As Jews, we rightly think of ourselves as the canary in the coal mine because history shows that when anti-Semitism rises, then societal tumult – if not wholesale violence – is on the way.

Today, in most places in the world, Jews have never had it so good. There is unprecedented freedom and security, prosperity and mobility. There is a Jewish state, not without problems but wealthy and strong. Anti-Semitic attacks are present but still thankfully rare. True, the atmosphere in Europe is decaying, but in the world’s truly dangerous places, there aren’t any Jews.

The real canary these days are the Christians, especially – but not only – in Muslim countries. We may be unaccustomed to thinking of Christians as victims, but they are under siege across the globe. In South Sudan, hundreds of thousands of Christians were killed, and tens of thousands enslaved in an Islamic jihad. Churches are burned by Muslims today. In Indonesia and Pakistan Christians are murdered in the streets. The most basic human right – freedom of religion – is denied upon penalty of death to Muslims who convert to Christianity. In Iraq, where there were Christians before there were Muslims or Arabs, Christians are kidnapped and ransomed, and driven out with bullets and beheadings.

Persecution of Christians is not much reported in the mainstream media because it doesn’t fit the template for today’s preferred victims, Muslims. In fact, Muslims are victims, but they’re persecuted by other Muslims. Not a day goes by without Shia blowing up Sunnis and the reverse, in Pakistan and Iraq, or with one group denying the other’s rights and basic humanity, as in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Jews have a strong sense of self-preservation but in certain circles its beginning to erode. In its place is an all-encompassing humanitarianism that puts almost anybody and almost anything ahead of the Jewish community, from suffering Darfuris to starving polar bears. Everything is a Jewish issue except for Jews, and especially not Christians. Whether it’s because Jews view Christians as former persecutors, former colonialists or just white people, the unspoken assumptions are that they either have it coming or that they can take care of themselves.
But this is not 1096 (the date of the First Crusade), or 1648 (the Chmielnicki massacres) or 1933 to 1945.

Christianity has changed its attitudes toward Jews and Israel and it is our obligation to stand with them against a common, deadly foe. Most Christians and Jews share rational, scientific and pluralistic values on which the modern world is based. These values, as well as individuals and communities, are under attack, as are Muslims who share or aspire to these values.

The irony of Jews defending Christians should not be an impediment to doing the right thing. The first step is becoming aware of just how pervasive violence against Christians is. One place to start is the Center for Religious Freedom (http://crf.hudson.org/). The other is the Compass Direct news service (http://www.compassdirect.org/). You will be shocked, and hopefully moved to speak up.