24 Comments
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Stephanie Wilson's avatar

Extremely well written. I totally hate the hypocrisy of these so-called anti-war protesters as well. They make me sick too! D-mn their hypocrisy!! #StandWithIsrael #FuckHamas

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Laura's avatar

Now that is an actual genocide.

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"And if you think that you are somehow morally superior to the human beings who are Israeli, just imagine that your own baby was stolen or butchered, that you or your mother were raped, and had your breasts cut off, that your Holocaust-surviving grandparents were tied together and burned alive in their homes. Entire villages of people wiped out, in just one day.".

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Diane Steiner's avatar

While I believe that all human beings fight to exist and survive every day of their lives in some way, I also believe that human beings internally battle good and evil with the decisions they're required to make. As for war, and here I say men, because throughout history, it has been primarily men who have played their war games for territory, products, power and control. One of the strongest points you've made is to show the absolute confused thinking of the anti-war protesters is their call for ceasefire while screaming intifada against Jews. This is one of the holes in their vacuous ideology. In their world, analysis and critical thinking don't exist, for these are the TikTok graduates who have no time for complex sentences and take as fact whatever is posted with enough 'likes.'

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EFS's avatar

I'm guessing (hoping) that many of these students have received some Holocaust education. I wonder if, when they are chanting "there is only one solution", the can hear the echo "final solution".

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Alfred Harder's avatar

And at the core of anti-semitism lies a cult of stupidity!

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Stephanie Wilson's avatar

BOOM!

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Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

About 3/4 into your essay you mention 'stolen lands' and 'Native Americans'. It seems like you are equating the history of the USA with that of Israel? In recent years I offer as a metaphor for the longevity of the Jewish People in what become their homeland and in international terms is thus considered the Jewish People are Indigenous to the land since about 1400B.C.E. (although according to Oral (Indigenous) History their Elders were there several generations earlier but not yet fully established - whereas the Maoris of New Zealand (Aotearoa) arrived (invaded) about 1200 A.D. And there was another race of people there but the Maoris generally deny that. Some say that the Maoris may have arrived shortly before 1200A.D.

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EFS's avatar

I didn't take that as a literal comparison of each nation's origin. To me, it's an attempt to make people understand the depth of the October 7th atrocities.

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Robin Alexander's avatar

I took it to point out that history’s been harsh to most peoples at one time or another.

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DeLena's avatar

The ignorance on our college campuses is appalling--the stupidity even more so--as so well evidenced by the response to Israel and Hamas. Another commenter said that he was guessing these students had received some education on the holocaust. If they did, they paid no attention. These protests do not engender much hope for the future.

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Alfred Harder's avatar

Precisely! And at the core

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Steve Smith's avatar

The stated purpose of this Substack is nowhere and in no fashion advanced by this guest post. I am interested in advancing my knowledge of Judaism and Jewish life in Israel and elsewhere. This confused collection of thought debris os the guest poster comes nowhere near the stated purpose of the reason for the Stack. The other critics above and below are essentially saying the same thing. You choose, follow your own stated purpose or bye bye to readers like me who view suck posts as a combination of soft deception and loss of focus. My reading time is a valued treasure not to be wasted on such a thought mess.

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Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

Thanks for allowing guest writers, thanks to this guest writer and others, thanks to the people Commenting. This was first a reply to Steve Smith who, I believe, rightfully raises an issue regarding guest writers within this amazing substack "Future of Jewish". Here's my reply to Steve and generally. Unfortunately, I agree, and have noted the differences before. On the other hand, I appreciate that guest writers have the 'feeling' of collaboration. I think that is the purpose or value of having guest writers - 'The We' need to really develop a great method for collaboration. 'The We' need each other desperately. Yet we should not be 'grasping at straws'. We ARE in a quagmire. It is my view that we desperately need to readdress and draw directly from our actual Cultural Practices which remarkably includes highly developed methodology. As a VERY late learner and VERY slow learner even I am starting to see the light, even though I am a minimalist when it comes to practice. I do practice - daily - but at this stage I feel more grounded if I maintain my minimal rather than shoot for the stars. In this case I want to add a shiur/lesson that took me three attempts to get past the introduction of the '3 elements' the Teacher establishes for the discussion. I have so far only watched a half dozen of his shiurim/lessons. The study of Talmud/Mishna/Gemora is an artform itself. In fact it requires a dramatic expression, a theatricality which the 'best' teachers in any field need to use to the benefit of the student. Pointedly... he uses the classic two index finger approach that IS part of the artform and IS necessary to stick to the topic. For those like me not very familiar - oh my heavens am I thankful that I tried 3 times to just sit with the lesson and receive the numerous messages within. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1gZE2cFx9g

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Robin Alexander's avatar

“…it doesn’t make you anti-war, it makes you anti-Jewish” is one for the books.

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Deacon Ferrocarril's avatar

Is that what Intifada means? I only know it as a group of armed extremists who are all Junior in their terrorist organization.

I'll probably find out Mujahedin means wise people not senior ranking members of a terrorist organization.

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Alison's avatar

It's a pity you don't put your trust in the God of the Bible instead of imaginary Eastern deities. Read your Bible and you'll find out what God says about war and its causes. Before we can have peace with our fellow man, we need to have peace with God. Thankfully, Jesus Christ came to make that possible.

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EFS's avatar

What an odd response to this article.

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Stephanie Wilson's avatar

I agree. I'm a Christian Zionist & I thought so, too. I also thought it inappropriate to ''preach'' here. If we are to love our Jewish brethren, insulting them is the stupid way to do it.

[Not to mention, many Jews are wary of these proselytizers, & rightfully so]. [Considering the awful history of the church] G-d forgive us. The sins that the church committed against Jews is evil. I would think Alison would be very sensitive about that. I'm sorry about that.😥

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EFS's avatar

Thanks. We all have our zealots, and social media just provides another platform for them.

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Stephanie Wilson's avatar

You're welcome. Got that right. I run into soo many of em! hahahaha It can be VERY annoying too.🙃

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Stephanie Wilson's avatar

This is not the place to proselytize.

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Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

Not long after Shemini Atzeret several of my good and dear friends (actual friends) who do not know each other 'one by one' began to proselytize towards me intentionally. For each on the 2nd occasion by each I said 'one more time' and I will cut off and block all communication with them (each one). For one, who was so self-righteous in a similar way to you - I pointed out that the xtians have so many sects because the xtians actually love to hate each other so that they can practice their 'holier than thou' 'all-knowing' smirk. Well let me be a Jew who points out to you the errors of your ways, and your false narrative 'belief'. xtians can not even pray together. And dare I mention the word 'catholic' to some of my other xtian friends and their flaring nostrils expand and then they gather themselves and pull "a Shirley Temple" and 'put on a happy face'. According to 'your teaching' that Jewish man, if he existed and if he existed in any of the ways proposed know this: according to your 'teachings': he was only EVER an orthodox normative practicing Jewish man - and ONLY ever spoke according to our Jewish sages/teachers/teachings. And YOU and your 'fellowship' fellows MUST STOP CALLING OUR SOURCE ANYTHING BUT THE TORAH. It is not, never was, never will be the 'old' .... Go back to Torah ideally via Rabbi Tovia Singer first. And STOP trolling Jewish oriented sites on social media. Respect Your Elders. The Pope Paul II got that right!!!! The Jewish People are your Elders. You have erred and misguided. The 'new' testament was and is largely a 'hoax' largely written by Jewish persons who were at the mercy and service to "Edom" to the Roman fascists. You should delete your Comment. No apology is necessary. No apology is welcome. Redeem yourself and do not repeat such a cunning under-minding technique.

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Stephanie Wilson's avatar

I agree w/ you except the ''new test. being a hoax. That's insulting to me. Amen about the Jewish People being our elders. & Amen to my Lord being a Jewish Rabbi. Too many of my fellow believers forget that. Shame on them! We owe the Jewish people so very much & I expect my fellow believers to be grateful. Respect & love our Jewish brethran, don't preach at them.

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May 29
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Robin Alexander's avatar

I feel it’s a confluence of pretending to be empathetic and glamorizing victimization. They identify with the Palestinian suffering as a badge of honor to counteract their obvious privilege. (I know I’m privileged. I’m simply grateful.)

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