Clergy Blog

I enjoy an occasional sip of single malt scotch and, truth be told, I have become somewhat of a scotch snob, finding other forms of spirits to be less satisfying and certainly less tasty. But, recently, with out-of-town family planning a visit, I thought I might offer a mixed drink option, perhaps a cool Bloody Mary (vodka and tomato juice). Unfortunately, however, I didn’t have any vodka. No problem, I thought. I’ll make a quick run to the liquor store. “Be back in a few” I called out to Lori as I left the house.  

I entered the local state store thinking that I would quickly choose a bottle and be on my way. But which bottle? I stood it before the large array of options and reached for the first bottle that caught my eye: Russian vodka.  Russian vodka, after all, is that country’s national beverage. But how can I buy Russian vodka as Russian troops attempt to overtake Ukraine in a war of unprovoked aggression? With a sense of moral indignation, I decided that I would not buy Stoli or Russian Standard vodkas! There are many more brands from which to choose.

I know that Absolut vodka is a favorite of many, but I reconsidered. Absolut is made in Sweden, and Sweden, of late, has been in the news for tolerating the burnings of the Koran and the Bible. Moreover, antisemitism in present-day Sweden is becoming “mainstream” as right-wing parties aligned with neo-Nazis are becoming more powerful in that country. I put the bottle of Absolut back.

Here is a nice bottle:  Finlandia.  Who could object to Finland?  Well….antisemitism, this time on the political left, is becoming increasingly more serious in all EU countries.  In the UK, for example, the ADL reports that the Jewish community has seen a "strong crossover between the pro-Palestine movement, the far left of the Labour Party, and other left-wing groups including some Trade Unions."  The EU's antisemitism watchdog, Katharina von Schnurbein, reported similar “mainstreaming” of antisemitism on the political left and that “Finnish authorities, in particular, need to do more to combat hate speech, including antisemitic narratives”.  Finlandia went back to the shelf.

Similarly, I passed on France’s premium vodka, Grey Goose.  In France, antisemitism has been an ongoing problem, posing real, physical danger to Jews there.  In France, K. magazine said the Jewish community faces "a rapidly growing left-wing antisemitism that includes both anti-Zionism and traditional antisemitism."

By this time, I am weary.  An employee of the liquor store approached me.  “I noticed that you have been standing in front of the vodka shelf for twenty minutes.  Do you need some help?”.  “Yes”, I replied, “Do you have a chair?”  He brought a chair. I sat.

Ketel One has a good reputation.  But Ketel One is imported from Holland. In Holland, as well, there are Jewish problems.  A new study revealed that nearly one quarter of Dutch Millennials and Gen Z believe the Holocaust was a myth or exaggerated. Only half of respondents are in favor of recent efforts by Dutch public figures to acknowledge and apologize for the Netherlands’ failure to protect the Jews during the Holocaust. Ketle One = Zero.

And then there is Belvedere, Poland’s premium brand.  Antisemitism in Poland, in my opinion, has been sown into the soil of that country for over a thousand years.  Recently, in 2018, the lower house of the Polish Parliament passed a bill that makes it a crime (1) to "publicly… ascribe to the Polish people or to the Polish State responsibility or partial responsibility" for Nazi crimes, "other crimes against peace or humanity," or "war crimes," or (2) to "otherwise grossly reduce the responsibility of the true perpetrators of those crimes”.  Really?  I can’t support this sort of revisionist history of WWII and the Holocaust:  No Belvedere.  

Finally, there is American made Tito’s.  But, I asked myself, are things in this country that much better for Jews than they are in Europe? Again, the ADL reports that there has been a 36 percent increase of antisemitic incidents from 2021 to 2022; Campus and school incidents are up nearly 50 percent; there were 91 bomb threats targeting Jewish institutions last year.  This year, there seems to be no let-up.  

My cell phone rang: “Where are you?  You said you would return in a few minutes.  It has been over half an hour and our company will be here soon!”   “Sorry, Lori.  Things got complicated. I’ll explain later.  I’m leaving now and will be home in two minute”.

I returned the folding chair to the store manager and complimented him on his large selection of vodka. “Did you find what you were looking for?” he asked.  “Not exactly” I said, “but thanks for the chair” as I headed for the door.  On the way out of the store, I grabbed a bottle of scotch.