This Rosh Hashanah, let's stop fighting antisemites and start loving thy Jewish neighbor. In our post-October 7th world, Jewish unity is no longer optional. Our very survival depends on it.
There’s a Jew-hating Muslim running for mayor in the most Jewish city in the United States. Let’s see how many self loathing Jews vote for this scumbag.
The entitled wealthy Progressive/Reform Jews are tripping all over themselves to support him. Schumer grovels on his belly, showing his puppy dog love for him, a person who would kill him as a Jew if he had a chance. They deserve what will happen. I feel sorry for those who are not from this arrogant self-hating group, such as the Dati.
What that person has verbalized, promoted - is true Jewish hatred. You can find the quotes on the internet from reliable sources. He has absolutely no business running for any office. How can anyone with a beating heart advocate for this?
You are absolutely correct. In addition, why would any SANE person vote for a 33 year old with NO EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING ANYTHING to run the largest city in the United States? The answer is Democrats don’t see elections as a job interview/job offer. They see it as pursuing an agenda and see nothing else. So what if the guy is completely incompetent? The Democrats wanted to run Joe Biden and then Kamala Harris for President, regardless of how bad they were.
A beautiful and well spoken d’var, Joshua! In other words, it’s time to walk the walk and not just simply talk the talk with respect to one’s individual Judaism/to nourish one’s own nefesh (through whatever means.) Shana Tova to you and all of k’lal Yisrael!
Well said. It is absolutely disgusting when Diaspora Jews, mostly from the entitled elitist mostly assimilated American Reform/Progressive Jews sitting in their bubble wrapped comfy lives, arrogantly and obnoxiously ordering Israeli Jews on how to live or die, and how to run their country and who to elect. If Israeli Jews were to order these same Jews how they must live or die, how to vote and how they should breathe, these same American Jews would be outraged.
I am a disapora Jew and I couldn't agree more. The hatred I feel for Schumer is worse than the hatred I feel for Bernie Sanders. Sanders is our enemy and doesn't pretend otherwise. Schumer is a betrayer.
ALs always Joshua, a wonderful essay !!!!!!!......Wishing you and yours a very sweet Shanah Tovah !!!!! Let's keep on praying for the prompt release of ALL the remaining hostages!!!!!......Blessings....
Wonderful. It seems true also that from day one we were a people of frequent disunity. The Torah , which our ancestors wrote for themselves and their people, not for the world, tells us this without mincing words. Arguments, rebellions, dissent, betrayals, and poor Moses crying to God, " what shall I do with this people?". All the way to what brought the Second Temple's destruction and the exile, and today's diaspora and Israel's divisions. The miracle is, then, that what held and holds us together is not unity. We never changed. What keeps us still here is more profound and mysterious. It is, as in olden days, at the most superficial level, kinship, identity, ancestral regard, admiration for our Jewish civilization, our passing it on down the generations, strength, resilience, ingenuity, inventiveness and if all goes well, intellectual honesty and integrity. But if we dig still deeper, Am Israel Khai is not explained by anything any of us can clearly name, but by perhaps a gift of resurrection, not just survival, and most likely, a little help from God .
"Too often, Jewish life is spent on defense." When I read that it reminded of what I've said on this forum that the Jewish people need to not be shy about your traditions and being Jewish while pursuing unity no matter what the anti-semites think or say. Nuts to them. Happy Rosh Hashanah to everyone in the Jewish world.
From your mouth to G-d’s ear! Disdain needs to be erased from the emotional lexicon when it comes to our fellow Jews. We can agree to disagree, but always with respect. We can stop being so blasted opinionated about, and judgmental of, each other. I admit that is hard to do, but I will try.
Wonderful essay. Eloquent and well-informed. I am with you at every word.
This coming Sunday my husband and I (and the dog) fly to Israel to make Aliyah. Right now we are overwhelmed with the Herculean task of packing up and cleaning our house, packing up two lifetimes. It's like the kind of winnowing and cleaning you do when someone dies, and what has died is our faith in the countries that have hosted us as eternal foreigners and which now want us all to commit suicide, if not physically then with our souls. We think every day, what can we do to help the country and culture that is Israel, how can our skills and talents add? I am so looking forward to directing my energies towards building Israel and not towards hoping for crumbs of tolerance (that are quickly being swept away) in the Diaspora.
What a lovely uplifting essay for Rosh Hashanah. I’ve read far and wide on Substack, but this is the first time I have felt like saving a piece to read again and again. It is a triumph of human spirit in sad times. Todar roba.
There is a large population of Jews who buy into the lies about Israel and apartheid, colonialism and genocide. I don't know if they are ill-informed, self hating, or both. I will always remember an interview with Seth Rogan a few years ago where he basically agreed with everything negative about Jews and Israel and stated that he felt "lied to" about Israel.
Jon Stewart speaks in the same vein now about Israel and Palestine. It is actively harmful to how we see ourselves as Jews and Jewish Americans.
I recall the history of the Jewish councils in WW2 before "The Final Solution" - the heads of these councils really believed that in working with the nazis that some Jews would be saved, that sacrificing some of us would benefit all of us.
That worked out really well.
My nephew has a non Jewish mother and is not a practicing Jew. I had to remind him during an argument about how the antisemitism of today really doesn't affect him all that much that if he happened to be in Berlin 1933-1945, it wouldn't have mattered - now the nazis defined a Jew and "Jewish blood" is how they would see him, not how he saw himself. That he was non practicing would have made no difference. It was racial then - I believe it is racial now.
The past is prologue.
The existence of the state of Israel is what makes it different in this day and time - and we must never forget it.
As an American Jew I have great love for my brethren in Israel and awe for what they deal with and the courage with which they deal with it. I have a contempt bordering on extreme dislike for Jews who claim to love Israel but love a vision of Israel that exists only in their imagination. (Thomas Friedman is their patron saint). But what of the Jews who place themselves outside of our tent altogther. The Jews in the West who have no religious connection, no cultural connection and also make cause with our enemies to harm Israel? I don't consider them Jews. They have excommunicated themselves.
Now I know many Democrats who though I disagree with them are still good Jews. So I dont think that's fair. There is no question though that Schumer considers himself a Democrat above all other things including American and Jew. John Fetterman isnt Jewish but he's a better Jew than the traitor Schimer.
It’s time for tikkun ha’am. Tikkun olam is for suckers.
שנה טובה
עם ישראל חי
There’s a Jew-hating Muslim running for mayor in the most Jewish city in the United States. Let’s see how many self loathing Jews vote for this scumbag.
The entitled wealthy Progressive/Reform Jews are tripping all over themselves to support him. Schumer grovels on his belly, showing his puppy dog love for him, a person who would kill him as a Jew if he had a chance. They deserve what will happen. I feel sorry for those who are not from this arrogant self-hating group, such as the Dati.
What that person has verbalized, promoted - is true Jewish hatred. You can find the quotes on the internet from reliable sources. He has absolutely no business running for any office. How can anyone with a beating heart advocate for this?
You are absolutely correct. In addition, why would any SANE person vote for a 33 year old with NO EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING ANYTHING to run the largest city in the United States? The answer is Democrats don’t see elections as a job interview/job offer. They see it as pursuing an agenda and see nothing else. So what if the guy is completely incompetent? The Democrats wanted to run Joe Biden and then Kamala Harris for President, regardless of how bad they were.
I don’t. If they all move out of NYC, they may end up here in California!
A beautiful and well spoken d’var, Joshua! In other words, it’s time to walk the walk and not just simply talk the talk with respect to one’s individual Judaism/to nourish one’s own nefesh (through whatever means.) Shana Tova to you and all of k’lal Yisrael!
Well said. It is absolutely disgusting when Diaspora Jews, mostly from the entitled elitist mostly assimilated American Reform/Progressive Jews sitting in their bubble wrapped comfy lives, arrogantly and obnoxiously ordering Israeli Jews on how to live or die, and how to run their country and who to elect. If Israeli Jews were to order these same Jews how they must live or die, how to vote and how they should breathe, these same American Jews would be outraged.
I am a disapora Jew and I couldn't agree more. The hatred I feel for Schumer is worse than the hatred I feel for Bernie Sanders. Sanders is our enemy and doesn't pretend otherwise. Schumer is a betrayer.
Wow, beautiful. One of your best, Joshua (it's getting crowded on the "best" list).
ALs always Joshua, a wonderful essay !!!!!!!......Wishing you and yours a very sweet Shanah Tovah !!!!! Let's keep on praying for the prompt release of ALL the remaining hostages!!!!!......Blessings....
Wonderful. It seems true also that from day one we were a people of frequent disunity. The Torah , which our ancestors wrote for themselves and their people, not for the world, tells us this without mincing words. Arguments, rebellions, dissent, betrayals, and poor Moses crying to God, " what shall I do with this people?". All the way to what brought the Second Temple's destruction and the exile, and today's diaspora and Israel's divisions. The miracle is, then, that what held and holds us together is not unity. We never changed. What keeps us still here is more profound and mysterious. It is, as in olden days, at the most superficial level, kinship, identity, ancestral regard, admiration for our Jewish civilization, our passing it on down the generations, strength, resilience, ingenuity, inventiveness and if all goes well, intellectual honesty and integrity. But if we dig still deeper, Am Israel Khai is not explained by anything any of us can clearly name, but by perhaps a gift of resurrection, not just survival, and most likely, a little help from God .
Shana Tova!
"Too often, Jewish life is spent on defense." When I read that it reminded of what I've said on this forum that the Jewish people need to not be shy about your traditions and being Jewish while pursuing unity no matter what the anti-semites think or say. Nuts to them. Happy Rosh Hashanah to everyone in the Jewish world.
Consciously living in ‘Shalom’ with each other, as sons and daughters of Israel. Hallelujah!
From your mouth to G-d’s ear! Disdain needs to be erased from the emotional lexicon when it comes to our fellow Jews. We can agree to disagree, but always with respect. We can stop being so blasted opinionated about, and judgmental of, each other. I admit that is hard to do, but I will try.
Resilience and perseverance! Still here MF’ers!!
I have just made aliyah and thus perfectly describes my thoughts and why I am here in the land of Israel
Wonderful essay. Eloquent and well-informed. I am with you at every word.
This coming Sunday my husband and I (and the dog) fly to Israel to make Aliyah. Right now we are overwhelmed with the Herculean task of packing up and cleaning our house, packing up two lifetimes. It's like the kind of winnowing and cleaning you do when someone dies, and what has died is our faith in the countries that have hosted us as eternal foreigners and which now want us all to commit suicide, if not physically then with our souls. We think every day, what can we do to help the country and culture that is Israel, how can our skills and talents add? I am so looking forward to directing my energies towards building Israel and not towards hoping for crumbs of tolerance (that are quickly being swept away) in the Diaspora.
What a lovely uplifting essay for Rosh Hashanah. I’ve read far and wide on Substack, but this is the first time I have felt like saving a piece to read again and again. It is a triumph of human spirit in sad times. Todar roba.
Joshua's essays have always been insightful and informative. But in these last few months he has begun to reach new heights of eloquence.
There is a large population of Jews who buy into the lies about Israel and apartheid, colonialism and genocide. I don't know if they are ill-informed, self hating, or both. I will always remember an interview with Seth Rogan a few years ago where he basically agreed with everything negative about Jews and Israel and stated that he felt "lied to" about Israel.
Jon Stewart speaks in the same vein now about Israel and Palestine. It is actively harmful to how we see ourselves as Jews and Jewish Americans.
I recall the history of the Jewish councils in WW2 before "The Final Solution" - the heads of these councils really believed that in working with the nazis that some Jews would be saved, that sacrificing some of us would benefit all of us.
That worked out really well.
My nephew has a non Jewish mother and is not a practicing Jew. I had to remind him during an argument about how the antisemitism of today really doesn't affect him all that much that if he happened to be in Berlin 1933-1945, it wouldn't have mattered - now the nazis defined a Jew and "Jewish blood" is how they would see him, not how he saw himself. That he was non practicing would have made no difference. It was racial then - I believe it is racial now.
The past is prologue.
The existence of the state of Israel is what makes it different in this day and time - and we must never forget it.
Am Yisrael Chai - Thank Gd.
As an American Jew I have great love for my brethren in Israel and awe for what they deal with and the courage with which they deal with it. I have a contempt bordering on extreme dislike for Jews who claim to love Israel but love a vision of Israel that exists only in their imagination. (Thomas Friedman is their patron saint). But what of the Jews who place themselves outside of our tent altogther. The Jews in the West who have no religious connection, no cultural connection and also make cause with our enemies to harm Israel? I don't consider them Jews. They have excommunicated themselves.
Friedman is a ‘boged’. Traitor in Hebrew.
They are no longer Jews. They’re called “Democrats”.
Now I know many Democrats who though I disagree with them are still good Jews. So I dont think that's fair. There is no question though that Schumer considers himself a Democrat above all other things including American and Jew. John Fetterman isnt Jewish but he's a better Jew than the traitor Schimer.
Agreed. I was using hyperbole.