Another phrase for Diaspora Jews to lose is "Two-State Solution". Israelis did not need October 7 to tell them that the creation of a Palestinian state would not be the solution to anything. They are the ones that would have to live with the consequences.
And yet we continue to hear the same sermon, preached by the same people, who claim to speak for most North American Jews. As long as they can cling to the old familiar phrase, they can avoid asking their audience the real question: Would you favour a sovereign Palestinian state if you knew it would be run by the Palestinian Authority (that pays a bounty for dead Israelis) or by Hamas or other Iran-sponsored radical terrorist organizations?
Vanessa, I think this is a wonderful article, and honestly I agreed with almost every point you made. The shift from “Never Again” to “Never Defenseless Again” was especially powerful. That is an incredibly strong observation because it moves Jewish thinking from memory alone to preparedness and responsibility.
And interestingly, I think that point itself actually shows why messaging still matters. Imagine if Jews everywhere began consistently repeating “Never Defenseless Again” the way other movements repeat their slogans. It is emotionally clear, psychologically strong, historically rooted, and immediately understandable.
The problem is not that messaging is unimportant. The problem is that messaging alone cannot solve civilizational hostility. But strategic messaging absolutely still matters, and frankly, Jews have often been extremely poor at coordinated narrative discipline compared to movements that understand slogans, repetition, emotional framing, and activism far better than we do.
That’s part of the frustration many Jews now feel: there is no unified strategic structure that takes powerful ideas like this and institutionalizes them broadly across organizations, campuses, demonstrations, media, and public discourse.
Still, overall, I thought the article was excellent, honest, mature, and extremely thought-provoking.
It seems like education is useless. You can't change the hatred that lies buried in hearts and minds with facts and statistics. Strength is all they understand. We don't need their sympathy ""never defenseless again"....love it.
Thank you for suggesting that we get our narratives in order.
May I suggest my opinion of these 7 points:
1. JLM does not equate to BLM.
God forbid we should stoop to that level. They are bloody criminals and Jew haters.
2. Anti-Zionism is Antisemitism
3. The Guardian of Israel shall not slumber nor sleep.
4. Our Narrative is that the Land of Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people. We never left our land even though conquered by now and then by others.
5. The Torah of Israel, the Land of Israel and the Nation of Israel are the 3 pillars of our Nation.
6. Education starts at home. Study the history of our people.
7. Let's fix our own house before we try to fix the world.
Hallelujah. Finally, a logical analysis of the mistakes we’ve been making. Personally, I am fed up with trying to persuade or influence antisemites in a rational manner. It’s akin to slapping a “kosher” sticker on a ham. Our only choice is to be collectively strong, show our disdain for their views and walk with our heads held high. Not many years after the Shoah, a neonazi organization was mobilized. Our parents didn’t moralize, engage in dialectics or question Zionism.instead, they raised more money for Israel, those who were physically and psychologically able went to Israel to fight back. When the antisemites vandalized a building our fathers went after them with baseball bats. When clubs excluded Jews we built bigger and better clubs. Why are we not fighting back now?
Not… just… the U.S.: the UK (and other countries)is having big problems with antisemitism… the murders in Manchester on Yom Kippur last year? The knife attacks on Jews? The huge amount of security needed at synagogues and schools(had that for a long time)? The pro P. marches in London every Saturday? And so much more.
in other western countries, for “American” and “Democrat” above, please replace with the appropriate country designation and associated leftist party/parties, respectively.
Sadly, while most of them may not be serious people, we need to take them seriously and at their word.
Since they are turning the increasingly illiberal Democrat party into one which is openly anti-Zionist, meaning it denies the right of a Israel to exist as a Jewish country.
The article is right that the narratives need to change — but it doesn't go far enough in saying what replaces them. The answer is simple: better Jews.
Jews who don't care, who apologize for their identity, who hide it, or who have no interest in maintaining it — do us all a favor and step aside. Find atheism, find another faith, find whatever gives you peace. But go silent on Jewish affairs, because you are not assets-You drain our souls.
What we need are proud, observant Jews who raise their children to be the same. Jews who understand that fighting back is not optional — politically, culturally, communally, and yes, physically when threatened. That is not extremism. That is survival.
Fight back. In every way necessary. That is the only narrative worth building.
I'm probably preaching to the wrong crowd here — most people on this site already get it. The Jews I'm actually talking about aren't reading this. They're getting their Judaism from the New York Times.
Jews and Israelis can count on the support of this Objectivist, and many others, I would venture to say. We share a common respect for western civilization, as such.
One fact to keep in mind always is that Muslim hate and violence toward Jews has existed for centuries, essentially since Islam began. What did we do to deserve it? We refused to abandon our birthright, which makes us anti-Islam. The term “Islamophobia” is a trap in that it defines any criticism of Islam or the calling out of Islamist hate and violence as “irrational fear of Islam.” How convenient. Islam has from the beginning put itself on a pedestal. Unlike the tiny Jewish population on the planet who essentially “live and let live” (until you try to exterminate us), Islam self-proclaims that its goal is to make the whole world Muslim. Think of what the world would be like if Islam reformed and laid down the sword.
We ought to stop referring to the cities and towns that are over the green line as "settlements." When people hear this they imagine pioneers building log cabins. The majority of the so-called settlements are major towns and suburbs adjacent to Jerusalem. We also need to stop referring to any area over the green line as "occupied territory." This conjures up the image of Nazi Germany conquering Poland and occupying it. The territroy is DISPUTED legally and otherwise.
I"d like Jewish spokespeople not feel it required of them to add that they oppose Islamophobia, anti Palestinian racism....which is questionable in itself as a form of hate, homophobia, and so on...
I'd like Jewish spokespeople not feel that they must disparage the Israeli government and its conduct of the war to justify support of the continued Jewish sovereignty in our ancestral homeland
I'd like Jews....celebrities not feel they have to disparage Jewish sovereignty as uniquely evil while in the same breath elevating Palestinian nationalism as the most important human rights movement in the recorded history of mankind....so as to "virtue signal."
I'd like some Jews to quit this business of how they and they alone represent authentic Jewish values.
You can thank your Progressive Reform Judaism for destroying most of Judaism in the US. Their only focus on Judaism is Tikkun Olam, a tiny aspect of Judaism, which in their minds is supporting every minority in the US, including those openly saying they will kill Jews, except Jews who do not kneel down to pray to Marx or Mamdani for their god, and Progressivism as their religion. Thus their preaching of hate towards religious Jews for years and years. They themselves stated in the 1990s that Reform was now a social activism sect, with just a tinge of Judaism to make it palatable. Thus, suddenly Judaism is all about "ethics", that is their interpretation of ethics, not Judaism's historical ethics of Pirkei Avot. They love to state Judaism has nothing to do with Zionism, which is incredibly laughable, since pre-war German Reform Jews in the 1930s were begging to go to the British Mandated Palestine to save their lives. They of course have amnesia about "Next year in Jerusalem" part of the seder or maybe since often their Haggadahs are all about everything but Judaism, the young generations do not even know that part at all. There has been continual demonization of Israel for decades by Reform leaders and many Reform rabbis. And of course, their continual grovelling to their Jew hating friends that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, begging those Jew hating friends to "friend" them again, and so they can vote for the Jew hating, Israel demonizing Mamdani, without any feelings of guilt.
We should also remember that we are the chosen people, not because we believe we are better than others, but because we have the privilege and responsibility of following Torah.
Antizionism is Jew-hatred. Its 100+ year history of inciting massacres and sanitizing persecution and ultimately the flight of Jews from antizionist Eastern bloc and MENA countries in the mid-20th century should make that very clear. The jury is in. It's a hate movement that paints a target on the backs of diaspora Jews. We really need to work up the courage to say so.
This was an excellent article, which i hope to share with friends here in the Berkshires. And I also agree with Frederick Tatala on his point concerning messaging-not messaging alone but strategic messaging is important. I do not know if you are a Diaspora jew or an Israeli jew but i think you have in this article helped me and others discuss about our people.
Another phrase for Diaspora Jews to lose is "Two-State Solution". Israelis did not need October 7 to tell them that the creation of a Palestinian state would not be the solution to anything. They are the ones that would have to live with the consequences.
And yet we continue to hear the same sermon, preached by the same people, who claim to speak for most North American Jews. As long as they can cling to the old familiar phrase, they can avoid asking their audience the real question: Would you favour a sovereign Palestinian state if you knew it would be run by the Palestinian Authority (that pays a bounty for dead Israelis) or by Hamas or other Iran-sponsored radical terrorist organizations?
Or lived 5 miles from where you live?
Vanessa, I think this is a wonderful article, and honestly I agreed with almost every point you made. The shift from “Never Again” to “Never Defenseless Again” was especially powerful. That is an incredibly strong observation because it moves Jewish thinking from memory alone to preparedness and responsibility.
And interestingly, I think that point itself actually shows why messaging still matters. Imagine if Jews everywhere began consistently repeating “Never Defenseless Again” the way other movements repeat their slogans. It is emotionally clear, psychologically strong, historically rooted, and immediately understandable.
The problem is not that messaging is unimportant. The problem is that messaging alone cannot solve civilizational hostility. But strategic messaging absolutely still matters, and frankly, Jews have often been extremely poor at coordinated narrative discipline compared to movements that understand slogans, repetition, emotional framing, and activism far better than we do.
That’s part of the frustration many Jews now feel: there is no unified strategic structure that takes powerful ideas like this and institutionalizes them broadly across organizations, campuses, demonstrations, media, and public discourse.
Still, overall, I thought the article was excellent, honest, mature, and extremely thought-provoking.
It seems like education is useless. You can't change the hatred that lies buried in hearts and minds with facts and statistics. Strength is all they understand. We don't need their sympathy ""never defenseless again"....love it.
Thank you for suggesting that we get our narratives in order.
May I suggest my opinion of these 7 points:
1. JLM does not equate to BLM.
God forbid we should stoop to that level. They are bloody criminals and Jew haters.
2. Anti-Zionism is Antisemitism
3. The Guardian of Israel shall not slumber nor sleep.
4. Our Narrative is that the Land of Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people. We never left our land even though conquered by now and then by others.
5. The Torah of Israel, the Land of Israel and the Nation of Israel are the 3 pillars of our Nation.
6. Education starts at home. Study the history of our people.
7. Let's fix our own house before we try to fix the world.
Hallelujah. Finally, a logical analysis of the mistakes we’ve been making. Personally, I am fed up with trying to persuade or influence antisemites in a rational manner. It’s akin to slapping a “kosher” sticker on a ham. Our only choice is to be collectively strong, show our disdain for their views and walk with our heads held high. Not many years after the Shoah, a neonazi organization was mobilized. Our parents didn’t moralize, engage in dialectics or question Zionism.instead, they raised more money for Israel, those who were physically and psychologically able went to Israel to fight back. When the antisemites vandalized a building our fathers went after them with baseball bats. When clubs excluded Jews we built bigger and better clubs. Why are we not fighting back now?
All due respect, there is really only one thing that American Jews need to stop saying:
“I will continue to vote for and give money to Democrats.”
P.S. Excellent essay.
This post deserves to be much higher up!
Jews continuing to vote Democrat fully legitimizes and normalizes the antisemitism that is now overflowing from their ranks.
Not… just… the U.S.: the UK (and other countries)is having big problems with antisemitism… the murders in Manchester on Yom Kippur last year? The knife attacks on Jews? The huge amount of security needed at synagogues and schools(had that for a long time)? The pro P. marches in London every Saturday? And so much more.
Agreed.
in other western countries, for “American” and “Democrat” above, please replace with the appropriate country designation and associated leftist party/parties, respectively.
"Because of my Jewish values I oppose Israel." Two Jewish values these people don't seem to recognize: Jewish solidarity and Jewish survival.
Such people are not to be taken seriously.
Sadly, while most of them may not be serious people, we need to take them seriously and at their word.
Since they are turning the increasingly illiberal Democrat party into one which is openly anti-Zionist, meaning it denies the right of a Israel to exist as a Jewish country.
The article is right that the narratives need to change — but it doesn't go far enough in saying what replaces them. The answer is simple: better Jews.
Jews who don't care, who apologize for their identity, who hide it, or who have no interest in maintaining it — do us all a favor and step aside. Find atheism, find another faith, find whatever gives you peace. But go silent on Jewish affairs, because you are not assets-You drain our souls.
What we need are proud, observant Jews who raise their children to be the same. Jews who understand that fighting back is not optional — politically, culturally, communally, and yes, physically when threatened. That is not extremism. That is survival.
Fight back. In every way necessary. That is the only narrative worth building.
I'm probably preaching to the wrong crowd here — most people on this site already get it. The Jews I'm actually talking about aren't reading this. They're getting their Judaism from the New York Times.
People who live in suburban America and never served in an Army are very free with advice to the IDF.
Jews and Israelis can count on the support of this Objectivist, and many others, I would venture to say. We share a common respect for western civilization, as such.
One fact to keep in mind always is that Muslim hate and violence toward Jews has existed for centuries, essentially since Islam began. What did we do to deserve it? We refused to abandon our birthright, which makes us anti-Islam. The term “Islamophobia” is a trap in that it defines any criticism of Islam or the calling out of Islamist hate and violence as “irrational fear of Islam.” How convenient. Islam has from the beginning put itself on a pedestal. Unlike the tiny Jewish population on the planet who essentially “live and let live” (until you try to exterminate us), Islam self-proclaims that its goal is to make the whole world Muslim. Think of what the world would be like if Islam reformed and laid down the sword.
It is separation of church and state and the western world’s refusal to tolerate Islamist states that is required to defeat the 7th century monsters.
End states that sponsor terrorism.
We ought to stop referring to the cities and towns that are over the green line as "settlements." When people hear this they imagine pioneers building log cabins. The majority of the so-called settlements are major towns and suburbs adjacent to Jerusalem. We also need to stop referring to any area over the green line as "occupied territory." This conjures up the image of Nazi Germany conquering Poland and occupying it. The territroy is DISPUTED legally and otherwise.
It's our land. Done explaining
I"d like Jewish spokespeople not feel it required of them to add that they oppose Islamophobia, anti Palestinian racism....which is questionable in itself as a form of hate, homophobia, and so on...
I'd like Jewish spokespeople not feel that they must disparage the Israeli government and its conduct of the war to justify support of the continued Jewish sovereignty in our ancestral homeland
I'd like Jews....celebrities not feel they have to disparage Jewish sovereignty as uniquely evil while in the same breath elevating Palestinian nationalism as the most important human rights movement in the recorded history of mankind....so as to "virtue signal."
I'd like some Jews to quit this business of how they and they alone represent authentic Jewish values.
That's a small part of my take on your llist.
Yes, STOP APOLOGIZING!
You can thank your Progressive Reform Judaism for destroying most of Judaism in the US. Their only focus on Judaism is Tikkun Olam, a tiny aspect of Judaism, which in their minds is supporting every minority in the US, including those openly saying they will kill Jews, except Jews who do not kneel down to pray to Marx or Mamdani for their god, and Progressivism as their religion. Thus their preaching of hate towards religious Jews for years and years. They themselves stated in the 1990s that Reform was now a social activism sect, with just a tinge of Judaism to make it palatable. Thus, suddenly Judaism is all about "ethics", that is their interpretation of ethics, not Judaism's historical ethics of Pirkei Avot. They love to state Judaism has nothing to do with Zionism, which is incredibly laughable, since pre-war German Reform Jews in the 1930s were begging to go to the British Mandated Palestine to save their lives. They of course have amnesia about "Next year in Jerusalem" part of the seder or maybe since often their Haggadahs are all about everything but Judaism, the young generations do not even know that part at all. There has been continual demonization of Israel for decades by Reform leaders and many Reform rabbis. And of course, their continual grovelling to their Jew hating friends that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, begging those Jew hating friends to "friend" them again, and so they can vote for the Jew hating, Israel demonizing Mamdani, without any feelings of guilt.
It isn't even "Tikun Olam". It is left wing politics that they pretend is Jewish by calling it Tikun Olam.
It is the mystical morality of altruism that encourages Jews and others to support Mamdani, Sanders and others, who espouse the “morality of death”.
We should also remember that we are the chosen people, not because we believe we are better than others, but because we have the privilege and responsibility of following Torah.
Antizionism is Jew-hatred. Its 100+ year history of inciting massacres and sanitizing persecution and ultimately the flight of Jews from antizionist Eastern bloc and MENA countries in the mid-20th century should make that very clear. The jury is in. It's a hate movement that paints a target on the backs of diaspora Jews. We really need to work up the courage to say so.
Never Defenseless Again. Just wow!!! Thank you, Vanessa, for your outstanding essay!
Dear Vanessa:
This was an excellent article, which i hope to share with friends here in the Berkshires. And I also agree with Frederick Tatala on his point concerning messaging-not messaging alone but strategic messaging is important. I do not know if you are a Diaspora jew or an Israeli jew but i think you have in this article helped me and others discuss about our people.
GREAT ! Some items I have previously tried to discuss with (Non-)Jews, but sometimes couldn´t get through. Now I have sth. to refer to.