of the material learned, organized a worldwide siyum celebration, with events being held in the United States, Israel, England, South Africa, and France.
When the world-renowned rabbinic figures featured at the event entered the room and took their places at the tiered-dais, the band began to play and the crowd broke into festive song. People were clamoring to see the rabbis and excitedly taking pictures and videos on their cell phones in order to record the moment for posterity.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the attendees heard remarks from a number of prominent rabbis. There was a great deal of inspirational singing and dancing throughout the program. It was truly a celebration to behold.
When Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, the founder of the Dirshu organization, rose to speak, he received a tremendous ovation from the capacity crowd. In my view, that incredible reception was a heartfelt expression of gratitude to a child of Holocaust survivors who brought this momentous event to their community in order to help lift the cloud of uncertainty that has been hovering over them as they struggle to cope with the anti-Semitism that has plagued them.
“The first thing that we have to remember is that God is with us and we cannot be afraid,” Rabbi Hofstedter told the crowd.
The event that day was a true celebration of the resiliency and resurgence of the Jewish people. As members of the French Jewish community grapple with frequent attacks intended to break their spirit, this momentous event gave them a unique opportunity to present a unified front and demonstrate to the world that they will not succumb to the hate.
On the same day as the Dirshu event, residents of Paris went to the polls to cast their votes in the local elections. As Rabbi Avraham Weill, the Chief Rabbi of Toulouse, entered his local polling place, he was stopped and told that he needed to remove his yarmulke. Although the situation was ultimately resolved and he was permitted to vote while wearing his head covering, the mere fact that this occurred is undoubtedly a cause for alarm and a stark reminder of the bigotry that exists.
Europe in 2015 is a far different place than Europe was in the late 1930s and early 1940s, yet the underlying anti-Semitism that was exhibited in horrific and unspeakable ways during the Holocaust exists even today, seventy years later.
Jews should not have to walk through the streets of Paris with the fear that they may be targeted and attacked solely because they are Jews. European Jewry may be alive and well despite Hitler’s ruthless attempt to destroy them, but they are under siege.
In the face of growing anti-Semitism, do European Jews need to remain vigilant at all times? Of course. Should European Jews pick up and flee their homes and countries, as has been suggested by some? The answer, in my opinion, is absolutely not.
After witnessing the mass gathering in Paris, during which French Jews gathered to celebrate their faith in a proud and public fashion, I was reminded just how strong and resolute the Jewish soul is. European Jews steadfastly refuse to allow the racism and hate that they encounter to adversely affect their religious observance or negatively impact their Jewish identity and pride.
Anti-Semitism is gaining traction in Europe and bigotry is rearing its ugly head all too often, yet our Jewish brethren in Europe refuse to succumb to the hate. I felt extremely privileged to observe the unyielding nature of the French Jewish community as they assembled to celebrate Jewish learning and Jewish life, despite the anti-Semitism that lurks in the shadows.
I arrived in Paris with a touch of apprehension. I left Paris with a great degree of spiritual satisfaction. To the French Jewish community, I say “merci beaucoup.”
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
MERCI BEAUCOUP
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
I did not even get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Not only did I not see the Eiffel Tower, I also did not see The Lourve, Champs-Elysees, Musee d’Osray, or the Arc de Triomphe. Though it was my first trip to Paris, I did not see any of the sights that this enchanted city is famous for. What I did see, however, was something that was far more important and meaningful than French tourist attractions.
My inaugural trip to Paris, which was professional in nature, lasted less than twenty-four hours. I landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and before I knew it, I was back at the airport early the next morning to catch my return flight to the United States. My trip may have been a whirlwind, but it was magical in a spiritually uplifting way.
It is a tumultuous time for the Jewish community in France. In January, just days after the brutal attack at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which twelve people were killed, an Islamic extremist entered the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket near Porte de Vincennes and began a day-long siege during which the gunman murdered four Jewish hostages.
In February, approximately 300 graves were desecrated in a Jewish cemetery in Sarre-Union, and there were swastikas drawn on headstones in Jewish cemeteries in Challans and Issoudun.
It was only three years ago that a gunman opened fire in a Jewish school in Toulouse, killing a teacher and three children.
Anti-Semitic attacks in France have risen drastically. In fact, there were twice as many anti-Semitic attacks in 2014 than in 2013.
The situation has deteriorated to the point that Prime Minister Netanyahu made a public plea for French Jews to leave their country and emigrate to Israel.
It was against this frightening backdrop that I made my first journey to France.
My first stop in Paris was not a famed Parisian landmark; rather, it was Les Docks de Paris, a convention center located on the outskirts of the city. It was there that my French spiritual journey began and ended.
Thousands of people filed into the cavernous convention hall with much anticipation and amidst a great deal of security. They were gathering to celebrate the conclusion of the seven-year cycle of the Daf Yomi B’Halacha, in which participants worldwide engage in daily learning of Jewish law. Dirshu, an organization that encourages Torah study in a wide array of subject matters with a particular emphasis on review and retention of the material learned, organized a worldwide siyum celebration, with events being held in the United States, Israel, England, South Africa, and France.
When the world-renowned rabbinic figures featured at the event entered the room and took their places at the tiered-dais, the band began to play and the crowd broke into festive song. People were clamoring to see the rabbis and excitedly taking pictures and videos on their cell phones in order to record the moment for posterity.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the attendees heard remarks from a number of prominent rabbis. There was a great deal of inspirational singing and dancing throughout the program. It was truly a celebration to behold.
When Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, the founder of the Dirshu organization, rose to speak, he received a tremendous ovation from the capacity crowd. In my view, that incredible reception was a heartfelt expression of gratitude to a child of Holocaust survivors who brought this momentous event to their community in order to help lift the cloud of uncertainty that has been hovering over them as they struggle to cope with the anti-Semitism that has plagued them.
“The first thing that we have to remember is that God is with us and we cannot be afraid,” Rabbi Hofstedter told the crowd.
The event that day was a true celebration of the resiliency and resurgence of the Jewish people. As members of the French Jewish community grapple with frequent attacks intended to break their spirit, this momentous event gave them a unique opportunity to present a unified front and demonstrate to the world that they will not succumb to the hate.
On the same day as the Dirshu event, residents of Paris went to the polls to cast their votes in the local elections. As Rabbi Avraham Weill, the Chief Rabbi of Toulouse, entered his local polling place, he was stopped and told that he needed to remove his yarmulke. Although the situation was ultimately resolved and he was permitted to vote while wearing his head covering, the mere fact that this occurred is undoubtedly a cause for alarm and a stark reminder of the bigotry that exists.
Europe in 2015 is a far different place than Europe was in the late 1930s and early 1940s, yet the underlying anti-Semitism that was exhibited in horrific and unspeakable ways during the Holocaust exists even today, seventy years later.
Jews should not have to walk through the streets of Paris with the fear that they may be targeted and attacked solely because they are Jews. European Jewry may be alive and well despite Hitler’s ruthless attempt to destroy them, but they are under siege.
In the face of growing anti-Semitism, do European Jews need to remain vigilant at all times? Of course. Should European Jews pick up and flee their homes and countries, as has been suggested by some? The answer, in my opinion, is absolutely not.
After witnessing the mass gathering in Paris, during which French Jews gathered to celebrate their faith in a proud and public fashion, I was reminded just how strong and resolute the Jewish soul is. European Jews steadfastly refuse to allow the racism and hate that they encounter to adversely affect their religious observance or negatively impact their Jewish identity and pride.
Anti-Semitism is gaining traction in Europe and bigotry is rearing its ugly head all too often, yet our Jewish brethren in Europe refuse to succumb to the hate. I felt extremely privileged to observe the unyielding nature of the French Jewish community as they assembled to celebrate Jewish learning and Jewish life, despite the anti-Semitism that lurks in the shadows.
I arrived in Paris with a touch of apprehension. I left Paris with a great degree of spiritual satisfaction. To the French Jewish community, I say “merci beaucoup.”
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
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