I am with you and with Israel. I was not born Jewish. My father who is now dying taught me to be a Zionist from before I even met a Jew. I have published in support of Israel and will continue to do so. You are not alone. I am not a Christian fundamentalist by any means but I am a Christian Zionist. I am fighting for civilization.
You are self aware and honest with yourself, good traits. I might not be as self aware. I've never considered myself cool or aspired towards it, whatever it means, but my wife, kids, and grandkids have told me I'm cool. "If you say so" I say to them.
G-d forgive me, and one day I may be held to account by the Almighty, but I have lost all compassion for the folks on the other side. In reflections of an era gone by, when high explosives and fire rained down without mercy on German and Japanese cities until they gave up and the evil that they brought to the world was finally ended, so too these folks who wish to kill all of the Jews need to be themselves killed until they unconditionally surrender. Their defeat must be so complete and devastating that they will not attempt it again (until, of course, the next time). I would like nothing more than to see this conflict end; however, only on Israel's terms.
Great article. I think you need a little more time to realize (and I say this with a smile) that you have moved to the right and if you lived in America now, you may well be firmly identifying with the Republican party. Have you read about the MOST pro-Israel cabinet EVER that Trump has formed? I am blown away by that. Definitely not what a "Hitler" would do!
Good that you realized this and even better that you wrote it. Judaism is not tikkun olam and not even Maschiach. Judaism is a warning of the evil that lurks in the hearts of men and the need to put a fence around it. Even God despaired of His creation and already at the end of the first Torah portion. The Palestinians are rabid, the Muslims that support them are compulsive liars, the UN is an organized enemy of the Jewish people, and the West is out to lunch except for America which seems for the moment to have woken up from woke. Liberalism is an ideology for a functioning modern society; but our society is not functioning properly and liberalism has become a shadow of what it once was. Even in Israel most of the elites are out to lunch, pushing the idiotic two-state solution and still deluding themselves they can mow the wild grass. Time for everyone to wake up, stop the slaughter of lovely Jewish boys and girls, and make Zionism the safe haven Israel is destined to be for Jews. Amen and amen.
"Judaism is a warning of the evil that lurks in the hearts of men and the need to put a fence around it." That's a remarkable line, Stephen. And it's as good a "standing-on-one-foot" summary of the essence of Jewish teaching and belief as anyone could ask for.
Thank you. There is a reason the Hebrew Bible is the template of western literature. It is such a remarkable text and bears reading and rereading, which is what Jews do every week of the year!
"the Muslims that support them are compulsive liars"
Minor point of clarification. Muslims are not compulsive liars but merely following the Qu'uranic instruction to engage in "taquiyya" when necessary to protect the religion and to advance the goals of war.
I am an American gentile. An evangelical Christian, to be more precise. Your reflexive statement that you’re “separate” from Netanyahu is garbage. HE is leading a nation at war. You are not. Win the war FIRST. There’ll be time afterwards to bitch about HOW it was won. But if you don’t win, both good and bad Israelis will suffer.
A corollary I will note - secular people LOVE to hate religious people and religious adjacent people - EVEN when survival of the hater and hated are equally in jeopardy. This is insanity!
This was a heartbreaking rendition of the hell you have suffered. It is so dreadfully sad. We need to hear more of these appalling and terrible stories. You are right! This constant call for cease fire is nonsense, you must fight back. Any other country that suffered the Oct 7th attack, would fight back with a vengeance. They are so hypocritical they refuse to admit it.
I firmly believe that Israel will beat this. I know that you feel alone in the world but believe me, so many of us are on your side. I stand with Israel.
Brilliant post. I don’t think I was ever a liberal Jew. But I have tried hard to muster up some compassion for Palestinians who are obviously suffering greatly. Any compassion was beaten out of me by the constant hatred directed at Jews and the slander against Israel which happens to be rampant on Substack. I have no emotional bandwidth left for Palestinians.
Thank you for an excellent, moving expression your convictions. I share your views and I am inspired by your thoughts. Yes, the so-called Two State Solution is dead in the water. It was always predicated on the Palestinian declaration of an end to the conflict. Will that remain a fantasy forever? Is there still room for hope? I would like to think so. Yet you bring up a good point: can an end to the conflict ever come about if the surrounding Arab states refuse to adopt it as well? In the end, what choice do we have?
"[the] Two State Solution . . . was always predicated on the Palestinian declaration of an end to the conflict"
Who, precisely assumed the "Two State Solution" would automatically bring peace. Certainly not the Muslims who follow Sharia Law. Certainly not the champions of the "Palestinian" cause, Hamas, Hazbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, the PA, etc., all of whom declare in word or deed: "Palestine wii be free," "From the river to the sea," "Intifada now," "Global jihad," and "Resistance by any means," all of which in cascading order dogwhistle calls for the final solution to the Jewish problem.
You have given a clear voice to all of us who have moved to Israel from the United States and who now see the world, Israel and Jewish life differently. Thank you!
I am with you and with Israel. I was not born Jewish. My father who is now dying taught me to be a Zionist from before I even met a Jew. I have published in support of Israel and will continue to do so. You are not alone. I am not a Christian fundamentalist by any means but I am a Christian Zionist. I am fighting for civilization.
I thank you for that. We Jews need ALL the support we can get right now!
Netanyahu is a great leader. Israel is an amazing country. Jews are a remarkable people.
We have given so much to the world, and we have nothing to apologize for.
Excellent post. Why folk feel a need to offer conditional opinions or qualify their views, or worse, apologize for their views, has always escaped me.
Easy.
Guilt. Cowardice. Ignorance. The need to be accepted by the “cool” crowd. Take your pick.
And I’ve frequently succumbed myself.
You are self aware and honest with yourself, good traits. I might not be as self aware. I've never considered myself cool or aspired towards it, whatever it means, but my wife, kids, and grandkids have told me I'm cool. "If you say so" I say to them.
G-d forgive me, and one day I may be held to account by the Almighty, but I have lost all compassion for the folks on the other side. In reflections of an era gone by, when high explosives and fire rained down without mercy on German and Japanese cities until they gave up and the evil that they brought to the world was finally ended, so too these folks who wish to kill all of the Jews need to be themselves killed until they unconditionally surrender. Their defeat must be so complete and devastating that they will not attempt it again (until, of course, the next time). I would like nothing more than to see this conflict end; however, only on Israel's terms.
Great article. I think you need a little more time to realize (and I say this with a smile) that you have moved to the right and if you lived in America now, you may well be firmly identifying with the Republican party. Have you read about the MOST pro-Israel cabinet EVER that Trump has formed? I am blown away by that. Definitely not what a "Hitler" would do!
Good that you realized this and even better that you wrote it. Judaism is not tikkun olam and not even Maschiach. Judaism is a warning of the evil that lurks in the hearts of men and the need to put a fence around it. Even God despaired of His creation and already at the end of the first Torah portion. The Palestinians are rabid, the Muslims that support them are compulsive liars, the UN is an organized enemy of the Jewish people, and the West is out to lunch except for America which seems for the moment to have woken up from woke. Liberalism is an ideology for a functioning modern society; but our society is not functioning properly and liberalism has become a shadow of what it once was. Even in Israel most of the elites are out to lunch, pushing the idiotic two-state solution and still deluding themselves they can mow the wild grass. Time for everyone to wake up, stop the slaughter of lovely Jewish boys and girls, and make Zionism the safe haven Israel is destined to be for Jews. Amen and amen.
"Judaism is a warning of the evil that lurks in the hearts of men and the need to put a fence around it." That's a remarkable line, Stephen. And it's as good a "standing-on-one-foot" summary of the essence of Jewish teaching and belief as anyone could ask for.
Thank you. There is a reason the Hebrew Bible is the template of western literature. It is such a remarkable text and bears reading and rereading, which is what Jews do every week of the year!
"the Muslims that support them are compulsive liars"
Minor point of clarification. Muslims are not compulsive liars but merely following the Qu'uranic instruction to engage in "taquiyya" when necessary to protect the religion and to advance the goals of war.
Stephen, you read my mind!
Glad to know! :) People who like Joyce and A. B. Yehoshua should have some affinity, down to our misgivings with respect to them.
I am an American gentile. An evangelical Christian, to be more precise. Your reflexive statement that you’re “separate” from Netanyahu is garbage. HE is leading a nation at war. You are not. Win the war FIRST. There’ll be time afterwards to bitch about HOW it was won. But if you don’t win, both good and bad Israelis will suffer.
A corollary I will note - secular people LOVE to hate religious people and religious adjacent people - EVEN when survival of the hater and hated are equally in jeopardy. This is insanity!
This was a heartbreaking rendition of the hell you have suffered. It is so dreadfully sad. We need to hear more of these appalling and terrible stories. You are right! This constant call for cease fire is nonsense, you must fight back. Any other country that suffered the Oct 7th attack, would fight back with a vengeance. They are so hypocritical they refuse to admit it.
I firmly believe that Israel will beat this. I know that you feel alone in the world but believe me, so many of us are on your side. I stand with Israel.
Outstanding piece!
Brilliant post. I don’t think I was ever a liberal Jew. But I have tried hard to muster up some compassion for Palestinians who are obviously suffering greatly. Any compassion was beaten out of me by the constant hatred directed at Jews and the slander against Israel which happens to be rampant on Substack. I have no emotional bandwidth left for Palestinians.
Thank you for the clear articulation of my own 180 degree change in attitude post Oct. 7. Liberal peacenik no more. Not when it comes to Israel.
This is me. I can relate. Thank you for putting my thoughts and feelings into such clear and coherent words.
Great post! The security of Israel should not be sacrificed on the altar of the false dreams and doctrines of anyone
Yes, I am in your tribe as well.
Thank you for an excellent, moving expression your convictions. I share your views and I am inspired by your thoughts. Yes, the so-called Two State Solution is dead in the water. It was always predicated on the Palestinian declaration of an end to the conflict. Will that remain a fantasy forever? Is there still room for hope? I would like to think so. Yet you bring up a good point: can an end to the conflict ever come about if the surrounding Arab states refuse to adopt it as well? In the end, what choice do we have?
"[the] Two State Solution . . . was always predicated on the Palestinian declaration of an end to the conflict"
Who, precisely assumed the "Two State Solution" would automatically bring peace. Certainly not the Muslims who follow Sharia Law. Certainly not the champions of the "Palestinian" cause, Hamas, Hazbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, the PA, etc., all of whom declare in word or deed: "Palestine wii be free," "From the river to the sea," "Intifada now," "Global jihad," and "Resistance by any means," all of which in cascading order dogwhistle calls for the final solution to the Jewish problem.
You have given a clear voice to all of us who have moved to Israel from the United States and who now see the world, Israel and Jewish life differently. Thank you!