Yes! This is exactly right. People talk about fighting antisemitism, but we've been down this road before. And we know instinctively what to do because we did it right after Oct. 7: cling harder to each other and harder to our traditions. It's what we've always done when faced with hatred and persecution, and it's the only time-tested method that works to ensure our survival and outlast our enemies.
This is so brilliant - sometimes it's best to simply not engage with the haters or become obsessed with answering hate with measures to overcome it because that makes it bigger! Return to oneself. Yes! I think if someone is mentally ill - shouting alarm constantly at how wrong they are doesn't alleviate their mental illness it exacerbates it. I want to live in a world without alarms going off all the time and being the source of that alarm will not stand me in good stead. Yeah?
Ms. Berg's use of rhetorical questions to score points exposes many truths. The call to return to Judaism and Jewish participation is a familiar and valid directive that echoes Brett Stephens words and those of others. I, however, will focus on what is a huge gap in pro-Jewish advocacy.
Ms. Berg wrote: "We need more confidence...." One way to gain "confidence" is for Jews to learn how to defend themselves and be self-reliant when it comes to personal and communal security. Our Jewish organizations fail us when they overlook, intentionally or otherwise, openly encouraging Jews to learn self-defense skills. We all must become Personal Israels, able to thwart and frustrate our enemies to the best of each person's ability. Self-reliance, moreover, is not just about learning to physically fight back, although learning about physical self-defense is vital. Personal Israels, like Israel itself, must have strategic intelligence skills about observation and maneuvering in our societies. I don't advocate vigilantism. Rather, I promote Jews knowing how to exercise our natural right to lawful self-defense when left with no alternative. I run a local chapter of an organization that does just that. The program produces people who are more confident about being openly Jewish and pro-Israel in the ever more dangerous antisemitic world in which we live.
Today's Jew, rather than be fearful, can stand tall and live unafraid and "confident" if they train in these disciplines. I close with the famous rhetorical refrain of the great sage Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if not now when?"
“Then came the second year. The shock of October 7th was joined by another shock: the reaction to it. We watched celebrations of Hamas and Hezbollah on Western streets. We watched university encampments pop up bizarrely in unison. We watched Jewish students intimidated and Jewish institutions threatened. We watched Israelis become unwelcome in spaces that once considered themselves enlightened and tolerant. We watched the word “Zionist” increasingly used as a way to say things about Jews that many people would hesitate to say using the word “Jew.”
Again and again, Jews said some version of the same thing: “I cannot believe this is happening.”
I understand why.”
(I assume you mean you understand why Jews said we could not believe this was happening, and not, I hope, why it *was* happening: there is no excuse for that; just to clarify)
It didn’t wait till the second year… it started right away, the ‘celebration’, and I was so naïve that I was - at first - bewildered.
So, what have I done/am I doing: good question; thank you:
Wwhat have I done? Become more observant, as much as my circumstances/abilities allow. Not as much as I would wish, but it’s something. Last year I began to teach myself to read Hebrew, not perfectly, but I keep on going; I’m 71 and growing up, had a secular/socially Church of Scotland environment and education. East end Glasgow.
I’ve been reading more, learning more, and as you say, learning to react less emotionally and more intellectually’(though I find much of the language used these days to be overly wordy… I was a teacher, so, have a reasonable understanding but I find the way things are written now is just far too ‘academic’ for me)
You are so right. We need more, more yarlmukes, stars of David, Israeli flags, Yiddish sayings -- more Jewishness in America. Proud and unabashed. Give the rest of us a chance to stand with you if anyone dares to make an unkind remark. Yes, much more Judaism.
Lost count of how many times I have to speak up for the non U.S. diaspora, but shall say again… not *just* in the US! (Waving from across the Pond, on the east coast of Scotland 🏴)
Amen. I and, lucky for me, my offspring are in complete agreement. Our senior rabbi gave his Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon on why we SHOULD talk to the stranger, and his morning sermon on why we should insist on moral decisions in Israel that uphold our love of justice, but not reflect a wish for revenge. On the 2nd morning, our ‘junior’, much-respected rabbi talked about how we need to take responsibility for passing on our stories to the next generations. If you want to see three powerful messages, look online for Temple Sholom in Vancouver, Canada. They made me so proud, and so do you, Vanessa!
Not sure of teh Jewish answer to October 7th but I know Israel's response:
NILI - "The Eternal One of Israel does not lie." From Samuel
Israel created a team made up of IDF and Shin Bet to identify every single Hamas person who crossed that border that day and eliminate them. They have gotten rid of about 60% of them and each week more are sent to Allah's Paradise. Not one will be left alive. That is the Israeli answerto October 7th as they are in The Middle East and "Honor" and "retribution" are the only things that matter and that Muslims respect.
Wonderfully inspiring. If I can do only some of the things on Vanessa’s list — more serious *Jewish* learning, more serious Jewish mindfulness on Shabbat and holidays, engaging more throughout the year in the shul we go to during the fall chagim— it will help me rise out of my depressive reaction to the shock of the new world order in which American Jews now find themselves.
Though I'm not Jewish by faith, I've been learning more Hebrew words and connecting with more Israelis on Instagram. Also, I highly recommend buying Israeli wine. At first, we just bought four bottles because they were made in Israel. But after tasting them, I'm sure they're the best tasting wines I have ever tried. I highly recommend them. I also now think of myself as a member of the Jewish people and I've proudly identified myself as such to other people.
To understand better the atrocities and genocide committed by Hamas ISIS against the Jewish people, every person should watch the following film by Pierre Rehov:
👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥I need add nothing you said it all here, Vanessa! I’m proud to be a Lutheran ally of the Jewish community!
Yes! This is exactly right. People talk about fighting antisemitism, but we've been down this road before. And we know instinctively what to do because we did it right after Oct. 7: cling harder to each other and harder to our traditions. It's what we've always done when faced with hatred and persecution, and it's the only time-tested method that works to ensure our survival and outlast our enemies.
This is so brilliant - sometimes it's best to simply not engage with the haters or become obsessed with answering hate with measures to overcome it because that makes it bigger! Return to oneself. Yes! I think if someone is mentally ill - shouting alarm constantly at how wrong they are doesn't alleviate their mental illness it exacerbates it. I want to live in a world without alarms going off all the time and being the source of that alarm will not stand me in good stead. Yeah?
One of the things we can do is increase our charitable giving to Jewish causes that work in Israel.
Brilliant! Shana tova metuka!!!
Ms. Berg's use of rhetorical questions to score points exposes many truths. The call to return to Judaism and Jewish participation is a familiar and valid directive that echoes Brett Stephens words and those of others. I, however, will focus on what is a huge gap in pro-Jewish advocacy.
Ms. Berg wrote: "We need more confidence...." One way to gain "confidence" is for Jews to learn how to defend themselves and be self-reliant when it comes to personal and communal security. Our Jewish organizations fail us when they overlook, intentionally or otherwise, openly encouraging Jews to learn self-defense skills. We all must become Personal Israels, able to thwart and frustrate our enemies to the best of each person's ability. Self-reliance, moreover, is not just about learning to physically fight back, although learning about physical self-defense is vital. Personal Israels, like Israel itself, must have strategic intelligence skills about observation and maneuvering in our societies. I don't advocate vigilantism. Rather, I promote Jews knowing how to exercise our natural right to lawful self-defense when left with no alternative. I run a local chapter of an organization that does just that. The program produces people who are more confident about being openly Jewish and pro-Israel in the ever more dangerous antisemitic world in which we live.
Today's Jew, rather than be fearful, can stand tall and live unafraid and "confident" if they train in these disciplines. I close with the famous rhetorical refrain of the great sage Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if not now when?"
Agreed but I think annexation has to be considered also. Isn't reclaiming our homeland rebuilding? F'm ... now's the time.
“Then came the second year. The shock of October 7th was joined by another shock: the reaction to it. We watched celebrations of Hamas and Hezbollah on Western streets. We watched university encampments pop up bizarrely in unison. We watched Jewish students intimidated and Jewish institutions threatened. We watched Israelis become unwelcome in spaces that once considered themselves enlightened and tolerant. We watched the word “Zionist” increasingly used as a way to say things about Jews that many people would hesitate to say using the word “Jew.”
Again and again, Jews said some version of the same thing: “I cannot believe this is happening.”
I understand why.”
(I assume you mean you understand why Jews said we could not believe this was happening, and not, I hope, why it *was* happening: there is no excuse for that; just to clarify)
It didn’t wait till the second year… it started right away, the ‘celebration’, and I was so naïve that I was - at first - bewildered.
So, what have I done/am I doing: good question; thank you:
Wwhat have I done? Become more observant, as much as my circumstances/abilities allow. Not as much as I would wish, but it’s something. Last year I began to teach myself to read Hebrew, not perfectly, but I keep on going; I’m 71 and growing up, had a secular/socially Church of Scotland environment and education. East end Glasgow.
I’ve been reading more, learning more, and as you say, learning to react less emotionally and more intellectually’(though I find much of the language used these days to be overly wordy… I was a teacher, so, have a reasonable understanding but I find the way things are written now is just far too ‘academic’ for me)
Shall think some more. Thanks again.
A’ ra best frae Scotland 🏴
Alex and Blixa cat
You are so right. We need more, more yarlmukes, stars of David, Israeli flags, Yiddish sayings -- more Jewishness in America. Proud and unabashed. Give the rest of us a chance to stand with you if anyone dares to make an unkind remark. Yes, much more Judaism.
Lost count of how many times I have to speak up for the non U.S. diaspora, but shall say again… not *just* in the US! (Waving from across the Pond, on the east coast of Scotland 🏴)
True true! We are currently almost invisible in the UK. In fact, scrap the almost. Vis a vis David Baddiel's 'Jews don't Count '
Amen. I and, lucky for me, my offspring are in complete agreement. Our senior rabbi gave his Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon on why we SHOULD talk to the stranger, and his morning sermon on why we should insist on moral decisions in Israel that uphold our love of justice, but not reflect a wish for revenge. On the 2nd morning, our ‘junior’, much-respected rabbi talked about how we need to take responsibility for passing on our stories to the next generations. If you want to see three powerful messages, look online for Temple Sholom in Vancouver, Canada. They made me so proud, and so do you, Vanessa!
Not sure of teh Jewish answer to October 7th but I know Israel's response:
NILI - "The Eternal One of Israel does not lie." From Samuel
Israel created a team made up of IDF and Shin Bet to identify every single Hamas person who crossed that border that day and eliminate them. They have gotten rid of about 60% of them and each week more are sent to Allah's Paradise. Not one will be left alive. That is the Israeli answerto October 7th as they are in The Middle East and "Honor" and "retribution" are the only things that matter and that Muslims respect.
Sorry behind a paywall but terrific article.
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-ceasefire-attacks-55c889b7
Wonderfully inspiring. If I can do only some of the things on Vanessa’s list — more serious *Jewish* learning, more serious Jewish mindfulness on Shabbat and holidays, engaging more throughout the year in the shul we go to during the fall chagim— it will help me rise out of my depressive reaction to the shock of the new world order in which American Jews now find themselves.
Though I'm not Jewish by faith, I've been learning more Hebrew words and connecting with more Israelis on Instagram. Also, I highly recommend buying Israeli wine. At first, we just bought four bottles because they were made in Israel. But after tasting them, I'm sure they're the best tasting wines I have ever tried. I highly recommend them. I also now think of myself as a member of the Jewish people and I've proudly identified myself as such to other people.
To understand better the atrocities and genocide committed by Hamas ISIS against the Jewish people, every person should watch the following film by Pierre Rehov:
https://youtu.be/iWJACL99VCg?si=0g2W58vhMFOybKMK