No one seems to understand or care that Israel is fighting for its life and most have no idea of what Israeli is really like.
When I visited Israeli I was struck by its diversity and attitude of respect. Bedouin and Druze and Israeli Palestinians maintain their identity. The Dome of Rock is protected. On the day I toured the West Wall Tunnels three religious women sat on a bench praying toward the rockface standing between them and what was once a Jewish temple.
When I try to tell so-called progressive people about my experience of Israel they are too focused on their own prejudice to hear me. No country is perfect and Israel is no exception. But some countries are better than others and it makes me sad that people are so unable to see that.
Excellent piece. Additionally, Progressive anti-Semitism came from the now defunct Soviet Union, got planted in the psyche of the Left, and never departed.
I'm also going to say something that might ruffle a few feathers. What you described is Knowledge Vampirism in a nutshell. When you teach outsiders your cultural body of knowledge without requiring accountability or deep citation, you risk empowering those who appear oppressed but lack the moral code to carry that knowledge with integrity. In sharing that knowledge to fight for groups you deem oppressed or disempowered especially in solidarity with those groups, you might unintentionally create a power differential that invites covert narcissists to extract, distort, and weaponize the knowledge for their own image and influence.
This is what has unfolded with much of the modern progressive movement. Jewish thought, rooted in covenant, justice, moral accountability, and ethical responsibility, shaped many of the ideals that progressives now claim as their foundation. But instead of honouring that lineage, they have absorbed the values, rewritten the language, and removed Jewish identity from the narrative entirely. Jews are now portrayed as the problem within a moral framework they helped build.
This is Knowledge Vampirism in action: extracting a living tradition, denying its authorship, and repackaging it for personal or political gain under the guise of righteousness.
This isn’t just about Jews. But the deeper lesson here is this: when radical ideas are shared without structure, lineage, or responsibility to including the source of the principle along with the principle, they can be co-opted and weaponized. When one radical movement rises unchecked, history shows it will eventually provoke an equal and opposite reaction. The pendulum swing is human nature. This is a call for all who see themselves as keepers of cultural, spiritual, or ethical knowledge, to share wisely and with discernment.
They want to extract the morals from the Story, and then delete the people who tell that Story and live inside of it.
Which is the United Nations in a nutshell: "Swords into plowshares..." carved into the plaza outside U.N. headquarters where world leaders can't stop condemning Israel. It's nuts.
I also want to add that it's possible an idea here or there was borrowed from a neighboring culture, or that another society came up with one or two similar ideas. In addition, ideas morph over time, and that's as it should be. BUT, as a body of ideology THAT HAS LASTED AND HAS BEEN EMULATED, there's no way we can be surpassed. As such we are a light unto the nations -- a role model for those open enough to jump on board.
Josh, terrific piece. Brilliantly outlines the whole weird distorted contradiction in the way the world embraces our philosophy and morality and then rejects us and accuses us of the opposite of what we have taught for centuries. Gets your head spinning.
It’s difficult to imagine a piece more laughably wrong. Against slavery? The Bible is littered with slavery from start to finish. The value of human life?
Leviticus 25:44-46 “As for the male and female slaves whom you may have, it is from the nations around you that you may acquire male and female slaves. 45 You may also acquire them from among the aliens residing with you and from their families who are with you who have been born in your land; they may be your property. 46 You may keep them as a possession for your children after you, for them to inherit as property. These you may treat as slaves, but as for your fellow Israelites, no one shall rule over the other with harshness.”
Deuteronomy 20:16 “But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.”
Come off it. Please go and find anything from any other non-Abrahamic religion more vicious than that and then come back and preach this nonsense.
What do you know.about the slavery you refer to in Torah? It is NOT the slavery the Jews were subjected to in Egypt! It is not the slavery of the US pre civil war south. If you want to quote Torah to illustrate the word of G-D you'ld be better to prepare first by learning its meaning. The written Torah is but a "blueprint". The meaning of those words, as explained to Moses by G-D Almighty Himself on Mt Sinai, is required. Some of what you'll learn about the examples you give actually illustrate points made by the author of this piece. During Torah times slaves in Jewish custody were protected by morality and ethical considerations, whether Jewish or not, where no other nations would even conceive of it.
The "owning" of slaves by Jews was not a desired pursuit, but a consequence of war or unavoidable circumstances. It was a n unfortunate and temporary measure. The poor or those in such debt they could not pay did not sue for bankruptcy, they indentured themselves for up to 7 years to earn their way free of debt. They would restore their dignity and good name. And they would leave with enough material wealth to get a new start. The slavery you ridicule required these considerations as well as many more protections. Still, slavery is nor desired by Torah, it is an unfortunate and undesirable state Torah shows to be best avoided. Torah loves freedom and teaches that people should work to and do all they can to be free.
You seemed to be grounded in a deep understanding of the Torah. G-d realizes that we live in an imperfect world and provides guidance as to how to deal with very unfortunate circumstances.
Firstly serious historians do not take the account of Egyptian slavery as an actual historical account, certainly not as written. Secondly, that’s a lot of words to justify slavery and it doesn’t even touch on the genocide. Please think objectively.
I don't justify slavery. Obviously its not a desired state. Torah doesnt justify it. That was my point. But Torah protects the weak and those who can not defend themselves, widows and orphans prototypically. And slaves.
The slavery of the Jews in Egypt is not only historic fact, Egypt has considered suing for reparations for the wealth lost at the time of the exodus, but central to Jewish history. World history recognizes the slavery of Jews in Egypt, just as the entire world's history recognizes the revelation of G-D to humans, to the Jews, at Mt Sinai.
I would never begin to attempt to "justify" anything in Torah nor any fraction of the Word of G-D Almighty. Its not for me nor any human.
Perhaps your issue is a lack of knowledge and understanding of Torah associated with an as yet lack of relationship with G-D?
Sorry, but you are wrong. Historians like Professor William G. Dever have poked hole after hole in the Exodus narrative. Not that it takes much doing but I doubt religious fanatics like you are much interested in secular scholarship or any criticism of your texts at all.
I won’t even bother to bring up that you dodged the genocide aspect again. Perhaps the thought of justifying the slaughter of thousands of women and children turns your stomach? That’s good, it’s your conscience speaking. Follow it and cease propagandising for barbarity.
Not really. Of course, some books were appropriated, but stories were changed and much was invented according to Muhammed's view, and that of his successors, which was not kind to others. Judaism had evolved by the time of the rise of Islam and Christianity looks nothing like the letter, resting as it does on interpretation via the New Testament without incitement to conquer and subdue.
However, let us instead just consider how many Jewish or Christian jihadist groups exist today in the cause of presumed grievance.
Funny how you have to bring up Islam to deflect criticisms of Judaism. I should note that whenever an author or commentator brings up the 2000 odd years of persecution of Jews by Christians, nobody here starts going on about how Islam is so much worse…
How lame! To the best of my knowledge, Judaism has never preached hatred of others, and certainly not in the present day. As for the matter of many Christians persecuting Jews in past times, that was and remains a terrible indictment of Christianity, as has been acknowledged by the church of Rome. As you should know, Christians in past times have also persecuted each other. And let's not consider the differences between branches of Islam. So what nowadays? RELIGIONS CAN EVOLVE, yet Islam seems resistant to modernisation, and in fact sometimes has regressed; vide within Afghanistan and Iran, for starters. The conflict in the Holy Land concerns the existence of a Jewish nation and the rights to autonomy for its people. If it ceased to exist, the whole folk slaughtered or driven out to heaven knows where, the goal of many of its enemies, would a socioeconomic paradise arise fostering peace and prosperity, tolerance and equal rights, unchained by the horrid Jew? Or would it instead proceed to carry on subjugating women and gays with mediaeval punishments for transgression against the extremes of its patriarchal rule?
Stepping back, for sure, parts of ancient texts appear barbaric to us now, but do not our modern values stem from Judaeo-Christian beliefs? Why not Islam too? After all, it embraces the same early books, more or less.
What has any of that got to do with my criticism of the nonsense put out by the piece’s author? Are you one of those people who believes any lie is permissible so long as it advances a cause you approve of?
The Torah of G-D is timeless. Sure, we must use the perspective of the time frame of people as they find themselves during their lives, but "The Law of Moses" is Divine and perfect, always. If it seems to be anything else, it is our shortcomings as humans and not any fault of its Author. But you're right to look at how people see morality and ethics during their times. In Parshas Noach we read "Noah was a righteous man. Faultless despite his generations. Noah walked with G-D".
Your words are a perfect example of person who interprets without a knowledge of context or history. You make assumptions about slavery rather than understanding slavery in historical context. Learned people study the Torah for decades, but you cherry pick a few sentences so as to project your favored interpretation onto it so as to demonize Judaism.
Jews introduced ideas about how to treat slaves, including days of rest and no physical abuse. Your preconceived ideas about slavery are brutal because of your narrow-minded understanding.
Constantly scrambling to convince yourself Jews deserve to be discriminated against is pathetic.
Another delusional fanatic. I implore you to get out of your bubble, read widely and not just from people that agree with you and cease smugly putting your beliefs on a pedestal.
What a sad and misguided answer to my very rational explanation of how you dont understand historical context.
Calling me a fanatic when 8ve had to patiently explain your own confusion and lack of knowledge to you is si.ply more of the same childish tantrum from you after you transparently attempted to smear Judaism based on your own ignorance.
I assure you, an objective reading of history reveals a much greater hatred directed by Abrahamic societies towards ‘pagans’ than anything directed at Jews. A hatred they learned from you.
The Christian Church called Jews 'Christ killers' when crucifixion was the normal death sentence in Roman times, the Christian Church put us in ghettos ( an Italian word), the Christian Church used blood libels, expelled Jews from England, France, Spain as well as forcing conversion, torturing Jews in inquisitions. The Christian Church tried to convert pagans and infected then with 'European' diseases like syphilis and smallpox, but Jews have never preached conversion nor forced Judaism on anyone. For you to question the antisemitism of the Christian Church is to show your ignorance and certainly Jews never preached hatred. We kept ourselves to ourselves. The Greeks and Romans didn't like the Jews of the Land of Israel because we refused to accept Greek and Roman gods. Jews lived side by side in many communities of Europe but when a tyrant needed to distract his subjects from his own mis - rule he started a pogrom - scapegoats. Jews were persecuted under Islam too and lived as dhmini, inferior, as were Christians, but there are many antisemitic Jew-hating paragraphs in the Koran, which by the way NEVER mentions Jerusalem even once.
Your opinion is simply not in conformity with the facts. The historical record shows many examples of both proselytisation and forced conversion during those periods that Jewish states existed. The Hasmoneans forcibly converted the Edomites and the existence of so-called ‘God-fearers’ shows that Jews were spreading their religion outside of their communities. The Gospel of Matthew shows this; Matthew 23:15 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
That other peoples did this as well merely shows that uniformity of the activity.
As for hatred of pagans, read the passage I posted earlier and add to it the dozens of other passages that attack those that worship other gods. 2 Kings 10:18-28
“Then Jehu gathered all the people, saying to them, “Ahab served Baal a little. Jehu will serve him a great deal! 19 So invite all of Baal’s prophets, all his worshippers, and all his priests to come to me. Don’t leave anyone out, because I have a great sacrifice planned for Baal. Anyone who doesn’t show up won’t survive.” But Jehu was lying so that he could wipe out Baal’s worshippers. 20 Jehu called for a holy assembly for Baal, and it was done. 21 Jehu then sent word throughout Israel. All Baal’s worshippers came. No one stayed away. They entered Baal’s temple until it was packed from one end to the other. 22 Then Jehu said to the person in charge of the vestments, “Bring out the special clothes for all Baal’s worshippers.” So he brought out robes for them. 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab, Rechab’s son, entered Baal’s temple. They said to Baal’s worshippers, “Make sure there are no worshippers of the Lord here with you. There should be only Baal worshippers.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and entirely burned offerings. But Jehu had stationed eighty soldiers outside and told them, “I’m handing these people over to you. Whoever lets even one of them escape will pay for it with his life.” 25 So when Jehu finished offering the entirely burned offering, he said to the guards and the officers, “Go in and kill everyone! Don’t let anyone escape!” They killed the Baal worshippers without mercy. The guards and the officers then disposed of the bodies and entered the inner part of Baal’s temple. 26 They brought the sacred pillar[a] out of Baal’s temple and burned it. 27 They tore down Baal’s sacred pillar and destroyed Baal’s temple, turning it into a public restroom, which is what it still is today.
28 This is how Jehu eliminated Baal from Israel.”
Please cease speaking about things you know nothing of.
Matthew- the problem with you is you've committed to an entirely fabricated narrative which you are digging your heels in to protect in the face of overwhelming proof that you are - excuse the expression- talking out your ass.
Your repugnant gaslighting response to the historically correct statement that Jews have experienced at least 2000 years of persecution based on both Christian and Islamic discrimination and hate, is to accuse Jews of paranoia. Disgusting. A new atheist extremist-islamist union is now a great threat to Jewish communities worldwide - they actually preach 'death to zionists' and they make zionists their boogieman - having bundled all their fears and nightmares into characterizing 'the zionist'. But zionist is just a euphemism for Jew and its Jews who are experiencing hate crimes at unprecedented levels. The misguided narrative youre spouting makes you one 9f those who support or at the least, excuse and justify jew hatred and the violence that follows.
Your very shallow and superficial understanding of Judaism and Israel is based on a loose collection of media exposure and internalized Jew hatred which you mistake for an objective 'truth' .
You don't seek to truly educate yourself, committed as you are to harrassing Jews on the internet instead, trying to lecture us on our allegedly evil ways. How ironic that youre a nazi and dont know it.
Josh, you are such a beautiful and powerful writer! Thank you for reminding us Jews of why we are a light unto the nations even if our enemies can't see it.
No one seems to understand or care that Israel is fighting for its life and most have no idea of what Israeli is really like.
When I visited Israeli I was struck by its diversity and attitude of respect. Bedouin and Druze and Israeli Palestinians maintain their identity. The Dome of Rock is protected. On the day I toured the West Wall Tunnels three religious women sat on a bench praying toward the rockface standing between them and what was once a Jewish temple.
When I try to tell so-called progressive people about my experience of Israel they are too focused on their own prejudice to hear me. No country is perfect and Israel is no exception. But some countries are better than others and it makes me sad that people are so unable to see that.
It's the human condition, unfortunately. Don't waste energy of them.
Brilliant piece, Josh!
Excellent!!! Thank you!!
Excellent piece. Additionally, Progressive anti-Semitism came from the now defunct Soviet Union, got planted in the psyche of the Left, and never departed.
They don’t like Christians either..
It's the Judeo-Christian values they hate, too, yes.
Bravo Joshua!!!!!!! Such an utterly accurate, emotional, brillant writing.... EVERYONE should read it...... Blessings.....
Well done Josh
Yep. We still need you.
Great piece Josh.
I'm also going to say something that might ruffle a few feathers. What you described is Knowledge Vampirism in a nutshell. When you teach outsiders your cultural body of knowledge without requiring accountability or deep citation, you risk empowering those who appear oppressed but lack the moral code to carry that knowledge with integrity. In sharing that knowledge to fight for groups you deem oppressed or disempowered especially in solidarity with those groups, you might unintentionally create a power differential that invites covert narcissists to extract, distort, and weaponize the knowledge for their own image and influence.
This is what has unfolded with much of the modern progressive movement. Jewish thought, rooted in covenant, justice, moral accountability, and ethical responsibility, shaped many of the ideals that progressives now claim as their foundation. But instead of honouring that lineage, they have absorbed the values, rewritten the language, and removed Jewish identity from the narrative entirely. Jews are now portrayed as the problem within a moral framework they helped build.
This is Knowledge Vampirism in action: extracting a living tradition, denying its authorship, and repackaging it for personal or political gain under the guise of righteousness.
This isn’t just about Jews. But the deeper lesson here is this: when radical ideas are shared without structure, lineage, or responsibility to including the source of the principle along with the principle, they can be co-opted and weaponized. When one radical movement rises unchecked, history shows it will eventually provoke an equal and opposite reaction. The pendulum swing is human nature. This is a call for all who see themselves as keepers of cultural, spiritual, or ethical knowledge, to share wisely and with discernment.
For those who want to read about Knowledge Vampirism: https://www.hackingnarcissism.com/p/knowledgevampires
They want to extract the morals from the Story, and then delete the people who tell that Story and live inside of it.
Which is the United Nations in a nutshell: "Swords into plowshares..." carved into the plaza outside U.N. headquarters where world leaders can't stop condemning Israel. It's nuts.
I also want to add that it's possible an idea here or there was borrowed from a neighboring culture, or that another society came up with one or two similar ideas. In addition, ideas morph over time, and that's as it should be. BUT, as a body of ideology THAT HAS LASTED AND HAS BEEN EMULATED, there's no way we can be surpassed. As such we are a light unto the nations -- a role model for those open enough to jump on board.
Josh, terrific piece. Brilliantly outlines the whole weird distorted contradiction in the way the world embraces our philosophy and morality and then rejects us and accuses us of the opposite of what we have taught for centuries. Gets your head spinning.
It’s difficult to imagine a piece more laughably wrong. Against slavery? The Bible is littered with slavery from start to finish. The value of human life?
Leviticus 25:44-46 “As for the male and female slaves whom you may have, it is from the nations around you that you may acquire male and female slaves. 45 You may also acquire them from among the aliens residing with you and from their families who are with you who have been born in your land; they may be your property. 46 You may keep them as a possession for your children after you, for them to inherit as property. These you may treat as slaves, but as for your fellow Israelites, no one shall rule over the other with harshness.”
Deuteronomy 20:16 “But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.”
Come off it. Please go and find anything from any other non-Abrahamic religion more vicious than that and then come back and preach this nonsense.
What do you know.about the slavery you refer to in Torah? It is NOT the slavery the Jews were subjected to in Egypt! It is not the slavery of the US pre civil war south. If you want to quote Torah to illustrate the word of G-D you'ld be better to prepare first by learning its meaning. The written Torah is but a "blueprint". The meaning of those words, as explained to Moses by G-D Almighty Himself on Mt Sinai, is required. Some of what you'll learn about the examples you give actually illustrate points made by the author of this piece. During Torah times slaves in Jewish custody were protected by morality and ethical considerations, whether Jewish or not, where no other nations would even conceive of it.
The "owning" of slaves by Jews was not a desired pursuit, but a consequence of war or unavoidable circumstances. It was a n unfortunate and temporary measure. The poor or those in such debt they could not pay did not sue for bankruptcy, they indentured themselves for up to 7 years to earn their way free of debt. They would restore their dignity and good name. And they would leave with enough material wealth to get a new start. The slavery you ridicule required these considerations as well as many more protections. Still, slavery is nor desired by Torah, it is an unfortunate and undesirable state Torah shows to be best avoided. Torah loves freedom and teaches that people should work to and do all they can to be free.
Brilliant response. I was simply going to call this Huggett fellow a moron but I like your version better
That sounds about right for your level of intelligence.
actually I just don't waste time with wankers like you. brevity be the soul of wit
Or the soul of a twit in your case? Do you like to wank off to dead kids, if we’re working blue?
You seemed to be grounded in a deep understanding of the Torah. G-d realizes that we live in an imperfect world and provides guidance as to how to deal with very unfortunate circumstances.
Firstly serious historians do not take the account of Egyptian slavery as an actual historical account, certainly not as written. Secondly, that’s a lot of words to justify slavery and it doesn’t even touch on the genocide. Please think objectively.
I don't justify slavery. Obviously its not a desired state. Torah doesnt justify it. That was my point. But Torah protects the weak and those who can not defend themselves, widows and orphans prototypically. And slaves.
The slavery of the Jews in Egypt is not only historic fact, Egypt has considered suing for reparations for the wealth lost at the time of the exodus, but central to Jewish history. World history recognizes the slavery of Jews in Egypt, just as the entire world's history recognizes the revelation of G-D to humans, to the Jews, at Mt Sinai.
I would never begin to attempt to "justify" anything in Torah nor any fraction of the Word of G-D Almighty. Its not for me nor any human.
Perhaps your issue is a lack of knowledge and understanding of Torah associated with an as yet lack of relationship with G-D?
Sorry, but you are wrong. Historians like Professor William G. Dever have poked hole after hole in the Exodus narrative. Not that it takes much doing but I doubt religious fanatics like you are much interested in secular scholarship or any criticism of your texts at all.
I won’t even bother to bring up that you dodged the genocide aspect again. Perhaps the thought of justifying the slaughter of thousands of women and children turns your stomach? That’s good, it’s your conscience speaking. Follow it and cease propagandising for barbarity.
There is no genocide to dodge.
The Torah is not mine. It was given to the Jewish people. It was also shared with all 70 nations of the world at the time.
Whatever knowledge the historians you quote dont have does not reflect on absolute truth. Science and history both eventually catch up to Torah.
OK, I'm done with our conversation.
Learn or don't. Its up to you.
You are a religious fanatic.
Archeologists have found reference to 'Hebrews' in excavations in Egypt.
And this proves the entire Exodus narrative?
Now awaiting your scrutiny of the Qur'an.
Considering it’s largely a rip off of existing Jewish and Christian texts, the same criticisms stand.
Not really. Of course, some books were appropriated, but stories were changed and much was invented according to Muhammed's view, and that of his successors, which was not kind to others. Judaism had evolved by the time of the rise of Islam and Christianity looks nothing like the letter, resting as it does on interpretation via the New Testament without incitement to conquer and subdue.
However, let us instead just consider how many Jewish or Christian jihadist groups exist today in the cause of presumed grievance.
Funny how you have to bring up Islam to deflect criticisms of Judaism. I should note that whenever an author or commentator brings up the 2000 odd years of persecution of Jews by Christians, nobody here starts going on about how Islam is so much worse…
How lame! To the best of my knowledge, Judaism has never preached hatred of others, and certainly not in the present day. As for the matter of many Christians persecuting Jews in past times, that was and remains a terrible indictment of Christianity, as has been acknowledged by the church of Rome. As you should know, Christians in past times have also persecuted each other. And let's not consider the differences between branches of Islam. So what nowadays? RELIGIONS CAN EVOLVE, yet Islam seems resistant to modernisation, and in fact sometimes has regressed; vide within Afghanistan and Iran, for starters. The conflict in the Holy Land concerns the existence of a Jewish nation and the rights to autonomy for its people. If it ceased to exist, the whole folk slaughtered or driven out to heaven knows where, the goal of many of its enemies, would a socioeconomic paradise arise fostering peace and prosperity, tolerance and equal rights, unchained by the horrid Jew? Or would it instead proceed to carry on subjugating women and gays with mediaeval punishments for transgression against the extremes of its patriarchal rule?
Stepping back, for sure, parts of ancient texts appear barbaric to us now, but do not our modern values stem from Judaeo-Christian beliefs? Why not Islam too? After all, it embraces the same early books, more or less.
What has any of that got to do with my criticism of the nonsense put out by the piece’s author? Are you one of those people who believes any lie is permissible so long as it advances a cause you approve of?
I've had this conversation with my kids. Within the context of the times, the Law of Moses was a big step forward.
The Torah of G-D is timeless. Sure, we must use the perspective of the time frame of people as they find themselves during their lives, but "The Law of Moses" is Divine and perfect, always. If it seems to be anything else, it is our shortcomings as humans and not any fault of its Author. But you're right to look at how people see morality and ethics during their times. In Parshas Noach we read "Noah was a righteous man. Faultless despite his generations. Noah walked with G-D".
Your words are a perfect example of person who interprets without a knowledge of context or history. You make assumptions about slavery rather than understanding slavery in historical context. Learned people study the Torah for decades, but you cherry pick a few sentences so as to project your favored interpretation onto it so as to demonize Judaism.
Jews introduced ideas about how to treat slaves, including days of rest and no physical abuse. Your preconceived ideas about slavery are brutal because of your narrow-minded understanding.
Constantly scrambling to convince yourself Jews deserve to be discriminated against is pathetic.
Another delusional fanatic. I implore you to get out of your bubble, read widely and not just from people that agree with you and cease smugly putting your beliefs on a pedestal.
What a sad and misguided answer to my very rational explanation of how you dont understand historical context.
Calling me a fanatic when 8ve had to patiently explain your own confusion and lack of knowledge to you is si.ply more of the same childish tantrum from you after you transparently attempted to smear Judaism based on your own ignorance.
Youre just not that bright. Face it
The world is inherently antisemitic. That fact in undeniable.
With a persecution complex this large, what can be said to you?
2000 years of history proves this. Do some reading.
I assure you, an objective reading of history reveals a much greater hatred directed by Abrahamic societies towards ‘pagans’ than anything directed at Jews. A hatred they learned from you.
The Christian Church called Jews 'Christ killers' when crucifixion was the normal death sentence in Roman times, the Christian Church put us in ghettos ( an Italian word), the Christian Church used blood libels, expelled Jews from England, France, Spain as well as forcing conversion, torturing Jews in inquisitions. The Christian Church tried to convert pagans and infected then with 'European' diseases like syphilis and smallpox, but Jews have never preached conversion nor forced Judaism on anyone. For you to question the antisemitism of the Christian Church is to show your ignorance and certainly Jews never preached hatred. We kept ourselves to ourselves. The Greeks and Romans didn't like the Jews of the Land of Israel because we refused to accept Greek and Roman gods. Jews lived side by side in many communities of Europe but when a tyrant needed to distract his subjects from his own mis - rule he started a pogrom - scapegoats. Jews were persecuted under Islam too and lived as dhmini, inferior, as were Christians, but there are many antisemitic Jew-hating paragraphs in the Koran, which by the way NEVER mentions Jerusalem even once.
Your opinion is simply not in conformity with the facts. The historical record shows many examples of both proselytisation and forced conversion during those periods that Jewish states existed. The Hasmoneans forcibly converted the Edomites and the existence of so-called ‘God-fearers’ shows that Jews were spreading their religion outside of their communities. The Gospel of Matthew shows this; Matthew 23:15 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
That other peoples did this as well merely shows that uniformity of the activity.
As for hatred of pagans, read the passage I posted earlier and add to it the dozens of other passages that attack those that worship other gods. 2 Kings 10:18-28
“Then Jehu gathered all the people, saying to them, “Ahab served Baal a little. Jehu will serve him a great deal! 19 So invite all of Baal’s prophets, all his worshippers, and all his priests to come to me. Don’t leave anyone out, because I have a great sacrifice planned for Baal. Anyone who doesn’t show up won’t survive.” But Jehu was lying so that he could wipe out Baal’s worshippers. 20 Jehu called for a holy assembly for Baal, and it was done. 21 Jehu then sent word throughout Israel. All Baal’s worshippers came. No one stayed away. They entered Baal’s temple until it was packed from one end to the other. 22 Then Jehu said to the person in charge of the vestments, “Bring out the special clothes for all Baal’s worshippers.” So he brought out robes for them. 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab, Rechab’s son, entered Baal’s temple. They said to Baal’s worshippers, “Make sure there are no worshippers of the Lord here with you. There should be only Baal worshippers.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and entirely burned offerings. But Jehu had stationed eighty soldiers outside and told them, “I’m handing these people over to you. Whoever lets even one of them escape will pay for it with his life.” 25 So when Jehu finished offering the entirely burned offering, he said to the guards and the officers, “Go in and kill everyone! Don’t let anyone escape!” They killed the Baal worshippers without mercy. The guards and the officers then disposed of the bodies and entered the inner part of Baal’s temple. 26 They brought the sacred pillar[a] out of Baal’s temple and burned it. 27 They tore down Baal’s sacred pillar and destroyed Baal’s temple, turning it into a public restroom, which is what it still is today.
28 This is how Jehu eliminated Baal from Israel.”
Please cease speaking about things you know nothing of.
Matthew- the problem with you is you've committed to an entirely fabricated narrative which you are digging your heels in to protect in the face of overwhelming proof that you are - excuse the expression- talking out your ass.
Your repugnant gaslighting response to the historically correct statement that Jews have experienced at least 2000 years of persecution based on both Christian and Islamic discrimination and hate, is to accuse Jews of paranoia. Disgusting. A new atheist extremist-islamist union is now a great threat to Jewish communities worldwide - they actually preach 'death to zionists' and they make zionists their boogieman - having bundled all their fears and nightmares into characterizing 'the zionist'. But zionist is just a euphemism for Jew and its Jews who are experiencing hate crimes at unprecedented levels. The misguided narrative youre spouting makes you one 9f those who support or at the least, excuse and justify jew hatred and the violence that follows.
Your very shallow and superficial understanding of Judaism and Israel is based on a loose collection of media exposure and internalized Jew hatred which you mistake for an objective 'truth' .
You don't seek to truly educate yourself, committed as you are to harrassing Jews on the internet instead, trying to lecture us on our allegedly evil ways. How ironic that youre a nazi and dont know it.
Yes, the truth!
Amen.
Josh, you are such a beautiful and powerful writer! Thank you for reminding us Jews of why we are a light unto the nations even if our enemies can't see it.