By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
CHULA VISTA, California — The heinous events of October 7 in Israel are difficult to reconcile with the modern world’s ethos. After World War II, many believed that the atrocities faced by Jewish communities were behind them and that such darkness would not be revisited upon them.
Yet, as Mark Twain wisely observed, “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”
In the wake of the recent attack near the Gaza Strip, Israeli military forensic teams delved into the sad task of examining the victims. Their findings have been deeply unsettling: indications of torture, sexual assault, and other horrific acts. The magnitude of the tragedy is overwhelming, with around 1,300 individuals brought to a central army base in Ramla, Israel. Here, specialists are meticulously trying to determine the identities of the deceased and piece together the tragic narrative surrounding their final moments, as Reuters noted.
Among the numerous heart-wrenching accounts is that of female victims who faced unspeakable horror, even posthumously. The young women’s bodies were paraded around, displayed as if they were mere trophies of conquest.
An intercepted communication between a Gazan perpetrator and his family back home offers a chilling insight into the mindset of some involved. The pride in the voice of the attacker, as he claimed responsibility for numerous deaths, contrasted starkly with what many parents globally would desire for their children. Whereas parents worldwide would celebrate academic or professional achievements, here was a voice reveling in the destruction of life (see note below).
It’s a grim reminder of the sentiments some Palestinians harbored even before protective measures like walls were erected. Instances of self-sacrifice to harm Israelis were not uncommon, leading some to see a parallel between this and the destructive ideologies of Nazism.
Erich Fromm’s seminal work, “The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness,” dives deep into the psychological foundations of violent behaviors. He introduces the notions of “biophilia” and “necrophilia.” The former refers to an inherent love for life and growth, while the latter denotes an infatuation with death and destruction.
Fromm postulates that ideologies such as Nazism exemplify necrophilic tendencies, evident in their predilection for dominance, control, and deriving sadistic pleasure from the pain of others. The Nazi atrocities, their infatuation with racial purity, and the unabashed celebration of war are manifestations of this worldview.
In the context of Gaza, the militants, under the influence of their Iranian backers, are driven by religious zealotry that targets not only Israel but also the broader Western world. An Indian analyst once remarked, “If all Israelis embraced Islam, the religious extremists in Gaza might cease their aggression against Israel.” The core of this issue is religious ideology rather than territorial claims. The chant from Palestinian students, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” is perceived by many as advocating for the eradication of an entire population.
When our enemies threaten to destroy us, we must take their threats seriously.
For the world to move towards a peaceful coexistence, Fromm suggests, we need to cultivate biophilic tendencies while actively discouraging necrophilic behaviors. This involves fostering a society rooted in justice, compassion, and equality, while also educating individuals about the inherent dangers of necrophilia.
Israeli culture has traditionally leaned towards biophilia, providing humanitarian aid and services even to its adversaries, hoping for an eventual transformation leading to a better tomorrow.
Golda Meir’s poignant words from years ago still resonate, “We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children,” she remarked. “But we can never forgive them for forcing us to kill their children.”
For a lasting peace in Gaza and the West Bank, a shift in values is paramount — one that places the well-being of their youth above any animosity toward Israel. Only then can hope truly emerge.
Note
TERRORIST: I am talking to you from the phone of a Jew, I killed her and her husband, I killed ten with my own hands.
FATHER: Allahu Akbar.
TERRORIST: Open your phone and see how many I killed, father. Open your phone, I am calling you on WhatsApp.
FATHER: Crying (unintelligible).
TERRORIST: I am in Mefalsim, father. I killed ten. Ten! Ten with my own bare hands. Their blood is on my hands, let me talk to Mom.
TERRORIST: I killed ten all by myself, mother.
MOTHER: I wish I was there with you.
TERRORIST: Mother, your son is a hero. I was the first to enter under the guidance and with the help of Allah. Father, lift your head, lift your head. “I Killed Ten Jews” (jerusalemprayerteam.org)
Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista. He may be contacted via michael.samuel@sdjewishworld.com
Thank you, Rabbi Samuel. But what now for the American Jewish community. Are any of progressive Jews feeling a bit disoriented wondering how they signed on to worldview that encouraged the mob that is now coming for them. The ADL wanted them to believe that the threat would always come from a bunch of twisted white boys with tiki torches. But it is the intersectional left that many of them stood with that should now wear the name, the New Neo-Nazis