Roald Dahl, English Writer, on Jews and Israel / From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Problems in Society
Roald Dahl was a famous writer. While he is primarily remembered for children's books like the classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he also had some informed observations about what happens in society. Dahl advised there is "a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke a certain animosity, maybe it's a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews." (Roald Dahl cited in D/onald Sturrock, Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl, Simon and Schuster, 2010, p 511)
A TRAIT IN HIS CHARACTER
Mikhail Khodorkovsky used to be an oil tycoon. He has been convicted by a Russian court for "stealing almost $30 billion worth of the oil". (Nataliya Vasilyeva, Russian tycoon Khodorkovsky gets 6 more years, AP, 30 Dec 2010)
And there's been some animosity because of this massive theft?
There was. 14 years worth of it. That's the sentence that Russian judge Viktor Danilkin imposed on this Jew.
Roald Dahl's observation was accurate. But maybe just this once?
KING DAVID AND THE CONQUEST OF RABBAH
Years ago -- about 3000 years ago -- the great Jewish King David ruled in Jerusalem. He sent his army under the commander Joab to attack the city of Rabbah.
Joab had good success, and captured the royal fortifications and the water supply for the city. He sent word to King David to come and finish the job.
And so the Jewish King came. After a very brief battle with some very thirsty opponents David took the city. "And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance." (2 Samuel 12:30, Holy Bible) And this is "the trait in the Jewish character that does provoke a certain animosity, maybe it's a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews." 
(Roald Dahl cited in Donald Sturrock, Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl, Simon and Schuster, 2010, p 511)
But isn't it normal to take some plunder in war? Maybe.
What happened next was extremely perverse. "And he brought forth the people that were therein, and
KING DAVID AND THE SAUSAGE FACTORY -- SLICE, DICE, CHOP, AND THEN OFF TO THE OVENS
put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon." (2 Samuel 12:31, Holy Bible)
Roald Dahl wrote about a chocolate factory, where lots of treats for children were produced. But the Jewish King David had that trait in his character -- a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews." (Roald Dahl cited in Donald Sturrock, Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl, Simon and Schuster, 2010, p 511) And sent his victims off to the sausage factory.
REACTION
Roald Dahl heard about what the Jews were doing in some wars: "we all started hating the Israelis". (Roald Dahl cited in Donald Sturrock, Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl, Simon and Schuster, 2010, p 510)
And it wasn't just Dahl.
NEW AMSTERDAM
Peter Stuyvesant managed New Amsterdam for the Dutch West India Company. "When the Jews arrived, Stuyvesant sought permission from Amsterdam to keep them out altogether. The Jews, he explained, were "deceitful," "very repugnant," and "hateful enemies and blasphemers of the name of Christ."" (Jonathan Sarna, American Judaism - A History, Yale University Press, 2004, p 2)
TIMELESS WISDOM
Roald Dahl was a master of the written word, an ace pilot, and a man who had seen the world.
But most importantly, a man who spoke truth. His message is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago, 350 years ago, and all the way back to the time of King David. So the next time you hear about a case of bias and animosity, remember the lessons of Roald Dahl, Peter Stuyvesant, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and King David.
