Thank you Joshua for writing about the wonderful things Zionism, through the people who believed in it, has accomplished. Zionism, with some of its imperfections is not any different from other movements. What it has succeeded in doing, building a country that has achieved so much, far outweighs any of its flaws. The word Zionism and any related word has been given a negative connotation by those who seek to destroy Israel, Jews, and anyone who supports both. It's so reassuring to read about your enthusiasm and loyalty to Zionism. It helps to counter the bias read every day in many publications.
I'm a secular Iranian-Canadian (came to Canada as a refugee), anti-Islamic Republic and all its minions such as Hamas, and a proud pro-Israel sovereignty. I've been enjoying, and learning a lot, reading the essays on "Future of Jewish". I've recently subscribed to Haaretz--to learn more about what's going on in Israel-- but I'm not sure if I've done the right thing. It calls Israeli politics in regard to Palestinians as genocidal and apartheid. Could you please comment on the politics of Haaretz? Is there any other Israeli newspaper with less revisionist zionism and less extreme right-wing or left-wing politics? Your reply is much appreciated. Regards, Sima
Thank you, Sima, for your support and for your openness to learning more, as we all need to do. We Jews in Vancouver have been grateful for the support of the Iranian community since Oct. 7.
Thank you Amy. I think we Iranians know the vicious game the Islamic Republic is playing in the Middle-East and against Israel. Many Iranians in Iran, including my own family, don't buy IR's anti-Israel propaganda. The Islamic Republic tried hard to gather a huge crowd against Israel in the aftermath of Oct.7, but it failed. While Western democracies rallied in support of the fascist Hamas (disguised as pro-Palestinians), no spontaneous rally happened in Iran, a country of 85 million. Because we know Israel, as a thriving democracy, is a thorn in the side of all the dictatorships in the Middle-East. Why so many liberals living in free countries don't know, or refuse to acknowledge, this fact, is beyond me.
Well done Sima. This really is not my area of expertise at all. But as a UK based Catholic I took a look at which Israeli papers online might give me a more balanced picture than what I was finding here in the UK, and I plumped for the Times of Israel. I must say, I have been very happy with my choice. Here in the UK we also have Jewish News and the Jewish Chronicle. Both seem to me to be excellent. They have certainly helped me enormously to understand what is going on.
I'm so glad Sima, always great content on Call Me Back. The episodes with Dr. Einat Wilf - The cost of starting a losing) war; and with Haviv Rettig Gur - Is a peaceful Palestinian State even possible? are excellent. So much to think about....
This is pretty mind-boggling. She celebrates the death of someone who she seems to think deserves to die because he is no better than a Hamas terrorist. Poor chap, he has hidden his guns and bombs well! She calls for the deaths of others like him, all 'Zionists', but then denies she knows what Zionists are. All the local Jews love her. She loves all of humanity - and animals - but thinks we (especially the Jewish reporter) should take advantage of the Internet to inform ourselves of what is really happening and hidden by the mainstream media (like the BBC, I assume!). And, folks, 'keep your frequencies high'. Would you buy a used house from this woman?
It wouldn't be so bad if these people weren't so appallingly self righteous. I think I feel another case of the 'blogs' coming on!
I am not often speechless, but the more I read and think about the implications here the more I begin to lose a grip on reality. I know I am supposed to be positive though (as per my yesterday TOI blog!). So maybe my last comment on being careful who you buy your house from (an estate agent in the UK sells houses) fits the bill?
Thank you, Joshua. You occasionally include material we have seen before, and that is a good thing. Repetition is essential to learning. It is heartening to see Zionism celebrated, flaws and all. Am Yisrael Chai!
Yes sometimes I try to reinforce certain concepts … it’s the “rule of 7” from the advertising world. Usually it takes people 7 times to hear/read/see the same thing for it to really resonate. :)
Great piece, I learned something. I really don't understand on what intellectual or moral playing field so called anti-zionists operate today. Do they also examine the creation of every nation, the changing of every border, the external displacement of all persons and run that through their little moral calculator and then come out and say, "we need to change the borders and move these people because we've taken a moral mulligan and now are against what happened hundreds or even thousands of years ago? Why can't Jews get to play by all the same rules as everyone else? I wrote this on the over rated Nakba. https://www.freedomtoffend.com/p/the-nakba-the-cherished-catastrophe?lli=1
"Zionism prepared its people to do something for their country and the Jewish People, by virtue of compulsory military service" - given the hostility to Israel's very existence Israel's neighbours have expressed, Israel's vulnerability given its geography & small size, and the repeated attempts to wipe Israel off the map, I understand why Israel has compulsory military service. However, suppose the Arabs had genuinely accepted the UN's proposed 2 state solution in the 1940s, do you think Zionism would still have mandated military service?
All the States of the East are now making arrangements to deal with Re-Emergent Nazism: Our Monitoring of the Re-Formed Nazi Party here in London from 2014:
We now have had ten months of screams of racist and anti-semitic abuse and hate from the organisation calling itself The Nazi Party.
This has been coming from across Wellclose Square, off Cable Street, from Rupert Murdoch's News International plant and their building in Thomas More Square, London England.
I have forwarded our material to all organisations and countries who will be affected by the re-formation of this organisation, under their Leader, and under the instruction of the German Secret Services in Berlin who have an officer stationed in Britain. They have support from within the Western Military heiarchy and NATO
It now emerges that this organisation never disbanded in 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany, and was in fact protected in the White Command and MI6 in America, England and Germany, against Racial Enemies as explained in detail by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf. They are now Internationally organised. This explains the West's continued animosity towards Russia: Unfinished Business of the Third Reich at the very top of the White Imperium of The West.
You will now need to make appropriate arrangements.
Assuring you of our continued vigilance in struggle
Thank you Joshua, I opened and read this, after quite accidentally coming across a graphic video of an American serviceman..... flames and death.... It was the balm I needed to slow my heart rate and feel grateful. Am Yisrael Hai
Thank you Joshua for writing about the wonderful things Zionism, through the people who believed in it, has accomplished. Zionism, with some of its imperfections is not any different from other movements. What it has succeeded in doing, building a country that has achieved so much, far outweighs any of its flaws. The word Zionism and any related word has been given a negative connotation by those who seek to destroy Israel, Jews, and anyone who supports both. It's so reassuring to read about your enthusiasm and loyalty to Zionism. It helps to counter the bias read every day in many publications.
I'm a secular Iranian-Canadian (came to Canada as a refugee), anti-Islamic Republic and all its minions such as Hamas, and a proud pro-Israel sovereignty. I've been enjoying, and learning a lot, reading the essays on "Future of Jewish". I've recently subscribed to Haaretz--to learn more about what's going on in Israel-- but I'm not sure if I've done the right thing. It calls Israeli politics in regard to Palestinians as genocidal and apartheid. Could you please comment on the politics of Haaretz? Is there any other Israeli newspaper with less revisionist zionism and less extreme right-wing or left-wing politics? Your reply is much appreciated. Regards, Sima
Hi Sima, I wrote an essay on this topic recently: https://www.futureofjewish.com/p/israels-oldest-newspaper-is-obnoxiously
Thank you, Sima, for your support and for your openness to learning more, as we all need to do. We Jews in Vancouver have been grateful for the support of the Iranian community since Oct. 7.
Thank you Amy. I think we Iranians know the vicious game the Islamic Republic is playing in the Middle-East and against Israel. Many Iranians in Iran, including my own family, don't buy IR's anti-Israel propaganda. The Islamic Republic tried hard to gather a huge crowd against Israel in the aftermath of Oct.7, but it failed. While Western democracies rallied in support of the fascist Hamas (disguised as pro-Palestinians), no spontaneous rally happened in Iran, a country of 85 million. Because we know Israel, as a thriving democracy, is a thorn in the side of all the dictatorships in the Middle-East. Why so many liberals living in free countries don't know, or refuse to acknowledge, this fact, is beyond me.
Well done Sima. This really is not my area of expertise at all. But as a UK based Catholic I took a look at which Israeli papers online might give me a more balanced picture than what I was finding here in the UK, and I plumped for the Times of Israel. I must say, I have been very happy with my choice. Here in the UK we also have Jewish News and the Jewish Chronicle. Both seem to me to be excellent. They have certainly helped me enormously to understand what is going on.
Thank you so much Paul. I will look into it.
What I was finding here in the regular mainstream British media, like the (don't laugh!) BBC, I mean!
If you listen to podcasts, I highly recommend Call Me Back, with Dan Senor. He has some sharp, erudite, journalist minds, and interviews well
Thank you very much Hans. I've just tuned in the podcast, "How Hams fooled the world" by Matti Friedman is excellent. Thanks again.
I'm so glad Sima, always great content on Call Me Back. The episodes with Dr. Einat Wilf - The cost of starting a losing) war; and with Haviv Rettig Gur - Is a peaceful Palestinian State even possible? are excellent. So much to think about....
Hey folks - better make sure you know what Zionist are! And tell others. I have just read this in today's Jewish News, from London.
Jewish News: Borehamwood estate agent sorry for celebrating passing of Lord Rothschild and ‘hoping’ for death of Israel supporters
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/borehamwood-estate-agent-celebrates-passing-of-lord-rothschild-and-hopes-for-death-of-all-israel-supporters/
This is pretty mind-boggling. She celebrates the death of someone who she seems to think deserves to die because he is no better than a Hamas terrorist. Poor chap, he has hidden his guns and bombs well! She calls for the deaths of others like him, all 'Zionists', but then denies she knows what Zionists are. All the local Jews love her. She loves all of humanity - and animals - but thinks we (especially the Jewish reporter) should take advantage of the Internet to inform ourselves of what is really happening and hidden by the mainstream media (like the BBC, I assume!). And, folks, 'keep your frequencies high'. Would you buy a used house from this woman?
It wouldn't be so bad if these people weren't so appallingly self righteous. I think I feel another case of the 'blogs' coming on!
I am not often speechless, but the more I read and think about the implications here the more I begin to lose a grip on reality. I know I am supposed to be positive though (as per my yesterday TOI blog!). So maybe my last comment on being careful who you buy your house from (an estate agent in the UK sells houses) fits the bill?
Thank you, Joshua. You occasionally include material we have seen before, and that is a good thing. Repetition is essential to learning. It is heartening to see Zionism celebrated, flaws and all. Am Yisrael Chai!
Yes sometimes I try to reinforce certain concepts … it’s the “rule of 7” from the advertising world. Usually it takes people 7 times to hear/read/see the same thing for it to really resonate. :)
Good to know. I need to repeat myself more often when it’s important.
Great piece, I learned something. I really don't understand on what intellectual or moral playing field so called anti-zionists operate today. Do they also examine the creation of every nation, the changing of every border, the external displacement of all persons and run that through their little moral calculator and then come out and say, "we need to change the borders and move these people because we've taken a moral mulligan and now are against what happened hundreds or even thousands of years ago? Why can't Jews get to play by all the same rules as everyone else? I wrote this on the over rated Nakba. https://www.freedomtoffend.com/p/the-nakba-the-cherished-catastrophe?lli=1
"Zionism prepared its people to do something for their country and the Jewish People, by virtue of compulsory military service" - given the hostility to Israel's very existence Israel's neighbours have expressed, Israel's vulnerability given its geography & small size, and the repeated attempts to wipe Israel off the map, I understand why Israel has compulsory military service. However, suppose the Arabs had genuinely accepted the UN's proposed 2 state solution in the 1940s, do you think Zionism would still have mandated military service?
Good question. Probably not is my guess, or at least not for long.
Brilliant article, I agree wholeheartedly! Yes the West can learn a great deal from Israel !
All the States of the East are now making arrangements to deal with Re-Emergent Nazism: Our Monitoring of the Re-Formed Nazi Party here in London from 2014:
We now have had ten months of screams of racist and anti-semitic abuse and hate from the organisation calling itself The Nazi Party.
This has been coming from across Wellclose Square, off Cable Street, from Rupert Murdoch's News International plant and their building in Thomas More Square, London England.
I have forwarded our material to all organisations and countries who will be affected by the re-formation of this organisation, under their Leader, and under the instruction of the German Secret Services in Berlin who have an officer stationed in Britain. They have support from within the Western Military heiarchy and NATO
It now emerges that this organisation never disbanded in 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany, and was in fact protected in the White Command and MI6 in America, England and Germany, against Racial Enemies as explained in detail by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf. They are now Internationally organised. This explains the West's continued animosity towards Russia: Unfinished Business of the Third Reich at the very top of the White Imperium of The West.
You will now need to make appropriate arrangements.
Assuring you of our continued vigilance in struggle
Thank you Joshua, I opened and read this, after quite accidentally coming across a graphic video of an American serviceman..... flames and death.... It was the balm I needed to slow my heart rate and feel grateful. Am Yisrael Hai
🙏