As most of you know there has been a rise in antisemitism in the world as of late, especially in the United States where I live where many of our Jewish Community Centers and schools have been subjected to bomb threats. Around the world many Jewish cemeteries have been vandalized too.
While I have left the forum earlier this year due to a need to move on with my own healing path (and realizing this forum is doing quite well with the many bright minds already among the crowd), I have briefly returned mainly to write this note of gratitude (though I did post a few times too while I have been here).
It has been touching and very helpful when Muslims, Christians, and people of other faiths have stood with those of us in the Jewish community to protest this wave of hostility against my people. There have been many public displays of solidarity with us against these acts of hatred and prejudice and some personal notes from friends letting me know I am not alone.
Some of you have been among those who have voiced your concern for me and other Jews during this time. I want to thank you all, regardless of your personal convictions. After leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses it can be a confusing thing to stop and do something like this, demonstrating solidarity with Jews against this form of prejudice (something Jehovah’s Witnesses practically never do), but this has not stopped some of you from doing this right now. Regardless what spiritual path some of you have taken after you left the Watchtower, you have let me and others know you are standing with the world against this new rise of old hatefulness.
But especially do I want to thank those of you who are atheist, those of you who are also standing against this wave of prejudice against the Jewish people. Sadly, almost every experience I’ve had in which I was the subject of antisemtism came from a religious person. And while most Christians today are definitely also against this form of discrimination, my most recent experiences with this type of behavior has been mostly from Christians.
Some atheists on this board have let me know personally how much they are against what is happening. The same are usually very vocal about how they personally do not believe in theism or the Bible or religion. But some of the very same have been the ones to let me know they can put that aside to take their stand against such hate against the Jewish people and their communities. They have reached out and let me know they cared.
So while I am grateful to whoever you are, those of you who have stopped to locate me or send a message to let me know how you feel, I want to send a special note to those who are not theists but have done the same. To you especially I write: your wholehearted stand against this rise of hate in the world touches me, and I am most grateful to people like you. The world is a better place with you in it.