OPINION: Show leadership, strength, pride and wisdom… NOT dread
If those who plead victimhood would only look, they would see our community going about its regular life with self-confidence, writes Shimon Cohen.
I grew up in south Wales. In the main life was good for Jews. Successive immigrations, Italians, Caribbeans, Greeks, Asian and Jews, all integrated well. I guess if we all “hated” the English, life was good.
However, there were flare ups of Jew hatred. One day while waiting for the school bus, I was set upon by four guys, who I had hitherto thought of as my friends. They pinned me to the floor, while a fifth guy took his ruler and measured my nose. They had fun and I was left as the bloodied victim. And that was the last day I was a victim. I joined the school rugby squad and from that day on, I was no longer the victim, I was no longer afraid, and anyone who dared, had to contend with the rugby squad. It is worth remembering at this point that many Welsh rugby forwards have necks bigger than Victoria Beckham’s waist!
The world seems to love dead Jews, victim Jews and frightened Jews. They build us memorials, attend our commemorations and provide us with security.
Shul attendance is up, attendance at communal events is up, restaurants and coffee shops are full and with thanks to CST and the police, our community is able to function sensibly and securely.
For that we must show gratitude . Of course, we are grateful.
The Royal Family and UK Government have shown time and again that it supports us and we must always show gratitude and respect for that.
However, led by the indomitable Gerald Ronson, our community has shown that gratitude, while shaking off the victimhood and trembling Jew image of the past. Gerald’s CST protects us while we go about our lives, strong and proud. Even at times of real threat, the CST leads us in not cowering, not hiding and not trembling. We know that there are threats and concerns.
Organised groups and lone wolves may seek to harm us, but we are led wisely to take precautions. Why? Because no one attacks a Welsh rugby forward; no one attacks a strong person. Show weakness and the enemy revels.
So why do we have to put up with day after day of organisations within our community and even some of the leadership too, telling the world how frightened we are, how we feel threatened and how concerned we are. That message is exactly what the terrorists want to achieve, to terrorise us.
Family from Israel call me to ask how we are, how we are coping and imploring us to stay safe. Please can we stop this? Can we stop cowering and pleading victimhood?
Can we take a leaf out of Gerald Ronson’s playbook and show leadership, strength, pride and wisdom. If those who plead victimhood would only look, they would see our community going about its regular life, with pride. Shul attendance is up, attendance at communal events is up, restaurants and coffee shops are full and with thanks to CST and the police, our community is able to function sensibly and securely.
The message that Jews want to hear is thanks to the CST, and thanks to the police, who share our concerns. We will not cower and we will not be frightened.
• Shimon Cohen, chairman of The PR Office, writes in a personal capacity.
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