“Unless being a Jew is of absolute significance, how can we justify the ultimate price which our people was often forced to pay throughout its history?”
Amazing post ! Sharing. I’ve seen how my Jewish American friends struggled with the issues you mentioned. The reductive American narrative around race is so absurd. Im not Jewish but I am a pretty well published supporter of Israel and the Jewish people which has given me a small view of what it’s like to suddenly be hated because of ancient Jew hatred. Nothing like the real Jewish experience though. When I’m in Jewish spaces I’m very conscious of being welcomed and also of how not Jewish I am and never could be because I was born some kind of Scottish English mix and raised Christian. Living in a northeastern American city near one of those universities that is a hotbed of anti Israel insanity I believe that it is important for non Jews to speak out against antisemitism- Israel does not need to care what I think but my legislators need to know that attacks on American Jews will not be ignored. Many of my Jewish friends are in positions in academia or other professions where they fear retaliation if they speak up, even as their children are downright ignorant persecuted at the very university we graduated from. I hear that Israelis often ask if it’s safe for Jews in America. It’s not if you’re talking about major cities. I hope to be a small voice in making it safer.I hope my American friends can find strength in the rich culture you decided to teach about even at a time when it seems like being on the defensive is the only option. Wishing you well from Philadelphia.
Yes! Love what you say, and another thing: how is it that Biden has not taken a very hard line to get at least the American hostages out. What has happened to us since the end of the Cold War? We are so complacent, so worried about what others think, so afraid of being perceived as the bad guy. What, I ask, is the point of spending billions on the military if we don't threaten to use it, and actually do use it, in order to get our people out?
Now that Muslims have successfully invaded Europe, their subhuman behavior coupled with European appeasement, should make clear to Jews living in this cemetery of their ancestors to emigrate.
We in the USA and Israel need their numbers and brainpower.
Stephen, you are dead on correct that Jews should get the hell out of the cemetery of our ancestors ( Europe) why haven’t we learned from the inevitable pogroms that periodically emerge to victimize us in every generation. We are perpetual victims because we constantly set ourselves up to be. Think about the insanity of this, approx 65% of American Jews voted for a party whose base wants to destroy us. Many Jews donate to universities that acquiesce to anti Semitic mobs attacking Jewish students. (Some of these mobs include ethnic Jews as well.) Israeli jews (for the most part) have opposite views, grounded in reality.
I had an Israeli girlfriend who characterized most American Jews as “Sabone” weak and gutless. She was with me because I was not.
Jews need to move to red states or Israel where this anti Semitic attacks are not tolerated and if necessary fight back, these anti semites are losers ( whether in the right or left) and will fold if confronted. Shalom
I feel it’s not confined to Europe. Oct 7 changed me profoundly and watching the raw anti semitism suddenly shouted all over the USA was chilling to the bone. I experienced it here in rural Midwest. It was so quick and so allowed that I will never feel safe here now. Everything shifted.
As one of the goyyim, even I appreciate the angst, the beauty and the victory of this peace! My tiny phone screen does not have enough space for the "heart" emoji I would like to use in reply. Although a Christian, I find myself with strong "Messianic" leanings for nearly three decades. I mention this because defending Jews and Israel in a bigoted society have provided me with scenarios similar to the author's, and therefore the words of this piece resonate beautifully!
I enjoyed reading this article. I've liked to describe Jews as 'a People' - it works because it's so broad. I do have a pet hate and that's when a person is referred to as "a Jewish person". If they describe a Christian they never say "... is a Christian person" do they? No, they call that person a Christian.
We must take ownership of the word Jew. The anti-Semites use/d it as an insult. I use it with with overflowing pride.
Judaism is not a religion, neither is it a race. What is it then? It’s a family. You can be born into the family or you can be adopted in.
It doesn’t really depend on our beliefs but our actions do affect our family, and that’s why we practice loving kindness and other observances. Every family has its traditions, its memories and its history.
Yes, we are a family. We are the children of Israel.
"It doesn’t adhere to the 'narrative,' to all the words people like to hear these days. Good. Let our existence disrupt the narrative": I love this so much. We simply we have to take back our identity, without caring what others think. Brava!!!
Very lucid essay. The only criticism one can make is the author's claim "To be Jewish is not a race or ethnicity."
The term "Jewish" means a member of the Jewish people. Biologically, of course Judaism is not a race as it does not meet the minimum definition of the term — having distinct physical characteristics differentiating them from every other a biological group. And, of course, ethnicity is only one aspect of Judaism as the term relates to peoplehood.
"I would even argue that it isn’t a religion, since an innumerable number of atheist Jews exist."
Much more untenable because of its lack of logic is the argument that Judaism is not a religion because of the number of Jews who do not believe in God. So long as there are Jews who do believe in God and follow (or not) all (or some) of its precepts, Judaism is a religion. In fact, you could follow the precepts without believing in God. Still that would not negate the existence of the religion Judaism.
>Unless being a Jew is of absolute significance, how can we justify the ultimate price which our people was often forced to pay throughout its history?”
Well that does get to the heart of it doesn’t it? A random world of coincidences and happenstance, atoms in the void does make the horrors of history, not to mention the present day, seem pretty foolish and small. Doesn’t mean anything for how true or false such a view of the world is but absent any way to discern that truth, we all just grasp for the most convenient perspective, don’t we? Of course, when the rubber hits the road, practicality has to take over. There are as few martyrs in extremis as atheists in foxholes.
Literally nobody needs Israel, And nobody ever has. It has not made Jews safer anywhere on the planet, least of all inside its own “borders”, and it has committed nearly a century of atrocities with full license from the white supremacist Western world against Arabs and Muslims on all of its borders, beginning with the nakba and the permanent occupation of Palestine that created the conditions for resistance groups to arise.
Most Jews in the 1930s and '40s opposed the creation of a Zionist settler state. Holocaust survivors oppose it. Israeli scholars oppose it even today. Holocaust historians now openly say that Israel is doing essentially what Nazi Germany did. You're brainwashing is complete, and if you're not being paid by Israel, you are the most useful fool that they could hope for. You are spreading propaganda and genocidal lies and you will be judged in the future
You are so brave in your ignorance. What the world does not need is you. You contribute hate and stupidity. There is an expression that applies to you, "There is no cure for stupidity." That in a nut shell is you.
Amazing post ! Sharing. I’ve seen how my Jewish American friends struggled with the issues you mentioned. The reductive American narrative around race is so absurd. Im not Jewish but I am a pretty well published supporter of Israel and the Jewish people which has given me a small view of what it’s like to suddenly be hated because of ancient Jew hatred. Nothing like the real Jewish experience though. When I’m in Jewish spaces I’m very conscious of being welcomed and also of how not Jewish I am and never could be because I was born some kind of Scottish English mix and raised Christian. Living in a northeastern American city near one of those universities that is a hotbed of anti Israel insanity I believe that it is important for non Jews to speak out against antisemitism- Israel does not need to care what I think but my legislators need to know that attacks on American Jews will not be ignored. Many of my Jewish friends are in positions in academia or other professions where they fear retaliation if they speak up, even as their children are downright ignorant persecuted at the very university we graduated from. I hear that Israelis often ask if it’s safe for Jews in America. It’s not if you’re talking about major cities. I hope to be a small voice in making it safer.I hope my American friends can find strength in the rich culture you decided to teach about even at a time when it seems like being on the defensive is the only option. Wishing you well from Philadelphia.
Yes! Love what you say, and another thing: how is it that Biden has not taken a very hard line to get at least the American hostages out. What has happened to us since the end of the Cold War? We are so complacent, so worried about what others think, so afraid of being perceived as the bad guy. What, I ask, is the point of spending billions on the military if we don't threaten to use it, and actually do use it, in order to get our people out?
Beautiful and correct in every way.
Now that Muslims have successfully invaded Europe, their subhuman behavior coupled with European appeasement, should make clear to Jews living in this cemetery of their ancestors to emigrate.
We in the USA and Israel need their numbers and brainpower.
Stephen, you are dead on correct that Jews should get the hell out of the cemetery of our ancestors ( Europe) why haven’t we learned from the inevitable pogroms that periodically emerge to victimize us in every generation. We are perpetual victims because we constantly set ourselves up to be. Think about the insanity of this, approx 65% of American Jews voted for a party whose base wants to destroy us. Many Jews donate to universities that acquiesce to anti Semitic mobs attacking Jewish students. (Some of these mobs include ethnic Jews as well.) Israeli jews (for the most part) have opposite views, grounded in reality.
I had an Israeli girlfriend who characterized most American Jews as “Sabone” weak and gutless. She was with me because I was not.
Jews need to move to red states or Israel where this anti Semitic attacks are not tolerated and if necessary fight back, these anti semites are losers ( whether in the right or left) and will fold if confronted. Shalom
I feel it’s not confined to Europe. Oct 7 changed me profoundly and watching the raw anti semitism suddenly shouted all over the USA was chilling to the bone. I experienced it here in rural Midwest. It was so quick and so allowed that I will never feel safe here now. Everything shifted.
Wonderful essay. I reread your words. And recognized pieces of the story. Going to the Kotel my first time changed me. I became an ancient Jew.
Jews never fit into the narrative of any human era. It is good to not be part of the crowd and to think for yourself.
As one of the goyyim, even I appreciate the angst, the beauty and the victory of this peace! My tiny phone screen does not have enough space for the "heart" emoji I would like to use in reply. Although a Christian, I find myself with strong "Messianic" leanings for nearly three decades. I mention this because defending Jews and Israel in a bigoted society have provided me with scenarios similar to the author's, and therefore the words of this piece resonate beautifully!
Me too !!!! Such a similar experience! A Christian friend of Israel and the Jewish people. Solidarity my friend.
I enjoyed reading this article. I've liked to describe Jews as 'a People' - it works because it's so broad. I do have a pet hate and that's when a person is referred to as "a Jewish person". If they describe a Christian they never say "... is a Christian person" do they? No, they call that person a Christian.
We must take ownership of the word Jew. The anti-Semites use/d it as an insult. I use it with with overflowing pride.
Judaism is not a religion, neither is it a race. What is it then? It’s a family. You can be born into the family or you can be adopted in.
It doesn’t really depend on our beliefs but our actions do affect our family, and that’s why we practice loving kindness and other observances. Every family has its traditions, its memories and its history.
Yes, we are a family. We are the children of Israel.
"It doesn’t adhere to the 'narrative,' to all the words people like to hear these days. Good. Let our existence disrupt the narrative": I love this so much. We simply we have to take back our identity, without caring what others think. Brava!!!
Very lucid essay. The only criticism one can make is the author's claim "To be Jewish is not a race or ethnicity."
The term "Jewish" means a member of the Jewish people. Biologically, of course Judaism is not a race as it does not meet the minimum definition of the term — having distinct physical characteristics differentiating them from every other a biological group. And, of course, ethnicity is only one aspect of Judaism as the term relates to peoplehood.
"I would even argue that it isn’t a religion, since an innumerable number of atheist Jews exist."
Much more untenable because of its lack of logic is the argument that Judaism is not a religion because of the number of Jews who do not believe in God. So long as there are Jews who do believe in God and follow (or not) all (or some) of its precepts, Judaism is a religion. In fact, you could follow the precepts without believing in God. Still that would not negate the existence of the religion Judaism.
>Unless being a Jew is of absolute significance, how can we justify the ultimate price which our people was often forced to pay throughout its history?”
Well that does get to the heart of it doesn’t it? A random world of coincidences and happenstance, atoms in the void does make the horrors of history, not to mention the present day, seem pretty foolish and small. Doesn’t mean anything for how true or false such a view of the world is but absent any way to discern that truth, we all just grasp for the most convenient perspective, don’t we? Of course, when the rubber hits the road, practicality has to take over. There are as few martyrs in extremis as atheists in foxholes.
Literally nobody needs Israel, And nobody ever has. It has not made Jews safer anywhere on the planet, least of all inside its own “borders”, and it has committed nearly a century of atrocities with full license from the white supremacist Western world against Arabs and Muslims on all of its borders, beginning with the nakba and the permanent occupation of Palestine that created the conditions for resistance groups to arise.
Most Jews in the 1930s and '40s opposed the creation of a Zionist settler state. Holocaust survivors oppose it. Israeli scholars oppose it even today. Holocaust historians now openly say that Israel is doing essentially what Nazi Germany did. You're brainwashing is complete, and if you're not being paid by Israel, you are the most useful fool that they could hope for. You are spreading propaganda and genocidal lies and you will be judged in the future
You are so brave in your ignorance. What the world does not need is you. You contribute hate and stupidity. There is an expression that applies to you, "There is no cure for stupidity." That in a nut shell is you.