A Response to Trump’s Comments on Judaism: More Than Just Personal.
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Over the course of my previous essays, my focus has been primarily toward issues in clinical psychology with the implications for sociological adaptations. Although this essay may seem personal the implications upon our society are very evident.
My parents are Holocaust survivors. It is not a hoax. What they encountered no one should ever have to experience. I am a first generation born in America child of survivors. I remember as a child viewing hundreds of photos laid across the kitchen table of rows and rows of the dead found in barracks of concentration camps. In an attempt to bring closure to such a dreadful time, my parents as well other survivors poured over photos like these painstakingly trying to identify love ones and friends who perished.
My father with the exception of one brother lost his entire family. My mother miraculously survived with her parents and siblings. Following their liberation my parents met in a relocation camp in Germany. They eventually arrived in the United States along with my sister where they joined my maternal family who were now located in New York.
My family practiced Judaism. I was raised in an orthodox Jewish home. I attended religious services with my grandfather. I remember happily the family all celebrating Sabbath dinner and holidays at his big kitchen table. Our occasions were joyful and enriching. Sorrow was not a predominant feeling. There was also excitement over the creation of Israel as a Jewish ancestral homeland. Indeed some of my relatives found refuge in Israel in their relocation.
My father’s trauma experiences led him to move away from orthodox Jewish beliefs. He moved us to a community where conservative Judaism was the dominant philosophy. Later in life I moved my family towards reform Judaism. Over the years I eventually moved toward a non-affiliated perspective. Although I became less traditional I still never lost my understanding of the basic guiding principles of Judaism, the Ten Commandments.
As with most religions the basic tenets that define their core foundational beliefs are grounded in the understanding that we should care for each other with kindness, charity and compassion. We should strive to uplift each other in times of need without restrictions based on skin color, sexual orientation, ethnicity or country of origin. All people are created equal and we share a common homeland called planet Earth. Heaven is for everyone.
My movement away from an organized religious affiliation is based upon the view that an organized religion often fails to reflect upon its core foundations. When a religion becomes organized it more often follows a business model or a political movement. Economic pressure to sustain or pay for itself requires concerns for fundraising to pay for salaries, buildings, media or publicity. Inclusion is no longer open ended but restricted more often to those who can support it economically. The need for sustainability can also lead to politicalization. It becomes open to exploitation by devious politicians or corrupt religious ministers claiming that their religious perspective is superior to that of others.
While I have always supported the creation of the state of Israel, it does not mean I blindly support all their governmental policies. Suppression of Palestinian rights to a homeland is one such area. Israel is a country created to give the Jewish people a protective homeland free from persecution and extermination. Israel is not however a religion. I can adhere to my Jewish core religious beliefs no matter where I reside on this planet.
Our former President, twice impeached, and convicted sexual abuser, Donald J. Trump has recently attacked people of the Jewish faith as hypocrites for not supporting Israeli governmental policies. He also infers that to not support these policies is to not support his presidential campaign. Talk about hypocrisy!
In the many years of following Mr. Trump’s career it is obvious that practicing the principles of the Ten Commandments has been at best lacking. He attempts to exploit organized religions for political advantage. He divides us rather than compassionately unite us. As for organized religions they drift further and further away from the tenets of their core beliefs. They hypocritically seek political power rather than shine as examples of moral behavior.
I am offended by Mr. Trump's suggesting that I should be ashamed of my Judaism. As I previously pointed out my Judaism is based upon the common foundational principles found across most religions. Although I am not a perfect person, infallible, and beyond conscious, I strive to make each day a lesson for personal growth in keeping with the philosophy of the Ten Commandments. I seriously doubt that Mr. Trump can make the same claim.
Furthermore Mr. Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous, divisive and exploitative. His comments promote self serving non-religious points of view to pit brother against brother. There is never a good time for this kind of thinking. Mr. Trump owes us all, not just Jewish people, an apology for advocating such harmful hypocrictical accusations. Maybe he should actually study the Bible rather than try to sell us a Bible which apparently he has never read.
Social psychologists and historians have shown us that if we remain silent in the face of such harmful rhetoric dangerous people take control often leading to death and destruction. Mr Trump’s comments mirror such horrifying individuals such as Hitler, Mussolini, Putin, and so many more.
As we face a new election season we are once again challenged to examine our core beliefs. It is certainly not a time to lose sight of the real core beliefs that religion was meant to promote based upon the Ten Commandments.
If you are so inclined please find your own way to speak up against such hypocrisy. In this Holy season I wish everyone only the best for a healthy, peaceful and happy life.
Respectfully submitted ,
Dr. Michael J Simon
