But hard pills are often medicine. They cure us of illusions that make us weak. They teach us to depend not on others’ mercy but on our own strength, unity, and faith.
Those Jews who apologise for being Jews; those who are embarrassed of their faith are shameful.
I know a number of non Jews who are ‘in awe’ of Judaism, and they like to consider themselves ‘honorary Jews’. They love the warmth, our ‘bon ami’, humour and of course our food & customs.
Maybe it’s time to act in our own defense. We know the neighborhood better than anyone. Our future cannot be decided by a real estate deal. It’s time to chart our own course. That may be the only way out. Respect comes to the strong.
Excellent post. Clarity is a gift even when it shows us something ugly. We do not owe the world any explanation or apology for our existence. And we can expect no consideration from those who would torment us. Despite our good deeds, facts and logic are no match for irrational hatred. But we are stronger now than ever, even as we are persecuted. What Israel has accomplished in battle the last two years is remarkable if unsatisfying from the perspective of watching our mortal enemies, genocidal maniacs if there ever were, treated as victims while Israel is condemned for invented crimes by corrupt bureaucrats, totalitarians, and media shills.
Israel needs to assume greater control of its defense supply chain in perpetuity. It cannot be beholden to fickle friends making deals with despotic antisemites. It also needs to stop giving away valuable intelligence and expertise to nations that turn their backs on truth and justice for the Jews yet again. You losers know who you are.
"Israel needs to assume greater control of its defense supply chain in perpetuity. It cannot be beholden to fickle friends making deals with despotic antisemites. It also needs to stop giving away valuable intelligence and expertise to nations that turn their backs on truth and justice for the Jews yet again."
"A people who dwells alone " was prophesied in the Torah by a non-Jew, Balaam. Amazing that so far back in time Israel was seen by others already as different, not only by Israel itself.
Israel's ideals were never meant to be imposed on anyone and even too often Israel itself came short. It is indeed a moral inverted mirror of the rest of the world. Israel developed too soon in an otherwise extremely slow evolution, with major damage caused to the Jewish People by Christianity- the Church in particular- , whose cultural and religious theft of Judaism was indeed imposed on hapless pagans by the Roman Empire. Israel determined guilt, shame and a conscience, with its own antidotes: repentance and forgiving. Israel had the moral strength to persevere in this quest. Christianity gave its masses both an easier solution and a more difficult task. It created a Christian world who slaughtered 100million of its own in two world wars. All that guilt, from the get go, forever projected ( a clinical term of psychological analysis) on those who gave birth to their nightmare, Israel, rather than revere it as the mother culture of their savior. Christianity is now in decline, which is unfortunate, as their ultimate task is to combat Islam and assure that our future generations remain free.
Agree with this article. Either the Jews and Israelis stand for their survival or the long past history will endlessly repeat itself. What I cannot understand is leftist Israelis believing that being nice to their enemies will bring peace. They are the modern version of the Kapos.
The Racist Haters want to pick us off one by one. In fact there is a solidarity in the fact that Racist Hatred now has its name, and has many targets: Directed against Russians by Nazi militias in The Donbass, or Ethnic minorities in Western Europe by The Far Right. But Antisemitism is unique, because we now know once again as if we needed reminding that The Jewish People have NEVER been able to call upon this Solidarity in the final Analysis. The Jewish People are indeed alone in this final Analysis, and understanding THIS VITAL FACT has always been the reason we have survived. Thus this correct Final Analysis prevents The Final Solution. Good and timely essay. Thank you Josh.
This: "We should stop expecting fairness. Fairness is not a Jewish luxury. It is the hope of children. The adult Jew must see the world as it is, not as it should be." I FEEL/LIVE EVERY WORD.
We are never going to be comfortable in the world but that is not the worst thing that can happen. We’ve seen the worst.
Jews need to read Jabotinsky again. He showed us the way. Defending ourselves and teaching our children how to defend themselves with more than just words, lawsuits or white and blue wrist bands can only be seen as a mitzvoht.
We can’t expect the cavalry now or ever. We can’t expect help from our Reform or Reconstructionist ‘friends’,
We can’t expect the army or the cops or the civil authorities to bail us out.
We only have ourselves. So let’s get right with Hashem or not but we have to get to it and fast. Read Kesh Hestons book ‘The Wrong Jew’. Stop whining, start organizing and learn how to aggressively defend yourself, your family and your ground!
Written long ago, the Sages let us know that in every generation they rise up to finish Israel and the Holy One, Blessed is He saves us from their hand.
Blessed is He who has kept His promise to Israel, Blessed is He.
May we remind ourselves that our fight is never futile. Not only will we be blessed but all those who bless us.
Wow, what a well-written, amazing and insightful essay. כל הכבוד לך.
Truly, I agree.
Joshua, you are brilliant. Thank you. I'm trying to get up the courage to send this to my "woke-i-fied" children.
they will need a safe space!
This article is a masterpiece.
My mother told me when I was young that it is more important to be respected than be liked.
@Joshua, thank you for this interesting piece.
Those Jews who apologise for being Jews; those who are embarrassed of their faith are shameful.
I know a number of non Jews who are ‘in awe’ of Judaism, and they like to consider themselves ‘honorary Jews’. They love the warmth, our ‘bon ami’, humour and of course our food & customs.
Maybe it’s time to act in our own defense. We know the neighborhood better than anyone. Our future cannot be decided by a real estate deal. It’s time to chart our own course. That may be the only way out. Respect comes to the strong.
We need to take this medicine to remind ourselves that we have no real allies
Excellent post. Clarity is a gift even when it shows us something ugly. We do not owe the world any explanation or apology for our existence. And we can expect no consideration from those who would torment us. Despite our good deeds, facts and logic are no match for irrational hatred. But we are stronger now than ever, even as we are persecuted. What Israel has accomplished in battle the last two years is remarkable if unsatisfying from the perspective of watching our mortal enemies, genocidal maniacs if there ever were, treated as victims while Israel is condemned for invented crimes by corrupt bureaucrats, totalitarians, and media shills.
Israel needs to assume greater control of its defense supply chain in perpetuity. It cannot be beholden to fickle friends making deals with despotic antisemites. It also needs to stop giving away valuable intelligence and expertise to nations that turn their backs on truth and justice for the Jews yet again. You losers know who you are.
"Israel needs to assume greater control of its defense supply chain in perpetuity. It cannot be beholden to fickle friends making deals with despotic antisemites. It also needs to stop giving away valuable intelligence and expertise to nations that turn their backs on truth and justice for the Jews yet again."
Absolutely!!!
"A people who dwells alone " was prophesied in the Torah by a non-Jew, Balaam. Amazing that so far back in time Israel was seen by others already as different, not only by Israel itself.
Israel's ideals were never meant to be imposed on anyone and even too often Israel itself came short. It is indeed a moral inverted mirror of the rest of the world. Israel developed too soon in an otherwise extremely slow evolution, with major damage caused to the Jewish People by Christianity- the Church in particular- , whose cultural and religious theft of Judaism was indeed imposed on hapless pagans by the Roman Empire. Israel determined guilt, shame and a conscience, with its own antidotes: repentance and forgiving. Israel had the moral strength to persevere in this quest. Christianity gave its masses both an easier solution and a more difficult task. It created a Christian world who slaughtered 100million of its own in two world wars. All that guilt, from the get go, forever projected ( a clinical term of psychological analysis) on those who gave birth to their nightmare, Israel, rather than revere it as the mother culture of their savior. Christianity is now in decline, which is unfortunate, as their ultimate task is to combat Islam and assure that our future generations remain free.
Agree with this article. Either the Jews and Israelis stand for their survival or the long past history will endlessly repeat itself. What I cannot understand is leftist Israelis believing that being nice to their enemies will bring peace. They are the modern version of the Kapos.
Well said, Joshua. Bitter pill indeed but it's time to be realistic. Am Israel chai.
The Racist Haters want to pick us off one by one. In fact there is a solidarity in the fact that Racist Hatred now has its name, and has many targets: Directed against Russians by Nazi militias in The Donbass, or Ethnic minorities in Western Europe by The Far Right. But Antisemitism is unique, because we now know once again as if we needed reminding that The Jewish People have NEVER been able to call upon this Solidarity in the final Analysis. The Jewish People are indeed alone in this final Analysis, and understanding THIS VITAL FACT has always been the reason we have survived. Thus this correct Final Analysis prevents The Final Solution. Good and timely essay. Thank you Josh.
This: "We should stop expecting fairness. Fairness is not a Jewish luxury. It is the hope of children. The adult Jew must see the world as it is, not as it should be." I FEEL/LIVE EVERY WORD.
So very well written. Thank You.
We are never going to be comfortable in the world but that is not the worst thing that can happen. We’ve seen the worst.
Jews need to read Jabotinsky again. He showed us the way. Defending ourselves and teaching our children how to defend themselves with more than just words, lawsuits or white and blue wrist bands can only be seen as a mitzvoht.
We can’t expect the cavalry now or ever. We can’t expect help from our Reform or Reconstructionist ‘friends’,
We can’t expect the army or the cops or the civil authorities to bail us out.
We only have ourselves. So let’s get right with Hashem or not but we have to get to it and fast. Read Kesh Hestons book ‘The Wrong Jew’. Stop whining, start organizing and learn how to aggressively defend yourself, your family and your ground!
Powerful, brilliant essay. 🙏
See the Pesach Passover Haggadah. והיא שעמדה.
Written long ago, the Sages let us know that in every generation they rise up to finish Israel and the Holy One, Blessed is He saves us from their hand.
Blessed is He who has kept His promise to Israel, Blessed is He.
May we remind ourselves that our fight is never futile. Not only will we be blessed but all those who bless us.