The response from much of the Diaspora Jewish community today is one of hand-wringing and very little action, following the October 7th massacres in Israel.
'The German commander of the prison camp demanded that the Jewish soldiers in Sergeant Edmond’s command step forward. Sergeant Edmonds had all his troops line up. Asked by the German commander, “Can they all be Jews?” Sergeant Edmonds answered him, “We are all Jews here.”'
I remember reading about this incident -- or one very much like it, so perhaps there was more than one -- many decades ago. The soldiers' integrity and courage sent a chill of admiration through me then and does so again.
"There is a war between civilizations; between the people of light and the people of darkness." Indeed, this is a weird moment for discussing a 'two-state solution'. The Muslim community is definitely not homogenuous (as is the Jewish community), but at this very moment the voices of moderation and reason are smothered all around the world. Nevertheless, once the fighting stops a situation has to be created where peaceful cohabitation gets a chance. Any ideas, Joshua?
Beautifully written, Joshua, and sadly, too few, including Western governments have the courage of Roddie Edmonds, but that doesn't mean that those who do, should never ever give up or stay silent. What Diaspora Jews must remember is that you can love the country you live in and Israel at the same time. Don't fear the anti Semites and their propaganda, speak up and speak out.
Being a Jew you cannot stand with Israel if you're not living there...it's as easy as that. Watching the news on a nice flatscreen and sadly shaking your head while pouring another chianti doesn't save anyone from being raped and butchered, and 'raising awareness' does neither. The overwhelming global wave of antisemitism demonstrates very clearly that there is no diaspora - you defend your country or you don't have one.
‘The Diaspora Jewish community’ might not be the right definition for all Jewish people in the Diaspora on all various places over the world in all kind of circumstances and cultures. As far as I know many people from Jewish communities in our country are suffering with their brothers and sisters in Israel, donating, sing and pray for the hostages, and some go to Israel to volunteer. In Israel there are also Jewish Israelis who seem to ‘be silence(d), still inside the battle for Life is always going on and support might be hidden, but goes on…
It’s as the stars; they are scattered throughout the sky, shining wherever you look when it’s dark… all the stars together is still the star.
Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. G-d will not hold us guiltless if we stand by & let evil things happen to our Jewish brethran. This Gentile Christian Zionist will always stand by the Jewish people & I demand my fellow Gentiles do the same! It's not just the right thing to do, it's the biblical thing to do. #JewHatredIsEvil & it MUST be defeated. Amen.
What an incredibly moving piece. I agree with everything you say. I believe also that the key to this, is that Jewish people, wherever they are must stand up and support their faith. Without Israel, the West is frankly lost! The medieval forces of Islam are overpowering. Our Christian and Jewish faith bind us together and must continue to do so. Pull together against this malevolent force.
Good points Josh but Patricia has a point. Most Diaspora Orgs are donation askers and gift distributors. The Benjamins.. Confronting. the he democratic party Pro palestinians in USA or asking AJC /ADLto do more than wring hands and file lawsuits ,is outta of their modus operandi. An in your face counter action group is needed and would get funded .it either exists or YOU may need to start it.Its a modern Non violent but physically in your face update of the JDL, jewish Defense League..slicker and broader and covers antisemitism and anti israel...a tofer org. The tough jews are out there, who want to see the ...they need a leader. See if the Millsteins step up. Arnold schwarzenegger would be my suggestion:) NOA Tishby...has chutzpah.or You could lead it! drop the typewriter and head to NYC
Well, this well and truly pisses me off. You accuse the Diaspora community of doing nothing and yet you supply no evidence of that. I live in the Bay Area, which as the entire world knows, is a hotbed of antisemitic, anti-Zionist hate. I have had a front row seat to that hate and have fought with many others to change hearts and minds, to prevent--with some success, with some losses--hateful resolutions from going forward. Much of that will not be public because it is a slow accretion of one little act after another and/or because it is not deemed newsworthy. So i am not surprised that you do not know the extent of the work being done. That does not excuse you for making accusations without knowledge and without (apparently) attempting to get that knowledge.
Many of us have seen this coming and having been working on this since well before October 7. We have been working nonstop to stem the hate. An apology for your sweeping accusation is in order.
W/ respect, I don't believe the writer was intending to insult anyone. I think he was just generalizing. Most Diaspora Jews seem aloof as to the threat of antisemitism. That's how I took it anyway.
If I thought that Joshua's intent was to insult, I likely would have simply unsubscribed. His intent does not excuse the need to apologize (see under: Yom Kippur for directions).
There is a conversation to be had between Diaspora Jews and Israel (Jewish Israelis and all Israelis). The podcast Unholy: Two Jews on the News does some of this. Z3, out of the Bay Area, does some of this.
The fact--and I do believe it is a fact--is that we, the Jewish people, need Israel AND we need Jews around the world. Understanding, respecting, and supporting our different experiences makes all of us stronger--and more effective at defending the Jewish people. This article felt like (to me) it did the opposite.
As to Diaspora Jews feeling aloof about antisemitism? Are you f-ing kidding me? Whatever one's personal response NO ONE is aloof about it. NO ONE.
And you live here? If not, you know nothing but what the media says. You do not know who the Jews are here and how we are fighting, nor who our allies are. Nor are you asking.
And if you do live here, why are YOU not standing up and fighting?
Thanks for invite to talk. While I appreciate it, honestly, I don't have the bandwidth to meet you in person (between some serious family issues, working on political issues in the Bay Area, and writing, I just can't). But more than that--I believe the conversation is one that should be public and include the whole community, not just two of us.
The Bay Area has the fifth or sixth largest Jewish population in the US (as of a few years ago anyway). That Jewish population is about the same size as the Muslim population. So while the Muslim population is far larger--and, yes, Cal is a hub for unrest--there is every possibility of changing hearts and minds here.
One example is the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. On Nov. 1, it passed a scurrilous resolution under truly disgusting circumstances. I serve on that body (and spoke vehemently against it). While ballots are still being counted for the March 5 election, it looks like many more reasonable people were elected and most (not all) of the SJWs were tossed out. That took a lot of work, most of which wasn't public. And most of all, it meant no hand-wringing.
There is now a Jewish Democratic Club chartered in Alameda County. That, too, took hard work. But it is endorsing candidates--including one for the Berkeley City Council District 7 race. Again, hard work, no hand-wringing.
My Jewish colleagues in elected office have been doing their part to fight and it's tough. So have the Federations and the JCRC--and the legislators.
Do I like what Cal is doing and allowing? Of course not. But catastrophizing and letting it stand is not helpful.
A moving example of telling it like it surely is, especially from an Israeli perspective, Joshua. There are those who treasure cohesion within our Diaspora communities and they either avoid the subject or cling to the victim narrative, knowing that ‘bring them home’ is something that almost everyone will get behind. Israel, however, has shown us that there is another narrative. You are doing a great job of telling it.
'The German commander of the prison camp demanded that the Jewish soldiers in Sergeant Edmond’s command step forward. Sergeant Edmonds had all his troops line up. Asked by the German commander, “Can they all be Jews?” Sergeant Edmonds answered him, “We are all Jews here.”'
I remember reading about this incident -- or one very much like it, so perhaps there was more than one -- many decades ago. The soldiers' integrity and courage sent a chill of admiration through me then and does so again.
"There is a war between civilizations; between the people of light and the people of darkness." Indeed, this is a weird moment for discussing a 'two-state solution'. The Muslim community is definitely not homogenuous (as is the Jewish community), but at this very moment the voices of moderation and reason are smothered all around the world. Nevertheless, once the fighting stops a situation has to be created where peaceful cohabitation gets a chance. Any ideas, Joshua?
Beautifully written, Joshua, and sadly, too few, including Western governments have the courage of Roddie Edmonds, but that doesn't mean that those who do, should never ever give up or stay silent. What Diaspora Jews must remember is that you can love the country you live in and Israel at the same time. Don't fear the anti Semites and their propaganda, speak up and speak out.
Being a Jew you cannot stand with Israel if you're not living there...it's as easy as that. Watching the news on a nice flatscreen and sadly shaking your head while pouring another chianti doesn't save anyone from being raped and butchered, and 'raising awareness' does neither. The overwhelming global wave of antisemitism demonstrates very clearly that there is no diaspora - you defend your country or you don't have one.
‘The Diaspora Jewish community’ might not be the right definition for all Jewish people in the Diaspora on all various places over the world in all kind of circumstances and cultures. As far as I know many people from Jewish communities in our country are suffering with their brothers and sisters in Israel, donating, sing and pray for the hostages, and some go to Israel to volunteer. In Israel there are also Jewish Israelis who seem to ‘be silence(d), still inside the battle for Life is always going on and support might be hidden, but goes on…
It’s as the stars; they are scattered throughout the sky, shining wherever you look when it’s dark… all the stars together is still the star.
Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. G-d will not hold us guiltless if we stand by & let evil things happen to our Jewish brethran. This Gentile Christian Zionist will always stand by the Jewish people & I demand my fellow Gentiles do the same! It's not just the right thing to do, it's the biblical thing to do. #JewHatredIsEvil & it MUST be defeated. Amen.
What an incredibly moving piece. I agree with everything you say. I believe also that the key to this, is that Jewish people, wherever they are must stand up and support their faith. Without Israel, the West is frankly lost! The medieval forces of Islam are overpowering. Our Christian and Jewish faith bind us together and must continue to do so. Pull together against this malevolent force.
Good points Josh but Patricia has a point. Most Diaspora Orgs are donation askers and gift distributors. The Benjamins.. Confronting. the he democratic party Pro palestinians in USA or asking AJC /ADLto do more than wring hands and file lawsuits ,is outta of their modus operandi. An in your face counter action group is needed and would get funded .it either exists or YOU may need to start it.Its a modern Non violent but physically in your face update of the JDL, jewish Defense League..slicker and broader and covers antisemitism and anti israel...a tofer org. The tough jews are out there, who want to see the ...they need a leader. See if the Millsteins step up. Arnold schwarzenegger would be my suggestion:) NOA Tishby...has chutzpah.or You could lead it! drop the typewriter and head to NYC
I am an American. I am also the IDF. And I stand with Israel.
Well, this well and truly pisses me off. You accuse the Diaspora community of doing nothing and yet you supply no evidence of that. I live in the Bay Area, which as the entire world knows, is a hotbed of antisemitic, anti-Zionist hate. I have had a front row seat to that hate and have fought with many others to change hearts and minds, to prevent--with some success, with some losses--hateful resolutions from going forward. Much of that will not be public because it is a slow accretion of one little act after another and/or because it is not deemed newsworthy. So i am not surprised that you do not know the extent of the work being done. That does not excuse you for making accusations without knowledge and without (apparently) attempting to get that knowledge.
Many of us have seen this coming and having been working on this since well before October 7. We have been working nonstop to stem the hate. An apology for your sweeping accusation is in order.
W/ respect, I don't believe the writer was intending to insult anyone. I think he was just generalizing. Most Diaspora Jews seem aloof as to the threat of antisemitism. That's how I took it anyway.
If I thought that Joshua's intent was to insult, I likely would have simply unsubscribed. His intent does not excuse the need to apologize (see under: Yom Kippur for directions).
There is a conversation to be had between Diaspora Jews and Israel (Jewish Israelis and all Israelis). The podcast Unholy: Two Jews on the News does some of this. Z3, out of the Bay Area, does some of this.
The fact--and I do believe it is a fact--is that we, the Jewish people, need Israel AND we need Jews around the world. Understanding, respecting, and supporting our different experiences makes all of us stronger--and more effective at defending the Jewish people. This article felt like (to me) it did the opposite.
As to Diaspora Jews feeling aloof about antisemitism? Are you f-ing kidding me? Whatever one's personal response NO ONE is aloof about it. NO ONE.
And you live here? If not, you know nothing but what the media says. You do not know who the Jews are here and how we are fighting, nor who our allies are. Nor are you asking.
And if you do live here, why are YOU not standing up and fighting?
Thanks for invite to talk. While I appreciate it, honestly, I don't have the bandwidth to meet you in person (between some serious family issues, working on political issues in the Bay Area, and writing, I just can't). But more than that--I believe the conversation is one that should be public and include the whole community, not just two of us.
The Bay Area has the fifth or sixth largest Jewish population in the US (as of a few years ago anyway). That Jewish population is about the same size as the Muslim population. So while the Muslim population is far larger--and, yes, Cal is a hub for unrest--there is every possibility of changing hearts and minds here.
One example is the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. On Nov. 1, it passed a scurrilous resolution under truly disgusting circumstances. I serve on that body (and spoke vehemently against it). While ballots are still being counted for the March 5 election, it looks like many more reasonable people were elected and most (not all) of the SJWs were tossed out. That took a lot of work, most of which wasn't public. And most of all, it meant no hand-wringing.
There is now a Jewish Democratic Club chartered in Alameda County. That, too, took hard work. But it is endorsing candidates--including one for the Berkeley City Council District 7 race. Again, hard work, no hand-wringing.
My Jewish colleagues in elected office have been doing their part to fight and it's tough. So have the Federations and the JCRC--and the legislators.
Do I like what Cal is doing and allowing? Of course not. But catastrophizing and letting it stand is not helpful.
A moving example of telling it like it surely is, especially from an Israeli perspective, Joshua. There are those who treasure cohesion within our Diaspora communities and they either avoid the subject or cling to the victim narrative, knowing that ‘bring them home’ is something that almost everyone will get behind. Israel, however, has shown us that there is another narrative. You are doing a great job of telling it.
Nailed it! Don’t forget Jabotinsky and the 1923 publication of “The Iron Wall” only 8 pages but pure Zionist gold.