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There Are These Two Guys in Afghanistan
NMB, Florida January 18, 2002 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
THERE ARE THESE TWO GUYS IN AFGHANISTAN
There are stories about impossible things committed by impossible people
and we are cautioned that the things that are said about these things and
people are astonishingly true. They couldn't be made up.
It came out in today's NY Times that there are these two last Jews in
Afghanistan who are busy feuding with each other. Despite a Jewish presence
in Afghanistan for almost a thousand years most have left the country due to
the presence of the Taliban. One would think that the Taliban would round
up all the Jews in their country and, in the name of Islam, purify their
land by ridding it of the Infidels who do not share their ideas of religious
rectitude. They did not do this. It looks like they thought that the two
would work things out by killing each other. Feuds are like that.
I suppose the great Satan, the USA, took precedence over the Jewish
presence in their country. The two men's families left for Israel and they
stayed behind, each the curator of a Temple that had no members except
themselves. They feuded over the removal of a Torah and other religious
items from the Temples in order to preserve them. At the present time the
Torah remains in official custody. So they hate each other instead of the
Taliban despite one being imprisoned and beaten. It is assumed that the
Taliban officials tired of hearing the accusations and imprecations hurled
at each other and decided to make an example of them. It didn't work
because the report says they are still at it.
It is illustrative to point out that differences between individuals often
impose a stricture of thought, sight and hearing on people in the middle of
a war zone. The bombs may be falling and the hated rulers are still ruling
while the world is being ground into dust around them. But the feud is more
important and proving that the other guy is wrong and should be punished by
the fires of hell and so forth goes on in the midst of a disaster of greater
proportions. Well, so it goes. This is the way of life even in distant
Afghanistan. The vaunted cleverness and success of the Jews is severely put
to the test here.
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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