As I’m sure you realize, regardless of your conversion, your courage, strength and perseverance in the face of such ignorance and hate is a testament to your exemplary character.
The sickness which has infected so many at our so-called elite schools is nothing less than a cancer which requires the harshest measures of treatment legally available. Thank you for exposing this ugly truth, which needs to be disseminated to the vast uninformed and misinformed—thanks largely to a corrupt media.
Thank you so much David. I appreciate it. I normally cover academic and medical antisemitism, so if you're interested in that, feel free to give me a follow or a subscribe.
And yes, that "sickness" you're talking about is something I'm doing podcasts on at this moment. Many are concerned, and the "sickness" comes from both academia and social media (where the top academic ideas are repopulated over and over again).
I'm not Jewish, but it's beautiful to see that such lovely people in the Jewish community reached out to you and helped you in some of your darkest times. May they always be blessed because of that and their many other kindnesses, and may you be blessed in your life.
I am in awe of your strength. I don't think I would have been able to stick it out at Barnard like you did. Thank you for sharing what was going on even well before 10/7
If you think I'm strong, you'd be shocked at all the incidents (like being cornered by 4 SJP students in the grocery store)... being sent a message saying "I hope you trip and fall off a cliff in Morningside Park" over Tumblr.... at the exact moment I was in that park. I had to cut this essay down so much for the Times of Israel -- where I originally published it -- I regret taking out some of those anecdotes.
I am shocked. I experienced a good amount of antisemitism in elementary school (to the level of assault a couple of times), but what you experienced constantly is truly horrifying.
I am sorry you had to experience any of what you did. Glad to have you part of the tribe, however, but wish it could have been an easier journey getting here.
Mazel Tov to you, Toni, for being brave enough to withstand that kind of harassment, and for finding Judaism to be a perfect fit for you. I wish you all the best in keeping the truth alive for Jews everywhere.
In the past couple of years, I have been astounded how many converts I have met; I'm up in rural Maine and a number of the Jews in my very small community are converts. I always worry for them, because they were safe before but now they're targets, and if they have children, their children will be targets, and their children's children, forever. But I think you already knew what it is like to be a target. You weren't safe before, and you found shelter.
That's amazing. It says so much about our culture that even a non-Jew who thinks differently is unsafe. It shows how insecure those "pro-Palestinian" students were that the slightest ambivalence, not even dissent, was intolerable. It sounds like they have their own little totalitarian fascist society where they watch each other for the slightest slip-up. The horror of it.
So you chose the forbidden path, that was intrepid. Converts have to know more than born Jews, they have to work very hard and really know their material. Converts tend to be more Jewish than anyone else. They have to really, really want to be Jewish. So mazel tov, we're lucky to have you, thank you for joining the family.
My sentiments exactly! I had no idea the rot was so deep. Toni is so brave and strong to withstand all this. I'm so proud she's now a member of the tribe.
I chose the Hebrew name Mazelit Liel Yocheved when I converted!
Liel after Liel Hetzroni, an 11-year-old who was murdered on October 7th.
And Yocheved, after a Jewish Brooklynite friend of mine with anorexia who passed away a few years ago (with the permission of her family) from anorexia, an issue I also struggled with... after getting down to 88 pounds.
Mazelit (Mazel, really) is what my friends call me now.
In the face of hate and evil - your love has triumphed - in the end - a beautiful story.
I hope your life going forward will be filled with the love that Judaism casts.
I'm an old man from London who came from the east end. Jews were neighbours, friends - people we called Uncle and Aunt. Any divisions and antisemitism had for the most part faded.
Following Oct 7th - I felt an overwhelming affinity with Jewish friends. 'Inked for Israel' I have a Magen David and Am Yisrael Chai tattoo on my lower left arm - so in the summer everybody can see where I stand. They would assume that I'm a Jew - which for me is the best compliment you could pay me (I'm a tiny percent Ashkenazi)
Congratulations and thanks. One of the basic realities of being Jewish is, I believe, the willingness and fortitude to question. Your peers and your elders. You did that - it takes courage and a strong self-image. Look for me in Substack writing as “Adult Language Is Possible.”
I am shocked. I experienced a good amount of antisemitism in elementary school (to the level of assault a couple of times), but what you experienced constantly is truly horrifying.
I am sorry you had to experience any of what you did. Glad to have you part of the tribe, however, but wish it could have been an easier journey getting here.
Thank you, Joshua Hoffman & The Future of Jewish, for sharing this!
As I’m sure you realize, regardless of your conversion, your courage, strength and perseverance in the face of such ignorance and hate is a testament to your exemplary character.
The sickness which has infected so many at our so-called elite schools is nothing less than a cancer which requires the harshest measures of treatment legally available. Thank you for exposing this ugly truth, which needs to be disseminated to the vast uninformed and misinformed—thanks largely to a corrupt media.
Thank you so much David. I appreciate it. I normally cover academic and medical antisemitism, so if you're interested in that, feel free to give me a follow or a subscribe.
And yes, that "sickness" you're talking about is something I'm doing podcasts on at this moment. Many are concerned, and the "sickness" comes from both academia and social media (where the top academic ideas are repopulated over and over again).
Ditto, David!
Thanks for reading Stephen!
I'm not Jewish, but it's beautiful to see that such lovely people in the Jewish community reached out to you and helped you in some of your darkest times. May they always be blessed because of that and their many other kindnesses, and may you be blessed in your life.
Thank you Michelle :) I appreciate your kind words.
Kol Hakavod Toni! Wishing you a life filled with good health and happiness. Please continue the important work of Jewish advocacy!
I am in awe of your strength. I don't think I would have been able to stick it out at Barnard like you did. Thank you for sharing what was going on even well before 10/7
If you think I'm strong, you'd be shocked at all the incidents (like being cornered by 4 SJP students in the grocery store)... being sent a message saying "I hope you trip and fall off a cliff in Morningside Park" over Tumblr.... at the exact moment I was in that park. I had to cut this essay down so much for the Times of Israel -- where I originally published it -- I regret taking out some of those anecdotes.
I am shocked. I experienced a good amount of antisemitism in elementary school (to the level of assault a couple of times), but what you experienced constantly is truly horrifying.
I am sorry you had to experience any of what you did. Glad to have you part of the tribe, however, but wish it could have been an easier journey getting here.
Mazel Tov to you, Toni, for being brave enough to withstand that kind of harassment, and for finding Judaism to be a perfect fit for you. I wish you all the best in keeping the truth alive for Jews everywhere.
What a beautiful story. Thank you for standing up for what is right.
Shabbat shalom, one convert to another.
Welcome and I'm so glad you found a home.
In the past couple of years, I have been astounded how many converts I have met; I'm up in rural Maine and a number of the Jews in my very small community are converts. I always worry for them, because they were safe before but now they're targets, and if they have children, their children will be targets, and their children's children, forever. But I think you already knew what it is like to be a target. You weren't safe before, and you found shelter.
That's amazing. It says so much about our culture that even a non-Jew who thinks differently is unsafe. It shows how insecure those "pro-Palestinian" students were that the slightest ambivalence, not even dissent, was intolerable. It sounds like they have their own little totalitarian fascist society where they watch each other for the slightest slip-up. The horror of it.
So you chose the forbidden path, that was intrepid. Converts have to know more than born Jews, they have to work very hard and really know their material. Converts tend to be more Jewish than anyone else. They have to really, really want to be Jewish. So mazel tov, we're lucky to have you, thank you for joining the family.
May you be safe with us.
Thank you so much for your reply! I also moved to Florida two years ago, which is definitely a lot safer if you’re Jewish or are pro-Israel.
I’m shocked at what you experienced at Barnard. I had no idea how bad it was even before 10/7. So glad to have you in the tribe!
My sentiments exactly! I had no idea the rot was so deep. Toni is so brave and strong to withstand all this. I'm so proud she's now a member of the tribe.
shabbat shalom - mazal tov and welcome to the tribe! - what Hebrew name did you choose?
I chose the Hebrew name Mazelit Liel Yocheved when I converted!
Liel after Liel Hetzroni, an 11-year-old who was murdered on October 7th.
And Yocheved, after a Jewish Brooklynite friend of mine with anorexia who passed away a few years ago (with the permission of her family) from anorexia, an issue I also struggled with... after getting down to 88 pounds.
Mazelit (Mazel, really) is what my friends call me now.
And gut shabbat to you too!
Toni, bruchim habayim to the club. MAZEL TOV on your conversion. Sam Prince
In the face of hate and evil - your love has triumphed - in the end - a beautiful story.
I hope your life going forward will be filled with the love that Judaism casts.
I'm an old man from London who came from the east end. Jews were neighbours, friends - people we called Uncle and Aunt. Any divisions and antisemitism had for the most part faded.
Following Oct 7th - I felt an overwhelming affinity with Jewish friends. 'Inked for Israel' I have a Magen David and Am Yisrael Chai tattoo on my lower left arm - so in the summer everybody can see where I stand. They would assume that I'm a Jew - which for me is the best compliment you could pay me (I'm a tiny percent Ashkenazi)
Congrats Toni for swimming through this sewage river of hatred and coming out the other side with purpose and vision. Kol Hakavod.
Congratulations and thanks. One of the basic realities of being Jewish is, I believe, the willingness and fortitude to question. Your peers and your elders. You did that - it takes courage and a strong self-image. Look for me in Substack writing as “Adult Language Is Possible.”
Sweetest conversion story ever…up there near Ruth…
Perhaps I shall release the 7K word version sometimes...
I am shocked. I experienced a good amount of antisemitism in elementary school (to the level of assault a couple of times), but what you experienced constantly is truly horrifying.
I am sorry you had to experience any of what you did. Glad to have you part of the tribe, however, but wish it could have been an easier journey getting here.