Many people are still "living" in a world that does not exist anymore. Israel is not as strong as some people think, the U.S. is not Israel's best friend, and the Jews are not safe and sound.
Yet another revealing post. I have come to understand that Qatar is of no use at all, except to fund the Hamas. I have no idea whatsoever why they have anything to do with the hostage negotiations, they are bias and can’t be trusted. They have huge vested interests in Hamas. America are useless, they say one thing on Monday and another on Friday. I have a strong feeling that Israel has to get their world communications department up to scratch. It seems to be non existent. You need to be putting constant information out there, showing examples of how the Israeli Army has such high standards and real time videos of what they are doing. This is hugely important in order to win hearts and mind’s. There is nothing of this kind available! I agree and have said many times that diaspora Jews, are silent in many cases. This is anathema to me, they must speak out, their silence is dreadful.
Everytime I see conspiracy theorists blubbering about jewish owning all elite and financial institution, but when you notice to them Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China control most of elite institutions in US their eyes roll annoyed. You should wonder if many of this "free thinkers" are not payed by some Gulf state, since some of them even started to make pro-muslim propaganda...
One more thing: "Additionally, we must understand that the wars which Israel previously won — such as the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War — are much different in nature than this current one. Those wars were country-versus-country conflicts, but today’s war is 'country versus terror group deeply embedded within a civilian population'". So in other words, their tactics are working. We either have to view those civilians as willing participants, OR find some other strategy . . . assassinate Hamas / Hezbollah / Revolutionary Guard leaders, workers, assets, military whenever and wherever we find them - no prisoners. Constant unending picking them off, even in their homes.
Dismal. But the part that really gets my goat is how the U.S. uses its leverage with Israel to say yes or no to internal policy. If I were queen of Israel, I would negotiate with Saudi Arabia WITHOUT Biden and buy arms from them, build up Israel's manufacturing of arms as fast as possible, and basically ignore the U.S. Bye, go in good health. [It is beyond disgusting that we are so easily bought by Qatar: first of all, if they were in any way part of 9/11, how dare we?; second, they are supporters of terrorists, end of story; third, foreign governments should NOT be allowed to give ANY funds to U.S. universities, high schools, etc. None. Sometimes I can't quite grasp how stupid we are.]
Excellent "state of affairs" of what Israel and Jews are facing in the Middle East and throughout the world. A lot of Americans are praying for all Jews and for Israel. It's time for Israel to step up it's game...
I agree 100% with the article. Most of us Jews were born in a world where the State of Israel existed, and we have forgotten the helplessness of our grandparents in the face of anti-Semitic hatred. Personally, as of October 7, I feel the need to practice more Judaism and get closer to my roots. I am also a progressive person, and I believe that using the word "progressive" or "leftist" as an insult is unfair to all progressive people who defend Israel. That attitude also tries to place the Jewish community as having a right-wing ideology. "Anti-Semitic" "Jew Hater" are more expressive adjectives and, by opposition, include all Jews and non-Jews of any ideology. I share the idea that we need to make friends and that the world has changed: one of those changes is the breaking of this left/right divide, which is also a trap in the discourse.
I’m American and I agree with you. They think everyone thinks like them. It’s maybe understandable for college kids or whatever; less so for people who work in foreign policy and have been fighting terrorism for decades. It’s really easy for me to see how much better they understand us and outsmart us, and I don’t get how they never seem to learn anything.
Bless you Susan! I agree with you completely. On October 8th, I cancelled all my subscriptions to the mainstream media including NPR (their news is from The NY Times) I only read “boots on the ground” publications. Hello to brilliant Joshua Hoffman. We are strong, resilient people and proud to be part of the Jewish diaspora while loving Israel. I have been studying Torah and it’s ethical teachings for the past 5 years, lighting candles on Shabbat and attending services on zoom every Friday night. I have grown to love learning about Judaism and my ancestors. All of this happened to me after our trip to Israel 🇮🇱 when I saw the miracle in the desert and beautiful people with my own eyes. Yes, Am Yisrael Chai ❤️
Josh, your article contains truth but hitting people over the head with it is not always wise. The pessimists among us will take this as a sign to cast off their Judaism altogether and try to “pass” as whatever ethnicity happens to be convenient (and supposedly safe) for them. It wouldn’t be the first time. The Israelites who left bondage in Egypt were only about 20%. Some eighty percent remained, preferring slavery over the risk of freedom and independence. (I’m sure there were plenty of fellow slaves highlighting the dangers of following Moses!)
Rather than focus on elements of your article, I’d like to recommend a positive approach to coping during these dark times.
1) You can stop letting anti-Israel news get to you and listen to what Israeli leaders are actually saying and more importantly, what Israel is doing. There is so much “noise” in the media, most of it is not worth taking to heart.
2) The odds were against us before and we’re still here. Israelis are not like other people. They are more resourceful, more stubborn – and if they can stop their bickering long enough – they can rally incredibly and fight harder than anyone in the world. Support them in tangible ways.
3) Support your local Jewish organizations, too. Make them focus on Jewish security in your city or town. Encourage them to team up with potential allies (such as Iranian protest groups, who came out frequently in favor of Israel) and Christian churches that genuinely care about preserving Israel (not about trying to convert you).
4) Above all, start studying Torah, Talmud, the Zohar – any and all of our genuine Jewish scriptures. Grow your appreciation for their incredible wisdom and faith in Hashem. If you can’t believe that faith will save us at least keep your doubts to yourself. Our faith kept us going when other civilizations turned to dust.
A very concerning article and I wonder if Israel and Diaspora Jews have the time necessary to turn this around. Qatar is a very dangerous place and has already had years to spread around its money, indoctrination, and influence. As you wrote, it has been involved in so many facets of Western society, so how can this be changed? They have so much money to spare and our politicians have been tempted and will continue to be tempted at their country's expense.
Excellent summary. It seems to me that the most important thing for Jews, Israelis and their supporters to internalize is the myth that America is Israel’s best friend. Our country is in chaos and in no condition to be anyone’s best friend. It is impossible to understate the dire consequences of the rise of the American Left, most particularly their heretofore cleverly disguised hatred of the Jewish people. The astounding level of antisemitism exhibited by a large percentage of the Left in our country over the current war is sobering in the extreme and is unlikely to be changed for the better anytime soon. Judas was willing to betray Jesus for a few pieces of silver and Biden is willing, if not anxious, to betray the Israelis and the Jewish people for a handful of votes in Michigan (pardon the clumsy metaphor but you get my point). Our society is being flooded with millions of illegal immigrants, many of them from countries reflexively hostile to Jews, who will refuse to integrate and accept or adopt traditional American values. By their very numbers they will have increasingly greater political clout to drive policies that are disastrous for Israel and Jews throughout America. An unserious country which bandies about the possibility of a member of the Congresssional squad rising to higher or the highest office in the land is not a reliable ally. Not to be over dramatic, but I am convinced that the Holocaust is possible, in the US and that the Left would stand and cheer as the Jews are bundled into freight cars for transport to the death camps.
So, Israel must be very, very tough and resolutely independent. In the chaos prevailing in America and the world , if Israel wants a friend, get a dog.
One word is now back and justifies everything, and that word is: Nazism. Start to use our monitoring from here in Europe: Neo-Nazism is now financially and politically backed by powerful sections of society, including in The Middle East. This is what justifies Israel and her entire existence and military strategy: We now face Re-emergent Genocidal Nazism. Hamas is in formal Alliance with the Re-Formed Nazi Party, monitored here in London too. Our full work is with The CST and The ADL. Start using it please, for we now can see clearly, and this will clear everything up. We are doing a service to the rest of the World too, and they are appreciative and have begun saying so too. For against Genocidal Nazism, Israel and the Jewish people are in the right.
A rather depressing survey. Of course Israel’s neighbours aren’t Belgium, Canada or Vermont. The problem is that Israel can’t exist forever surrounded by neighbours that want to liquidate its population and it can’t destroy that threat either. Worse, the threat stems from the fundamental intellectual and social DNA of Israel’s neighbours, so education and affluence won’t lessen the threat and those peoples’ nation states won’t be ruled by unrepresentative governments forever ever.
Yet another revealing post. I have come to understand that Qatar is of no use at all, except to fund the Hamas. I have no idea whatsoever why they have anything to do with the hostage negotiations, they are bias and can’t be trusted. They have huge vested interests in Hamas. America are useless, they say one thing on Monday and another on Friday. I have a strong feeling that Israel has to get their world communications department up to scratch. It seems to be non existent. You need to be putting constant information out there, showing examples of how the Israeli Army has such high standards and real time videos of what they are doing. This is hugely important in order to win hearts and mind’s. There is nothing of this kind available! I agree and have said many times that diaspora Jews, are silent in many cases. This is anathema to me, they must speak out, their silence is dreadful.
Everytime I see conspiracy theorists blubbering about jewish owning all elite and financial institution, but when you notice to them Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China control most of elite institutions in US their eyes roll annoyed. You should wonder if many of this "free thinkers" are not payed by some Gulf state, since some of them even started to make pro-muslim propaganda...
One more thing: "Additionally, we must understand that the wars which Israel previously won — such as the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War — are much different in nature than this current one. Those wars were country-versus-country conflicts, but today’s war is 'country versus terror group deeply embedded within a civilian population'". So in other words, their tactics are working. We either have to view those civilians as willing participants, OR find some other strategy . . . assassinate Hamas / Hezbollah / Revolutionary Guard leaders, workers, assets, military whenever and wherever we find them - no prisoners. Constant unending picking them off, even in their homes.
Dismal. But the part that really gets my goat is how the U.S. uses its leverage with Israel to say yes or no to internal policy. If I were queen of Israel, I would negotiate with Saudi Arabia WITHOUT Biden and buy arms from them, build up Israel's manufacturing of arms as fast as possible, and basically ignore the U.S. Bye, go in good health. [It is beyond disgusting that we are so easily bought by Qatar: first of all, if they were in any way part of 9/11, how dare we?; second, they are supporters of terrorists, end of story; third, foreign governments should NOT be allowed to give ANY funds to U.S. universities, high schools, etc. None. Sometimes I can't quite grasp how stupid we are.]
Excellent "state of affairs" of what Israel and Jews are facing in the Middle East and throughout the world. A lot of Americans are praying for all Jews and for Israel. It's time for Israel to step up it's game...
I agree 100% with the article. Most of us Jews were born in a world where the State of Israel existed, and we have forgotten the helplessness of our grandparents in the face of anti-Semitic hatred. Personally, as of October 7, I feel the need to practice more Judaism and get closer to my roots. I am also a progressive person, and I believe that using the word "progressive" or "leftist" as an insult is unfair to all progressive people who defend Israel. That attitude also tries to place the Jewish community as having a right-wing ideology. "Anti-Semitic" "Jew Hater" are more expressive adjectives and, by opposition, include all Jews and non-Jews of any ideology. I share the idea that we need to make friends and that the world has changed: one of those changes is the breaking of this left/right divide, which is also a trap in the discourse.
I agree with this article 100%. Thank you for writing it. Mark
I’m American and I agree with you. They think everyone thinks like them. It’s maybe understandable for college kids or whatever; less so for people who work in foreign policy and have been fighting terrorism for decades. It’s really easy for me to see how much better they understand us and outsmart us, and I don’t get how they never seem to learn anything.
Bless you Susan! I agree with you completely. On October 8th, I cancelled all my subscriptions to the mainstream media including NPR (their news is from The NY Times) I only read “boots on the ground” publications. Hello to brilliant Joshua Hoffman. We are strong, resilient people and proud to be part of the Jewish diaspora while loving Israel. I have been studying Torah and it’s ethical teachings for the past 5 years, lighting candles on Shabbat and attending services on zoom every Friday night. I have grown to love learning about Judaism and my ancestors. All of this happened to me after our trip to Israel 🇮🇱 when I saw the miracle in the desert and beautiful people with my own eyes. Yes, Am Yisrael Chai ❤️
Josh, your article contains truth but hitting people over the head with it is not always wise. The pessimists among us will take this as a sign to cast off their Judaism altogether and try to “pass” as whatever ethnicity happens to be convenient (and supposedly safe) for them. It wouldn’t be the first time. The Israelites who left bondage in Egypt were only about 20%. Some eighty percent remained, preferring slavery over the risk of freedom and independence. (I’m sure there were plenty of fellow slaves highlighting the dangers of following Moses!)
Rather than focus on elements of your article, I’d like to recommend a positive approach to coping during these dark times.
1) You can stop letting anti-Israel news get to you and listen to what Israeli leaders are actually saying and more importantly, what Israel is doing. There is so much “noise” in the media, most of it is not worth taking to heart.
2) The odds were against us before and we’re still here. Israelis are not like other people. They are more resourceful, more stubborn – and if they can stop their bickering long enough – they can rally incredibly and fight harder than anyone in the world. Support them in tangible ways.
3) Support your local Jewish organizations, too. Make them focus on Jewish security in your city or town. Encourage them to team up with potential allies (such as Iranian protest groups, who came out frequently in favor of Israel) and Christian churches that genuinely care about preserving Israel (not about trying to convert you).
4) Above all, start studying Torah, Talmud, the Zohar – any and all of our genuine Jewish scriptures. Grow your appreciation for their incredible wisdom and faith in Hashem. If you can’t believe that faith will save us at least keep your doubts to yourself. Our faith kept us going when other civilizations turned to dust.
Am Yisroel Chai.
The CST is the main Jewish Defence Agency in The United Kingdom. It mirrors the ADL in the USA.
A very concerning article and I wonder if Israel and Diaspora Jews have the time necessary to turn this around. Qatar is a very dangerous place and has already had years to spread around its money, indoctrination, and influence. As you wrote, it has been involved in so many facets of Western society, so how can this be changed? They have so much money to spare and our politicians have been tempted and will continue to be tempted at their country's expense.
Excellent summary. It seems to me that the most important thing for Jews, Israelis and their supporters to internalize is the myth that America is Israel’s best friend. Our country is in chaos and in no condition to be anyone’s best friend. It is impossible to understate the dire consequences of the rise of the American Left, most particularly their heretofore cleverly disguised hatred of the Jewish people. The astounding level of antisemitism exhibited by a large percentage of the Left in our country over the current war is sobering in the extreme and is unlikely to be changed for the better anytime soon. Judas was willing to betray Jesus for a few pieces of silver and Biden is willing, if not anxious, to betray the Israelis and the Jewish people for a handful of votes in Michigan (pardon the clumsy metaphor but you get my point). Our society is being flooded with millions of illegal immigrants, many of them from countries reflexively hostile to Jews, who will refuse to integrate and accept or adopt traditional American values. By their very numbers they will have increasingly greater political clout to drive policies that are disastrous for Israel and Jews throughout America. An unserious country which bandies about the possibility of a member of the Congresssional squad rising to higher or the highest office in the land is not a reliable ally. Not to be over dramatic, but I am convinced that the Holocaust is possible, in the US and that the Left would stand and cheer as the Jews are bundled into freight cars for transport to the death camps.
So, Israel must be very, very tough and resolutely independent. In the chaos prevailing in America and the world , if Israel wants a friend, get a dog.
One word is now back and justifies everything, and that word is: Nazism. Start to use our monitoring from here in Europe: Neo-Nazism is now financially and politically backed by powerful sections of society, including in The Middle East. This is what justifies Israel and her entire existence and military strategy: We now face Re-emergent Genocidal Nazism. Hamas is in formal Alliance with the Re-Formed Nazi Party, monitored here in London too. Our full work is with The CST and The ADL. Start using it please, for we now can see clearly, and this will clear everything up. We are doing a service to the rest of the World too, and they are appreciative and have begun saying so too. For against Genocidal Nazism, Israel and the Jewish people are in the right.
A rather depressing survey. Of course Israel’s neighbours aren’t Belgium, Canada or Vermont. The problem is that Israel can’t exist forever surrounded by neighbours that want to liquidate its population and it can’t destroy that threat either. Worse, the threat stems from the fundamental intellectual and social DNA of Israel’s neighbours, so education and affluence won’t lessen the threat and those peoples’ nation states won’t be ruled by unrepresentative governments forever ever.
yes. scary indeed. what to do? besides pray.