Anti-Semitism has become a significant problem in this country, something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. Anti-Jewish sentiment may or may not be higher now than it has been in decades, but the Jewish community is being targeted by violence like nothing we’ve seen in this country as of late. Not only was there the attack in Jersey City, but we had another recent attack.

That attack has prompted many to advise Jews to start carrying firearms.

One such example comes from the Times of Israel blog, and there are some points worth our paying attention to.

A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

— Second Amendment to the US Constitution

I was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. Those words, despite being in the most important governing document throughout America, are not relevant to those who live in the Garden State. In New Jersey, you don’t have gun rights.

When I grew up in Teaneck, very rarely did I encounter anti-Semitism. I think I might have had the easiest life a Jew can have growing up, if we are being honest. There were no crusades, pogroms, intifadas, and we had our own Little League.

However, I heard about the incident in Teaneck, of the guy who entered a bagel shop and attacked three people. The police determined that it is not a bias incident. I’m sure the police did their due diligence, and I thank them for their thankless job. But whether it was a bias incident or a crazy person, that is unacceptable.

…

Listen, I know that Jews and guns are not the best of friends. For whatever reason, Jews don’t like guns. They focus too much on the prophecies of tomorrow, which say that one day the swords will be turned into plowshares. Or maybe you just can’t convince a nation whose members have been second-class citizens for 2,000 years to all of a sudden take their destiny into their own hands.

I understand that. I get it. But please, stop it already.

Speaking as a gentile, I have to agree.

Look, I don’t get anti-Semitism at all. It makes absolutely no sense to me. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean there aren’t people who buy into that kind of nonsense completely and totally. We all know they exist and, frankly, they’ve always existed. More importantly, Jews know this.

If you know there are legions who want you dead, why would you refuse to defend yourself? Yeah, the good Lord may promise the day of beating swords into plowshares will come, but it’s not here now, so you might as well take up the sword to protect yourself and your community. After all, anyone with a brain can tell that we’re not even close to that day. Until we are, those who beat their swords into plowshares prematurely will end up plowing for those who don’t.

I have a number of Jewish friends, and I hate to think that they or a member of their family might be killed because someone hates them simply for existing. I’d hate it even more if no one was able to protect their lives, like what just happened in White Settlement, Texas.