I was horrified, angry, saddened after reading Susan Estrich’s column describing the sexual violence weaponized against Israeli women by Hamas in their savage attack on Oct. 7. The hatred that these animals exhibited as they raped and butchered innocent women is beyond revulsion.

The Rogers and Hammerstein’s play South Pacific described hatred in the song, “You’ve got to be carefully taught.” It goes on to explain the hate and fear that’s drummed in your ear, to hate and fear all the people your relatives hate.

The hatred of Jews has been passed on from generation to generation. It erupted in Germany resulting in the extermination of 6 million European Jews. It did lie beneath the surface here in the United States. Unfortunately it’s spewing out, especially on college campuses. Flags and signs with Nazi and pro-Palestinian symbols are evidence of this festering hatred.

Jews encounter hate and misconceptions daily. My Jewish friend had a caregiver who proclaimed that all Jews had big noses and were rich. Who did she learn this from? The caregiver was not born in the U.S. Was she taught this in her native country?

Jews are like everyone else. We all bleed if we’re injured or killed. Our blood is red. Israeli women who were raped and tortured by Hamas, bled red, just like Palestinian and Christian women.

Hamas hatred is deep. They were taught to not only hate Jews, but to especially hate women. Who taught them? Certainly not their mothers.

Judith Miller

Schaumburg