The rabbi stood before his congregation last Saturday and in his comforting baritone, spoke as rabbis have spoken for centuries:

Keep yourself clear of the fighting between the Christians and the Muslims and any combination therein.  We aren’t like them.  We are separate; we are above.  We don’t breathe the same air they breathe.  We don’t eat as they eat.  We don’t drink from the same stream.  We don’t cry as they cry or laugh as they laugh.  We don’t give birth in pain or die alone.  Winter comes for them but not for us.  If they are cold and freeze to death, so be it.  As long as we are warm, all is as it should be.

Have I forgotten anything?

Yes, Rabbi.  One small thing:  It didn’t work then; it won’t work now.

If you are suggesting we adopt isolationism, Rabbi, you must have flunked Jewish History1-001.   And maybe Intro to Biology was never required.  So let me say what I think, based on what I’ve learned as a student of the School of Life (transcript forthcoming).

We Jews have kept ourselves to ourselves for lo these many years and still, and yet, and blast it all, if they haven’t dug us out and dug us up and done their best to destroy us anyway.  Those who brought forth the Inquisition found us.  Those who rode off on heavy horses, bound to retake Jerusalem for Jesus found us.  Those looking to place blame for the Black Death found us. Those looking to place blame for their financial failure found us.  Those looking for reasons – beyond their own stupidity, arrogance, and greed – for unfavorable coverage in the media found us.  So, I say:  isolationism doesn’t work.

If biology wasn’t a requirement for graduation, who can blame you for not knowing that we humans are all, pretty much, the same.  Jews have the same biological makeup as Muslims and Christians, too.  Perhaps sociology wasn’t required either.  We don’t all have access to education, health care, nourishment, and safety for ourselves or our children, but we all need those same things in order to maintain life and love.  Some of us starve for want of these basics.  Some of us kill for want of these basics.  Some of us murder in order to deprive others of these basics.  Some of us need a bit of help.  So, I say: isolationism doesn’t work.

Did no one question you, Rabbi?  Did you actually convince them that isolationism was the right path?  Did no one ask about their individual responsibility to the others who are in desperate need?  Did no one ask what they might do to help?

I’m disgusted.

But as you’ve advised your flock to remain aloof, consider the full weight of every person whom you’ve abetted in sin be on your soul.  Let every ounce of your arrogant disregard for humanity be increased twice by every single person to whom you have denied support.

I had hoped we were better than this.

I am sorely disabused of my fantasy.

I am sorely ashamed.