Kraft doesn’t understand. It’s so so so much more effective to show a video that informs everyone that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel, as Bill Maher has done very recently; or how many inventions Israelis and Jews are responsible for that we use and couldn’t live without; or how Jews help other ethnic and religious groups all over the world, including Gazans, Muslims, and Arabs; or even proof of the Holocaust using actual evidence with a variety of commentators that are highly regarded famous figures who are not Jewish. What a waste of $15 million that could have had a tremendous positive impact.
I think people are too harsh on these commercials but you bring up a valid alternative if showing proof that we are the indigenous people. I believe there is some video from the early 1900s they could show?
Gentry liberals, esp the wealthy and/or those who were raised in the 20th century, are NEVER ever ever going to face the reality and causes of our current eruption of Jew hate, mostly because they will never relinquish what's maybe the most influential post-WW2 idea, that sentimental therapeutic humanitarianism is a balm that can heal all wounds (people just need to learn and to feel seen! and the higher we can raise their self-esteem, the nicer they'll be), but also because this would require a level of social conflict and courage that they're simply too fat and content to risk.
If you have a sewage spill or an oil leak, you go straight to the cause and fix it there. In this case, the toxic sewage leak is coming directly from our most prestigious universities, the Qatar-aligned madrassas who are the home office of Islamo-Marxist jihadism and who've given the world all the greatest hits of Anti-Zionism—settler-colonial imperialist apartheid genocidal ethnostate etc. This is the root of modern Jew hate, this state-subsidized idea that Israel is the world's most evil and most illegitimate state, and that Justice requires its eradication.
If you wanted real bang for you buck, how about a simple illustration of the most shocking and repulsive events that recently took place in modern America: the celebrations of the 10/7 massacre that broke out across the Ivy League, the tearing down of hostage posters, the disgusting quotes by dozens of academics that would have them chased out of polite society if uttered about any other minority. Just a simple montage of all the Ivy League students screaming in bloodlust with some quotes (maybe even one from Mr. Mamdani Sr) showing how infested with Jew hate our culture has become. You need to rub the hatred into the faces of the Jew haters, let them feel the shame they're always desperate to smear on others.
Kraft has brought a Hallmark card to a gunfight, but I would expect nothing else. It's hard for people to face and accept what's become of our most prestigious universities, esp to a high-achieving normie who's been saluting them like the flag their entire lives. They still imagine they live in the world they grew up in, but that's dead and irrelevant, as this Super Bowl ad will be by morning.
You almost lost me with the esp abbreviation. I dont believe its wide accepted or used which made me think you were referring to some sort of mind reading. 🤷
Here is the thing. I don't actually know Kraft's politics and I don't know that it has any relevancy to this ad. Obviously he hired some very mainstream Jewish group to put it together and just paid for it. For the modern left and this means everyone from center left mainstreamers to hard left radicals, victimhood is fully intertwined with virtue. That is why since 10/7, useless prigs like Charles Schumer keep insisting how many of hate crimes are against Jews. So we can be the biggest victims. We know this is not what is needed. What is needed is a full throated no holds barred defense of Israel Zionism and the Jewish people. And our enemies need to be called out for what they are, modern Nazis. And we need to welcome and thank the millions of American gentiles like John Fetterman or Patricia Heaton who stand with us. We need to make a stand not beg to be allowed into the pantheon of victim hood. And this is where Kraft went wrong.
Kraft is old and as an American Jew --lacks the experience of Israelis. The ad reminds me is something Spielberg would have produced.
I am Israeli born and lived as an American citizen in NYC for many years--and never felt antisemitism. I was in the film/TV business. We decided to move to see how the "other half lives"--and. I never regretted it--especially now with Mamdani in Gracie Mansion.
I'm blonde and blue eyed with small features--when people met me--no one assumed I was anything but an American WASP. I enjoyed being an ambassador of sorts to say:"That caricature--is just that!" A "Jew" can be of EVERY skin tone and appearance. And Jews are not necessarily the typical media example of an Orthodox Jew with a "kippah" and side "ringlets" (Peyas)! Jews come in as many as the Heinz varieties!
Most are secular--as I am.
But my identity-- is exactly as Liel portrays: Strong! I don't like ANY Jew portrayed as a weak victim. Although I'm aware that many only feel sympathetic for "The dead Jew".
I don't care. Having been born in Israel--having a father who died so that Israel can exist--and a cousin -- Ilan Ramon who died in the Columbia tragedy--I cannot be more proud of my heritage.
It is one of bravery!
So I'm in the camp that--like it or not--the world needs to see that side of Jews. No cowering. No "victimhood".
Bigotry is hard to squelch because it is rooted in jealousy. Bigots feel inadequate. Truly confident people have no need to scapegoat "others" for their failings.
We need to emphasize that and instead of defending ourselves-- go on the offensive. Offer the bigots the proverbial"mirror"--and ask: "Is that YOU?"
What a surprise to see some Te Ao Maori (the Maori world) being used here! The pronunciation is as you wrote it, and the spelling is whakapapa. It's a concept in Te Ao Maori that you belong in this chain of people, and knowing about this chain of people helps 'place' you in this world. It also links back to place as well - for example, I will often ask Māori people I meet the place that they whakapapa back to - and that tells me from where they come from. Absolutely this concept can be applied to Am Yisrael today - many Jews I know can whakapapa back in their families, and often to a place in Europe somewhere, and the knowledge of both time and place gives meaning to their lives.
Ka pai (good) for using this concept! Nga mihi from Aotearoa NZ.
Leil Lebowitz is right: Hot Israeli Girls of The IDF with guns, and the caption ‘Fuck around. Find out.’ Mr Kraft, over to you. Next ad is just this please. Why? Because the Jewish experience is BOTH. The response to antisemitic violence is both TOTAL and also SUBTLE. Victory is ALWAYS through strength, because out here in the real world strength is not optional.
Profanity is the language of the unimaginative, which Jews (most) are not.
If your proposed slogan is used in an ad, as you suggest, how do you propose to back that up? You gonna go out there and start “Rambo”ing people’s backsides? Remotely blow up their refrigerators? C’mon. Don't let your mouth write a check that your ass can’t cash. Your suggestion is just a blue square with attitude, and just as useless.
The strong turn inward for strength. I don’t expect back up from someone because of an ad. I’ll get it from like minds, Jewish and non-Jewish. They’re my brothers and sisters, not some social media follower who is momentarily inspired by an ad or a random post on a random platform. You can have ‘em all. They do Jews no good.
Kraft meant well and it's hard to see the harmless Jewish high school student depicted in the commercial committing "genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing." Kraft having a hard night with his team losing badly and all the criticism he is receiving from fellow Jews over this commercial. Best commercial of the night was the Budweiser bit with the Clydesdale, Lynrd Skynryd, and Free Bird. Great visuals and concept. Powerful, no need for stars or celebrities. Suggest Kraft hire the outfit that did this commercial to do his next antisemitism commercial. Here it is:
Our enemies are targeting Western education for decades. They operate strategically where we subscribe Advil to cancer.
Below are just a few examples:
"Most Americans have never even heard of Qatar, but do you know who most certainly has? The presidents of every college and university in the United States. That is because Qatar has poured billions of dollars into our education system, covertly financing an extensive influence operation in America. Qatar is a top supporter of terrorist groups like Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and al-Qaeda affiliates, among others. By funding think tanks, activist organizations, mosques — and now American universities and educational programs — the Qatari government can engage in political activities that benefit Qatar while inculcating virulent anti-Semitism that continues to spread throughout American society.
The bulk of all Middle Eastern donations comes from Qatari donors, and one entity — Qatar Foundation — accounts for virtually all of the donations from Qatar. Qatari cash helped to incubate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign on U.S. college campuses. These funds significantly impact the university's course offerings, curricula, faculty decisions, campus attitudes, and oftentimes end up creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and anyone who opposes Qatar's radical political agenda.
Qatar is just one of the foreign governments hostile to the United States and to Israel, which have been pouring money into our universities in exchange for influence. It's time we pull back the curtain on these shady dealings. Visit clarionproject.org/covertcash to watch this important film that exposes the seedy underbelly of foreign influence on our education system."
SOAS is so dependent on Arab/Muslim money that Jewish students are regularly harassed. A glance at the staff at the Middle East Institute, an integral part of SOAS will give you the picture.
Kraft doesn’t understand. It’s so so so much more effective to show a video that informs everyone that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel, as Bill Maher has done very recently; or how many inventions Israelis and Jews are responsible for that we use and couldn’t live without; or how Jews help other ethnic and religious groups all over the world, including Gazans, Muslims, and Arabs; or even proof of the Holocaust using actual evidence with a variety of commentators that are highly regarded famous figures who are not Jewish. What a waste of $15 million that could have had a tremendous positive impact.
I think people are too harsh on these commercials but you bring up a valid alternative if showing proof that we are the indigenous people. I believe there is some video from the early 1900s they could show?
Gentry liberals, esp the wealthy and/or those who were raised in the 20th century, are NEVER ever ever going to face the reality and causes of our current eruption of Jew hate, mostly because they will never relinquish what's maybe the most influential post-WW2 idea, that sentimental therapeutic humanitarianism is a balm that can heal all wounds (people just need to learn and to feel seen! and the higher we can raise their self-esteem, the nicer they'll be), but also because this would require a level of social conflict and courage that they're simply too fat and content to risk.
If you have a sewage spill or an oil leak, you go straight to the cause and fix it there. In this case, the toxic sewage leak is coming directly from our most prestigious universities, the Qatar-aligned madrassas who are the home office of Islamo-Marxist jihadism and who've given the world all the greatest hits of Anti-Zionism—settler-colonial imperialist apartheid genocidal ethnostate etc. This is the root of modern Jew hate, this state-subsidized idea that Israel is the world's most evil and most illegitimate state, and that Justice requires its eradication.
If you wanted real bang for you buck, how about a simple illustration of the most shocking and repulsive events that recently took place in modern America: the celebrations of the 10/7 massacre that broke out across the Ivy League, the tearing down of hostage posters, the disgusting quotes by dozens of academics that would have them chased out of polite society if uttered about any other minority. Just a simple montage of all the Ivy League students screaming in bloodlust with some quotes (maybe even one from Mr. Mamdani Sr) showing how infested with Jew hate our culture has become. You need to rub the hatred into the faces of the Jew haters, let them feel the shame they're always desperate to smear on others.
Kraft has brought a Hallmark card to a gunfight, but I would expect nothing else. It's hard for people to face and accept what's become of our most prestigious universities, esp to a high-achieving normie who's been saluting them like the flag their entire lives. They still imagine they live in the world they grew up in, but that's dead and irrelevant, as this Super Bowl ad will be by morning.
You almost lost me with the esp abbreviation. I dont believe its wide accepted or used which made me think you were referring to some sort of mind reading. 🤷
Here is the thing. I don't actually know Kraft's politics and I don't know that it has any relevancy to this ad. Obviously he hired some very mainstream Jewish group to put it together and just paid for it. For the modern left and this means everyone from center left mainstreamers to hard left radicals, victimhood is fully intertwined with virtue. That is why since 10/7, useless prigs like Charles Schumer keep insisting how many of hate crimes are against Jews. So we can be the biggest victims. We know this is not what is needed. What is needed is a full throated no holds barred defense of Israel Zionism and the Jewish people. And our enemies need to be called out for what they are, modern Nazis. And we need to welcome and thank the millions of American gentiles like John Fetterman or Patricia Heaton who stand with us. We need to make a stand not beg to be allowed into the pantheon of victim hood. And this is where Kraft went wrong.
Thank you Joshua for another meaningful essay. Kraft has tried but seems tone deaf.
I love Liel's suggested ad. Your suggestions for "being" Jewish are where its at. Great quote from the Rebbe.
Robert Kraft missed it by $15-million, a very sad day. He has some VERY BAD advisors and he needs to acknowledge it.
Kraft is old and as an American Jew --lacks the experience of Israelis. The ad reminds me is something Spielberg would have produced.
I am Israeli born and lived as an American citizen in NYC for many years--and never felt antisemitism. I was in the film/TV business. We decided to move to see how the "other half lives"--and. I never regretted it--especially now with Mamdani in Gracie Mansion.
I'm blonde and blue eyed with small features--when people met me--no one assumed I was anything but an American WASP. I enjoyed being an ambassador of sorts to say:"That caricature--is just that!" A "Jew" can be of EVERY skin tone and appearance. And Jews are not necessarily the typical media example of an Orthodox Jew with a "kippah" and side "ringlets" (Peyas)! Jews come in as many as the Heinz varieties!
Most are secular--as I am.
But my identity-- is exactly as Liel portrays: Strong! I don't like ANY Jew portrayed as a weak victim. Although I'm aware that many only feel sympathetic for "The dead Jew".
I don't care. Having been born in Israel--having a father who died so that Israel can exist--and a cousin -- Ilan Ramon who died in the Columbia tragedy--I cannot be more proud of my heritage.
It is one of bravery!
So I'm in the camp that--like it or not--the world needs to see that side of Jews. No cowering. No "victimhood".
Bigotry is hard to squelch because it is rooted in jealousy. Bigots feel inadequate. Truly confident people have no need to scapegoat "others" for their failings.
We need to emphasize that and instead of defending ourselves-- go on the offensive. Offer the bigots the proverbial"mirror"--and ask: "Is that YOU?"
What a surprise to see some Te Ao Maori (the Maori world) being used here! The pronunciation is as you wrote it, and the spelling is whakapapa. It's a concept in Te Ao Maori that you belong in this chain of people, and knowing about this chain of people helps 'place' you in this world. It also links back to place as well - for example, I will often ask Māori people I meet the place that they whakapapa back to - and that tells me from where they come from. Absolutely this concept can be applied to Am Yisrael today - many Jews I know can whakapapa back in their families, and often to a place in Europe somewhere, and the knowledge of both time and place gives meaning to their lives.
Ka pai (good) for using this concept! Nga mihi from Aotearoa NZ.
Leil Lebowitz is right: Hot Israeli Girls of The IDF with guns, and the caption ‘Fuck around. Find out.’ Mr Kraft, over to you. Next ad is just this please. Why? Because the Jewish experience is BOTH. The response to antisemitic violence is both TOTAL and also SUBTLE. Victory is ALWAYS through strength, because out here in the real world strength is not optional.
Profanity is the language of the unimaginative, which Jews (most) are not.
If your proposed slogan is used in an ad, as you suggest, how do you propose to back that up? You gonna go out there and start “Rambo”ing people’s backsides? Remotely blow up their refrigerators? C’mon. Don't let your mouth write a check that your ass can’t cash. Your suggestion is just a blue square with attitude, and just as useless.
The strong turn inward for strength. I don’t expect back up from someone because of an ad. I’ll get it from like minds, Jewish and non-Jewish. They’re my brothers and sisters, not some social media follower who is momentarily inspired by an ad or a random post on a random platform. You can have ‘em all. They do Jews no good.
Blue squares? Yellow stars? WTF are they thinking?
Kraft meant well and it's hard to see the harmless Jewish high school student depicted in the commercial committing "genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing." Kraft having a hard night with his team losing badly and all the criticism he is receiving from fellow Jews over this commercial. Best commercial of the night was the Budweiser bit with the Clydesdale, Lynrd Skynryd, and Free Bird. Great visuals and concept. Powerful, no need for stars or celebrities. Suggest Kraft hire the outfit that did this commercial to do his next antisemitism commercial. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_mh-v02-Tw
Can we please get along and start negatively criticizing everything Jewish people do ???
Our enemies are targeting Western education for decades. They operate strategically where we subscribe Advil to cancer.
Below are just a few examples:
"Most Americans have never even heard of Qatar, but do you know who most certainly has? The presidents of every college and university in the United States. That is because Qatar has poured billions of dollars into our education system, covertly financing an extensive influence operation in America. Qatar is a top supporter of terrorist groups like Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and al-Qaeda affiliates, among others. By funding think tanks, activist organizations, mosques — and now American universities and educational programs — the Qatari government can engage in political activities that benefit Qatar while inculcating virulent anti-Semitism that continues to spread throughout American society.
The bulk of all Middle Eastern donations comes from Qatari donors, and one entity — Qatar Foundation — accounts for virtually all of the donations from Qatar. Qatari cash helped to incubate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign on U.S. college campuses. These funds significantly impact the university's course offerings, curricula, faculty decisions, campus attitudes, and oftentimes end up creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and anyone who opposes Qatar's radical political agenda.
Qatar is just one of the foreign governments hostile to the United States and to Israel, which have been pouring money into our universities in exchange for influence. It's time we pull back the curtain on these shady dealings. Visit clarionproject.org/covertcash to watch this important film that exposes the seedy underbelly of foreign influence on our education system."
https://mailchi.mp/thelawfareproject/clarion-film?e=dadfecae8c
Qatar is donating to American universities
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMSxrmlB0cH/
https://israelbehindthenews.com/2020/10/08/report-top-journalism-school-northwestern-partners-with-al-jazeera-owned-by-qatar/?utm_source
SOAS is so dependent on Arab/Muslim money that Jewish students are regularly harassed. A glance at the staff at the Middle East Institute, an integral part of SOAS will give you the picture.
https://www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/staff/
Bret Stephens' recent address on The State of World Jewry is very much along similar lines, and is worth a lsiten (30 mins):
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oNyL92k1XuWCiygmdogje?si=29a337eba3084c3c