Pride and fear

I think I would consider myself a proud Jew. I wear a kippah all the time, I am happy to speak to anyone about Judaism and act as a representative when in a place where people are curious.

But since antisemitic incidents have been becoming more frequent, what is the best response?

My instinct has always been to continue to wear my kippah in public. I want people to consider it to be normal, which can only happen if a critical mass of Jewish men wear them. And it is an appropriate response to Jew-hate  - they are not forcing me to change my habits.

Mrs. Elder, however, wants me to wear a cap on top of my kippah when in public. She is scared for me. She doesn't want me to be hurt or killed because some crazy person decides to target identifiable Jews.

I can't blame her. It is easy for me to make a statement for myself, but I cannot only worry about my own life - I'm responsible for my family as well.

I have not seen overt antisemitism towards me in years. On the contrary - most non-Jews are very respectful and curious. In Colorado this past summer, as I walked to shul, non-Jews called out "Shabbat Shalom" to me. (This past weekend in an elevator in a hotel a black guest mentioned that he saw my yarmulka and jokingly asked me if I know how to get discounts on things; I said I wish I knew with the same big smile.)

But there are crazy people out there. We have seen videos. Taking chances for making a statement seems foolhardy.

I don't have any answers. I am certainly not hiding or denying who I am when I wear a cap (and, frankly, the caps religious Jews wear all look the same, we can always tell who we are.)

It is a real shame that the only place on Earth I, and many others, can feel truly comfortable being publicly Jewish is Israel. The people who want that haven to disappear may or may not realize that. Jews should have the right to be in public without fear, but no one has come up with any realistic solutions.

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