When the Philistines took their turn trying to conquer Israel, Goliath challenged them daily to send a champion to face him.
Though King Saul did not respond, “little” David had had enough of Goliath’s goading and let fly a stone from his sling, felling the giant, whose head he then struck off.
The question has been asked whether the Philistines were the forerunner to the Palestinians. They were not, but the event became a metaphor for the underdog challenging and overcoming the overdog, the little fella defeating the big fella.
Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of the Philistines, and that is what happened.
Probably around 4,000 years later, last week’s Jerusalem Post highlighted the establishment of the Secure Community Network, a safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America.
“Standing with Strength” is its watchword, with the aim of developing security and training to meet the all-too-common antisemitic attacks.
This now stands as an example to communities in other parts of the world not to lie down and accept the tide of threats, abuse, and violence hurled against them. The UK is one such place that has taken note.
The David vs Goliath fight in the United Kingdom
Another David has come forth to meet the challenge and take on the Goliath of the UK government, and at least one other political party: a small North London synagogue that has a mighty heart. It is probably replicated all over the world.
The antisemites have picked on the wrong Jews, as this synagogue, Highgate United, adopted the hostage Emily Damari and never ended its support for her until she was freed and able to come to London for a joyful visit.
The catalyst for the action of the synagogue comes in the wake of the endless torrent of verbal and physical attacks against the Jewish community, as well as the imposition of sanctions on Israel and the calling for the dismantlement of the state.
The straw that has broken the camel’s back is a motion called by the increasingly popular Green Party, at its conference, to equate Zionism with racism.
The consequence of this is that if they come to power or hold the balance of power, neither inconceivable, the attendance of Jews at a synagogue supporting Israel could be deemed unlawful.
Before this motion, things had already reached a precarious position, with sanctions set by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, while his foreign secretary was telling the Muslim marchers that they were right: Israel is a genocidal state.
The cycle that follows such outrageous acts is the claim that things are not as bad as they seem. Of course, the Holocaust showed us that however alarming the steps are, worse inevitably follows.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has taught that when the aggressor delivers a slap in the face rather than turning the other cheek, a different and stronger response is required.
“Every state that works and acts against the state of Israel must understand that we will take our revenge.”
Hence, following the UK sanctions, Israel’s response has been the closure of the UK consulate in Jerusalem, and while His Majesty’s Government brushes this off as a downgrade, the world sees it for what it is: a humiliation for Britain.
It is not downgrading. It is degrading.
MEANWHILE, THE UK’s “little” David, Highgate Synagogue, steps forward.
The Greens’ Goliath, who passed the Zionism equals racism motion, sent a letter via Councillor Mark Blake, leader of Haringey Green Council, to the rabbi and chairpersons of the synagogue in his area.
He was trying to reassure them about the implications of the party’s disgraceful stance on Zionism and what it means for the local Jewish community. Everything was going to be fine.
This is the usual response of a coward. Having inflicted the blow, the antisemite then goes back to hide behind the parapet with false assurances. This is what Blake did.
Highgate responded with both barrels: “We reject your assurances. You make us unsafe.”
“You may see no connection between the ceaseless vilification of Israel, the blood libels that you and your party regularly trot out, and the hostility to Jews in this country, but we do.”
“We take it from tone and content (of your letter) that you are deeply embarrassed with the decision taken by your party to not only brand Zionism as racism but to call for the eradication by any means necessary, including violence, of the only Jewish state, the only practicing democracy in the Middle East and home to half of the world’s Jewish population…”
“This (motion) has been publicly celebrated by the Haringey branch of the Greens party, aligning itself with Hamas, a genocidal, homophobic, misogynistic, and Islamist terrorist organization.
“This synagogue has had close relatives who were victims of October 7. And let there be no doubt the love of Zion is integral. The threat of the Greens is an ignorant and one-sided view, and we expect you to resign from it.”
The wagons are circled, the war continues.
There is no room for weaseling around, and Highgate Synagogue has sent a message – not just to our enemies who come in many guises, but also to the leaders of the community too often showing themselves inexplicably obsequious. Polite overtures often fall on deaf ears.
During the High Holy Days, government officials were given jars of honey to wish them a sweet new year. Their response was the imposition of sanctions and the desire to disestablish the state of Israel.
Our nation produces brave Davids, not timid Sauls.
As Elie Wiesel said in his oft-repeated guidance: “Stand up, do not stay quiet. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
The writer is a Senior Barrister and retired criminal judge and author of Nothing Like the Truth and co-host of the podcast Shalom from Tel Aviv. He lives between London and Zichron Ya’acov.