I’m no Jew. My name is Pugh. I’m Welsh
and nowhere near a Jew. And mom’s
a McRoberts so I’m double British Isles:
blond hair, blue eyes. Anglo-Saxon smile.

So some of those Jews look odd to me.
They get wrapped up in their orthodoxy.
Sometimes I drive by them on the street.
The men wearing a single long braid of hair
and wearing their little hats. Dressed all
in black. What’s with that? Heck if I know.

I don’t understand those things but that’s OK
because in spite of my best intentions lots of
things are beyond my mortal comprehension.
And that includes Arabs, Muslims, Hindus
Jews and Seventh Day Adventists. So what?

Do I agree with everything they do? Not really.
But I’m not sure I have to. I don’t agree with
everything my wife does but that doesn’t mean
I leave her. So I’m no Jew. But I am a veteran.

And I know that if you go to military graveyards
you will see many stars of David among the rows.
I honor those brave men who gave their lives
defeating tyranny and defending democracy.
That’s good enough for me. They are my heroes.

In fact, one of my guardian angels is a rabbi
named Herbert Eskin.* He touched my heart
and personified all the best in mankind.
He showed me how to be a better human.

This doesn’t mean I like what Jews do in Palestine.
But I have to let that one go because look what
my people did to the red man and the black man.

Neither do I like Bibi Netanyahu who came here
and helped Republicans insult our black president.
Hell no. If you ask me, Bibi’s got to go. But look.

I don’t like Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul
or Tom Cotton. I think they’re craven and rotten.
Politicians! They seem to always be so corrupt.
They’re everywhere – Russia, America and Israel.

So I truly wish the worst for all the right-wing jerks.
If I were a gypsy witch with a hex I’d send them
a nasty curse. And the best for Sharon Saguy and
Karin Brauner, female warriors in the Pink Front.**
My spirit flies with them wherever they protest.

Jews have their faith, and they have their God.
I have mine, too. In fact, I support religious liberty
and believe the Holy Father grows many branches
on his tree. If one won’t work, try another. He gave
us so many ways to reach his heavenly kingdom.

Holy men say heaven is without sex, skin, religion
or gender since we exist there in spirit only. That’s
pretty easy to believe. So I don’t hate a Jew, AOC
or Omar Ilhan no more than I hate you or me.

That’s because we’re all human. Therefore, if
I hate someone, I’m hating part of God’s creation.
I’m not the brightest. But I hope I’m not that stupid.
That would be a tough one to explain in heaven.

And I’ll bet there’s a very good chance God could
give me a detention in purgatory for a millennial
or two to reconsider my egotistical attitude.

So I’m no Jew nor Arab, Muslim, Seventh Day
Adventists or Hindu. But I will always stick up
for them because it’s the right thing to do.

I leave them be. The street’s wide enough
for them and me to live in peaceful harmony.

* WW II Army combat chaplain and Detroit rabbi.

Read his story, “Rabbi, Teach Us!” at ganja-tales.com/stories

** Israeli protest group largely comprising female artists

protesting Bibi Netanyahu and political corruption.