Too many people think antisemitism is a kind of social illness. In reality, both today and historically, it's an instrument of power — and Diaspora Jewry’s only real response is to reclaim it.
I’m sorry. I was too distressed to read your piece on vigilant Judaism. You are, as always, right. Now, how do we enact these actions in Australia? Happy to help if you have any specific suggestions
Teach everyone including kids proper self-defense, more Jewish community coordination, private Jewish security perhaps in coordination with Israeli security companies who bring decades of expertise, get Israeli citizenship just in case, start making your life more agile in case you need/want to move in the future — just a few thought-starters. :)
Once again Joshua Hoffman has his fingers on the pulse. Kol Hakovod.
And no Joshua, being clear-eyed and realistic is not pessimism, it's vigilance. Your proposed remedy is correct as well, we must take responsibility for our security much like Israel does for itself.
One thing that stood out to me in the Bondi pogrom was that Australia's strict gun control meant no attendee was able to shoot back. In places where gun laws are more sensible, Jews who are willing and able should be trained and armed. But there's a host of other non-physical, strategic training programs that Jews must take seriously. I am still astounded by how hundreds will attend a memorial service or a march, while barely a minyan will attend a workshop on active shooter or situational awareness training. Time to wake up folks. "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?!!! If not now, when!
I loathe what so much of our mainstream media has become, and it is nearly all complicit in the antisemitic fantasies it broadcasts - the BBC and Gaza are a case in point and that glaring example where Jeremy Bowen wrongly reported a Hamas missile in a car park as being the IAF completely 'flattening' a hospital. Even after being proven wrong, he continued to say he had no regrets over his reporting.
So what is to be done?
I suggest we need more and more of the excellent journalism by Joshua and his cohorts. We need to raise our profile. Somehow, we have to take the facts to the fanatics and more importantly, take those facts to what passess for our Leaders. We need more examples like Trump suing the BBC to absolutely rub their noses in public in the lies, the fake news, the misrepresentations, the bias, the editing that they put out there.
And, as per your article, we need Vigilant Judaism, preferably of the Maccabean variety.
"You do not stop arsonists with workshops on fire safety." Great line! Yet, if we go back to 9/11, what did most of the terrorism experts recommend? De-radicalization, talking to the terrorists. Education and understanding, as in empathy, not intelligence, so that they can be defeated. I know because I was once one of the "experts" appointed to NATO to understand the psychological, organizational, and cultural aspects of terrorism.
Your post is resonant with a paper I have under review now titled, "The Second Surprise Attack of October 2023: Antizionism as Strategic Antisemitism" (with emphasis on the word strategic). The useful idiots may not be strategic; this is true, but the architects of all anti-Jewish hate movements throughout history have been strategic. We must differentiate the architects (what I call instigators in that and earlier papers) from the perpetrators; otherwise, we can confuse strategy with insanity. Strategic antisemitism is anything but insane. It is logical, calculated warfare, and yes, it has everything to do with power consolidation, so thank you for naming it for a large audience. This is a point that deserves much repetition until it is ingrained in our minds.
Joshua, I refer you to a book written in 2002 that I came upon after reading a review of it in The NY Times of all places—they’d likely intentionally pass over it today. It’s called “Civilization and It’s Enemies, the Next Stage of History”, by a guy named Lee Harris. It grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me into reality, and I’ve recognized my responsibility to my family, my friends, and my heritage (Jewish) since. Thank you for your writing, and for Future of Jewish.
Thank you so much for your brilliant article..... After the horror of Bondi Beach, Australia, the hypocrisy of Albanese was not a surprise!!!!!......and now, in a few weeks we'll have a new mayor in New York, who is OK with "Globalize the Intifada " and openly anti Israel !!!!!!!!!!.....
Actually, Jews in the diaspora do not have the luxury of thinking it happened to someone else, somewhere else. I live not far from where Hersch grew up in Berkeley. My niece went to school with an idea of soldier who was kidnapped - alone soldier from the United States. My friend is friends with the uncle of a woman who was kidnapped.
One of the best articles I’ve read in a while. We differ only on one point - I will not be forced out of another country. I intend to stay and fight
💪
We don’t differ. I wrote about “Vigilant Judaism” a few days ago:
https://www.futureofjewish.com/p/forget-never-again-we-need-vigilant
I’m sorry. I was too distressed to read your piece on vigilant Judaism. You are, as always, right. Now, how do we enact these actions in Australia? Happy to help if you have any specific suggestions
Teach everyone including kids proper self-defense, more Jewish community coordination, private Jewish security perhaps in coordination with Israeli security companies who bring decades of expertise, get Israeli citizenship just in case, start making your life more agile in case you need/want to move in the future — just a few thought-starters. :)
Once again Joshua Hoffman has his fingers on the pulse. Kol Hakovod.
And no Joshua, being clear-eyed and realistic is not pessimism, it's vigilance. Your proposed remedy is correct as well, we must take responsibility for our security much like Israel does for itself.
One thing that stood out to me in the Bondi pogrom was that Australia's strict gun control meant no attendee was able to shoot back. In places where gun laws are more sensible, Jews who are willing and able should be trained and armed. But there's a host of other non-physical, strategic training programs that Jews must take seriously. I am still astounded by how hundreds will attend a memorial service or a march, while barely a minyan will attend a workshop on active shooter or situational awareness training. Time to wake up folks. "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?!!! If not now, when!
I loathe what so much of our mainstream media has become, and it is nearly all complicit in the antisemitic fantasies it broadcasts - the BBC and Gaza are a case in point and that glaring example where Jeremy Bowen wrongly reported a Hamas missile in a car park as being the IAF completely 'flattening' a hospital. Even after being proven wrong, he continued to say he had no regrets over his reporting.
So what is to be done?
I suggest we need more and more of the excellent journalism by Joshua and his cohorts. We need to raise our profile. Somehow, we have to take the facts to the fanatics and more importantly, take those facts to what passess for our Leaders. We need more examples like Trump suing the BBC to absolutely rub their noses in public in the lies, the fake news, the misrepresentations, the bias, the editing that they put out there.
And, as per your article, we need Vigilant Judaism, preferably of the Maccabean variety.
Excellent post Joshua ! All true.
Yes
"You do not stop arsonists with workshops on fire safety." Great line! Yet, if we go back to 9/11, what did most of the terrorism experts recommend? De-radicalization, talking to the terrorists. Education and understanding, as in empathy, not intelligence, so that they can be defeated. I know because I was once one of the "experts" appointed to NATO to understand the psychological, organizational, and cultural aspects of terrorism.
Your post is resonant with a paper I have under review now titled, "The Second Surprise Attack of October 2023: Antizionism as Strategic Antisemitism" (with emphasis on the word strategic). The useful idiots may not be strategic; this is true, but the architects of all anti-Jewish hate movements throughout history have been strategic. We must differentiate the architects (what I call instigators in that and earlier papers) from the perpetrators; otherwise, we can confuse strategy with insanity. Strategic antisemitism is anything but insane. It is logical, calculated warfare, and yes, it has everything to do with power consolidation, so thank you for naming it for a large audience. This is a point that deserves much repetition until it is ingrained in our minds.
Brilliant insights.
Joshua, I refer you to a book written in 2002 that I came upon after reading a review of it in The NY Times of all places—they’d likely intentionally pass over it today. It’s called “Civilization and It’s Enemies, the Next Stage of History”, by a guy named Lee Harris. It grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me into reality, and I’ve recognized my responsibility to my family, my friends, and my heritage (Jewish) since. Thank you for your writing, and for Future of Jewish.
Thank you so much for your brilliant article..... After the horror of Bondi Beach, Australia, the hypocrisy of Albanese was not a surprise!!!!!......and now, in a few weeks we'll have a new mayor in New York, who is OK with "Globalize the Intifada " and openly anti Israel !!!!!!!!!!.....
Actually, Jews in the diaspora do not have the luxury of thinking it happened to someone else, somewhere else. I live not far from where Hersch grew up in Berkeley. My niece went to school with an idea of soldier who was kidnapped - alone soldier from the United States. My friend is friends with the uncle of a woman who was kidnapped.