Brilliant. The most well described article about Israel's future I've read - now I know it's none of my business at this point, but I know the West will eat itself, and Israel will be the indespensible ally the governments around the world will wish for. You've got this! 👏👏👏👏💪🇮🇱💙🙏
Nachum, you're 100% right, and every point you make is an excellent one. But for me, one point dominates all the others: Israel has to start treating the propaganda war with the same seriousness it treats a military war.
We haven't done that. Israel needs a permanent, coordinated strategy working directly with Diaspora Jews, with unified messaging and common goals. Instead, we have dozens of organizations, dozens of voices and everybody seemingly doing their own thing. I repeat this constantly, but I believe many of our large Jewish organizations have become virtually worthless. These are dangerous times, and we are still operating like we're holding committee meetings in normal times.
And before we spend all our energy complaining about our enemies, we need to look at ourselves. There is so much we can fix on our own side. Israel's political system desperately needs to be rethought. Too many parties, too much fragmentation, and small fringe parties can sometimes carry influence completely disproportionate to their numbers and affect national policy.
The same applies to the Diaspora. We bicker. We duplicate efforts. We have no unified strategy. We don't even have unified messaging. There are things we could begin changing tomorrow that would make us stronger, yet the indifference and lack of urgency are incredibly frustrating.
The danger is growing. This is not the time for business as usual. We need to fix our own weaknesses, unite, and start fighting the propaganda war as if our survival depends on it—because increasingly, I believe it does.
Brilliant. The most well described article about Israel's future I've read - now I know it's none of my business at this point, but I know the West will eat itself, and Israel will be the indespensible ally the governments around the world will wish for. You've got this! 👏👏👏👏💪🇮🇱💙🙏
An excellent analysis. I'm bookmarking this one, and not only because of the multi-pronged plan you outline, but also because you hint at an important definition of Zionism. We all know that it's usually defined as the aspiration of the Jewish people to return to their ancestral land, but your post suggests a somewhat different take, which is that Zionism is the aspiration of the Jewish people not to rely on those in the broader world community to welcome them, let alone save them from future hostility. Zionism is the responsibility to creates one own welcoming home and then protect it with one's life for one's family. Seen in this way, it is clear why today's Jew haters are dressed up in antizionist garb. What greater Jewish characteristic is there to hate more than the ability of Jews to defend themselves and thrive in their own nation?
Always good to restate the obvious, as it may encourage those going through life with blinders on to rethink. Was it Forrest Gump who stated, “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Lastly, my mother, Sandra Portnoy, of ‘Blessed Memory’ingrained upon me growing up: “There are none so blind as those who choose not to see.”
Best, Bruce Portnoy, Opinion Journalist/ Independent analyst.
Brilliant. The most well described article about Israel's future I've read - now I know it's none of my business at this point, but I know the West will eat itself, and Israel will be the indespensible ally the governments around the world will wish for. You've got this! 👏👏👏👏💪🇮🇱💙🙏
Nachum, you're 100% right, and every point you make is an excellent one. But for me, one point dominates all the others: Israel has to start treating the propaganda war with the same seriousness it treats a military war.
We haven't done that. Israel needs a permanent, coordinated strategy working directly with Diaspora Jews, with unified messaging and common goals. Instead, we have dozens of organizations, dozens of voices and everybody seemingly doing their own thing. I repeat this constantly, but I believe many of our large Jewish organizations have become virtually worthless. These are dangerous times, and we are still operating like we're holding committee meetings in normal times.
And before we spend all our energy complaining about our enemies, we need to look at ourselves. There is so much we can fix on our own side. Israel's political system desperately needs to be rethought. Too many parties, too much fragmentation, and small fringe parties can sometimes carry influence completely disproportionate to their numbers and affect national policy.
The same applies to the Diaspora. We bicker. We duplicate efforts. We have no unified strategy. We don't even have unified messaging. There are things we could begin changing tomorrow that would make us stronger, yet the indifference and lack of urgency are incredibly frustrating.
The danger is growing. This is not the time for business as usual. We need to fix our own weaknesses, unite, and start fighting the propaganda war as if our survival depends on it—because increasingly, I believe it does.
Superb. A "must-read" for every Jew.
Brilliant. The most well described article about Israel's future I've read - now I know it's none of my business at this point, but I know the West will eat itself, and Israel will be the indespensible ally the governments around the world will wish for. You've got this! 👏👏👏👏💪🇮🇱💙🙏
Won't let me delete it.
Well laid out -
An excellent analysis. I'm bookmarking this one, and not only because of the multi-pronged plan you outline, but also because you hint at an important definition of Zionism. We all know that it's usually defined as the aspiration of the Jewish people to return to their ancestral land, but your post suggests a somewhat different take, which is that Zionism is the aspiration of the Jewish people not to rely on those in the broader world community to welcome them, let alone save them from future hostility. Zionism is the responsibility to creates one own welcoming home and then protect it with one's life for one's family. Seen in this way, it is clear why today's Jew haters are dressed up in antizionist garb. What greater Jewish characteristic is there to hate more than the ability of Jews to defend themselves and thrive in their own nation?
Always good to restate the obvious, as it may encourage those going through life with blinders on to rethink. Was it Forrest Gump who stated, “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Lastly, my mother, Sandra Portnoy, of ‘Blessed Memory’ingrained upon me growing up: “There are none so blind as those who choose not to see.”
Best, Bruce Portnoy, Opinion Journalist/ Independent analyst.
Amen.