"It is the shared history of our eternal struggle to survive that binds Jews into one global family. Our solidarity across the centuries is the bedrock reason we are still here — and always will be."
Hey, Charlie! Thanks for reading and for the thoughtful feedback. I hear you on some of what you're saying. My larger point was about survival, which we all share. As a learned friend of mine in Jerusalem says "there's no opting out" I won't take up any of the points I disagree with, but I would point out, with love, that I did disclaim the personal opinion piece up front: "The questions and answers I present here spring from my own experience and point of view. There’s not a Jew I know among us who would presume to speak for the rest of us." As well, we're an opinion journalism entity, so perspective if our thing. And backing it all up with as much factual material as we can. Thanks again, C.M.! - MG
Very well said. It's an objective fact, acknowledged by all dispassionate observers, that Israel was established by forcefully pushing out most of the Native inhabitants. This is nothing unusual. Almost all nations were established in this manner, including the U.S., where I live. Since neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are going anywhere, it is up to them to overcome their mutual hatreds, acknowledge each others narrative, and make peace.
As your Jewish kin, with deep love, it is good to remember that being self-critical is a central tenant of being Jewish. This post assumes that most people hate the Jewish people and simultaneously conflates Israel and the entirety of the Jewish people. Your perspective is valid and comes from a beautiful place - it is also a perspective that justifies violence as a result of violence, an eye for an eye. It is not the perspective of all Jewish people and so posing this article as a primer for people who are “undecided” about anti-semitism is strange, to say the least, a bit condescending too.
Yes, there were twelve tribes, yet Jacob cursed Simeon and his descendants - why? Because when Jacobs daughter Dinah was violated by the king of Schechem, Simeon and Levi murdered the entire city. For executing an entire people, for enacting unjust vengeance, for going too far, Jacob (Israel) cursed his eldest sons. It is the Jewish tradition to love fiercely, but not to love uncritically of our kin. We do not spare our own from true judgement because, well, we know that God is also in the room.
We can have a deep love for our Jewish kin while also recognizing that the state of Israel justifies itself just like Simeon did. For, Jacob understood that violence will beget the cycle of violence, even when violence is justified. A world where Simeon runs the state of Israel is a world that shall breed anti-semitism.
Joseph arrived in Egypt a slave and he rose to power by loving and caring for his enemies. He took care of the Egyptians and he was loved as a result.
Brilliant, Michael. ❤️
Hey, Charlie! Thanks for reading and for the thoughtful feedback. I hear you on some of what you're saying. My larger point was about survival, which we all share. As a learned friend of mine in Jerusalem says "there's no opting out" I won't take up any of the points I disagree with, but I would point out, with love, that I did disclaim the personal opinion piece up front: "The questions and answers I present here spring from my own experience and point of view. There’s not a Jew I know among us who would presume to speak for the rest of us." As well, we're an opinion journalism entity, so perspective if our thing. And backing it all up with as much factual material as we can. Thanks again, C.M.! - MG
Very well said. It's an objective fact, acknowledged by all dispassionate observers, that Israel was established by forcefully pushing out most of the Native inhabitants. This is nothing unusual. Almost all nations were established in this manner, including the U.S., where I live. Since neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are going anywhere, it is up to them to overcome their mutual hatreds, acknowledge each others narrative, and make peace.
As always you have hit it on the head
Thank you
As your Jewish kin, with deep love, it is good to remember that being self-critical is a central tenant of being Jewish. This post assumes that most people hate the Jewish people and simultaneously conflates Israel and the entirety of the Jewish people. Your perspective is valid and comes from a beautiful place - it is also a perspective that justifies violence as a result of violence, an eye for an eye. It is not the perspective of all Jewish people and so posing this article as a primer for people who are “undecided” about anti-semitism is strange, to say the least, a bit condescending too.
Yes, there were twelve tribes, yet Jacob cursed Simeon and his descendants - why? Because when Jacobs daughter Dinah was violated by the king of Schechem, Simeon and Levi murdered the entire city. For executing an entire people, for enacting unjust vengeance, for going too far, Jacob (Israel) cursed his eldest sons. It is the Jewish tradition to love fiercely, but not to love uncritically of our kin. We do not spare our own from true judgement because, well, we know that God is also in the room.
We can have a deep love for our Jewish kin while also recognizing that the state of Israel justifies itself just like Simeon did. For, Jacob understood that violence will beget the cycle of violence, even when violence is justified. A world where Simeon runs the state of Israel is a world that shall breed anti-semitism.
Joseph arrived in Egypt a slave and he rose to power by loving and caring for his enemies. He took care of the Egyptians and he was loved as a result.