Jew Bashing In The Midwest...

Welcome to the regular publication from Beth El Jacob the Orthodox Jewish Congregation of Des Moines, Iowa.  Where we try to give you a glimpse of what it's like "living Jewish in the Middle of the Midwest".

Jew Bashing...it's never too far from the surface.  It's just sitting there waiting for an opportunity to bubble up.

So, when immigration authorities descended on AgriProcessors, the nation's largest kosher processing facility, and arrested close to 400 people for a variety of immigration issues we knew it wouldn't be long before it started.

It took less than a day.

The Des Moines Register, in the reporting the story, juiced their article by making sure the public knew the plant was operated by "Hasidic Jews".  That in itself is not an issue but consider these words from the May 13 photo caption:  "Orthodox Jews...gather across from the Postville plant", "Ari Berkowitz a 15-year old Hasidic Jew, was hanging out with a handful of friends".

Not too bad...but can we now expect captions like, "Jimmy Wiggins, a Southern Baptist, is seen here playing with his friends."?  Or, "Janice Short, a United Methodist, plays cards with her friends at the senior center."?

We think not.

But, this one takes the cake.

On the Opinion Page of the Des Moines Register from Thursday we read this comment from letter writer Bud Strum of Nevada, Iowa:

"Good! They raided the animal hell hole of Iowa. Now maybe they will close the inhumane slaughterhouse in northeast Iowa. There is no excuse for allowing such slaughter in modern day, and I don't care what your religion is. Killing animals in sacrificial ways is inhumane.

I was not surprised to read that at least one Israeli had been arrested with the other illegals. There are probably more.

People who have to have their food killed in "the Kosher manner" are so far out of touch with reality that for all we know, they may still be following other Old Testament practices. That's pretty scary."

Now, that is...pretty scary.  We're just surprised that he did not end the letter with "Sieg Heil!".  Of course the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines sent a letter the Opinion Page Editor, Carol Hunter expressing their outrage over publishing a "hate letter".  "To imply that Jews who keep kosher "may still be following other (barbaric) Old Testament practices" -- rather than following the New Testament -- is bigotry, pure and simple."

They are right.  And life goes on.

Meanwhile on WHO Radio the flagship 50,000 watt Clear Channel radio station here in Des Moines we were treated to a conversation between host Jan Mickelson and his "good friend" James Lofton who is the "Editor of TheAmericanView.com" was going on about how "...President Bush does not have a prayer because he is not a Christian." and then goes into the Jew Bashing tirade about "...Children of the Devil". 

I sent a note to Mr. Lofton and Mr. Mickelson about their ideas of "replacement theology".  Mr. Mickelson said he "didn't know what replacement theology was" (it did not surprise me)...and Mr. Lofton?  Well, here is his response:

"In John 8:44, Jesus refers to those who reject His divinity as children of the devil -- as are all of those who reject Christ."

Gosh John...ya got me.

It's been an interesting week here in the Middle of the Midwest.

See you in shul!