30 Comments
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Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

May this succinct memorial in text reach across our spectrum of Am Yisrael (The Jewish People) and throughout The Nations.

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Nunya Biznez's avatar

Zionism—that is, the movement and dream of the Hebrew people scattered far and wide, to return to their families still living in Israel, their ancestral homeland—wasn’t a response to the holocaust. It was a response to decades of murderous progroms in Europe (including the holocaust) that targeted the Hebrew people, which accelerated and focused the movement. Jews moving back home to Israel from abroad was a movement that began in the 1800s.

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Joshua Hoffman's avatar

That is correct. This essay didn't say Zionism is a response to the Holocaust. :)

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FreedomFighter's avatar

Perfect. Powerful. Honor our past by protecting our future.

To those so-called Jews supporting the Muslim beasts from Gaza, please stop-- you are killing your own people.

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Rick Miller's avatar

Agreed. Please read the next FOJ by Bob Goldberg. Academia, particularly Jewish studies, is trying its best to villainize Zionism and Judaism in general. The academic left, including Jews, are the enemy.

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FreedomFighter's avatar

For reasons I do not comprehend, many Jews are attracted to/support socialism (Marxism), which has never acted nicely to Jews. Being socialists, Jews are students in and professors in the most liberal universities. The universities are not supportive of Jews or Israel, especially now that the degree mills are recipients of more money from Muslim countries than they receive from Jews. The ideology and the money drive these institutions to support "Palestine", Muslims. Anti-Semitism, anti-Israel groups flourish within the umbrella of universities. Jewish students, naturally, receive no protection, and Jewish professors will be finding themselves unemployed. Due to their progressive, socialist politics these places are becoming increasingly more anti-American. I have no empathy for these leftist Jews and their Marxist schools. They are self destructive and endanger the rest of us.

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Pamela Schieber's avatar

May Ha Shem continue to bless us. Am Israel Chai. The IDF is God's Army

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Jenn's avatar

What an exquisite essay, Josh. One of your best! Every word had power. Every statement had resonance. Thank you for so eloquently expressing what so many of us feel but lack the talent to craft. My wish is for this essay to go viral. I'm trying in my own small way. Am Yisrael Chai!

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Dan's avatar
Apr 23Edited

I absolutely love the photo of the Gilboa family, Grandmother and Grand-daughter! Yes, one third of us were lost. And we survived. The same is true of The Russian People. One fifth of all Russians were murdered by Hitler for 'Lebensraum in The East for The Ethnic Germans' (Hitler's words). The Russians survived. Yes, The Jewish People have survived. And actually, because of these facts, the many peoples of the World have won too, because we BEAT, and continue to beat, Neo-Nazism and the Nazis who continue to plot the same Genocides once again today. We are the massive bulwark against Genocidal Nazism. We have Never Forgotten and will Always Remember. Nor will the Russians ever forget, nor the Poles nor will the Serbs. Like I say, I ABSOLUTELY love your photo of the Gilboa family, Grandmother and Grand-daughter! Am Israel Chai.

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avi's avatar
Apr 24Edited

What does the text “Am Israel Chai” convey? I’ve seen it in a few places.

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Rick Miller's avatar

The Jewish people live!

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avi's avatar
6dEdited

Thank you.

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Susan Sullivan's avatar

Zionism has been the greatest movement! What you have achieved building your beautiful country, is nothing short of a miracle!!!

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Jeremy Nathan Brown's avatar

Thank you for an excellent piece about Israel and being Jewish.

Theodor Herzl popularised the term Zionism.

Firstly, it is fair to say Zionism has been accomplished .. we Jews have our modern state. Some would say that Zionism is only accomplished when ALL Jews live in Israel, but personally, my view is that Zionism has been accomplished.

It would have been interesting if we would have called Israel, ‘Zion’, or for that matter, if Israel had taken the name Palestine.

Let’s not forget this chilling thought .. today’s Israel has more Arabs than Europe has of Jews .. 💙🇮🇱🎗️🎗️

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Doug Israel's avatar

Perfect. I have nothing to add. Kol Chavod.

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Dana Ramos's avatar

Beautiful.

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Dorothee Burney's avatar

Am Yisrael Chai.

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Steven Brizel's avatar

Superb essay!

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Rebekah Lee's avatar

Perfect for Yom Shoah.

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Dena Tauber's avatar

So powerful

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Esther Kosofsky's avatar

Thank you for this writing. Kadimah! Sharing it forward.

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Robin Alexander's avatar

Joshua, you made me cry. That photo of the granddaughter saluting her grandmother made us all cry. Wow. I sent this to my kids; I posted this on my Facebook. It was perfect.

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