Thanks Josh for emphasizing an oft-ignored aspect of Chanukkah: that our victory was as much about overcoming the voluntary assimilation of Jews to a Hellenistic lifestyle as it was about defeating an overtly hostile non-Jewish enemy. May we find the wisdom and strength to overcome our current problems with assimilation as we defeat enemies who don’t care what “flavor” of Jew they murder.
Hi Joshua- does it even need to be said; excellent article once again. And happy Chanukah, achi.
I especially loved that you ended the article on such a positive note. When I get angry at self-hating Jews it's precisely NOT because I'm mad at their own unique expressions of assimilation, as you said, Jews should be able to do and express themselves as befits them and their lives like anybody else in the world- at least I think that's what you mean... I'm mad, no, I'm pissed when their assimilation comes at the cost and safety of the rest of us who, even in our own unique assimilations, myself included, love being Jewish (and Israeli, and American) and are proud of it but are subsequently demonized for it or are made to feel as though we're aberrant. Namely, I think that that self-hate denotes a desperate and pathetic need to be accepted (obviously). And thus because they're Jews, they must up the ante, as it were, and be more militant and more radical, more anti than the anti-Semite, non-Jew, anti-Zionist to their side and say more horrible, shittier, and considerably more asinine things like Seth Rogen or the barely disguised Marxist Marc Maron-who actually had the gull to pen something recently about his shock over the show of antisemitism of late, which boggles the mind as he has pushing such rhetoric for decades. So, I don't know if it's sort of self-denial of which I'm not aware, but that's what I've always seen with the Marons of the world and those who pray for dead Hamas terrorists. You're so ashamed, your antisemitism so internalized that to show everyone that you're one of the 'good' ones, you have to go deeper and harder against Judaism, Jewishness, and especially Israel, than anyone else. Really upsetting.
Thanks Josh for emphasizing an oft-ignored aspect of Chanukkah: that our victory was as much about overcoming the voluntary assimilation of Jews to a Hellenistic lifestyle as it was about defeating an overtly hostile non-Jewish enemy. May we find the wisdom and strength to overcome our current problems with assimilation as we defeat enemies who don’t care what “flavor” of Jew they murder.
Amen!
You are a gifted thinker and writer--how do I reach you by email?
Thank you, Daniel!
You can contact me here: https://negev.io/help/#contact
Hi Joshua- does it even need to be said; excellent article once again. And happy Chanukah, achi.
I especially loved that you ended the article on such a positive note. When I get angry at self-hating Jews it's precisely NOT because I'm mad at their own unique expressions of assimilation, as you said, Jews should be able to do and express themselves as befits them and their lives like anybody else in the world- at least I think that's what you mean... I'm mad, no, I'm pissed when their assimilation comes at the cost and safety of the rest of us who, even in our own unique assimilations, myself included, love being Jewish (and Israeli, and American) and are proud of it but are subsequently demonized for it or are made to feel as though we're aberrant. Namely, I think that that self-hate denotes a desperate and pathetic need to be accepted (obviously). And thus because they're Jews, they must up the ante, as it were, and be more militant and more radical, more anti than the anti-Semite, non-Jew, anti-Zionist to their side and say more horrible, shittier, and considerably more asinine things like Seth Rogen or the barely disguised Marxist Marc Maron-who actually had the gull to pen something recently about his shock over the show of antisemitism of late, which boggles the mind as he has pushing such rhetoric for decades. So, I don't know if it's sort of self-denial of which I'm not aware, but that's what I've always seen with the Marons of the world and those who pray for dead Hamas terrorists. You're so ashamed, your antisemitism so internalized that to show everyone that you're one of the 'good' ones, you have to go deeper and harder against Judaism, Jewishness, and especially Israel, than anyone else. Really upsetting.
Very well said! I didn’t see what Maron said, I’ll look it up and read it! And loved the achi, made me smile :)
It’s on variety- “Marc Marion on why He Won’t Stop Talking About Antisemitism “, October 18. Isn’t he just so cute. Try to get sick.
There have always been those who betrayed the Jewish People throughout our history. This is not new. Josephus comes to mind....
Great piece.
You have to look it up. I’ll try to to find it. 😘