The crisis facing Jews today is not only antisemitism but self-expression. After decades of translating Judaism into Western pop culture, many do not know how to explain Judaism on its own terms.
Nina, I think you've made a very important point. Jews have spent far too much time trying to explain themselves through the values and approval of others.
Personally, I'm a lot simpler. I'm Jewish. I'm proud of being Jewish. I stand with my people and I support Israel. I don't need to justify that through progressive politics, Western civilization, victimhood, or any other framework.
At some point, we have to stop asking others to validate our existence and simply be who we are.
Nina, you raise so many interesting questions and make many arguments that should stimulate a lot of discussion ( there is enough material here for a semester of intense classroom discussion)
Because of the breadth and depth I only have a few comments.
With all due respect, I have pretty much reached the point that I believe there is little chance the current wave of anti semitism ( i prefer anti jew) sentiment will be disappearing or even declining anytime soon. Our schools and colleges are in the driver's seats and they are fully committed to the anti Israel ( anti jew ) position and narrative ( part of oppressor - oppressed if you will). Oct 7 reactions to many of us was very predictable ( part of the anti racism horseshit that is merely a ploy to acquire power by those on the left by continuing to expand white guilt).
As you noted t we are regressing away from classical liberal values back towards the power of ghe jungle ( might makes right). Schmucks like carville have made clear what will happen if the dems regain power . And a large swath of American jewry is on board that political train because their leftism and politics is the center point of their lives. Many attend synagogues that are all in on all this. They have an affinity for israel but if israel were to disappear the crying and anguish would be short lived. We still live in a world ( and always will) where human nature rules the day. The question is whether the human desire for freedom can be squelched by brutal power as it has been in much of the world and that trend is accelerating .
One last question: what do you think francis f is all about these days. We all know about his 1989 book and how he missed the boat. He seems very preoccupied w trump but not so much w the growing totalitarianism. Am I off base in my assessment?
What makes this essay remarkable is that it shifts the conversation from public relations to civilizational psychology. For decades, many Jewish institutions attempted to justify Jewish existence and Israeli sovereignty through the moral vocabulary of others—progressivism, anti-racism, multiculturalism, or universal liberalism. The author argues that this approach was destined to fail because it placed Jewish legitimacy in the hands of people who neither share Jewish history nor feel bound by Jewish experience.
Historically, the survival of the Jewish people was never built upon external approval. It was built upon continuity, memory, covenant, and an extraordinary capacity to preserve identity under pressure. Empires rose and disappeared. Political ideologies emerged and collapsed. Yet the Jewish people endured because they understood themselves before asking others to understand them.
From a behavioral perspective, societies become vulnerable when they derive their self-worth primarily from external validation. The need for approval gradually replaces the confidence of identity. What this essay recognizes is that Israel’s existence cannot be defended merely as a policy preference, a progressive project, or a public relations exercise. It is the political expression of one of history’s oldest surviving civilizations and the collective determination of a people never again to place their fate in the hands of others.
The deepest strength of the Jewish story has never been the ability to persuade the world. It has been the ability to remain Jewish even when the world was unwilling to listen.
"The need for approval gradually replaces the confidence of identity"
Brilliantly said!
Much of the outreach in the US speaks to our adversaries in a language they don't share: tolerance for other viewpoints, compassion, compromise.
But we've seen how the litmus test becomes more and more stringent, how restrictions on freedom of speech become stronger and how they pride themselves on their lack of compassion.
The murder of the United Health CEO and the murder of two young Israeli diplomats in DC were met with a chorus of approval.
The approach above of a group of IDF soldiers in FAFO mode seems best.
No. We must do both: Engage with the real and outside Non-Jewish world as proud covenanted Jews, strong in our own identity as this. I would add that there is also a crisis of self-confidence in the Non-Jewish West too, and thus this crisis is not only a Jewish affliction though it may seem as such. These Doubts connect and feed the fear of post-Imperial decline, which is then maliciously Projected onto The Jewish People as the cause of this decline. The larger re-alignment now taking place through the rise of Neo-Nationalist (TM) movements is the response to the very real threat of The Malthusian doubling of non-white numbers in The Third World and the Muslim attempt for Living-space for themselves on Western Territory and in Western Society. White people in The West now ask themselves; ‘Will our living standards and our Identity remain after this invasion’. Again, the fear of being outnumbered and overwhelmed and overrun finds The Jewish People once again the scapegoats for these anxieties. But in fact both Israel and The West are threatened by Islam, and this is common cause. Simple explanation of these facts, clearly and repeatedly stated, by self-confident Jews should be a good start.
Interesting essay though overly intellectual to my simple tastes. I find most explanations for the Jew hatred that has existed throughout millenia lacking, as in each generation the justification changes with the times, but not with the essential nature of the hatred, which is not rational. The most logical explanation for this hatred is metaphysical, and appears in the bible as allegory.
When Nina delved into scripture and the story of Jonah, which I find revealing, I thought she might touch upon the story of Job, which I find offers the most rational explanation for this devil influenced hatred.
I have often said the story of Job in the bible is the story of the Jew in this world. As the devil hated Job and caused Job to suffer immense miisery and calamity, all because Job maintained his faith in G-d despite the misfortunes which afflicted him, so too the devil hates the Jew and causes the Jew to suffer immense misery and calamity, all because the Jews maintain their faith in Hashem despite the misfortunes and calamities which afflict them. As G-d restored Job, so too one day will the Lord restore the Jew. This is one of the lessons we learn from the Story of Job, and perhaps the most important lesson. The Lord sees the suffering of the Jews caused by the devil, who afflicts the mind of men with the Jew hating mind worm, but so long as Jews maintain their faith the Lord will restore them and defeat the machinations of the devil. In Job the story is condensed into the lifetime of one man. When it comes to Jews as a people, the story plays out over thousands of years. The lesson from Job is one day this senseless devil inspired hatred will cease, as G-d will have had enough of it. Baruch Hashem.
Nina, I think you've made a very important point. Jews have spent far too much time trying to explain themselves through the values and approval of others.
Personally, I'm a lot simpler. I'm Jewish. I'm proud of being Jewish. I stand with my people and I support Israel. I don't need to justify that through progressive politics, Western civilization, victimhood, or any other framework.
At some point, we have to stop asking others to validate our existence and simply be who we are.
Nina, you raise so many interesting questions and make many arguments that should stimulate a lot of discussion ( there is enough material here for a semester of intense classroom discussion)
Because of the breadth and depth I only have a few comments.
With all due respect, I have pretty much reached the point that I believe there is little chance the current wave of anti semitism ( i prefer anti jew) sentiment will be disappearing or even declining anytime soon. Our schools and colleges are in the driver's seats and they are fully committed to the anti Israel ( anti jew ) position and narrative ( part of oppressor - oppressed if you will). Oct 7 reactions to many of us was very predictable ( part of the anti racism horseshit that is merely a ploy to acquire power by those on the left by continuing to expand white guilt).
As you noted t we are regressing away from classical liberal values back towards the power of ghe jungle ( might makes right). Schmucks like carville have made clear what will happen if the dems regain power . And a large swath of American jewry is on board that political train because their leftism and politics is the center point of their lives. Many attend synagogues that are all in on all this. They have an affinity for israel but if israel were to disappear the crying and anguish would be short lived. We still live in a world ( and always will) where human nature rules the day. The question is whether the human desire for freedom can be squelched by brutal power as it has been in much of the world and that trend is accelerating .
One last question: what do you think francis f is all about these days. We all know about his 1989 book and how he missed the boat. He seems very preoccupied w trump but not so much w the growing totalitarianism. Am I off base in my assessment?
What makes this essay remarkable is that it shifts the conversation from public relations to civilizational psychology. For decades, many Jewish institutions attempted to justify Jewish existence and Israeli sovereignty through the moral vocabulary of others—progressivism, anti-racism, multiculturalism, or universal liberalism. The author argues that this approach was destined to fail because it placed Jewish legitimacy in the hands of people who neither share Jewish history nor feel bound by Jewish experience.
Historically, the survival of the Jewish people was never built upon external approval. It was built upon continuity, memory, covenant, and an extraordinary capacity to preserve identity under pressure. Empires rose and disappeared. Political ideologies emerged and collapsed. Yet the Jewish people endured because they understood themselves before asking others to understand them.
From a behavioral perspective, societies become vulnerable when they derive their self-worth primarily from external validation. The need for approval gradually replaces the confidence of identity. What this essay recognizes is that Israel’s existence cannot be defended merely as a policy preference, a progressive project, or a public relations exercise. It is the political expression of one of history’s oldest surviving civilizations and the collective determination of a people never again to place their fate in the hands of others.
The deepest strength of the Jewish story has never been the ability to persuade the world. It has been the ability to remain Jewish even when the world was unwilling to listen.
"The need for approval gradually replaces the confidence of identity"
Brilliantly said!
Much of the outreach in the US speaks to our adversaries in a language they don't share: tolerance for other viewpoints, compassion, compromise.
But we've seen how the litmus test becomes more and more stringent, how restrictions on freedom of speech become stronger and how they pride themselves on their lack of compassion.
The murder of the United Health CEO and the murder of two young Israeli diplomats in DC were met with a chorus of approval.
The approach above of a group of IDF soldiers in FAFO mode seems best.
This comment is about civilizational identity and the psychology of legitimacy, not about political strategy, security frameworks, or specific events.
No. We must do both: Engage with the real and outside Non-Jewish world as proud covenanted Jews, strong in our own identity as this. I would add that there is also a crisis of self-confidence in the Non-Jewish West too, and thus this crisis is not only a Jewish affliction though it may seem as such. These Doubts connect and feed the fear of post-Imperial decline, which is then maliciously Projected onto The Jewish People as the cause of this decline. The larger re-alignment now taking place through the rise of Neo-Nationalist (TM) movements is the response to the very real threat of The Malthusian doubling of non-white numbers in The Third World and the Muslim attempt for Living-space for themselves on Western Territory and in Western Society. White people in The West now ask themselves; ‘Will our living standards and our Identity remain after this invasion’. Again, the fear of being outnumbered and overwhelmed and overrun finds The Jewish People once again the scapegoats for these anxieties. But in fact both Israel and The West are threatened by Islam, and this is common cause. Simple explanation of these facts, clearly and repeatedly stated, by self-confident Jews should be a good start.
Interesting essay though overly intellectual to my simple tastes. I find most explanations for the Jew hatred that has existed throughout millenia lacking, as in each generation the justification changes with the times, but not with the essential nature of the hatred, which is not rational. The most logical explanation for this hatred is metaphysical, and appears in the bible as allegory.
When Nina delved into scripture and the story of Jonah, which I find revealing, I thought she might touch upon the story of Job, which I find offers the most rational explanation for this devil influenced hatred.
I have often said the story of Job in the bible is the story of the Jew in this world. As the devil hated Job and caused Job to suffer immense miisery and calamity, all because Job maintained his faith in G-d despite the misfortunes which afflicted him, so too the devil hates the Jew and causes the Jew to suffer immense misery and calamity, all because the Jews maintain their faith in Hashem despite the misfortunes and calamities which afflict them. As G-d restored Job, so too one day will the Lord restore the Jew. This is one of the lessons we learn from the Story of Job, and perhaps the most important lesson. The Lord sees the suffering of the Jews caused by the devil, who afflicts the mind of men with the Jew hating mind worm, but so long as Jews maintain their faith the Lord will restore them and defeat the machinations of the devil. In Job the story is condensed into the lifetime of one man. When it comes to Jews as a people, the story plays out over thousands of years. The lesson from Job is one day this senseless devil inspired hatred will cease, as G-d will have had enough of it. Baruch Hashem.
What's your point????
FOJ, did you pay an artist to create the image at the top of this article, or is it AI slop?