Such a beautiful article, and this story is my truth. I am a Hebrew-schooled Conservative Jew. I don’t go to shul and I don’t go to a Seder. But in my heart I’ve been extremely Jewish and more so these days. Toronto has become the second epicentre of Jew-hate in North America (Montreal being the first). These pro-Palestinians are not testing my faith, to the contrary! Every chant of “Free Palestine” emboldens me to speak my truth and fight my fight! Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱🇨🇦✡️.
Thank you Bonnie. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to my Substack. It’s comments like yours that make me believe that I am not wasting my time. It is sincerely appreciated.
A compelling treatise! Populous nations look askance at small groups interjecting their faith-based principles into the national dialogue. Our Jewish experience within Muslim societies (North Africa & Middle East), predominantly Christian European nations, & the United States bear this out. The Almighty set in motion long ago a paradigm wherein societies recognize Jews as different and historically oscillate between tolerance and intimidation of Jewish communities. We have fortunately found that the tripod of Faith, Unity & Self-defense Skills permits our innate thirst for spiritual and scientific knowledge to thrive, creates opportunity to enhance survival skills, & facilitates (from time-to-time) existence of a Jewish State. Anti-semitism tests the tripod's stability & that testing is never-ending. Wishing you and your readers never-ending Faith/Unity/Self-defense Skills. The Almighty has made clear we'll need them forever...for knowable and unknowable reasons.
The strongest defense against anti Semitism is to be a proud positively committed observant Jew who is textually literate in traditional Jewish sources
I agree Steven. Education is key, and we failed in America I. That regard. But, things have improved significantly in the last 50 years. Please consider subscribing to my Substack.
Edan Alexander was released after being a hostage in hamas hell. He is an inspiration. Were he Palestinian his handsome face would be everywhere and halls named for him at Columbia U. He chose to leave the safety of America to serve in the IDF. Remarkable young man. I draw some strength from him. Because I'm cynical as I see the number of post Jewish figures like B. Sanders who are so hostile to Israel. Post Jews who are Trotskyites and former SDS members make make up jvp and code pink and hog the cameras....NY Times will always publish a photo with their "Jews say" signs. For the largest segment of Jews...I see a lot of indifference or wringing hands over Israel's alleged brutality...yes Oct. 7th was terrible but look what Israel is doing. Thousands of dead Gazan children versus ONLY a few hundred dead Jewish babies and toddlers. Is Jew Hate making Jews more Jewish? Not convinced. Israel...the State of the Jews...advises Jews attending Eurovision NOT to wear any symbols of their Jewishness.
Such a beautiful article, and this story is my truth. I am a Hebrew-schooled Conservative Jew. I don’t go to shul and I don’t go to a Seder. But in my heart I’ve been extremely Jewish and more so these days. Toronto has become the second epicentre of Jew-hate in North America (Montreal being the first). These pro-Palestinians are not testing my faith, to the contrary! Every chant of “Free Palestine” emboldens me to speak my truth and fight my fight! Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱🇨🇦✡️.
Thank you Bonnie. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to my Substack. It’s comments like yours that make me believe that I am not wasting my time. It is sincerely appreciated.
Will do!
Health, peace and prosperity for Canadian Jews.
A compelling treatise! Populous nations look askance at small groups interjecting their faith-based principles into the national dialogue. Our Jewish experience within Muslim societies (North Africa & Middle East), predominantly Christian European nations, & the United States bear this out. The Almighty set in motion long ago a paradigm wherein societies recognize Jews as different and historically oscillate between tolerance and intimidation of Jewish communities. We have fortunately found that the tripod of Faith, Unity & Self-defense Skills permits our innate thirst for spiritual and scientific knowledge to thrive, creates opportunity to enhance survival skills, & facilitates (from time-to-time) existence of a Jewish State. Anti-semitism tests the tripod's stability & that testing is never-ending. Wishing you and your readers never-ending Faith/Unity/Self-defense Skills. The Almighty has made clear we'll need them forever...for knowable and unknowable reasons.
Thank you for the kind words Gary. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to my Substack!
www.jewfaq.org have the best of times
The strongest defense against anti Semitism is to be a proud positively committed observant Jew who is textually literate in traditional Jewish sources
I agree Steven. Education is key, and we failed in America I. That regard. But, things have improved significantly in the last 50 years. Please consider subscribing to my Substack.
Edan Alexander was released after being a hostage in hamas hell. He is an inspiration. Were he Palestinian his handsome face would be everywhere and halls named for him at Columbia U. He chose to leave the safety of America to serve in the IDF. Remarkable young man. I draw some strength from him. Because I'm cynical as I see the number of post Jewish figures like B. Sanders who are so hostile to Israel. Post Jews who are Trotskyites and former SDS members make make up jvp and code pink and hog the cameras....NY Times will always publish a photo with their "Jews say" signs. For the largest segment of Jews...I see a lot of indifference or wringing hands over Israel's alleged brutality...yes Oct. 7th was terrible but look what Israel is doing. Thousands of dead Gazan children versus ONLY a few hundred dead Jewish babies and toddlers. Is Jew Hate making Jews more Jewish? Not convinced. Israel...the State of the Jews...advises Jews attending Eurovision NOT to wear any symbols of their Jewishness.