Joshua, I concur with Stephen. Simply inspirational and focusing. Your highlighting the relevance of "courage" in Zionism, in Israel, and in Jews throughout the Diaspora is a rarity indeed. Jews demonstrating courage and feeling internal preparedness and strength are mission-critical to living in our very real world. Thank you for your continuing communications.
You don’t win until the enemy officially surrenders. It’s only a cease-fire with an exchange of prisoners for hostages and some territorial gains at this point.
Great essay Joshua. However, you carefully dodged an important element in the rebuilding: Bibi must go. It's time for a new generation of leadership to build upon the wisdom of the past, and unify the country. We can debate the effectiveness of his war time leadership, but he represents a symbol to Israel (and the world) of a moral lapse and a strategy and callousness that transformed "start-up" nation to pariah nation.
Bullshit to your characterization of Bibi's leadership. You are a typical reprehensible obnoxious liberal who would rather Jews be pitiful helpless victims than strong, powerful and hated. Bibi did not turn Israel into a pariah nation; the world's antisemitism did that. The world loves dead Jews and hates Jews who fight back. Bibi represents Jewish warriors who fight rather than roll over, surrender and die. If Bibi listened to people like you, Iran would have nuclear weapons, hamas would still be standing as well as hezbollah. You would obviously prefer a PM who caved to global pressure to ceasefire early on. He did what was absolutely necessary to protect Israel. If anything, he conducted the war with too much restraint. We should all be grateful for Bibi's strength and fortitude instead of trashing him. He does not represent moral lapse, but rather moral clarity.
"The actions of the state are determined by the leaders who strive to survive happily and feel threatened when their political survival is threatened. Because they worry about their survival, sometimes a contradiction arises between the concern for themselves and the stratum they came from and the survival of all citizens. The state has a survival interest in fostering in its residents a sense of mutual dependence, and therefore, it fosters the institutions of family, religion, and national sentiment. The concept of political sovereignty includes the unlimited legitimate ability of the state to impose its will on all citizens, therefore the decision-makers direct the laws, culture, social values and ideologies to suit their desire to preserve their legitimate and unlimited ability to coerce. But for the most part, they do not exercise the power of coercion because they fear the loss of national approval. For the leaders, the survival of the country is a supreme value, which will justify the use of any means. Placing the survival of the state at the top of all interests is affected and will affect the human race more than any other factor.
In order to maintain their survival, the countries established security systems whose main components are police, army, and secret agencies. The security system is the main survival energy of political systems. The security systems have a dual character, they are designed to ensure the existence of the state, but they have an interest in ensuring their own existence, which can sometimes pose a threat to the survival of the state as in the case of the Soviet Army. All war is organized human violence designed to threaten or protect a political system. Every war, internal and external, is for or against a new order. Military systems because they are closed and undemocratic hierarchical systems, the level of intelligent communication in them is low, and it is difficult to reach the truth in them, therefore in these systems there is no process of intelligent learning of lessons, but rather a process of "Darwinian learning of lessons" of natural selection."
I hope we can all go forward from yesterday’s argument, and tomorrow’s arguments, and continue to work toward uniting ourselves around our COMMON GROUND, both Israel and our love for Am Yisrael. I am okay if Joshua allows posts that I disagree with, because ‘two Jews, three opinions’ has always been who we are. I was disappointed in Joshua’s response to the post more than the post itself, but I do not expect him to agree with everything I believe. When I consider how radically my beliefs have changed since Oct. 7th, I know that transitions are possible for others. This is a tough time, HP, and I wish you a safe passage through it.
I appreciate you words, but with all due respect, I asked him, not you. I was not involved in yesterday's "argument" since he did not deign to reply to my comment. He also has not yet found the cojones to respond today, so again, there is no argument.
As for common ground, where do you suggest I look for common ground with someone who so clearly believes that I am not Jewish because...why? I use a different siddur? I drive to shul---where I am the TORAH READER!?!?!?
That post went way beyond 'two Jews three opinions'. It was sinat hinam, the baseless hatred from Jews to Jews. It is beyond shameful.
Here’s what it looks like to many American Christians who study Bible prophecy. I find it interesting that there is a prevalent misconception that all Christians in America support Trump. I view him only in regard to Israel and right now I, like many here, do NOT like what is coming out of his mouth:
Brilliant writing as always, Joshua. I second the notion that all Israelis need to get real about taking responsibility for the country’s defense. Thanks for creating guidelines and goals toward re-uniting Am Yisrael, both in the Diaspora and in Eretz Yisrael.
Joshua, I concur with Stephen. Simply inspirational and focusing. Your highlighting the relevance of "courage" in Zionism, in Israel, and in Jews throughout the Diaspora is a rarity indeed. Jews demonstrating courage and feeling internal preparedness and strength are mission-critical to living in our very real world. Thank you for your continuing communications.
You don’t win until the enemy officially surrenders. It’s only a cease-fire with an exchange of prisoners for hostages and some territorial gains at this point.
Every Jew in a leadership position, be it in Israel or the Diaspora, from the prime minister to teachers and educators, must read this essay.
A thoughtful and outstanding essay, Joshua!
Great essay Joshua. However, you carefully dodged an important element in the rebuilding: Bibi must go. It's time for a new generation of leadership to build upon the wisdom of the past, and unify the country. We can debate the effectiveness of his war time leadership, but he represents a symbol to Israel (and the world) of a moral lapse and a strategy and callousness that transformed "start-up" nation to pariah nation.
Bullshit to your characterization of Bibi's leadership. You are a typical reprehensible obnoxious liberal who would rather Jews be pitiful helpless victims than strong, powerful and hated. Bibi did not turn Israel into a pariah nation; the world's antisemitism did that. The world loves dead Jews and hates Jews who fight back. Bibi represents Jewish warriors who fight rather than roll over, surrender and die. If Bibi listened to people like you, Iran would have nuclear weapons, hamas would still be standing as well as hezbollah. You would obviously prefer a PM who caved to global pressure to ceasefire early on. He did what was absolutely necessary to protect Israel. If anything, he conducted the war with too much restraint. We should all be grateful for Bibi's strength and fortitude instead of trashing him. He does not represent moral lapse, but rather moral clarity.
He didn't dodge it. He hinted at it quite strongly...
who must go?
the man who stood up for jews against the world
or limp wristed kapos who’d rather beg for mercy from people who hate them
who must go?…
The principle of survival by Dr. Uri Milstein
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uri_Milstein
"The actions of the state are determined by the leaders who strive to survive happily and feel threatened when their political survival is threatened. Because they worry about their survival, sometimes a contradiction arises between the concern for themselves and the stratum they came from and the survival of all citizens. The state has a survival interest in fostering in its residents a sense of mutual dependence, and therefore, it fosters the institutions of family, religion, and national sentiment. The concept of political sovereignty includes the unlimited legitimate ability of the state to impose its will on all citizens, therefore the decision-makers direct the laws, culture, social values and ideologies to suit their desire to preserve their legitimate and unlimited ability to coerce. But for the most part, they do not exercise the power of coercion because they fear the loss of national approval. For the leaders, the survival of the country is a supreme value, which will justify the use of any means. Placing the survival of the state at the top of all interests is affected and will affect the human race more than any other factor.
In order to maintain their survival, the countries established security systems whose main components are police, army, and secret agencies. The security system is the main survival energy of political systems. The security systems have a dual character, they are designed to ensure the existence of the state, but they have an interest in ensuring their own existence, which can sometimes pose a threat to the survival of the state as in the case of the Soviet Army. All war is organized human violence designed to threaten or protect a political system. Every war, internal and external, is for or against a new order. Military systems because they are closed and undemocratic hierarchical systems, the level of intelligent communication in them is low, and it is difficult to reach the truth in them, therefore in these systems there is no process of intelligent learning of lessons, but rather a process of "Darwinian learning of lessons" of natural selection."
So based on the guest essay you allowed yesterday, can I assume that all of this is solely for the Orthodox? Or are the rest of us Jews after all?
I hope we can all go forward from yesterday’s argument, and tomorrow’s arguments, and continue to work toward uniting ourselves around our COMMON GROUND, both Israel and our love for Am Yisrael. I am okay if Joshua allows posts that I disagree with, because ‘two Jews, three opinions’ has always been who we are. I was disappointed in Joshua’s response to the post more than the post itself, but I do not expect him to agree with everything I believe. When I consider how radically my beliefs have changed since Oct. 7th, I know that transitions are possible for others. This is a tough time, HP, and I wish you a safe passage through it.
I appreciate you words, but with all due respect, I asked him, not you. I was not involved in yesterday's "argument" since he did not deign to reply to my comment. He also has not yet found the cojones to respond today, so again, there is no argument.
As for common ground, where do you suggest I look for common ground with someone who so clearly believes that I am not Jewish because...why? I use a different siddur? I drive to shul---where I am the TORAH READER!?!?!?
That post went way beyond 'two Jews three opinions'. It was sinat hinam, the baseless hatred from Jews to Jews. It is beyond shameful.
Fair enough. Thanks for introducing me to the Hebrew term. I did not feel hated, particularly, and was trying, ineffectually, to be a peace maker.
Here’s what it looks like to many American Christians who study Bible prophecy. I find it interesting that there is a prevalent misconception that all Christians in America support Trump. I view him only in regard to Israel and right now I, like many here, do NOT like what is coming out of his mouth:
https://substack.com/@kayanneriley483280/note/c-169384824?r=h1bh8&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Brilliant writing as always, Joshua. I second the notion that all Israelis need to get real about taking responsibility for the country’s defense. Thanks for creating guidelines and goals toward re-uniting Am Yisrael, both in the Diaspora and in Eretz Yisrael.