I wonder if we're approaching another Holocaust.

The OP is kneejerking, which can act to stir up rather than calm down.

This advice/order to the community is far from being the only measure that is being taken.

There is a Jewish Crisis Management Team. Police and troops are on the highest alert there and across Europe. There is police-intelligence cooperation.

Here in Spain, for example, it is semana santa, the reconquest's militant christian holy week and celebration of the defeat of Islamic rule ... (and note I say rule, not people, for very many, most of the people of al-Ándaluz remained and remain to this day; Spanish and Portuguese people are the descendants of the people of al-Ándaluz, and of the peoples of the North of the peninsula plus migrant peoples of many origins.)

People in Europe need and mostly do understand that fear is not useful, actions need to be focused, and hate only breeds hate.

The tradition goes a long way back in Spain.

for the actions of a few.

Avoiding the term is nonsense. Stop pretending this isn't about religion when you know it really is.

I guess they think the Jews should know better by now.
Sad

You could exchange baggies with hamentashen and other goodies, party synagogue - if you want a mask, I would bet that people there might prefer you bring it, not wear it.

The numbers I read were that there was 25% more emigration for Belgium Jews in 2015. The number is only going to get higher if the best the Belgium police can do is ask the Jewish community to not celebrate their holidays because they're so fucking incompetent they can't see the terrorists right under their noses.

The police in Belgium not only don't seem that interested in arresting everyone who protected them, but they apparently let the two suicide bombers out of prison early for some reason after they were convicted of previous crimes.

It sounds like the Jewish community and everyone else in Belgium is in danger because of incompetence or worse by the authorities.

The article says they are asking people not to carry around fake guns. That doesn't sound like an unreasonable request?

Is there somewhere in the world where people are encouraged to carry fake weapons around on the streets after a terrorist attack?

Last edited Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:00 PM - Edit history (1)

To show solidarity with the Jewish community and encourage them that they can observe their traditions without fear.

If we are serious about not letting ISIS win, this a a good way to peacefully and joyfully respond.

Some yahoos threw a brick through a window that was displaying a Chanukah menorah. The people of Billings decided they'd all celebrate the holiday.

In fact, maybe not only in Belgium!

and a terrific story to tell. Not a bad idea at all.

A story I heard from childhood turns out to be a story.

I truly see we are on our own. The world stands against us always.

I always thought it was true and was a great inspiring piece of history until I recently found out otherwise.

Besides it seems to be the community's own rabbis who asked this of residents.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/209760#.VvLSLOIrLAU

Purim, the most raucous and joyful Jewish holiday, begins Wednesday at sundown. But this year, there will be no merriment in Brussels. With the holiday falling the day after terrorist attacks that killed at least 31 people and injured 270 more in the capital city, the Jewish congregations in Brussels decided that celebrating Purim would not be appropriate — or safe.

“In general, we have to be careful. Every day, every service, morning and evening,” said a staff member at the Great Synagogue of Europe, located in the city’s historic heart. Asking hundreds of Jews to leave their homes to celebrate Purim on Wednesday night would be too much of a risk, he said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/03/23/fearful-for-safety-synagogues-in-belgium-have-canceled-purim-celebrations/

Incidentally, the source you linked to above is a far right-wing settler website.

Last edited Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Wearing a Purim mask that day would be like waving your arms and announcing, "I'm Jewish!" Come get me!

Why would people need to hide the fact that they are Jewish?

Why request that Jewish people hide their Jewishness?

Sure doesn't seem that way.

They were not specifically targeted in this terrorist attack.

I have no idea what you are saying. All I am saying is that ISIS targets westerners regardless of their religion (among other people).

And spontaneous attacks can happen on a street, on a bus, on a train. If all Belgians were told to wear Purim masks, that would be an act of solidarity and would be beautiful.

As opposed to Christians or atheists or what have you.

Why do synagogues in Europe require extra protection? Why was the kosher market attacked in Paris? Why were people attacked outside a Jewish Community Center in the US?

I'm not Jewish, but I completely understand their sense of vulnerability in Europe right now. A I would avoid public celebrations too.

With Christians being second.

"it's mainly for their own protection and it's just a request".

I disagree with you. It's caving in.

Never let the bastards have an inch.

I wouldn't be surprised if all European Jews are being "warned" about upcoming Purim festivities; talk about a "soft target". Usually, our bigger holidays see increased security, even in the US. Eventually, it will simply be all of our activities.

About 4 years ago, my husband and I visited England, Wales and Ireland over our daughter's spring break. She was doing her masters degree at the University of London. With a long time British friend, who as a school teacher had the same holiday, we planned a nice road trip that went around parts of the UK, Wales and then took the ferry to Dublin. As we happily made plans, we realized we needed to plan around Passover, which we celebrate and Easter, which we don't, but would impact what was open.

Having attended local community seders on the second day of Passover, I decided that google might be helpful. " community seder Dublin" did give us a link from the past year to a synagogue's web page. They had had one the year before and the rabbi had gotten part of his education at the University of London, where our daughter was getting a masters in world religions. We wrote an email explaining who we were and asking if they were having a seder and if outsiders were welcome. They said there would be one on the first night of Passover and we would get a form when they came out and we could come.

The form, when we received it, in addition to signing up as always happens here asked that we send copies of recent photos and to bring our passports. When we went in, we found that everyone was required by the police monitoring people entering to show ids. I have no idea if they did anything in advance to check us out. This was a level of security that I had never seen at a synagogue. However, once in -- it was easily the best community seder we ever went to and gave us a chance to actually meet people rather than just see the wonderful tourist sites.

Synagogues in Belgium are similarly heavily guarded.

This is a problem that ought to be addressed.

Maybe they ought to fund a better police force.

That wouldn't be hurtful or anything, would it? If gentiles did that to support Jews?
Because I think it would really confuse the haters. And it might provide some protection.

If you lived in Brussels, would you want anyone wearing a mask on the street at this moment? Anyone holding a fake gun, that in the waning light, could look real?

but fake swords or other weapons should be ok.

Go tell Rio or New Orleans not to celebrate Mardi Gras (which is a religious holiday) using masks or parading on the streets due to terrorists.

Same difference.

This did not happen because of Jews, and keeping a low profile isn't gong to keep it from happening again. Ultimately, Belgium needs to fund a police force that meets the needs of their society, and Europe and its allies needs to deal with the problem at its source.

I am Jewish and attended many Purim events at various synagogues, mostly in NJ. Very very few people wore masks. Most little girls, recycled whatever Disney Princess dress they had or any other pretty costume dress -- and they became Esther. Many others wore various costumes, some related to the Purim story many not. Many used face paint. There were not many masks. Especially, I recall NO adults wearing masks. Not to mention, even in areas of NJ with a pretty high percent Jewish population, costumes were absolutely not worn throughout towns, rather just as Jewish centers and at synagogues.

At a point where there is fear in a community, I would assume that no one would think it prudent to dress up with their face hidden by masks. You could note that - IF someone wanted to wear a mask in a synagogue, they could bring it with them and in the building put it on. I suspect that, especially given the fact that the terrorists have targeted Jews, that synagogues themselves would NOT want masked people entering the building.

The idea that this is why Jews have left is absurd.

Hatred of Jews is a unifying force that spreads across races, religions, continents and political persuasions. This attack in Belgium, and earlier ones in France, Spain and the UK were preceded by a massive increase in anti-Jewish incidents throughout Europe, largely committed by Muslims and far right Christians (perhaps the one thing about which they agree). Jews are fleeing Europe in increasing numbers. I will be going to Purim services tonight at my California synagogue and fully expect there to be a police car outside, as usual, just in case. How many of you who attend Christian services have to have police protection, without any specific threats against your church, on the chance that there may be an incident or attack?

I was raised to believe that, when push came to shove, non-Jews would always abandon their Jewish friends and neighbors to the mob and slaughter. I have tried my best to believe this isn't true, and that Christianity and Islam would finally abandoned almost 2000 years of discrimination, forced conversion and genocide against the Jewish people. However, just last week alone, a member of Erdogan's government tweeted that she wished that the Israelis injured in the Istanbul bombing had died along with the three who did; a kosher butcher shop in Copenhagen, a Holocaust memorial and a synagogue in France, and a rabbi's grave in Russia were vandalized; a Jewish man in the UK was forced to change train cars after harassment from football fans; and Minister Louis Farrakhan posted on his Facebook page, "The Satanic Jews and their allies fear being exposed and that is the role of the Messiah, to reveal the Man of Sin." There are bright spots like Billings, Oslo, where hundreds of Muslims protected a synagogue after a synagogue was attacked in Denmark, and the African Americans who challenged Farrakhan's bigoted statements. I'm not not seeing the mass protests or the outrage that a minority community in Europe is being targeted and driven from their homes, or that anti-Jewish sentiment is spreading in the U.S.

I will keep my hopes up a bit longer, then may be forced to agree with what I was taught. This makes me very sad.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11904654/Attacks-on-Jews-rise-to-five-year-high-in-Germany-more-than-any-country-in-Europe.html

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends????

I seen ya, I seen ya, I seen ya 'round for a long long time
I really, I really, I really remember when you drank my wine

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends????

I seen ya, I seen ya, I seen ya walkin' down in Chinatown
I called ya, I called ya, I called but you did not look around
I pay my, I pay my, I pay my money to the welfare line
I seen ya, I seen ya, I seen ya standing in it everytime

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends????

The color, the color, the color of your skin don't matter to me
As long as, as long as, long as we can live in harmony
I kinda, I kinda, I kinda, like to be the president
And I could, and I could, and I could show you how your money's spent

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends????

Sometimes I don't speak right
But did I know what I was talking about
I know you're working for the CIA
They wouldn't have you in the mafia

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends????

Wait, I was around when that song came out, so I must be getting old, too. Dammit!

understanding the real problem here.

The Jews of Belgium (and in Europe as a whole) have to have armed security at their synagogues, at any gathering. They are now being asked to change their celebrations because of a threat. And this isn't new - security has been around Jewish events for years now. Instead of going after the terrorists - they already know where they are, where they live - it's the victims that are continually asked to change THEIR lives. There's something very wrong with that.

Europe dots have a serious problem with islamic extremists which they ignored for a long time. Especially when it came to attacks on jewish people.

Surely hiding eggs, and people wearing rabbit suits are just as much a hazard.

We must conduct ourselves differently as to not encourage terrorism. Only then can we truly be free.

Let's start with the God damned piece of paper known as the Constitution. How many amendments can I rip before I feel safe again? Then, rip an extra two for safety's sake. Please think of the children!

and attack Jewish citizens at the celebrations. I don't think it is meant to punish Jewish Belgiums.

It's only a request after all.