Hate to be disrespectful to the author but I cant make heads or tails to what he is talking about? The new Jewish Voice ...... I dont see new Jewish voices. I see a very quiet and very frightened Jewish Diaspora with very disorganized and ineffective large Jewish organizations who beg for money and never show leadership or accountability. What I see is a large silent public and Western governments who are doing nothing to stop the rise of anti semitism and Jew Hatred and just continue to pay lip service and maybe appoint some official to pay more lip service in the new antisemitism unit that will continue to pay more lip service.
On the flip side, I see an incredible small country with the bravest and most incredible bunch of citizens who stand up and fight and are relentless and above all, they are kicking ass. They are not new Jews, they have been there since and before 1948. They not only fight for Jews, they fight for all decent people against a culture of hate. A culture of antisemitism, misogyny, homophobia, anti-Christian anti Democratic etc. etc.
Then the hostage exchange part of the essay ..... I hope that we dont make the same mistake and give up murderers for hostages. It breaks my heart to say it but if you really value life, this lopsided exchange will only result in much more death. 1000 criminals for one person when you know that many of that 1000 will be back trying to kill Jews is just not a life loving exchange. It hurts very much to say but it needs to be said
"I dont see new Jewish voices. I see a very quiet and very frightened Jewish Diaspora with very disorganized and ineffective large Jewish organizations who beg for money and never show leadership or accountability. What I see is a large silent public and Western governments who are doing nothing to stop the rise of anti semitism and Jew Hatred and just continue to pay lip service and maybe appoint some official to pay more lip service in the new antisemitism unit that will continue to pay more lip service."
Many of us in The Diaspora are trying to process not only the insanity of antisemtism against our ancestral indigenous homeland and our families who live there but also the systemic and day-to-day antisemitism (and the general cautious stance we must carry) in the cites and where we live, work, study, look for work, and just seek to “be”. We witness the dismissal (or, more often, erasure) of our reality and of our mishpacha that lives in Israel, too. We are trying to figure out who our friends (and even “friends”) are and mourn the loss of those we’ve lost, given up and who have turned their backs on us. Some of us do not want to allay ourselves with those who carry agendas that are either extremely right-wing and/or seeking to “save” our souls or theirs (whatever) and who exploit our grief and fear (and, to some extent, I include some Jews there, too). We are also mortified by those with whom we have stood on concepts of social justice who have turned their backs on us (again, I unclouded some Jews in that category, as well). We need friends who don’t feel the need to say “I am from the [insert right-wing/left-wing/Christian ideological affiliation]”. We need friends who recognize our fundamental right to exist - and who can do so unequivocally and publicly - ahead of their need to identify their ideological beliefs as a qualification for their supports and/or state the circumstance under which they think we should be able o exist - because THAT kind of support comes with a heavy price, too.
That said, there are many Jewish voices who are starting to work together and speak out in communities and in the ether. There are many who are speaking out and who are finding their voices as we each navigate the dynamic in which we live. Thought we (as a nation wherever we live) are a true a minority and we are also individuals who don’t always agree - which is a strength we need to play up because it is at the heart of our culture and society - and it is how our species grows and evolves. We need to play up that we choose our voice, accountability and law over slaughtering our own when they cross a line (hence the need for Netanyahu being taken to court to face a litany of credible charges of corruption … in only there were always against narcissism, especially the kind that compromises an entire nation. And hence the need to demand the most extreme within our nation be held accountable through n the democratic process of law for right wing “religious” vigilantism and countering the rhetoric and discrediting left-wing and insidiously hypocritical propaganda with truth (complicated as it may be).
Lunacy. Netanyahu is being prosecuted by a large team of lawyers for minor improprieties (mostly made up), when he is the only one who has been making the kind of real actions that need to be made to advance long-term Jewish interests, including basic survival of Jews. This whole "you are only right, if only there is consensus of international-community-aligned establishment behind you" mentality is the reason why Israel has not been resolving its longstanding issues, including security and out-of-control housing costs that are sucking the energy out of the nation's vitality.
The so-called "international-community" is made up of Jew-haters, and nothing satisfies them better than downfall of Jews and Israel. The so-called "narcissism" is not a crime or even foible of character worth of distraction of the nation's energy. Any citizen of Israel who betrays Israel by falsely accusing it of "war-crimes" etc -- to elevate themselves in the eyes of "international community" -- is a traitor to the Jewish nation. Those who prosecute Netanyahu are borderline in this category as well, because they are distracting the executive from the acute problems it needs to address.
Ah yes there is always a conspiracy theorist lurking in every online environment, and tada, here they are. I laughed when you wrote the “minor improprieties” were “mostly made up”. Which ones were made up? By your own logic, if “some” are made up then that means not all. I’m not agreeing with you that any are “made up” but what you are saying is that he is likely guilty of *some* of the things .. y’know, like corruption, bribery, engaging influence-peddling, and trying to influence/control the media’s take on him. All of which are hardly “ minor” as they serve only his wants and not the quality and character that Israel and Jews worldwide need from a poltical leader. And if we can get rid of him for his crimes but we can by voting him out, will you regard that as treacherous, too? Oh ya, and there’s that whole “some thing” with him trying to diminish the independent authority of the courts? Rebbe r the hundreds of thousand of Israeli demonstrating against him. Are they all traitors? And the streets filled with Israeli demonstrators today .. are they also traitors? Really? Are the families of the murdered hostages traitors? And what about tje families of the remaining 100? Was Vivian Silver a traitor?
While narcissism might a trait you admire, for the rest of the world it’s particularly dangerous in a leader. I won’t explain why and only recommend you look up the definition and the harm narcissism plays in relationships, dynamics and things like accountability (which takes us back to those “minor improprieties”. (Remind me to never do business with you …). Just becasue he is the PM of Israel does not make him above the obligation to be accountable, decent and have a f&*$ing plan for “the day after”. Let’s remember that he has known about those tunnels for at least 10 years. And instead of fuelling his narcissistic needs and thinks of himself as some kind of saviour, he very much is not. It was under his watch that he ignored the intelligence that came from multiple sources that these jihadist terrorists were planning something big. The fact that some of those sources are women in the IDF and were patted on the head and told, “There, there. Let the men look after things.” is evidence of not only his incompetence, distraction, laziness and utter abdication of his responsibilities, but his total lack of respect for women. I hope there is an afterlife so Golda can give him a whatto-for.
Calling Zionists “traitors“ or “betrayers” because they will not go along with a right-wing cult mentality that embrace someone who is demolishing democracy is simply weird and delusional - and it reveals that you might not know what those words actually mean. I’m not religious (surprises!) but I take certain a commandments seriously, like Though Shalt Not Bear False Witness. As for the First and Second Commandments, Netanyahu ask the right-wing nutters who refuse to envision an Israel that can live in safety and peace - and play a constructive role in that - might want to read those two commandments a few times until they sink in.
D you think he is not capable of war crimes (which is not the same as genocide, an accusation which I reject)? Do you think because we are Jewish we have no bad actors amongst us. Let me remind you of those who f*$#ing conspiring with Iran. Let me remind you of some IDF soldiers who have overstepped and disrespected the dignity and integrity of all the decent IDF troops and sully our reputation around the world and with our mischpacha.
You might choose to lean into the entire world being Jew haters, but I am choosing not to. Are some people, leaders, countries antisemitic? Yup. Are some cowards in the face of antisemtism. Yessireebob. Do some secretly feel a relief that Israel exists … we should ask some Syrians and Iranians who I think would nod yes. And even some Palestinians, especially the ones who live in Israel and work with Jews to build peace. Go be a mensch and make nice a build allyship with Jews and anyone else you can. Cuz this comment? It’s not that. Shabbat shalom.
I started but couldn't finish reading your comment. From the wall of text of free "high-grade psychoanalysis," it is obvious that you hail from an Anglo country. In those countries, they have long ago stopped telling women that they should go back to kitchen and make food and babies for their husbands/family. Such pity. They should start teaching it again, because when you come to Israel, you bring your postmodern Anglo nonsense with you and keep ruining Israeli society.
So, just a head’s up that I will be blocking your misogynistic, troll-like behaviour that hints you are probably not even Jewish, never mind Israeli. You should l head over to Twitter, I think you’ll find it your more your style and level of “intellect” and engagement. Shalom
A voice is good, Sir, but it is not working. Bottom line: ok, 2: why didn’t every home in the kibbutzim have arms on Oct 7 and WTF is Israel judiciary/politicos thinking trying to courtroom hoax Bibi for designer cigars and champagne at this dreadful hour of needed leadership in war? Who cares if he’d like better media coverage: advice to Bibi is start your own media like Trump magnificently did and put it on the stock exchange. American Jew here who watched a lifelong treasonous criminal—propped up as prez by a Kenyan ex prez whose sentiments lie with Muslim Brotherhood—who sold us for billions to state enemies and will never see the inside of a courtroom as he stumbles out of the WH to his beach yet Israel is edgy about a buck .98k? Bibi isn’t selling his legacy for pocket change: this is not bribery, he was given a gift. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Hate Netanyahu or love him, this ordeal for him is deadly stupid. [Please see Carolyn Glick for her incredible dig into the Trump/Bibi persecution by same group]. We have antisemitism eating us up world wide (ICC fools, Harvard elitists, rabid journalists, scum kids, congress women chanting for Gazan terrorists with those damned ugly keffiyehs, Israelis hunted and beaten like animals in a western country for being Jews) yet Israel is going to pick on their leader who is kicking ass and burying debris? We are Jacob’s 2 camps facing Esau’s hatred. America and Israel. Better wise up, all of us. Pandering with talk worked a bit for Jacob but not long. Ass kissing is remarkably inefficient in war. Along came Esau in 1932, still hating. I just read, for joy, ‘Saving Israel’. Mostly Jewish American kids straight out of WW2 giving up sunny California to become Israel’s first air force. The simplicity of their war somehow revealed the complete sinister audacity of stalking Bibi today with Americanesque lawfare when Jew hatred is worse than it has ever been.
Support Bibi and arm the Jews. This is war. Bottom line.
A good piece. Just to say, Debunking Hatred against Jews takes both The Pen and The Sword. Both of these are VITAL. The history of Nazism is so recent and uniquely atrocious that simple statements of the Facts (~50 Million souls including 27 Million Russian souls as well as 6 Million Jewish people, murdered by Hitler and his followers) is enough. But this MUST be done repeatedly, each and every time the Nazis dare to rear their heads. And when the Islamist and Arab Jew-Haters join forces with the Nazis to come at us to kill us, the Military response is the correct one. I never tire of the fight. It is an Eternal calling because it protects Freedom in The West for Non-Jew and Jew alike: Completely Justified and vindicated. I mean this! : A battle joined in Joy. Israel am Chai.
Clear intelligence, good back-up, and keep your wits about you... we have just won a Massive victory against The European Nazis, who re-formed The Nazi Party with the help of Nazi British spies who have attempted to infiltrate MI6 from the shadows here in London: They are Utter scum, and we trounced them for good. So Spread the word. The Jewish People won, and both The British people and The Jewish people involved are delighted! We won.
I forgive the errors made through translation, and applaud the overall beauty of the writing and your vision of the future. I would love to believe that the vision is already happening in Israel, if not in the Diaspora. Your description of Jewish love of life vs. Islamist love of death is so important and SO LITTLE KNOWN outside of Jewry. Let us hold onto hope that someday the pendulum may swing in the direction to which your words point. Thanks to all the writers of comments above. You take the time to engage with the vision, even when you find fault with it.
I am disappointed with the picture at the beginning of the article showing a man with a sign that states, "Bring them home". This implies that the responsibility for the release of the hostages lies with Israel and not with the bastards who took them in the first place. I have a prayer for you. " Let my people go, immediately and unconditionally, or we will continue to pound you until the name 'Hamas' becomes synonymous with that of 'Amalek'".
Realistically, we will probably need to exchange prisoners for our poor hostages...will it be the same ridiculous numbers? It is impossible not to do all that we can for the hostages, I hope that GPS chips will be invented in the future, which can be used so that any released monster can easily be tracked. Of course, the US threatening to totally defund the UN (18 billion dollars a year!) should. be incentive enough for Hamas to back the hostages (we all know that the UN, especially via UNRWA, is completely in bed with. Hamas and has influence in Gaza.)
Alternatively, once we do an exchange, having terrorists in our jail will no longer be of any use. 7/10 provides a strong argument for finally implementing a death penalty for terrorists in Israel, robbing terror organizations of one of their incentives for kidnapping. After all, a whopping 27 American states implement the death penalty, and they do not even have the handicap which Israel has: being over a barrel to exchange guilty prisoners for innocent victims.
A strong article, and yes, we do depend not only on strong Jews who have risen to the occasion but also upon like-minded allies...
That's the genius of the evil against which we stand. There is no way that they can lose, because they do not care how much we pound Gaza and they do not care if the Israeli hostages live or die--the value of the hostages to them as bargaining chips does not depend on their being alive. Israel must have the fortitude to admit defeat in this particular battle, and do what needs to be done to get the hostages back. At least the released terrorists will not be returning to Club-Med. In the article I express the opinion that we should not release terrorists for the hostages. That was then. The pendulum swings back and forth. We all know the pros and cons of both approaches. That is part of the torture.
The antisemitism of the New Testament and the antisemitism of the Koran finally met when the uncivilized Muslim hordes invaded Christian Europe in the recent past. The libels and slanders of the Jewish people revealed in these “Holy Books” have re-energized their true believers into pose a danger to us.
Unless western governments react to their criminal outrages quickly and forcefully we will have a long struggle ahead of us.
Your comment makes me wonder: without Christianity or Islam, would there be antisemitism today? Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome would suggest that it is not dependent on those beliefs, as would the "Anti-Zionist" cadres flowing out of liberal arts colleges.
I don’t know if it was the translation or a need for more footnotes (in which case, general clarity within the text might have better served), but this was a slog of a read of which it was not easy t glean what did or did not make sense. I appreciate a great metaphor, but I simply did not get what was being said here about a clown elephant and the floating from disjointed idea, unclear references to. Individuals, groups of people and confusing pronouncements. I appreciate that some commenters here have been able to pull out a line or two here and there, though that did make sense - but out of context from the entire essay, it’s hard to be sure what what those excerpts actually mean.
Sorry, this essay is atypically lame in terms of grammar and is published unedited for clarity and readability. I stopped reading after first 2 paragraphs, while sampling subsequent paragraphs for similar sloppiness. Please review and revise, as messy/sloppy writing defangs emotional/passionate composition. Unprofessional.
Thank you Ehud (אהוד) for open mindedness! I used to be a professor in business schools in the US, Canada, Australia (2 schools), Singapore, Kazakhstan and some visiting teaching around the globe. English is my 4th language, after Russian (mother tongue, still fluent, 1950-58), Polish (limited, 1958-60), and Hebrew (still fluent, not a colloquial as used to be, 1960-82). So I love languages, try to adhere to accuracy and clarity). All the best! Oscar
“One single Jewish soldier who had been on guard on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, in exchange for 1,027 terrorist prisoners who were collectively responsible for the death of hundreds of Israeli citizens until their capture — and after their release, for the death of hundreds more tortured and raped in the October 7th pogrom.”
How many spent their time since October 7 just trying to make it happen again?
Meaning well does not make up for agitation for policies that have foreseeable devastating consequences.
It has proved impossible to wrap one’s mind around, and that is why it has been shunted aside “until the end of the war.” As such, we are not ready for the next Oct 7.
Hate to be disrespectful to the author but I cant make heads or tails to what he is talking about? The new Jewish Voice ...... I dont see new Jewish voices. I see a very quiet and very frightened Jewish Diaspora with very disorganized and ineffective large Jewish organizations who beg for money and never show leadership or accountability. What I see is a large silent public and Western governments who are doing nothing to stop the rise of anti semitism and Jew Hatred and just continue to pay lip service and maybe appoint some official to pay more lip service in the new antisemitism unit that will continue to pay more lip service.
On the flip side, I see an incredible small country with the bravest and most incredible bunch of citizens who stand up and fight and are relentless and above all, they are kicking ass. They are not new Jews, they have been there since and before 1948. They not only fight for Jews, they fight for all decent people against a culture of hate. A culture of antisemitism, misogyny, homophobia, anti-Christian anti Democratic etc. etc.
Then the hostage exchange part of the essay ..... I hope that we dont make the same mistake and give up murderers for hostages. It breaks my heart to say it but if you really value life, this lopsided exchange will only result in much more death. 1000 criminals for one person when you know that many of that 1000 will be back trying to kill Jews is just not a life loving exchange. It hurts very much to say but it needs to be said
papa j
"I dont see new Jewish voices. I see a very quiet and very frightened Jewish Diaspora with very disorganized and ineffective large Jewish organizations who beg for money and never show leadership or accountability. What I see is a large silent public and Western governments who are doing nothing to stop the rise of anti semitism and Jew Hatred and just continue to pay lip service and maybe appoint some official to pay more lip service in the new antisemitism unit that will continue to pay more lip service."
Yes, this, exactly.
I agree that this piece was a confounding slog.
Many of us in The Diaspora are trying to process not only the insanity of antisemtism against our ancestral indigenous homeland and our families who live there but also the systemic and day-to-day antisemitism (and the general cautious stance we must carry) in the cites and where we live, work, study, look for work, and just seek to “be”. We witness the dismissal (or, more often, erasure) of our reality and of our mishpacha that lives in Israel, too. We are trying to figure out who our friends (and even “friends”) are and mourn the loss of those we’ve lost, given up and who have turned their backs on us. Some of us do not want to allay ourselves with those who carry agendas that are either extremely right-wing and/or seeking to “save” our souls or theirs (whatever) and who exploit our grief and fear (and, to some extent, I include some Jews there, too). We are also mortified by those with whom we have stood on concepts of social justice who have turned their backs on us (again, I unclouded some Jews in that category, as well). We need friends who don’t feel the need to say “I am from the [insert right-wing/left-wing/Christian ideological affiliation]”. We need friends who recognize our fundamental right to exist - and who can do so unequivocally and publicly - ahead of their need to identify their ideological beliefs as a qualification for their supports and/or state the circumstance under which they think we should be able o exist - because THAT kind of support comes with a heavy price, too.
That said, there are many Jewish voices who are starting to work together and speak out in communities and in the ether. There are many who are speaking out and who are finding their voices as we each navigate the dynamic in which we live. Thought we (as a nation wherever we live) are a true a minority and we are also individuals who don’t always agree - which is a strength we need to play up because it is at the heart of our culture and society - and it is how our species grows and evolves. We need to play up that we choose our voice, accountability and law over slaughtering our own when they cross a line (hence the need for Netanyahu being taken to court to face a litany of credible charges of corruption … in only there were always against narcissism, especially the kind that compromises an entire nation. And hence the need to demand the most extreme within our nation be held accountable through n the democratic process of law for right wing “religious” vigilantism and countering the rhetoric and discrediting left-wing and insidiously hypocritical propaganda with truth (complicated as it may be).
Well, from one slogger to another, I feel your pain.
Lunacy. Netanyahu is being prosecuted by a large team of lawyers for minor improprieties (mostly made up), when he is the only one who has been making the kind of real actions that need to be made to advance long-term Jewish interests, including basic survival of Jews. This whole "you are only right, if only there is consensus of international-community-aligned establishment behind you" mentality is the reason why Israel has not been resolving its longstanding issues, including security and out-of-control housing costs that are sucking the energy out of the nation's vitality.
The so-called "international-community" is made up of Jew-haters, and nothing satisfies them better than downfall of Jews and Israel. The so-called "narcissism" is not a crime or even foible of character worth of distraction of the nation's energy. Any citizen of Israel who betrays Israel by falsely accusing it of "war-crimes" etc -- to elevate themselves in the eyes of "international community" -- is a traitor to the Jewish nation. Those who prosecute Netanyahu are borderline in this category as well, because they are distracting the executive from the acute problems it needs to address.
Ah yes there is always a conspiracy theorist lurking in every online environment, and tada, here they are. I laughed when you wrote the “minor improprieties” were “mostly made up”. Which ones were made up? By your own logic, if “some” are made up then that means not all. I’m not agreeing with you that any are “made up” but what you are saying is that he is likely guilty of *some* of the things .. y’know, like corruption, bribery, engaging influence-peddling, and trying to influence/control the media’s take on him. All of which are hardly “ minor” as they serve only his wants and not the quality and character that Israel and Jews worldwide need from a poltical leader. And if we can get rid of him for his crimes but we can by voting him out, will you regard that as treacherous, too? Oh ya, and there’s that whole “some thing” with him trying to diminish the independent authority of the courts? Rebbe r the hundreds of thousand of Israeli demonstrating against him. Are they all traitors? And the streets filled with Israeli demonstrators today .. are they also traitors? Really? Are the families of the murdered hostages traitors? And what about tje families of the remaining 100? Was Vivian Silver a traitor?
While narcissism might a trait you admire, for the rest of the world it’s particularly dangerous in a leader. I won’t explain why and only recommend you look up the definition and the harm narcissism plays in relationships, dynamics and things like accountability (which takes us back to those “minor improprieties”. (Remind me to never do business with you …). Just becasue he is the PM of Israel does not make him above the obligation to be accountable, decent and have a f&*$ing plan for “the day after”. Let’s remember that he has known about those tunnels for at least 10 years. And instead of fuelling his narcissistic needs and thinks of himself as some kind of saviour, he very much is not. It was under his watch that he ignored the intelligence that came from multiple sources that these jihadist terrorists were planning something big. The fact that some of those sources are women in the IDF and were patted on the head and told, “There, there. Let the men look after things.” is evidence of not only his incompetence, distraction, laziness and utter abdication of his responsibilities, but his total lack of respect for women. I hope there is an afterlife so Golda can give him a whatto-for.
Calling Zionists “traitors“ or “betrayers” because they will not go along with a right-wing cult mentality that embrace someone who is demolishing democracy is simply weird and delusional - and it reveals that you might not know what those words actually mean. I’m not religious (surprises!) but I take certain a commandments seriously, like Though Shalt Not Bear False Witness. As for the First and Second Commandments, Netanyahu ask the right-wing nutters who refuse to envision an Israel that can live in safety and peace - and play a constructive role in that - might want to read those two commandments a few times until they sink in.
D you think he is not capable of war crimes (which is not the same as genocide, an accusation which I reject)? Do you think because we are Jewish we have no bad actors amongst us. Let me remind you of those who f*$#ing conspiring with Iran. Let me remind you of some IDF soldiers who have overstepped and disrespected the dignity and integrity of all the decent IDF troops and sully our reputation around the world and with our mischpacha.
You might choose to lean into the entire world being Jew haters, but I am choosing not to. Are some people, leaders, countries antisemitic? Yup. Are some cowards in the face of antisemtism. Yessireebob. Do some secretly feel a relief that Israel exists … we should ask some Syrians and Iranians who I think would nod yes. And even some Palestinians, especially the ones who live in Israel and work with Jews to build peace. Go be a mensch and make nice a build allyship with Jews and anyone else you can. Cuz this comment? It’s not that. Shabbat shalom.
I started but couldn't finish reading your comment. From the wall of text of free "high-grade psychoanalysis," it is obvious that you hail from an Anglo country. In those countries, they have long ago stopped telling women that they should go back to kitchen and make food and babies for their husbands/family. Such pity. They should start teaching it again, because when you come to Israel, you bring your postmodern Anglo nonsense with you and keep ruining Israeli society.
So, just a head’s up that I will be blocking your misogynistic, troll-like behaviour that hints you are probably not even Jewish, never mind Israeli. You should l head over to Twitter, I think you’ll find it your more your style and level of “intellect” and engagement. Shalom
I'm talking tails. :) The new voice is the one coming from the next generation of Israelis. It's my fault that I did not make this clear.
Well written, papa
thanks my boy and have a wonderful Shabbos.
A voice is good, Sir, but it is not working. Bottom line: ok, 2: why didn’t every home in the kibbutzim have arms on Oct 7 and WTF is Israel judiciary/politicos thinking trying to courtroom hoax Bibi for designer cigars and champagne at this dreadful hour of needed leadership in war? Who cares if he’d like better media coverage: advice to Bibi is start your own media like Trump magnificently did and put it on the stock exchange. American Jew here who watched a lifelong treasonous criminal—propped up as prez by a Kenyan ex prez whose sentiments lie with Muslim Brotherhood—who sold us for billions to state enemies and will never see the inside of a courtroom as he stumbles out of the WH to his beach yet Israel is edgy about a buck .98k? Bibi isn’t selling his legacy for pocket change: this is not bribery, he was given a gift. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Hate Netanyahu or love him, this ordeal for him is deadly stupid. [Please see Carolyn Glick for her incredible dig into the Trump/Bibi persecution by same group]. We have antisemitism eating us up world wide (ICC fools, Harvard elitists, rabid journalists, scum kids, congress women chanting for Gazan terrorists with those damned ugly keffiyehs, Israelis hunted and beaten like animals in a western country for being Jews) yet Israel is going to pick on their leader who is kicking ass and burying debris? We are Jacob’s 2 camps facing Esau’s hatred. America and Israel. Better wise up, all of us. Pandering with talk worked a bit for Jacob but not long. Ass kissing is remarkably inefficient in war. Along came Esau in 1932, still hating. I just read, for joy, ‘Saving Israel’. Mostly Jewish American kids straight out of WW2 giving up sunny California to become Israel’s first air force. The simplicity of their war somehow revealed the complete sinister audacity of stalking Bibi today with Americanesque lawfare when Jew hatred is worse than it has ever been.
Support Bibi and arm the Jews. This is war. Bottom line.
A good piece. Just to say, Debunking Hatred against Jews takes both The Pen and The Sword. Both of these are VITAL. The history of Nazism is so recent and uniquely atrocious that simple statements of the Facts (~50 Million souls including 27 Million Russian souls as well as 6 Million Jewish people, murdered by Hitler and his followers) is enough. But this MUST be done repeatedly, each and every time the Nazis dare to rear their heads. And when the Islamist and Arab Jew-Haters join forces with the Nazis to come at us to kill us, the Military response is the correct one. I never tire of the fight. It is an Eternal calling because it protects Freedom in The West for Non-Jew and Jew alike: Completely Justified and vindicated. I mean this! : A battle joined in Joy. Israel am Chai.
Spot on Dan. I love moving towards the sound of gunfire in the distance - particularly for a good cause like Am Yisrael Chai
Clear intelligence, good back-up, and keep your wits about you... we have just won a Massive victory against The European Nazis, who re-formed The Nazi Party with the help of Nazi British spies who have attempted to infiltrate MI6 from the shadows here in London: They are Utter scum, and we trounced them for good. So Spread the word. The Jewish People won, and both The British people and The Jewish people involved are delighted! We won.
I forgive the errors made through translation, and applaud the overall beauty of the writing and your vision of the future. I would love to believe that the vision is already happening in Israel, if not in the Diaspora. Your description of Jewish love of life vs. Islamist love of death is so important and SO LITTLE KNOWN outside of Jewry. Let us hold onto hope that someday the pendulum may swing in the direction to which your words point. Thanks to all the writers of comments above. You take the time to engage with the vision, even when you find fault with it.
I am disappointed with the picture at the beginning of the article showing a man with a sign that states, "Bring them home". This implies that the responsibility for the release of the hostages lies with Israel and not with the bastards who took them in the first place. I have a prayer for you. " Let my people go, immediately and unconditionally, or we will continue to pound you until the name 'Hamas' becomes synonymous with that of 'Amalek'".
Realistically, we will probably need to exchange prisoners for our poor hostages...will it be the same ridiculous numbers? It is impossible not to do all that we can for the hostages, I hope that GPS chips will be invented in the future, which can be used so that any released monster can easily be tracked. Of course, the US threatening to totally defund the UN (18 billion dollars a year!) should. be incentive enough for Hamas to back the hostages (we all know that the UN, especially via UNRWA, is completely in bed with. Hamas and has influence in Gaza.)
Alternatively, once we do an exchange, having terrorists in our jail will no longer be of any use. 7/10 provides a strong argument for finally implementing a death penalty for terrorists in Israel, robbing terror organizations of one of their incentives for kidnapping. After all, a whopping 27 American states implement the death penalty, and they do not even have the handicap which Israel has: being over a barrel to exchange guilty prisoners for innocent victims.
A strong article, and yes, we do depend not only on strong Jews who have risen to the occasion but also upon like-minded allies...
That's the genius of the evil against which we stand. There is no way that they can lose, because they do not care how much we pound Gaza and they do not care if the Israeli hostages live or die--the value of the hostages to them as bargaining chips does not depend on their being alive. Israel must have the fortitude to admit defeat in this particular battle, and do what needs to be done to get the hostages back. At least the released terrorists will not be returning to Club-Med. In the article I express the opinion that we should not release terrorists for the hostages. That was then. The pendulum swings back and forth. We all know the pros and cons of both approaches. That is part of the torture.
The antisemitism of the New Testament and the antisemitism of the Koran finally met when the uncivilized Muslim hordes invaded Christian Europe in the recent past. The libels and slanders of the Jewish people revealed in these “Holy Books” have re-energized their true believers into pose a danger to us.
Unless western governments react to their criminal outrages quickly and forcefully we will have a long struggle ahead of us.
Your comment makes me wonder: without Christianity or Islam, would there be antisemitism today? Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome would suggest that it is not dependent on those beliefs, as would the "Anti-Zionist" cadres flowing out of liberal arts colleges.
I don’t know if it was the translation or a need for more footnotes (in which case, general clarity within the text might have better served), but this was a slog of a read of which it was not easy t glean what did or did not make sense. I appreciate a great metaphor, but I simply did not get what was being said here about a clown elephant and the floating from disjointed idea, unclear references to. Individuals, groups of people and confusing pronouncements. I appreciate that some commenters here have been able to pull out a line or two here and there, though that did make sense - but out of context from the entire essay, it’s hard to be sure what what those excerpts actually mean.
It was definitely the translation. Not. Any lack of clarity is on me. I will try to write with more clarity next time.
Sorry, this essay is atypically lame in terms of grammar and is published unedited for clarity and readability. I stopped reading after first 2 paragraphs, while sampling subsequent paragraphs for similar sloppiness. Please review and revise, as messy/sloppy writing defangs emotional/passionate composition. Unprofessional.
Noted. Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you Ehud (אהוד) for open mindedness! I used to be a professor in business schools in the US, Canada, Australia (2 schools), Singapore, Kazakhstan and some visiting teaching around the globe. English is my 4th language, after Russian (mother tongue, still fluent, 1950-58), Polish (limited, 1958-60), and Hebrew (still fluent, not a colloquial as used to be, 1960-82). So I love languages, try to adhere to accuracy and clarity). All the best! Oscar
Very, very well written.
“One single Jewish soldier who had been on guard on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, in exchange for 1,027 terrorist prisoners who were collectively responsible for the death of hundreds of Israeli citizens until their capture — and after their release, for the death of hundreds more tortured and raped in the October 7th pogrom.”
How many spent their time since October 7 just trying to make it happen again?
Meaning well does not make up for agitation for policies that have foreseeable devastating consequences.
Hard to wrap one’s mind around.
It has proved impossible to wrap one’s mind around, and that is why it has been shunted aside “until the end of the war.” As such, we are not ready for the next Oct 7.