One of the great ironies of history: The mass persecutions, ethnic cleanings and genocides of Jews over the past few centuries are what made Israel the powerhouse it is today. Jew haters are too stupid to understand that they continue to make the case for a strong Jewish state better than any Zionist ever could.
Exactly right. Every time a fellow Jew describes how they have changed in the past 2.5 years, I jump up and say “yes, me too!” Absolutely obsessed with our history, the birth and travails of Zionism, everything. Am Yisrael Chai!
Baseless hatred is a serious sin, according to the Bible... very bad things happen to people who do it. The Jews learned this lesson the hard way, when the 2nd Temple was destroyed because of it, and the Jewish people were scattered all over the world... and it's still a lurking threat. However, it seems most of the world has succumbed to it now - hating the Chosen People for no valid reason.
I believe there will inevitably be very unwelcome consequences for it.
it is baseless. It's called "Bigotry". Populations who succumb to it are those that feel inadequate in themselves. "Chosen people" means "chosen to suffer" unfortunately. But the beauty of Israel and her people (I'm one)--is that they WILL fight for the right to exist.
In some places... I'm very disappointed to see how apathetic, ignorant, and easily manipulated (into being anti- Israel, but other issues as well) so many Canadians are. It impacts ordinary people when their union leaders, managers, and gov't officials make pro-Palestinian pronouncements and policies that must be followed if they want to keep their jobs.
That's true. And we Christians are also called upon to defend our faith. When the Word of the Living God is called "hate speech", we know we're in trouble. But this is the consequence of allowing our children to be educated in secular humanistic state schools by atheists for generations! The chickens are finally coming home to roost.
Focusing on defending our people to people who don’t want to hear facts may be futile. What needs to happen is to turn the accusations around. “ how can you repeat such lies and TikTok distortions? You better check your facts before making these accustions. - you are truly an antisemite! Shame”. That’s how we should approach this. We have been on the defensive too long.
I always define the accuser as a "bigot"--and then I tell that bigot--why he or she IS a bigot. A "bigot" is one who has failed in life--and feels inadequate. It turns to jealousy.
None of my progressive friends will go near debating me because they know I’ve been reading (just as you say) like a crazy person. Interestingly - they’re all women - when I told them the PA rejected all of the many opportunities to create a Palestinian state, I got silence - until the husband of one of them backed me up. These are feminists, BTW, and their friend who they’ve known for 20+ years won’t be listened to, but a man will. The hits keep on coming. But like everything, if we have to study and defend we’ll do it well, because we rock.
Same here. They are Regressive --not Progressives by ANY measure. All women in my case as well. They. simply say:"I don't want to talk about it!" Mainly because THEY know they are ill-equipped to defend their stance.
True. But I don't see it is as "winning". I see it as a sad situation when the other side is misinformed and under-informed. Our friendships and family relationships greatly diminished or gone--as a result.
"It involves confronting religious ideologues and whack-jobs from across the political spectrum who want to harm you or kill you." That's why we must prepare to harm and or kill them first. Israelis are ready to defend themselves to the death-is Diaspora?
Absolutely so! The "token Jew" who lauds and enables antisemites is a shame and a danger to his people! In Canada, such idiots are now about to lead 2 of our political, ultra-leftwing parties that openly defend Hamas!
"What makes this ritual particularly exhausting is the staggering intellectual laziness behind it" which is exactly correct. Carrying signs, often professionally made, using buzz words, and chanting slogans are indeed examples of being lazy on Israel. Finally, the line in the article which says it all for me is "the intellectual depth of a cereal box". which aptly describes the critics.
The big problem, of course, is that so many people do not want to know the facts or the truth. An example: Israel's new Ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, as speaker at the National Press Club recently, who not only succinctly and intelligently gave the audience readily understandable history and current facts of the war with Iran and necessary incursion into Lebanon, but answered questions by various members of the media - sometimes those questions put aggressively and obviously hand-picked with damage in mind - transparently and in a way that should not only have satisfied, but also provided good learning. It was obvious in most cases that nothing Newman said altered the stony and steadfast animosity of those posing the questions. I know it's the media, however, it is also the case with many others.
Absolutely brilliant! Perfectly written and you tell it like it is. I am overly assimilated and it's times like these that have me reaching out for my connection again.
An important point in the article is that Jews are constantly expected to defend themselves and Israel in ways no other group is. But part of the reason, uncomfortable as it may be to admit, is that Jews have historically been easy prey. We are small in number, generally peaceful by nature, and far more inclined to debate than to intimidate or retaliate.
That combination has made Jews the perfect scapegoat throughout history. When societies look for someone to blame, a small, visible, very passive minority becomes the easiest target.
I see this even where I live in Toronto. The demonstrations regularly take place right in the heart of the Jewish community around Bathurst and Sheppard — essentially “Jewtown.” And what happens? Nothing. Imagine if, every weekend, Turkish protesters marched through Greektown accusing Greeks of genocide. Do you think the Greek community would simply stand by and tolerate it without any serious backlash? I doubt it.
I have been “cornered” more than once, and it happens so quickly and unexpectedly that it is hard to summon the right words. It is true that we have to wear 2 hats and always be prepared. Even among “friends”.
NO one has asked me to explain Israel. Yet. AT university fifty years ago, My Jewishness was a plus. Same for Colorado45 years ago....I was kinda "exotic" "as a Jew." Yes, no one declares that she is so outraged at Italy's ethno national state and anti immigrant public under Meloni that she is renouncing her Italian heritage. Same for the Irish Americans although they have an ethno national state that gives preference to the Irish for the right of return, Why not me? If I wanted it. Fortunately, as woke as my co op is, no one is wearing a pal table cloth nor have I been the object of attack because of the Israel's response to the genocide of Oct. 7th.
One of the great ironies of history: The mass persecutions, ethnic cleanings and genocides of Jews over the past few centuries are what made Israel the powerhouse it is today. Jew haters are too stupid to understand that they continue to make the case for a strong Jewish state better than any Zionist ever could.
Exactly right. Every time a fellow Jew describes how they have changed in the past 2.5 years, I jump up and say “yes, me too!” Absolutely obsessed with our history, the birth and travails of Zionism, everything. Am Yisrael Chai!
Ditto, from Scotland, Suzy. Thank you
Baseless hatred is a serious sin, according to the Bible... very bad things happen to people who do it. The Jews learned this lesson the hard way, when the 2nd Temple was destroyed because of it, and the Jewish people were scattered all over the world... and it's still a lurking threat. However, it seems most of the world has succumbed to it now - hating the Chosen People for no valid reason.
I believe there will inevitably be very unwelcome consequences for it.
it is baseless. It's called "Bigotry". Populations who succumb to it are those that feel inadequate in themselves. "Chosen people" means "chosen to suffer" unfortunately. But the beauty of Israel and her people (I'm one)--is that they WILL fight for the right to exist.
In some places... I'm very disappointed to see how apathetic, ignorant, and easily manipulated (into being anti- Israel, but other issues as well) so many Canadians are. It impacts ordinary people when their union leaders, managers, and gov't officials make pro-Palestinian pronouncements and policies that must be followed if they want to keep their jobs.
That's true. And we Christians are also called upon to defend our faith. When the Word of the Living God is called "hate speech", we know we're in trouble. But this is the consequence of allowing our children to be educated in secular humanistic state schools by atheists for generations! The chickens are finally coming home to roost.
Focusing on defending our people to people who don’t want to hear facts may be futile. What needs to happen is to turn the accusations around. “ how can you repeat such lies and TikTok distortions? You better check your facts before making these accustions. - you are truly an antisemite! Shame”. That’s how we should approach this. We have been on the defensive too long.
I always define the accuser as a "bigot"--and then I tell that bigot--why he or she IS a bigot. A "bigot" is one who has failed in life--and feels inadequate. It turns to jealousy.
None of my progressive friends will go near debating me because they know I’ve been reading (just as you say) like a crazy person. Interestingly - they’re all women - when I told them the PA rejected all of the many opportunities to create a Palestinian state, I got silence - until the husband of one of them backed me up. These are feminists, BTW, and their friend who they’ve known for 20+ years won’t be listened to, but a man will. The hits keep on coming. But like everything, if we have to study and defend we’ll do it well, because we rock.
Same here. They are Regressive --not Progressives by ANY measure. All women in my case as well. They. simply say:"I don't want to talk about it!" Mainly because THEY know they are ill-equipped to defend their stance.
Yes! And as someone pointed out to me, when they say they're too upset to talk about it anymore, it means I've won. Heh.
True. But I don't see it is as "winning". I see it as a sad situation when the other side is misinformed and under-informed. Our friendships and family relationships greatly diminished or gone--as a result.
"It involves confronting religious ideologues and whack-jobs from across the political spectrum who want to harm you or kill you." That's why we must prepare to harm and or kill them first. Israelis are ready to defend themselves to the death-is Diaspora?
And the worst are leftist Jews and those paid by Qatar to spin lies and propaganda!
Absolutely so! The "token Jew" who lauds and enables antisemites is a shame and a danger to his people! In Canada, such idiots are now about to lead 2 of our political, ultra-leftwing parties that openly defend Hamas!
"What makes this ritual particularly exhausting is the staggering intellectual laziness behind it" which is exactly correct. Carrying signs, often professionally made, using buzz words, and chanting slogans are indeed examples of being lazy on Israel. Finally, the line in the article which says it all for me is "the intellectual depth of a cereal box". which aptly describes the critics.
Oh, this is soooooo true!
It's our land.done explaining. Thank you for another great read.
The big problem, of course, is that so many people do not want to know the facts or the truth. An example: Israel's new Ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, as speaker at the National Press Club recently, who not only succinctly and intelligently gave the audience readily understandable history and current facts of the war with Iran and necessary incursion into Lebanon, but answered questions by various members of the media - sometimes those questions put aggressively and obviously hand-picked with damage in mind - transparently and in a way that should not only have satisfied, but also provided good learning. It was obvious in most cases that nothing Newman said altered the stony and steadfast animosity of those posing the questions. I know it's the media, however, it is also the case with many others.
Absolutely brilliant! Perfectly written and you tell it like it is. I am overly assimilated and it's times like these that have me reaching out for my connection again.
Oh man, that was excellent. That one had teeth. Good job.
An important point in the article is that Jews are constantly expected to defend themselves and Israel in ways no other group is. But part of the reason, uncomfortable as it may be to admit, is that Jews have historically been easy prey. We are small in number, generally peaceful by nature, and far more inclined to debate than to intimidate or retaliate.
That combination has made Jews the perfect scapegoat throughout history. When societies look for someone to blame, a small, visible, very passive minority becomes the easiest target.
I see this even where I live in Toronto. The demonstrations regularly take place right in the heart of the Jewish community around Bathurst and Sheppard — essentially “Jewtown.” And what happens? Nothing. Imagine if, every weekend, Turkish protesters marched through Greektown accusing Greeks of genocide. Do you think the Greek community would simply stand by and tolerate it without any serious backlash? I doubt it.
That’s something worth thinking about.
Brilliant article.
I have been “cornered” more than once, and it happens so quickly and unexpectedly that it is hard to summon the right words. It is true that we have to wear 2 hats and always be prepared. Even among “friends”.
NO one has asked me to explain Israel. Yet. AT university fifty years ago, My Jewishness was a plus. Same for Colorado45 years ago....I was kinda "exotic" "as a Jew." Yes, no one declares that she is so outraged at Italy's ethno national state and anti immigrant public under Meloni that she is renouncing her Italian heritage. Same for the Irish Americans although they have an ethno national state that gives preference to the Irish for the right of return, Why not me? If I wanted it. Fortunately, as woke as my co op is, no one is wearing a pal table cloth nor have I been the object of attack because of the Israel's response to the genocide of Oct. 7th.
@NachumKaplan It's not psychosis, that would be shift of reality. And theses are unaware of it. But those are doing this completely intentionally.
It's important because it's about forensic psychology not forensic psychiatry. We should not give them advance neither help them.
I find many American Jews are happy with the Democratic Party and its heavy support of Islamists. How does that fit with your view?