It is beyond crazy that Republicans scream about Democrats being antisemitic when Trump called Nazis chanting "Jews will not replace us" "very fine people."
The problem you don’t acknowledge is that while 70 percent of Jews voted for Harris, they tend to be the least involved in Jewish life and, sadly , the least committed to Jewish continuity.
The reality is that the Jewish “establishment “ representing the Jewish community is in tune with the sentiments of those most active in Jewish life.
I personally hold the American rabbinate (conservative, reform, and deconstructionist ) responsible for this. Because for the last 40 years they have refused to speak out on these issues and allowed the Israeli narrative to become lodged in American Jewish consciousness.
I support J Street because it is a rare organization that is pro self determination but still critical of Israel. But you should address this larger issue. Because the number of Jews who are involved in Jewish life who are not orthodox or extremely right wing is rapidly diminishing.
Excellent insight, Schmuel. I think that J Street, IfNotNow, the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) are all terrific, politically progressive Jewish organizations with somewhat similar ideologies.
But much like the Muslim American community, the Jewish American community is by no means a progressive monolith.
And I occasionally wonder if some right-wing Jews and Muslims in the United States, who would never vote for a Democrat, especially a black woman Democrat, used the Israel-Palestine issue as a smokescreen to rationalize their support for Trump in 2024.
Former VP Harris was accused of supporting genocide against the Palestinians and, at the same time, of being insufficiently supportive of Israel. It is not possible to be both, being that these two concepts are mutually exclusive.
This is not my experience at my conservative synagogue nor at least one other conservative synagogue in my town that a number of my liberal friends belong too.
I agree there is a double standard, and it extends to everything Trump does or says. We are still talking about Hilalary's e-mails and Hunter's laptop but virtually nothing about DJT selling cars on the WH lawn, promoting his cybercoins inside the WH, etc.
Trump is an antisemitic Zionist. He thinks all the US Jews who don't supply him with grift should go to Israel and now he is using the specter of antisemitism to stifle any dissent at US universities. His pandering to his "very good people" has made life for Jews in the US much less safe. Discrimination whether it is religious, ethnic, racial, gender, LGBQT, or any other type has a purpose. The purpose is to control the blame pattern so that the people being discriminated against get blamed for the problems of the majority and the majority do not understand the real cause of there problems. To find the real cause just follow the money behind the discrimination. The real problem in the country of which Trump is a symptom and not a cause is the class war between the rich and everyone else which the rich are winning.
In closing I will leave you with a song composed by Woody Guthrie and sung by the Klezmatics.
What is odd about Israel is that everyone thinks it’s their business, but most people are completely ignorant of its history or of Israeli society. The same thing applies to Arab Palestinians and their various societies. There are many many diasporas around the world whose members disagree with each other about domestic politics in the countries they left, but those discussions aren’t taking place in public. Jews disagreeing with Jews is hardly new, or news, but every remark, every shrug, every choice is recorded and remarked upon, accompanied regularly by a flood of anti-semitic trolling and graffiti. To add to this, most Jews, including most Israelis, think the Israeli government is corrupt and Netanyahu has to go, but still of course are in complete support of the country itself. These disputes have real electoral consequences, which means many politicians don’t think they can speak frankly about reality because their audience won’t understand any nuance or distinctions they might try to make. The US has a cruel and vacuous president who has never read a book and only lives for TV exposure. The Democrats, on the other hand, have a messy coalition whose members disagree fundamentally on many issues. So thanks for writing about this mess, and throwing light on the contradictions. Eventually perhaps it will coalesce into a form, or a personality, that can rescue the republic from itself.
Good point: "In many ways, appealing to Israelis on cultural issues, while actually harming their national interests is pretty similar to his ability to appeal to working class voters even as he pursues policies that line the pockets of his billionaire cronies." But as you know, the best way to be Pro-Israel is to also criticize the growing influence of far-right politicians, the continued attacks that are killing disproportionate numbers of non-combatants, and to oppose the occupation. We could do a better job helping people to understand that those who are critical of Israel's conduct of the war with Gaza and who are opposed to the occupation are not necessarily antisemitic.
Jews overwhelmingly voted for Harris. That does not mean we were happy with her Middle East stance. We criticized her because we hoped for better. This is little point in hoping for better from Trump.
Yes, Dems seem to get blamed for the wrong suit color as Rs run roughshod over our democracy with minimal push-back. But I don't this this particular criticism is salient.
Please please write about disinformation in the Jewish community. And, can we discuss the percentage of American Jews who are have a very limited understanding of Jewish history, American Jewish history, and Israeli history.
Judging only from a close and dear family member who absorbs a lot of right wing media and sides with right wing Jewish rhetoric and MAGA, the hatred for liberal Jews ("self hating Jews") is intense.
Instead of this long-winded windbaggery, here's a simple answer: actions. The Democratic Party, of which I'm still a registered voter, bent over backwards to support and sustain the Free Palestine cult. It went to bat to save violently antisemitic foreign students from deportation. It is losing its marbles over the Trump administration withholding public funds from universities that are deeply complicit with Civil Rights Act Title VI violations of the rights of Jewish students (in order to save their foreign students from any consequences). Your gal Harris would never, ever go after that lawbreaking by precious Ivy League schools and other universities. The rabidly antisemitic far-left is protected by progressives at all cost, and it's pathetic to watch progressive Jews go to such lengths to help openly antisemitic students, professors and administrators. You're the problem.
Democrats talk, and in your case talk a whole fucking lot about "ceasefire now" to save Hamas from destruction, and do very little for the safety and civil rights of Jews in America. Your organization J-Street is also complicit with being shields for revolting Jew haters in the US. Trump and Republicans get the benefit of the doubt because they DO THINGS that punish law breaking by Free Palestine cult members and the progressive institutions that indoctrinate and coddle them. Democratic Party does fuck all in the way of action, but its supporters write loooooooong blog posts about how unfair it is to be judged on actions, when words are everything.
DEMs: Celebrating/justifying Oct 7 was a zillion times worse than the “very fine people” comment.
And MAGA isnt the racist mob blocking our children from campus.
Research shows that Black, Muslim and “very liberal” students are the primary source of campus antisemitism.
DEMs and JStreet won’t talk about the primary forms of campus antisemitism, but they still have the chutzpah to argue that the GOP is being disingenuous about fighting antisemitism.
The selective outrage is almost impressive in its consistency. One party ignores antisemitism until it’s useful, the other yells “free speech” unless it’s Jews being targeted. What’s actually being protected here? Certainly not Jews, and definitely not truth.
Biden would criticize Israel in public. But he let Israel do whatever it wanted to do, and paid for it, both in dollars, and, as it turned out, votes.
Trump says whatever Israel wants to hear. But at the end of the day, Trump will do whatever he wants to do. And Trump has already put Netanyahu in a position where he’ll have to commit Israel to whatever Trump wants.
I’m sure Netanyahu has known that for a long time. I hope it all works out for Israel and for all of us.
It is beyond crazy that Republicans scream about Democrats being antisemitic when Trump called Nazis chanting "Jews will not replace us" "very fine people."
The problem you don’t acknowledge is that while 70 percent of Jews voted for Harris, they tend to be the least involved in Jewish life and, sadly , the least committed to Jewish continuity.
The reality is that the Jewish “establishment “ representing the Jewish community is in tune with the sentiments of those most active in Jewish life.
I personally hold the American rabbinate (conservative, reform, and deconstructionist ) responsible for this. Because for the last 40 years they have refused to speak out on these issues and allowed the Israeli narrative to become lodged in American Jewish consciousness.
I support J Street because it is a rare organization that is pro self determination but still critical of Israel. But you should address this larger issue. Because the number of Jews who are involved in Jewish life who are not orthodox or extremely right wing is rapidly diminishing.
And it is happening without any discussion.
Excellent insight, Schmuel. I think that J Street, IfNotNow, the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) are all terrific, politically progressive Jewish organizations with somewhat similar ideologies.
But much like the Muslim American community, the Jewish American community is by no means a progressive monolith.
And I occasionally wonder if some right-wing Jews and Muslims in the United States, who would never vote for a Democrat, especially a black woman Democrat, used the Israel-Palestine issue as a smokescreen to rationalize their support for Trump in 2024.
Former VP Harris was accused of supporting genocide against the Palestinians and, at the same time, of being insufficiently supportive of Israel. It is not possible to be both, being that these two concepts are mutually exclusive.
This is not my experience at my conservative synagogue nor at least one other conservative synagogue in my town that a number of my liberal friends belong too.
I agree there is a double standard, and it extends to everything Trump does or says. We are still talking about Hilalary's e-mails and Hunter's laptop but virtually nothing about DJT selling cars on the WH lawn, promoting his cybercoins inside the WH, etc.
Trump is an antisemitic Zionist. He thinks all the US Jews who don't supply him with grift should go to Israel and now he is using the specter of antisemitism to stifle any dissent at US universities. His pandering to his "very good people" has made life for Jews in the US much less safe. Discrimination whether it is religious, ethnic, racial, gender, LGBQT, or any other type has a purpose. The purpose is to control the blame pattern so that the people being discriminated against get blamed for the problems of the majority and the majority do not understand the real cause of there problems. To find the real cause just follow the money behind the discrimination. The real problem in the country of which Trump is a symptom and not a cause is the class war between the rich and everyone else which the rich are winning.
In closing I will leave you with a song composed by Woody Guthrie and sung by the Klezmatics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4nfsQ_TCRU
What is odd about Israel is that everyone thinks it’s their business, but most people are completely ignorant of its history or of Israeli society. The same thing applies to Arab Palestinians and their various societies. There are many many diasporas around the world whose members disagree with each other about domestic politics in the countries they left, but those discussions aren’t taking place in public. Jews disagreeing with Jews is hardly new, or news, but every remark, every shrug, every choice is recorded and remarked upon, accompanied regularly by a flood of anti-semitic trolling and graffiti. To add to this, most Jews, including most Israelis, think the Israeli government is corrupt and Netanyahu has to go, but still of course are in complete support of the country itself. These disputes have real electoral consequences, which means many politicians don’t think they can speak frankly about reality because their audience won’t understand any nuance or distinctions they might try to make. The US has a cruel and vacuous president who has never read a book and only lives for TV exposure. The Democrats, on the other hand, have a messy coalition whose members disagree fundamentally on many issues. So thanks for writing about this mess, and throwing light on the contradictions. Eventually perhaps it will coalesce into a form, or a personality, that can rescue the republic from itself.
Good point: "In many ways, appealing to Israelis on cultural issues, while actually harming their national interests is pretty similar to his ability to appeal to working class voters even as he pursues policies that line the pockets of his billionaire cronies." But as you know, the best way to be Pro-Israel is to also criticize the growing influence of far-right politicians, the continued attacks that are killing disproportionate numbers of non-combatants, and to oppose the occupation. We could do a better job helping people to understand that those who are critical of Israel's conduct of the war with Gaza and who are opposed to the occupation are not necessarily antisemitic.
Jews overwhelmingly voted for Harris. That does not mean we were happy with her Middle East stance. We criticized her because we hoped for better. This is little point in hoping for better from Trump.
Yes, Dems seem to get blamed for the wrong suit color as Rs run roughshod over our democracy with minimal push-back. But I don't this this particular criticism is salient.
Please please write about disinformation in the Jewish community. And, can we discuss the percentage of American Jews who are have a very limited understanding of Jewish history, American Jewish history, and Israeli history.
Judging only from a close and dear family member who absorbs a lot of right wing media and sides with right wing Jewish rhetoric and MAGA, the hatred for liberal Jews ("self hating Jews") is intense.
That, too, as well as AIPAC, may be factors.
Grateful for this post and continuing to inform with facts and call out the maga double standard is exactly what has to happen!
Where the hell is she??? She should be out there like Gavin Newsom!!
Instead of this long-winded windbaggery, here's a simple answer: actions. The Democratic Party, of which I'm still a registered voter, bent over backwards to support and sustain the Free Palestine cult. It went to bat to save violently antisemitic foreign students from deportation. It is losing its marbles over the Trump administration withholding public funds from universities that are deeply complicit with Civil Rights Act Title VI violations of the rights of Jewish students (in order to save their foreign students from any consequences). Your gal Harris would never, ever go after that lawbreaking by precious Ivy League schools and other universities. The rabidly antisemitic far-left is protected by progressives at all cost, and it's pathetic to watch progressive Jews go to such lengths to help openly antisemitic students, professors and administrators. You're the problem.
Democrats talk, and in your case talk a whole fucking lot about "ceasefire now" to save Hamas from destruction, and do very little for the safety and civil rights of Jews in America. Your organization J-Street is also complicit with being shields for revolting Jew haters in the US. Trump and Republicans get the benefit of the doubt because they DO THINGS that punish law breaking by Free Palestine cult members and the progressive institutions that indoctrinate and coddle them. Democratic Party does fuck all in the way of action, but its supporters write loooooooong blog posts about how unfair it is to be judged on actions, when words are everything.
DEMs: Celebrating/justifying Oct 7 was a zillion times worse than the “very fine people” comment.
And MAGA isnt the racist mob blocking our children from campus.
Research shows that Black, Muslim and “very liberal” students are the primary source of campus antisemitism.
DEMs and JStreet won’t talk about the primary forms of campus antisemitism, but they still have the chutzpah to argue that the GOP is being disingenuous about fighting antisemitism.
Grow some self-awareness.
The selective outrage is almost impressive in its consistency. One party ignores antisemitism until it’s useful, the other yells “free speech” unless it’s Jews being targeted. What’s actually being protected here? Certainly not Jews, and definitely not truth.
Biden would criticize Israel in public. But he let Israel do whatever it wanted to do, and paid for it, both in dollars, and, as it turned out, votes.
Trump says whatever Israel wants to hear. But at the end of the day, Trump will do whatever he wants to do. And Trump has already put Netanyahu in a position where he’ll have to commit Israel to whatever Trump wants.
I’m sure Netanyahu has known that for a long time. I hope it all works out for Israel and for all of us.
https://open.substack.com/pub/treemason/p/just-the-tip-of-genocide?r=2wv5d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true