An Encounter With Evil
I joined the Ridgewood Hobbyists in NJ, a men’s social group, because I wanted to befriend a variety of people, not just Jews like me. And I’ve made friends there, good friends, Jews and non-Jews.
But the group is somewhat wary of Jews. I’m told that Jews cannot become president of the club. (The club meets in a Presbyterian church, by the way.) When I wanted to do a musical Christmas program on Christmas carols, sung by opera singers, a loudmouth objected—without explaining why. (I knew why.) He was the same loudmouth who said he was surprised I would permit him to do a program on requiems. (I run the music club.)
I told a funny joke to the club, involving priests—and a few Catholics got very angry. (The joke was harmless—and it needed priests…because of the hierarchy, nuns, priests, bishops.)
I haven’t tried to conceal my Jewishness as a member of the club. I’ve told jokes involving Jews.
One person told an anti-Semitic joke at a general meeting. About how money-minded Jews are. A joke featuring Morris and Becky. His joke was greeted with stony silence. He repeated: Morris and Becky! No response. The club is actually a good club with decent people. Holocaust survivors have spoken before the club….
I entered the church one day, and someone I didn’t know—Catholic, Irish—came over to me and said, belligerently, Did you say… and finished the sentence with something very insulting to Christians. Like “the virgin Mary was a whore.” (I don’t remember what he actually said.)
I was shocked—and horrified. No! I said loudly, and walked away.
I’ve thought about it. What should I have said or done? Demanded to know who had spread this filthy accusation? And confronted him? An evil person. Like the fellow who forged a letter ostensibly from Ben Franklin disparaging Jews. Or who wrote the fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
“Evil” is the best word for such people.
