It is not logical because it is an evil best described in the bible in the Book of Job. The Book of Job is the Story of the Jew. As Job's friends tried to explain the source of his misfortune, each with a different and possibly logical explanation, but yet not logical at all, we know the source of his misfortune is the devil. What the Book of Job reveals is that although Hashem allows the devil to cause calamity and misfortune to fall upon Job, Hashem will not allow the devil to destroy Job, and in the end Job is restored. Some day it will also be so with the Jews.
Amazing article. I’m with you all the way and I continue to write in support of Israel and against antisemitism in several publications. I live in a terribly antisemitism progressive to anarchist neighborhood where I feel in danger all the time. Trying to move but it’s hard to afford a safer place. I may face professionals consequences eventually but for now I’m freelancing and working at jobs where no one knows my politics so I can write freely. I’m on Medicaid and food stamps and struggling to make ends meet but I have the freedom to write and I will never stop speaking out in support of the people of Israel and the Jewish community world wide. I wasn’t born Jewish btw. I may convert but as of now this is a non Jewish ally. Sending love from Philadelphia. Some of us are on your side.
Just perfect. The experience of so many of us in academia and, clearly, elsewhere. I didn’t imagine my circle would get so small (or now include many incredibly vocal non-Jewish advocates) but here we are!
Lots to unpack here. I was born and raised a Jewish liberal Democrat. The path to leave the Party began in the late 1970s, then I was a DINO in the 1990s. I could see the signs of what we now call intersectionality, though I had no name for it.
It was increasingly clear to me that the Democrat Party was no friend of us Jews. We would be at the bottom of the pile, no matter what we did there, what we believed, said, how much money we donated. They fucking hate us. There is no sugarcoating it. I refuse to belong to any group or organization like that.
In the late 90s, in police uniform I was in my large urban downtown having left the office to find dinner. I walked into the middle of a Palestinian demonstration, loud, aggressive, keffiyehs everywhere. My nameplate has a Jewish sounding name. I kept on walking, leaving the area, not because of cowardice but for THEIR protection, so I wouldn't be in a situation where I have to take them out. I never forgot the raw hate even then as they changed about the PLO.
I was done with the Democrats. That's who they value, not Jews.
A lot has happened since then. I joined the Republican Party. I kept that fact quiet from liberals I used to associate with and be friends with. They didn't need to be burdened with that information.
2020 hit and the world changed. 2021, the jabs came out. I was not taking the jab under any circumstances. My entire family couldn't understand. I tried to explain, they were just shocked at how far I was willing to take this.
In 2021, I took it much further, moving to a deep Red county, a 2A sanctuary. I made new friends here, joining the local Republican Party. Didn't say I was Jewish. After 10/7, I remember at the start of a meeting they opened with the pledge of allegiance and a prayer. Prayers were said for Israel in this time of great difficulty. I knew I'd found my people.
I'm an unapologetic Zionist. I don't make a big deal about it, but if asked directly I'll state it. I have no interest in going to Israel. But I fully support that Israel must do what it takes to finish off its enemies. There's no sugarcoating that.
I’m so glad I took the time to read this. Like you, I was heavily invested in democratic party politics. The hypocrisy and complicity has been laid Bear. Your agonizing journey is my agonizing journey. I don’t know what’s worse – when, like you I would encounter the naked antisemitism, or the silence punctuated by chirpy discussions about vacations and crafts. Crazy making, for sure. Reading this made me feel really seen and understood. Thank you.
Your article has touched my heart deeply. As a Christian who always understood our Jewish roots I will never support anyone with an anti Semitic black heart. It has stunned me to see what has happened. In my Christian family there has a been a division also. My son, our relationship always close, has listened to the lies and propaganda. I tried many times to help educate him about Israel and the Jewish people. He prefers to blame the Jews for everything now. But he maintains he is not anti Semitic. It has broken my heart as there is now a wall between us. He used to refer to me as the wisest person he knew. Now, we cannot discuss anything about Israel. But he knows I will not change my mind because I know what God has promised. I will choose that over him. Sad, isn't it? I pray every day for the hostages, especially the Bibas children, and I ask God to be just and destroy Israel's evil aggressors. I know He will. As for anti Semites, including my son, I leave them with God too. Thank you for sharing this vulnerable part of your life.
I get you. Friends for years now not speaking to each other over my heart for Israel. My Christian friend of 50 yrs has climbed the fence to the other side and it’s heart breaking. How can people who claim Jesus as the Jewish messiah not have a heart for his people? I truly don’t understand.
I watched the video released from the nova dance festival and saw Armageddon.
Am Yisrael Chai. The God of Israel will keep his promises
Your ‘but I’m not white’ response is disappointing. How about ‘who gives a f*** what colour you think I am’? Seems your many years neck deep in wokedom may still linger somewhat…. Also, I’d encourage you to set your emotions aside a little and fall back on your obviously very capable brain. ie less ‘I’m so upset about this’ and more ‘if stupid, pigshit ignorant people can’t see that Israel/Jews are on the right side of history (& always have been pretty much), then f*** them’. Your friends included. This is too serious to not be on the right side. And yes, you need to take sides here!
I thought the "but I'm not white" response was valid in the sense that we're white when it suits "them" and we're not white when it suits "them." Anyway, I do agree it's best to steel ourselves and not care about fig about what anyone thinks. Not anymore.
Fabulous article! You fell into the same “trap” that we all did; the feeling of acceptance and belonging in a world that intrinsically cannot include us as equals. October 7th exposed many truths. It has been a rude awakening.
Your work family may have abandoned you, along with their sense of justice, but your Jewish family, Klal Yisrael, will always be with you. Continue to spread love, to spread light — am Yisrael chai.
Though I live in Israel, or maybe because I live in Israel, I have for years marked surveys as Other and write-in Jewish. It is much easier to see the bias of America from the outside. Living in the US we are insulated with willful blinders provided by legacy media. I could go on and on. I remember when then Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice visited Gaza and made some non-sequitur remark about the population being racially oppressed. (No - this was a political territorial dispute, not racial). Thank you for letting us in Israel see what you and so many others are going through in your professional lives. I admit to feeling that having my son and SIL wearing green and serving some 250 days and others more, is a heavier load, but I'll keep my own pekel.
I think the Palestinian holocaust should begin in earnest. The UN and most of the antisemitic world already believes that Israel is a colonialist aggressor intent on genocide in Gaza which is false. What does Israel have to lose if it calls their bluff and destroys the Palestinian people with conventional weapons by bombing Gaza and the Palestinians beyond the Stone Age, leaving a huge crater in the desert? It’s a win for Israel. Destroying Palestine once and for all is the only way to end perpetual altercations with the insanity of Islam. If Iran has a problem with that Israel can always go nuclear on Iran , which would do the world a favor in the long run. Hamas kicked a hornet’s nest on October 7, now by brutalizing hostages Hamas and Palestinne have gone an extra step by provoking a dragon. Time for the dragon to fly and breathe fire!
I think the Palestinian holocaust should begin in earnest. The UN and most of the antisemitic world already believe the false narrative that Israel is a colonialist aggressor intent on genocide in Gaza . What does Israel have to lose if it calls their bluff and destroys the Palestinian people with conventional weapons by bombing Gaza and the Palestinians beyond the Stone Age, leaving a huge crater in the desert? It’s a win for Israel. Destroying Palestine once and for all is the only way to end perpetual altercations with the insanity of Islam. If Iran has a problem with that Israel can always go nuclear on Iran , which would do the world a favor in the long run. Hamas kicked a hornet’s nest on October 7, now by brutalizing hostages Hamas and Palestinne have gone an extra step by provoking a dragon. Time for the dragon to fly and breathe fire!
WOW. Thank you for every word. Nobody listened to me either, less than one week after October 7th. From my view, in Israel, I could see it begin to spiral out of control across the world. As if those who are possessed by the poison of antisemitism got permission to let it out of their system.
Thank you for putting what has been happening to all of us- into understandable terms for the rest of the world. Very eloquent and 100 percent correct.
I am 100% with Israel and the Jewish people ❤️
No matter how hard I try I can’t understand antisemitism, it’s not logical
It is not logical because it is an evil best described in the bible in the Book of Job. The Book of Job is the Story of the Jew. As Job's friends tried to explain the source of his misfortune, each with a different and possibly logical explanation, but yet not logical at all, we know the source of his misfortune is the devil. What the Book of Job reveals is that although Hashem allows the devil to cause calamity and misfortune to fall upon Job, Hashem will not allow the devil to destroy Job, and in the end Job is restored. Some day it will also be so with the Jews.
Amazing article. I’m with you all the way and I continue to write in support of Israel and against antisemitism in several publications. I live in a terribly antisemitism progressive to anarchist neighborhood where I feel in danger all the time. Trying to move but it’s hard to afford a safer place. I may face professionals consequences eventually but for now I’m freelancing and working at jobs where no one knows my politics so I can write freely. I’m on Medicaid and food stamps and struggling to make ends meet but I have the freedom to write and I will never stop speaking out in support of the people of Israel and the Jewish community world wide. I wasn’t born Jewish btw. I may convert but as of now this is a non Jewish ally. Sending love from Philadelphia. Some of us are on your side.
Thank you.
Just perfect. The experience of so many of us in academia and, clearly, elsewhere. I didn’t imagine my circle would get so small (or now include many incredibly vocal non-Jewish advocates) but here we are!
Lots to unpack here. I was born and raised a Jewish liberal Democrat. The path to leave the Party began in the late 1970s, then I was a DINO in the 1990s. I could see the signs of what we now call intersectionality, though I had no name for it.
It was increasingly clear to me that the Democrat Party was no friend of us Jews. We would be at the bottom of the pile, no matter what we did there, what we believed, said, how much money we donated. They fucking hate us. There is no sugarcoating it. I refuse to belong to any group or organization like that.
In the late 90s, in police uniform I was in my large urban downtown having left the office to find dinner. I walked into the middle of a Palestinian demonstration, loud, aggressive, keffiyehs everywhere. My nameplate has a Jewish sounding name. I kept on walking, leaving the area, not because of cowardice but for THEIR protection, so I wouldn't be in a situation where I have to take them out. I never forgot the raw hate even then as they changed about the PLO.
I was done with the Democrats. That's who they value, not Jews.
A lot has happened since then. I joined the Republican Party. I kept that fact quiet from liberals I used to associate with and be friends with. They didn't need to be burdened with that information.
2020 hit and the world changed. 2021, the jabs came out. I was not taking the jab under any circumstances. My entire family couldn't understand. I tried to explain, they were just shocked at how far I was willing to take this.
In 2021, I took it much further, moving to a deep Red county, a 2A sanctuary. I made new friends here, joining the local Republican Party. Didn't say I was Jewish. After 10/7, I remember at the start of a meeting they opened with the pledge of allegiance and a prayer. Prayers were said for Israel in this time of great difficulty. I knew I'd found my people.
I'm an unapologetic Zionist. I don't make a big deal about it, but if asked directly I'll state it. I have no interest in going to Israel. But I fully support that Israel must do what it takes to finish off its enemies. There's no sugarcoating that.
Truly a tour de force, a must read for anyone who has an ear for the truth - a rare commodity, both. Never stop.
This very powerful essay says all that has to be said about the woke left and it’s views about Jews and10/7
I’m so glad I took the time to read this. Like you, I was heavily invested in democratic party politics. The hypocrisy and complicity has been laid Bear. Your agonizing journey is my agonizing journey. I don’t know what’s worse – when, like you I would encounter the naked antisemitism, or the silence punctuated by chirpy discussions about vacations and crafts. Crazy making, for sure. Reading this made me feel really seen and understood. Thank you.
Your article has touched my heart deeply. As a Christian who always understood our Jewish roots I will never support anyone with an anti Semitic black heart. It has stunned me to see what has happened. In my Christian family there has a been a division also. My son, our relationship always close, has listened to the lies and propaganda. I tried many times to help educate him about Israel and the Jewish people. He prefers to blame the Jews for everything now. But he maintains he is not anti Semitic. It has broken my heart as there is now a wall between us. He used to refer to me as the wisest person he knew. Now, we cannot discuss anything about Israel. But he knows I will not change my mind because I know what God has promised. I will choose that over him. Sad, isn't it? I pray every day for the hostages, especially the Bibas children, and I ask God to be just and destroy Israel's evil aggressors. I know He will. As for anti Semites, including my son, I leave them with God too. Thank you for sharing this vulnerable part of your life.
I get you. Friends for years now not speaking to each other over my heart for Israel. My Christian friend of 50 yrs has climbed the fence to the other side and it’s heart breaking. How can people who claim Jesus as the Jewish messiah not have a heart for his people? I truly don’t understand.
I watched the video released from the nova dance festival and saw Armageddon.
Am Yisrael Chai. The God of Israel will keep his promises
It breaks my heart. But then I know God has allowed it for His reasons as we approach the end.
Thank you
Your ‘but I’m not white’ response is disappointing. How about ‘who gives a f*** what colour you think I am’? Seems your many years neck deep in wokedom may still linger somewhat…. Also, I’d encourage you to set your emotions aside a little and fall back on your obviously very capable brain. ie less ‘I’m so upset about this’ and more ‘if stupid, pigshit ignorant people can’t see that Israel/Jews are on the right side of history (& always have been pretty much), then f*** them’. Your friends included. This is too serious to not be on the right side. And yes, you need to take sides here!
Otherwise thanks for an interesting read.
I thought the "but I'm not white" response was valid in the sense that we're white when it suits "them" and we're not white when it suits "them." Anyway, I do agree it's best to steel ourselves and not care about fig about what anyone thinks. Not anymore.
Fair point. 😀
Fabulous article! You fell into the same “trap” that we all did; the feeling of acceptance and belonging in a world that intrinsically cannot include us as equals. October 7th exposed many truths. It has been a rude awakening.
Perfectly stated
Your work family may have abandoned you, along with their sense of justice, but your Jewish family, Klal Yisrael, will always be with you. Continue to spread love, to spread light — am Yisrael chai.
Though I live in Israel, or maybe because I live in Israel, I have for years marked surveys as Other and write-in Jewish. It is much easier to see the bias of America from the outside. Living in the US we are insulated with willful blinders provided by legacy media. I could go on and on. I remember when then Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice visited Gaza and made some non-sequitur remark about the population being racially oppressed. (No - this was a political territorial dispute, not racial). Thank you for letting us in Israel see what you and so many others are going through in your professional lives. I admit to feeling that having my son and SIL wearing green and serving some 250 days and others more, is a heavier load, but I'll keep my own pekel.
I think the Palestinian holocaust should begin in earnest. The UN and most of the antisemitic world already believes that Israel is a colonialist aggressor intent on genocide in Gaza which is false. What does Israel have to lose if it calls their bluff and destroys the Palestinian people with conventional weapons by bombing Gaza and the Palestinians beyond the Stone Age, leaving a huge crater in the desert? It’s a win for Israel. Destroying Palestine once and for all is the only way to end perpetual altercations with the insanity of Islam. If Iran has a problem with that Israel can always go nuclear on Iran , which would do the world a favor in the long run. Hamas kicked a hornet’s nest on October 7, now by brutalizing hostages Hamas and Palestinne have gone an extra step by provoking a dragon. Time for the dragon to fly and breathe fire!
The world would be a lot better off.
I think the Palestinian holocaust should begin in earnest. The UN and most of the antisemitic world already believe the false narrative that Israel is a colonialist aggressor intent on genocide in Gaza . What does Israel have to lose if it calls their bluff and destroys the Palestinian people with conventional weapons by bombing Gaza and the Palestinians beyond the Stone Age, leaving a huge crater in the desert? It’s a win for Israel. Destroying Palestine once and for all is the only way to end perpetual altercations with the insanity of Islam. If Iran has a problem with that Israel can always go nuclear on Iran , which would do the world a favor in the long run. Hamas kicked a hornet’s nest on October 7, now by brutalizing hostages Hamas and Palestinne have gone an extra step by provoking a dragon. Time for the dragon to fly and breathe fire!
WOW. Thank you for every word. Nobody listened to me either, less than one week after October 7th. From my view, in Israel, I could see it begin to spiral out of control across the world. As if those who are possessed by the poison of antisemitism got permission to let it out of their system.
Thank you for putting what has been happening to all of us- into understandable terms for the rest of the world. Very eloquent and 100 percent correct.