The New anti-Semitism: We can hate ourselves just fine, thanks.

- From Israel's National Anthem, HaTikva - The Hope

Our hope is not lost,
Our hope of two thousand years,
To be a free nation in our land,
In the land of Zion and Jerusalem

Freedom.

That's what it's all about.

Sadly, for too many Jews in Israel (AKA Israelis), Zionism is all about freedom. In their eyes, the State of Israel exists in order that Jews can be free; be normal; be just like everyone else.

If that's the case, then the Zionist movement has been a resounding success.

Consider the following Yediot Achronot headline: Is anti-Semitic humor funny?

Israeli artist announces competition for anti-Semitic caricatures created by Jews; 'this will show the world how sane we are,' he believes.

“We decided to respond to riots in which people are being killed in because of caricatures,” Sandy told Ynet. “We think the easiest thing to do is to laugh at others. It's much more challenging to find your own weaknesses."

"So we decided to set a personal example. Anti-Semitism is always current, so after the Danes laughed at the Moslems and the Moslems initiated a competition of Holocaust jokes, we thought that as long as we are dealing with stereotypes, let’s test our own limits. We want caricaturists and illustrators to submit Jewish anti-Semitic caricatures. It will be good to refresh our anti-Semitic resources,” he said.

Sandy admits that the initiative is provocative. But he also says provocations "enrich" our milieu.

According to a statement to the press, prizes will also include matza baked with the blood of Christian children.

To see the entire gallery of anti-Semitic cartoons submitted by Jews, click here.

There you have it.

Jews in Israel are now free to hate themselves.

Who needs Hitler, Arafat, Hamas or Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when we have our own Jew haters right here, in the heart of the Jewish State? If this isn't a sign of our being just like the nations of the world, I don't know what is.

When we lose our ability to answer the questions of "Why be Jewish?" or "For what purpose do we have a Jewish State?", we have lost our reason to exist as a nation.

25:32 And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?'

25:33 And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

25:34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

Perhaps, in the not to distant future, someone will start a contest where Jews throughout the world will be asked to submit cartoons expressing Jewish Pride or any other theme with the intention of strengthening the Jewish People and our pride in who we are, where we have come from, where it is that we are going, and what it is that we are trying to achieve.

Until then, we'll have to settle for enjoying our "bread and pottage of lentils" which is our lot for selling (and re-selling) our birthright.

(If anyone is interested in being in touch with one of the founders of the "Israeli anti-Semitic Cartoon Contest" and sharing your thoughts on the contest with him, feel free to contact Amitai Sandy: amitaiss@yahoo.com or 972-54-316-4117)

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