I love this! But wait - Israelis aren’t better than everyone else? I announced to my husband just the other day that Israelis are my new heroes. That every generation has been called upon, and willingly shown up (ok, except the Haredim) to build and defend their country, knowing they are still surrounded by people who wish to erase them and will certainly keep trying to do so, those brave young souls who leapt out of bed in their pyjamas and went to defend their communities on October 7, many of whom died doing so - I have never heard of any other place in the world where its ordinary citizens have such a deeply ingrained, real commitment to defending and sustaining its society, as diverse and fractious as it is, no questions asked. Israelis are the biggest badasses on the planet - and I mean that only in the best sense of the word! But yes, maybe being human is the most revolutionary Zionist idea of all. I hope that message gets out to more people.
I have lived in 4 countries and loved each one romantically. Yet each time became disillusioned. I think it was a constant feeling of seeing myself as Jewish. As different from those around me. As if my identity came from seeing myself through their eyes. As 'the Jews who lived there'. It wasn't comfortable. A tension I didn't know I carried inside until the first time I visited Israel. I couldn't believe it, everything was Jewish! Even the drain lids were Jewish, engraved with lions of Judah! Years later I finally understood when I made Aliyah. Here, in Israel, I am just me. Not different. Not seen as just the 'Jew' who lives there. My identity is all the things that form me, and others see me as all those aspects of me. Not just the label 'Jew' but a diverse human being, mother, wife, friend, dog lover, etc. I am home in myself because I live in Israel. And I see all the aspects of myself in Israel. The good, the bad and the ugly. And there is no tension because I accept all.
I think that the only way to cope with the horror of his mother's death is through denial. If Zeigen were to confront the primal evil for her death, who knows what the reality might do to him. But there are some people here who also share his view and, even with the whole country experiencing trauma from October 7, not everyone went through such torture. There are also forces driving agendas; to overthrow the government - in particular to get rid of Netanyahu. There are other forces that want to delegitimise Israel. The rabid propaganda that floods the internet, globally, is weaponizing the grief of a man whose mother was murdered in one of the most barbaric massacres since the Shoah
I love Israel the way I love my parents. And my children. Israel is family. And the love is unconditional. For way too many American Jews, people like Thomas Friedman, the love is entirely conditional. They would rather Israel cease to exist than fail to live up to the fantasies of their imagination.
You give Friedman too much credit. His views and expectations do not have the seet scent of love, more like the sour scent of...something else. He is sadly, lacking the sentiment shared by the author and "our Jewidh Grandmother"- when we are in danger we pull nearer to each other and to the Land we, and Our Creator love so eternally. Even more sadly, Friedman is not alone. We should all wish that all of the People Israel love ourselves, our Land and our Creator enough to stand tall against every enemy that seeks our destruction...we have plenty of those.Love expects, demands and requires loyalty, or it's something else.
Back in the Oslo days, Friedman was very high on Israel. Ever since the collapse of Labor and the rise of Netanyahu he has indeed soured. To the point that I think he would prefer to see Israel destroyed than see it continue under right wing rule.
Wow. Vanessa. You summed up my thoughts as though you were me. I made Aliyah a year ago as a result of my idealized love for Israel, and my relentless sense of Zionism. In Canada, I was exposed to levels of antisemitism that were off the charts. I couldn't take it anymore. My love for Israel as a symbol of hope in the midst of so much darkness has not changed, but I now see that day-to-day life in Israel is not a matter to be idealized: Rather, that Israel, just like all countries, is the product of a society that, just like all people, has its virtues and its areas of improvement. Yet the fact that it's here remains a miracle, and gives me hope.
What a beautiful way to look at our relationship with Israel. Not to fantasize about a perfect country, but to acknowledge the flaws inherent in every nation in the world and to be devoted anyway. That is true patriotism. It’s been harder and harder to feel that way towards the US, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love her and want her to be better; even work towards that goal. Having others judge Israel for her imperfections necessitates that they look in the mirror and do the same for their own country. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
@Vanessa .. this piece of writing is so powerful and emotive. A beautifully crafted piece that resonates in my soul and powers up my inner strength. Thank you.
What a great essay! I understand some of these feelings as a Christian who visited Israel with an empty open mind many years ago and fell in love. Israel feels strangely like going home to my christian roots though I admit having no particular faith any longer.
I love this! But wait - Israelis aren’t better than everyone else? I announced to my husband just the other day that Israelis are my new heroes. That every generation has been called upon, and willingly shown up (ok, except the Haredim) to build and defend their country, knowing they are still surrounded by people who wish to erase them and will certainly keep trying to do so, those brave young souls who leapt out of bed in their pyjamas and went to defend their communities on October 7, many of whom died doing so - I have never heard of any other place in the world where its ordinary citizens have such a deeply ingrained, real commitment to defending and sustaining its society, as diverse and fractious as it is, no questions asked. Israelis are the biggest badasses on the planet - and I mean that only in the best sense of the word! But yes, maybe being human is the most revolutionary Zionist idea of all. I hope that message gets out to more people.
This is a perfect explanation of the relationship most of us now have with Israel, and a beautiful tribute to an extraordinary country.
I have lived in 4 countries and loved each one romantically. Yet each time became disillusioned. I think it was a constant feeling of seeing myself as Jewish. As different from those around me. As if my identity came from seeing myself through their eyes. As 'the Jews who lived there'. It wasn't comfortable. A tension I didn't know I carried inside until the first time I visited Israel. I couldn't believe it, everything was Jewish! Even the drain lids were Jewish, engraved with lions of Judah! Years later I finally understood when I made Aliyah. Here, in Israel, I am just me. Not different. Not seen as just the 'Jew' who lives there. My identity is all the things that form me, and others see me as all those aspects of me. Not just the label 'Jew' but a diverse human being, mother, wife, friend, dog lover, etc. I am home in myself because I live in Israel. And I see all the aspects of myself in Israel. The good, the bad and the ugly. And there is no tension because I accept all.
I think that the only way to cope with the horror of his mother's death is through denial. If Zeigen were to confront the primal evil for her death, who knows what the reality might do to him. But there are some people here who also share his view and, even with the whole country experiencing trauma from October 7, not everyone went through such torture. There are also forces driving agendas; to overthrow the government - in particular to get rid of Netanyahu. There are other forces that want to delegitimise Israel. The rabid propaganda that floods the internet, globally, is weaponizing the grief of a man whose mother was murdered in one of the most barbaric massacres since the Shoah
I found this profoundly moving.
I agree with everything you say.
I love Israel the way I love my parents. And my children. Israel is family. And the love is unconditional. For way too many American Jews, people like Thomas Friedman, the love is entirely conditional. They would rather Israel cease to exist than fail to live up to the fantasies of their imagination.
You give Friedman too much credit. His views and expectations do not have the seet scent of love, more like the sour scent of...something else. He is sadly, lacking the sentiment shared by the author and "our Jewidh Grandmother"- when we are in danger we pull nearer to each other and to the Land we, and Our Creator love so eternally. Even more sadly, Friedman is not alone. We should all wish that all of the People Israel love ourselves, our Land and our Creator enough to stand tall against every enemy that seeks our destruction...we have plenty of those.Love expects, demands and requires loyalty, or it's something else.
Back in the Oslo days, Friedman was very high on Israel. Ever since the collapse of Labor and the rise of Netanyahu he has indeed soured. To the point that I think he would prefer to see Israel destroyed than see it continue under right wing rule.
$ for hating Israel.
Nah. It isn't about money with Friedman. He's just a twisted fool.
Wow. Vanessa. You summed up my thoughts as though you were me. I made Aliyah a year ago as a result of my idealized love for Israel, and my relentless sense of Zionism. In Canada, I was exposed to levels of antisemitism that were off the charts. I couldn't take it anymore. My love for Israel as a symbol of hope in the midst of so much darkness has not changed, but I now see that day-to-day life in Israel is not a matter to be idealized: Rather, that Israel, just like all countries, is the product of a society that, just like all people, has its virtues and its areas of improvement. Yet the fact that it's here remains a miracle, and gives me hope.
“Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!” Stephen Decatur 1816.
What a beautiful way to look at our relationship with Israel. Not to fantasize about a perfect country, but to acknowledge the flaws inherent in every nation in the world and to be devoted anyway. That is true patriotism. It’s been harder and harder to feel that way towards the US, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love her and want her to be better; even work towards that goal. Having others judge Israel for her imperfections necessitates that they look in the mirror and do the same for their own country. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
@Vanessa .. this piece of writing is so powerful and emotive. A beautifully crafted piece that resonates in my soul and powers up my inner strength. Thank you.
As a Jew.
Eww
What a great essay! I understand some of these feelings as a Christian who visited Israel with an empty open mind many years ago and fell in love. Israel feels strangely like going home to my christian roots though I admit having no particular faith any longer.
A beautiful comparison and contrast between romantic love and mature love, of a person and reality as it is.
I put in correct substack code and it said it was wrong. Numbers 33:55
What a wonderful analogy, Vanessa. Thank you so much for your insights!
"Israel is not always wise, moral, and certainly not always right." 😲
OMG how can you write such a thing about my country 😫
We are perfect angels 😇 or are we just regular human beings. 🤣🤣
At least we have the Torah, the Promised Land and the Jewish people back in our ancestral indigenous historical homeland. 🙏