A very interesting analysis. But it is largely addressing the expectations, attitudes and weltanschaung of the roughly 75% of American Jews who are Leftists. The majority of them loudly proclaim their Jewish "identity" but overwhelmingly behave in lock-step with the Left and its ideological demands, techniques, and tactics. Leftism is their holy scripture, from which they learn their overwhelming disdain, lack of fellow-feeling, and disrespect for their fellow Jews who are politically and/or religiously conservative. This is demonstrated regularly and shamelessly in their willingness to gatekeep out such Jews both socially and professionally. It is why Jews in the contemporary Academy (notably including Jewish Studies departments and programs nationwide) are comprised almost exclusively of Leftists, mirroring and prioritizing the ideologies, policies and tactics of the Left. It is why Jews employed in the vast Jewish non-profit ecosystem and institutions are almost exclusively Leftists. It also explains their contempt and absolute hysteria over contemporary Israeli politics that one might christen "BDS" (Bibi Derangement Syndrome). Only when soliciting charitable donations or when benefiting personally or professionally from patronage does their disingenuous "inclusion" extend to politically and/or religiously conservative fellow Jews.
Jews being denied access to certain professions or certain jobs or 'polite company'. Jews being marginalized or discriminated against. Jews being dismissed as socially vulgar, inferior and not suitable for admission to "the club" (unless they have enormous wealth to be useful). Where have we seen such attitudes, behaviors and actions before? Oh, that's right: throughout Jewish history. Jewish Leftists often embody these same attitudes, and pursue these tactics toward politically and religiously conservative Jews, with the same vigor as any brownshirt or medieval guild -- and they see no irony in this. Only when their own ox is gored -- such as the troubles their children encountered on post-October 7th college campuses -- do they have a sudden enthusiasm to make utilitarian common cause with their fellow Jews who are politically and religiously conservative. This looks suspiciously more like conventionally diehard run-of-the-mill Leftists who just happen to be wearing Jew-face. No wonder they conflate their own loud (and politically conditional) support for Israel with Judaism.
When Jews can find a way to reconcile " normalcy", the goal of Zionism, which includes all sorts of people, with " a model people" , " a nation of priests", the goal of Judaism, we will stop apologising and " explaining". We are good enough and Israel is our country. Was, and is.
The problem stems from an actual blessing. Bad came from good. Israel dreamed up a moral civilisation. It struggled itself with its burdens. The Prophets gave us hell, as well as encouragement and dreams of restoring the covenant.
Israel is a " Laboratory of God". Everything has happened to Israel. Millenia went by. How can a 78 year old infant nation- as nations go- be judged as Israel is?
America too is a great experiment. The hatred fomented against the US by too many Americans- let alone natural foreign enemies- is criminal as well.
The billions born of Israel's "daughter" civilisations ache to regress . The Beast lives within. Israel stands in the way of such regression to barbaric times.
Perhaps Israel arrived in History millennia too early for its own good.
No country is perfect because countries are made up of people and people are not perfect. But Israel is the one country in Middle East in which there is respect for freedom and individual rights and therefore as a non Jew, I support Israel. Frankly, I would think anybody who is Jewish would do so also. But Jews who hold left wing beliefs have a problem since the left has now allied with followers of Islam and turned virulently anti Semitic. I'd say that left wing Jews will have to make a choice between supporting Israel and clinging to their leftist ideology. The left is highly intolerant of any dissent and will not allow Jews to remain with them while supporting Israel.
Thank you. This article is so rich with meaning and understanding. How do we manage within our own country now of Canada with anti-semitism rising everywhere.? I think what some Jews have done in Canada is to pretend they're not under threat even if they see it everywhere. They pretend they're not Jewish. They pretend their past doesn't exist and isn't important.
By pretending they're not Jewish they somehow feel more secure in their non-jewish identity? I suspect that's it.
Bravo. There are few "perfections" under the sun. I only expect a haven. I only expect an effort to defend Jews as best she can. But modern Israel is compromised of all races, political views, and religious views. And you can't please them all. We see this play out all over the free world.
It's not that this is wrong, it's right as far as it goes. But the American (and international) Diaspora is being hurt, perhaps even threatened by the policies of the Israeli government. Whether we choose, as American Jews, to support that government no matter what it does, or to criticize Israel for actions we deem antithetical to our beliefs, is an individual matter. What matters is that the actions of that government are in fact a significant cause of rising antisemitism here in the United States and elsewhere. We can ignore that reality, or we can fight antisemitism (as we must), but if Israel's government pursues actions which threaten us here (and our friends and families), then it's in our interest to do what we must to insure that Israel alters its course.
Wrong. It is not the actions of the Israeli government that are a significant cause of rising antisemitism in the US. It is the complete misunderstanding of how modern society operates that underpins antisemitism as it does the lunatic desire to dismember the United States and replace it with crazy socialism in the name of moral virtue. In fact, if Israel is to be criticized for one thing, it is for tolerating murderous Palestinians in their midst, for inviting the PLO into the country on the mistaken belief that peace is in the air, for withdrawing from Gaza where Jews thrived along Palestinians and ensured no rockets were fired into Israel. If Americans criticize Israel and demonize it for seeking to defend itself, the problem lies with America, not with Israel and the Jews. And it is time Jews woke up, pushed back against their enemies, and made them pay for wanting to destroy them. See my latest substack piece:
Thank you! (we may be related since my biological father's name was Schecter as well. He was killed defending Israel --in Kfar Etzion/Gush Etzion, in 1948).
Oh wow! Admittedly when I read your comment it made my blood boil. Stephen Schecter said it well!
You've fallen for the exact propaganda Iran/The Muslim Brotherhood/their proxies /CAIR/Qatar wanted to be the outcome of Oct 7th. You could not "make their day" better.
Israel HELPS the free world--not hinders it!
When I see comments as yours I think "why not just crawl behind your mother's skirt. Perhaps SHE can defend you.
No. The victim is never responsible for the actions of the bully. Conflating the current government of Israel with “Israel” in its entirety is the work of the international bullies. Watch what happens when (hopefully) the government changes after the election in October. The haters will still declare Israel to be a “genocidal-apartheid-European-settler” project. Don’t fall for their tricks.
A very interesting analysis. But it is largely addressing the expectations, attitudes and weltanschaung of the roughly 75% of American Jews who are Leftists. The majority of them loudly proclaim their Jewish "identity" but overwhelmingly behave in lock-step with the Left and its ideological demands, techniques, and tactics. Leftism is their holy scripture, from which they learn their overwhelming disdain, lack of fellow-feeling, and disrespect for their fellow Jews who are politically and/or religiously conservative. This is demonstrated regularly and shamelessly in their willingness to gatekeep out such Jews both socially and professionally. It is why Jews in the contemporary Academy (notably including Jewish Studies departments and programs nationwide) are comprised almost exclusively of Leftists, mirroring and prioritizing the ideologies, policies and tactics of the Left. It is why Jews employed in the vast Jewish non-profit ecosystem and institutions are almost exclusively Leftists. It also explains their contempt and absolute hysteria over contemporary Israeli politics that one might christen "BDS" (Bibi Derangement Syndrome). Only when soliciting charitable donations or when benefiting personally or professionally from patronage does their disingenuous "inclusion" extend to politically and/or religiously conservative fellow Jews.
Jews being denied access to certain professions or certain jobs or 'polite company'. Jews being marginalized or discriminated against. Jews being dismissed as socially vulgar, inferior and not suitable for admission to "the club" (unless they have enormous wealth to be useful). Where have we seen such attitudes, behaviors and actions before? Oh, that's right: throughout Jewish history. Jewish Leftists often embody these same attitudes, and pursue these tactics toward politically and religiously conservative Jews, with the same vigor as any brownshirt or medieval guild -- and they see no irony in this. Only when their own ox is gored -- such as the troubles their children encountered on post-October 7th college campuses -- do they have a sudden enthusiasm to make utilitarian common cause with their fellow Jews who are politically and religiously conservative. This looks suspiciously more like conventionally diehard run-of-the-mill Leftists who just happen to be wearing Jew-face. No wonder they conflate their own loud (and politically conditional) support for Israel with Judaism.
Great article.
When Jews can find a way to reconcile " normalcy", the goal of Zionism, which includes all sorts of people, with " a model people" , " a nation of priests", the goal of Judaism, we will stop apologising and " explaining". We are good enough and Israel is our country. Was, and is.
The problem stems from an actual blessing. Bad came from good. Israel dreamed up a moral civilisation. It struggled itself with its burdens. The Prophets gave us hell, as well as encouragement and dreams of restoring the covenant.
Israel is a " Laboratory of God". Everything has happened to Israel. Millenia went by. How can a 78 year old infant nation- as nations go- be judged as Israel is?
America too is a great experiment. The hatred fomented against the US by too many Americans- let alone natural foreign enemies- is criminal as well.
The billions born of Israel's "daughter" civilisations ache to regress . The Beast lives within. Israel stands in the way of such regression to barbaric times.
Perhaps Israel arrived in History millennia too early for its own good.
No country is perfect because countries are made up of people and people are not perfect. But Israel is the one country in Middle East in which there is respect for freedom and individual rights and therefore as a non Jew, I support Israel. Frankly, I would think anybody who is Jewish would do so also. But Jews who hold left wing beliefs have a problem since the left has now allied with followers of Islam and turned virulently anti Semitic. I'd say that left wing Jews will have to make a choice between supporting Israel and clinging to their leftist ideology. The left is highly intolerant of any dissent and will not allow Jews to remain with them while supporting Israel.
Well said. And it's Left Wing Jews that cause problems in the USA and Israel.
Thank you. This article is so rich with meaning and understanding. How do we manage within our own country now of Canada with anti-semitism rising everywhere.? I think what some Jews have done in Canada is to pretend they're not under threat even if they see it everywhere. They pretend they're not Jewish. They pretend their past doesn't exist and isn't important.
By pretending they're not Jewish they somehow feel more secure in their non-jewish identity? I suspect that's it.
Too many American Jews support those who hate Israel which makes absolutely no sense.
Bravo. There are few "perfections" under the sun. I only expect a haven. I only expect an effort to defend Jews as best she can. But modern Israel is compromised of all races, political views, and religious views. And you can't please them all. We see this play out all over the free world.
And that Israel and Jews in general expected to encounter a sane and moral world.
It's not that this is wrong, it's right as far as it goes. But the American (and international) Diaspora is being hurt, perhaps even threatened by the policies of the Israeli government. Whether we choose, as American Jews, to support that government no matter what it does, or to criticize Israel for actions we deem antithetical to our beliefs, is an individual matter. What matters is that the actions of that government are in fact a significant cause of rising antisemitism here in the United States and elsewhere. We can ignore that reality, or we can fight antisemitism (as we must), but if Israel's government pursues actions which threaten us here (and our friends and families), then it's in our interest to do what we must to insure that Israel alters its course.
Wrong. It is not the actions of the Israeli government that are a significant cause of rising antisemitism in the US. It is the complete misunderstanding of how modern society operates that underpins antisemitism as it does the lunatic desire to dismember the United States and replace it with crazy socialism in the name of moral virtue. In fact, if Israel is to be criticized for one thing, it is for tolerating murderous Palestinians in their midst, for inviting the PLO into the country on the mistaken belief that peace is in the air, for withdrawing from Gaza where Jews thrived along Palestinians and ensured no rockets were fired into Israel. If Americans criticize Israel and demonize it for seeking to defend itself, the problem lies with America, not with Israel and the Jews. And it is time Jews woke up, pushed back against their enemies, and made them pay for wanting to destroy them. See my latest substack piece:
https://schecter.substack.com/p/a-warning-to-the-jews
Thank you! (we may be related since my biological father's name was Schecter as well. He was killed defending Israel --in Kfar Etzion/Gush Etzion, in 1948).
Oh wow! Admittedly when I read your comment it made my blood boil. Stephen Schecter said it well!
You've fallen for the exact propaganda Iran/The Muslim Brotherhood/their proxies /CAIR/Qatar wanted to be the outcome of Oct 7th. You could not "make their day" better.
Israel HELPS the free world--not hinders it!
When I see comments as yours I think "why not just crawl behind your mother's skirt. Perhaps SHE can defend you.
No. The victim is never responsible for the actions of the bully. Conflating the current government of Israel with “Israel” in its entirety is the work of the international bullies. Watch what happens when (hopefully) the government changes after the election in October. The haters will still declare Israel to be a “genocidal-apartheid-European-settler” project. Don’t fall for their tricks.