The Silent Pogrom

This article was co-authored by David ben Horin and Rachel Avrahami. 

The media likes to cherry pick facts to fit the story they want to tell. If need be, they will reinterpret reality to paint people in the appearance of their choosing. It even happened to a non-religious friend of mine here in Israel recently, that he noticed that the subtitles on the screen were quoting the person being interviewed – before he said the quotes! Needless to say, he was greatly disturbed by this, and saw that it continued for some time through the news report, such that he was telling this story to all his friends saying, “I didn’t believe it before, but clearly the media is all lies!” 

They are quick to report on the ‘progress’ of the protests and their ‘struggle,’ but slow to report on how these protests prolong the spread of Coronavirus and keep half of the economy handcuffed, causing disproportionate suffering to the working and poorer classes – the very people they purport to want to help.  

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There is also the huge part of the glacier you don’t see.  

It’s the news that goes unreported.  

The Jewish community of La Brea/Beverly in Los Angeles, CA was looted as part of the BLM riots a few months ago. The Jewish businesses were specifically targeted and looted – but the non-Jewish businesses in that area were not touched. The synagogues also came under fire, with swastikas graffitied on them, and abominations like “Free Palestine” and worse spray painted on their holy walls. Meaning – in the Jewish community, what happened was not a riot, but a pogrom. 

What the media didn’t tell us, was that the riot actually went out of its way to digress a few blocks in the other direction in order to hit the Jewish community. Nor did they report on the damage to the Jewish businesses in that area, or the anti-Semitic graffiti etc. The media ignored the entire episode, just covering the general riots as if what happened on Beverly Boulevard was just part of the big picture. But clearly, it wasn’t just another part of the riot, oh it happened to pass by the Jewish community. No – while they were rioting and had blanket, silent permission to do what they wanted, they took the opportunity to hit the Jewish community specifically. 

This is frighteningly reminiscent of the way the  media  refused to report the Holocaust until only after it was over.   

Fleeing to Safety 

People are running for their lives.  

Homicide rates are skyrocketing. Burglary rates are also soaring – but not just at night. Knowing the police won’t come, they are breaking into homes armed, even during the day while people are at home! 

The big cities are being emptied out of those who can afford to leave as they bolt to the suburbs and other states with local leaders who empower the police to protect and to serve. 

But how long can this keep up? 

As long as a “law and order” president is in power, those county, city, and state officials who act to maintain order will be bolstered by a national leader who will do anything in his power to make sure his citizens can eat, sleep, and work in peace.  

What happens if there is a “progressive” president in power? Just like the current administration promises to withhold federal money to cities and states that are in a state of anarchy, a future government could withhold funds to any local government that refuses to “defund” their police force.  

The suburbs will fall into chaos just like the cities. BLM and antifa “activists” will be bursting into your local Starbucks. Crime rates will continue to soar and spread even to “better” neighborhoods as the underworld becomes more and more bold. 

There will be no safe place for anyone. 

Seizing the Opportunity of a Lifetime  

In investing, the greatest opportunity is one that nobody talks about.  

Nobody had anything to say about Apple stock 20 years ago, selling at $3 a share. They were too busy talking about Yahoo. Nobody had anything to say about China 40 years ago. They were too busy talking about Japan. 

Israel is the Japan of 1988, the China of 1999, and dare I say, the Google of 2004.  

There are myriad of reasons why Israel will not only recover from the current COVID-19 recession, but expand by orders of magnitude while Europe and North America drudge along hampered by the overwhelming and unprecedented burden of tens of trillions in debt. Here are a few more: 

We are just beginning to extract major natural gas finds off our entire west coast. Italy, Greece, and Egypt have formed a consortium to move the gas underwater to ports in Greece and throughout Europe. This means government coffers will fill to the brim with royalties.  

Furthermore, even after the COVID-19 mess, our debt to GDP is around 85%, which is still healthy. 

Even more, there are no riots, looting, or breakdown in social order in Israel. Property rights are respected and demonstrations are limited to anti-government protests. Citizens are not harassed. People are safe.  

Pandemics like the ones in 1889, 1918 and 1957 lasted 18-24 months. Over this time the changes that have been made in our world have positioned Israel to enter into a period of massive expansion. Israel is like a bottle of champagne that has been shaken non-stop for a year. Once the world returns to business as usual, watch for the cork to come off! 

This is the opportunity that the press isn’t talking about. It is something only people who can see a few steps ahead will capitalize on and take advantage of.  

If you are Jewish – now is the time to come. Not out of fear – but out of hope, excitement, and expectation.  

I got into the Israeli hi-tech scene just six years ago knowing very little, and now I am coding Java apps and writing content for a local software company as a digital marketer.  

In the Torah portion of Ki Tavo, Hashem promises that if we follow His commandments, He will make us the greatest nation on earth. As we inch closer to Redemption, to Moshiach, to the day when all of the Children of Israel return to Hashem, He may be inching us closer to this moment where we will lend to many nations, yet borrow from none.  

The strong nations of the world are rapidly imploding – literally eroding from the inside. At the same time, Israel is still rising, emerging from the dust and expanding every day.  

All of this before we get into the usual discussion about Zionism, or the mitzvah of living in the Land of Israel. Times have changed so dramatically that what was once a Divine obligation that seemed impossible, it is now a perk of finding a place where you can continue to pursue your professional and financial dreams.  

Just like Shabbat. We rest. We eat good food. We connect with our fellow Jews. We learn Torah. We spend time with the people we love most in this world. We take a day off from all the devices that raise our blood pressure. For all of this, we receive in return, a mitzvah that carries the weight of all the mitzvot combined.  

Just like the mitzvah to live here in Israel! Don’t forget – it’s a commandment! As Rabbi Arush recently answered to someone who asked if he should make Aliya and move to Israel, “Should you put on tefillin in the morning? Should you keep Shabbat? So you should also move to Israel! It’s the exact same question, and the same answer.” 

Part of this mitzvah is helping the Land employ, support, and provide for all its’ inhabitants so if you are a part of all the excitement, you are also part of the Divine Service.  

If you are thinking about relocating, be sure to contact your local Nefesh B’ Nefesh office and see what’s possible. Or call them at 1-866-425-4924. 

See you here soon! Safe and sound amidst peace and prosperity.