PASSOVER GREETINGS FROM RABBI MARVIN HIER

Rabbi Marvin Hier
As we approach Passover, the Festival of Freedom, I can tell you this has been a very difficult year for Jews and for the State of Israel.

We are still confronted with the fact that the instruments of the United Nations are always used against Israel, but not once in its entire history has the United Nations ever condemned an Islamic terrorist organization like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, al Aqsa Brigades by name in wave after wave of suicide bombing attacks on Israeli civilians.

Can you believe that the International Court of Justice, which has never convened to condemn Islamic terrorists and suicide bombings, did convene to rule on whether Israel has the right to defend herself from terrorism, by erecting a security wall?

Can you believe that the mastermind of Hamas terrorist activities, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin who had never been condemned by the United Nations for the terrorism he unleashed that resulted in the murder and maiming of thousands of innocent women and children, was memorialized by a UN Human Rights Commission resolution which condemns Israel for assassinating him?

Can you believe that the Palestinian leaders called Yassin one of the great leaders of their people, that the flags were flown at half-mast in the Palestinian territories and that Arafat called for three days of public mourning for him?

What would have happened if following the murder of Meyer Kahane, (who had been banished from the Knesset for his extremist views), the State of Israel would have announced three days of public mourning? Every country in the world would have resoundingly condemned Israel. But for Sheik Yassin, the arch terrorist, antisemite and murderer of Jews, only eulogies, compassion and understanding.



On March 27 2004, "Eleftherotypia" ran this
cartoon: The Woman on the left asks: "Why did
the Jewish Government kill a religious leader?" The
man answers: "They were practicing for Easter."
And meanwhile in Europe, horrible antisemitic cartoons, like the one published in a Greek newspaper poison attitudes towards Israel and the Jewish people. It is this dangerous double standard and hypocrisy that the Simon Wiesenthal Center is fighting on the frontlines, in Brussels, in New York and in Geneva.

We cannot carry on this fight alone. We need your financial support and help. As we celebrate Passover together with our families and thank G-d for the freedoms we enjoy, take a moment to remember what Simon Wiesenthal said, "Freedom is not a gift from heaven, we must fight for it every day." Help us carry on that fight by sending in a contribution to support the work of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.