I remember years ago seeing a short video of ducklings born indoors. They had never been outside in their lives when researchers put the shadow of an eagle on their makeshift pond. The little critters scampered away, though they ostensibly didn’t know what an eagle was or that it could turn them into lunch. In a similar manner, I had a professor who asked a class filled with Jewish students (it was a Jewish history class), “How many of you think IT could happen here?” Someone asked for a definition of “IT,” but he was not having it. He asked again. This was 1986, fully 40 years after the Holocaust, with all of us completely integrated into American life and culture. We felt no different than other students on campus and were completely accepted into our surroundings. Every hand went up. The professor sat down in shock. If the most integrated, accepted, and Americanized generation still thought that the situation could go south for the Jews, will there ever be a peaceful period?

I came to Israel 34 years ago with two suitcases and a box of books. I came here because, in becoming religiously observant, I figured that I needed one of those Nintendo boost cubes to get up to Jewish speed as quickly as possible. And Israel is the place to do it. I stand in amazement when I see families making “aliyah” and come to Israel with small kids who need school and don’t speak very good Hebrew. They gave up their two cars for one, their big house with big yards for a fourth-floor walk-up. These people are incredible. So too are those who convert to Judaism. It’s like joining the Marines: first to hit the beaches, highest casualty rates, and a brutal life in the trenches. Who would want to give up 99 percent of all of the world’s restaurants by becoming Jewish and having to eat only kosher food? Some pretty amazing people.

While Jews have enjoyed and appreciated the days of calm and acceptance, we have........

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