How can Jews get through the next four years? The same way we’ve gotten through the last 4,000. By doing what the Haters hate most about us, reaffirming our core values of Conscience and Questioning.
Thanks so much for this enlightening post. I'm a WWII scholar/student, and it really was a revelation to think that Hitler's pogrom might be because he found the Jews to be too good! Although I was raised Catholic, I've been an agnostic since adolescence, but have always had a friendship and interest in the Jewish faith and people. My last name is Gentile (Jen tee-lee in Italian) and from middle school on I was subjected to a lot of abuse because if my name was Gentile, I must be a Jew....(I know, but it's what happened) proving again the banal stupidity of racism and bigotry. So my kinship and interest formed early and solidly even more as I studied history throughout my life.
Any time an antisemetic event would occur in years past, a Jewish colleague of mine used to say 'Yep, everybody hates the Jews!', and we would laugh at the ridiculousness of it. I'm not laughing now. It feels like now more than ever we all need to stand together. I look forward to your shared knowledge.
"Yes, Jews are the conscience of the world and that’s why bad people are sick and tired of us." How do you reconcile this with what Israel is doing to Palestinian women and children? (and now also to Lebanese.) Where is this "conscience" now? Please, explain.
Thanks for commenting, Patrice. While the current situation is infinitely complicated, no Israeli government - least of all this one - has received unquestioning obeisance from either its own Jewish population or diaspora Jewry. There are strict moral codes of warfare in Jewish sources and for the IDF - and there should be accountability if anyone falls short. Once (God willing) a ceasefire is achieved, the wheels of accountability will hopefully start to turn.
When do the “strict moral codes of warfare” kick in?
No passive voice here please. Who Turns Those Wheels of accountability,
if not the Jewish people who call Israel their homeland?
I have seen American Jews protesting these war crimes committed with our money. Today, again, when we sent another obscene amount of killing machines. $20 Billion dollars. And I was glad to see All the protesters.
But I have also seen Jews calling the peaceful protests at US colleges anti-semitic, though most were organized in party by the same Jewish Voices for Peace that was present at the Senate today.
And I have learned too much about AIPAC, and Jews like Elise Stefanik.
And I’ve seen others making jokes about wearing their kippah near the campus, as if someone would harm them. As if the pain behind the protests was funny.
Bibi fears that he will face prison as soon as he agrees to a ceasefire. He thinks this genocide is going to make him Israel’s savior, and get him off.
Thanks so much for this enlightening post. I'm a WWII scholar/student, and it really was a revelation to think that Hitler's pogrom might be because he found the Jews to be too good! Although I was raised Catholic, I've been an agnostic since adolescence, but have always had a friendship and interest in the Jewish faith and people. My last name is Gentile (Jen tee-lee in Italian) and from middle school on I was subjected to a lot of abuse because if my name was Gentile, I must be a Jew....(I know, but it's what happened) proving again the banal stupidity of racism and bigotry. So my kinship and interest formed early and solidly even more as I studied history throughout my life.
Any time an antisemetic event would occur in years past, a Jewish colleague of mine used to say 'Yep, everybody hates the Jews!', and we would laugh at the ridiculousness of it. I'm not laughing now. It feels like now more than ever we all need to stand together. I look forward to your shared knowledge.
jgentile07@yahoo.com
jongentile.substack.com
"Yes, Jews are the conscience of the world and that’s why bad people are sick and tired of us." How do you reconcile this with what Israel is doing to Palestinian women and children? (and now also to Lebanese.) Where is this "conscience" now? Please, explain.
Thanks for commenting, Patrice. While the current situation is infinitely complicated, no Israeli government - least of all this one - has received unquestioning obeisance from either its own Jewish population or diaspora Jewry. There are strict moral codes of warfare in Jewish sources and for the IDF - and there should be accountability if anyone falls short. Once (God willing) a ceasefire is achieved, the wheels of accountability will hopefully start to turn.
When do the “strict moral codes of warfare” kick in?
No passive voice here please. Who Turns Those Wheels of accountability,
if not the Jewish people who call Israel their homeland?
I have seen American Jews protesting these war crimes committed with our money. Today, again, when we sent another obscene amount of killing machines. $20 Billion dollars. And I was glad to see All the protesters.
But I have also seen Jews calling the peaceful protests at US colleges anti-semitic, though most were organized in party by the same Jewish Voices for Peace that was present at the Senate today.
And I have learned too much about AIPAC, and Jews like Elise Stefanik.
And I’ve seen others making jokes about wearing their kippah near the campus, as if someone would harm them. As if the pain behind the protests was funny.
Bibi fears that he will face prison as soon as he agrees to a ceasefire. He thinks this genocide is going to make him Israel’s savior, and get him off.
So is tikkun olam conditional?
Tikkun olam, except for “their” children?