Abroad, the conversation is about Iran, and Gaza and the hostages. Here, there's all that, but also just raw, sometimes unbearable, sadness. And that limits the kinds of people we can talk to.
Not all Jews in the US, share the sentiments of Truah or the Jewish left, aka woke dopes. A large part of us are embarrassed by these spineless, useless tokens. Tru'ah, by the way, supported, and met with, the terrorist family of Nabi Selah, and refused to meet with the parents of Malki Roth killed by the S'barro bombing (the terrorist who committed the massacre came from Nabi Selah). They have always been garbage and they will always be garbage. Just because they have the title "rabbi" doesn't mean they are to be respected.
A large part of us are proud of Israel, understand what she needs to do and support her. We understand the threat to Israel. We know that the survival of the Jewish People depends on a strong Israel and we weep, and pray with our Israeli cousins that Hashem protects them.
We actually aren't focused on the day after in Gaza. We know that Israel has to first get rid of Hamas and then turn her attention to Hezbollah.
Some of us in the US understand and know Jewish history.
Don't lump every Jewish-American into 1 basket please.
We should have learned after the Dreyfus Affair that assimilation and appeasement do not keep us safe.
I did not learn. I have been a liberal Jew my entire adult life.
On October 7, even before Israel had retaliated, social media was inundated with posts that said "Death to Israel!" and in the next breath, "Death to the Jews!" Meaning death to Jews worldwide. I used to say, "Israel is a foreign country, I do not vote there, I do not have any control over its policies." October 7 showed me that in the popular imagination, there is no difference between Israel and Diaspora Jews, and the fate of Israel *is* the fate of Diaspora Jews. October 7 told me that in the popular imagination, everything the _Protocols of the Elders of Zion_ says is true, and that especially on the left, all the responsibility and all the blame for all the suffering of the world lies at the feet of the world's Jewry, and the only solution is the Final Solution. October 7 told me that the people I've been fighting for my whole adult life, people for whom I agitated for justice, always hated me, personally. That when Jews contribute tsedakah to help the unfortunate, the unfortunate call these "tentacles" seeking power and domination. October 7 told me that although I've been a feminist since I was 12, feminist groups don't consider me worthy of human rights because I'm actually not human.
Yesterday was my father's yahrzeit. I dearly loved my father but fought his political ideas my whole life. I found his level of antisemitic paranoia intolerable; I could not live that way. On October 7 I realized he had been right and I am so sorry I fought him. I was trying to do right by all people. I didn't realize they would not consider doing right by us.
Assimilation and appeasement are galut strategies and they never really worked. American Jewish groups that denounce Israel to show that they're the good kind of Jew are kidding themselves. The only good Jew is a dead Jew. And the only Jew with a chance is a Jew that can fight back. We need to support Israel with everything we have. Am Israel chai.
Such an important piece. For those who love Israel, including diaspora Jews, we have found that there is too much sadness, too much trauma re Oct 7 to feel an equivalent amount of sadness for Gazans. In part it may be because we are not entirely sure how much of the population in Gaza, excluding the children, were and are Hamas supporters, which then removes them from the category of innocent civilians. But mostly it is because the amount of trauma and suffering of Israelis simply takes up most of your heart with little left over for others. I’m sorry if that’s hard to hear or understand, but when so many have little if any compassion for the plight of Jews now or ever, I think we have the right to mourn for our own people first, before we move on to anyone else.
I am glad u were ‘cancelled’. They don’t deserve you and you will continue your fight elsewhere.
And people like us, gentiles Christians pray for Israel. Our hearts too, are broken for you and with all my heart I wish I could kiss and hug the pain away, but your God is a great God, He is a healer and He will wipe away the tears of His people. His love for you is an everlasting love. Be strong, be brave and put your trust in Him.
Wonderfully nuanced piece, and as always, thank you for sharing your impressions of how it feels to be Israeli at this time. I take exception with one small point: when it comes to the utter destruction of life and material the IDF has wrought in Gaza (without as of yet having achieved its two primary goals), I think it would be more intellectually honest to acknowledge that "vengeance" has indeed played a part. First as a deterrent--"This is what happens if you dare attack us", and secondly in the obvious (to anyone who has ever served) loosening of the Rules of Engagement. The IDF has long prided itself on "the purity of arms" and being the most moral military in the Middle East. But when responding to an enemy capable of the barbarism of Oct 7, one might have to meet them on a level field.
Danny I know you are busy and get thousands of emails so I have given up on ever getting a chance to speak with you. I had the good fortune of having you teach while in Jerusalem with a Boston educators group led by Daniel margolis.
That aside I totally support the stance you are taking with the American liberal left! Groups like truah nif etc I have sent them email protests for over a year. As a speaker from the Middle East forum( a group worth following) coined them as inconvenient nuisances Who needs enemies when we have them.
My heart is with you and the rest of the Israelis who deserve better/more compassion from their Jewish brethren in the US. But as you see here and below. There are many diaspora Jews who understand what’s really at stake. Also look at jewbelong. We need guidance from you on how we can get our voices heard in the public to make a difference. HELP
It's false to say that Israelis aren't thinking about the day after - many people are discussing this, and there's been lots of coverage of it in the media, and it's even been mentioned in this excellent Substack! Liel should stop speaking for "the Israelis" so much.
Daniel, thank you, and thank you to all the wonderful comments that lift our hearts and make us proud to be Jews. There are the “weak” Jews who yearn for acceptance in their assimilated country who walked without resistance into the camps, and there are the strong Jews
Who will always fight for the rights of the Jews even the weak ones. Israel is in our hearts and branded in our neshama. No government or groups can remove this. Even if we can not fight as warriors we will fight with our spirits to protect Israel. Am Yisrael Chai!!
Dr. Gordis -- your substack is so important -- it really gives us diaspora Jews a sense of what is going on in Israel from a perspective we don't see in the media. I will never be able to understand the Jews that jump on the band-wagon of Israel as the oppressor -- they don't understand that Israel is trying to survive and to live in peace. And perhaps more important they may not understand the significance of Israel and the imperative for every Jew that Israel must survive and thrive. Chag Sameach -- hoping for a holiday of peace and safety for you, your family, and all of Israel.
I recently finished reading your book “impossible takes longer”. It was such an affirming book written with a sense of nuance that allows the readers to both celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the State of Israel and recognize places where it needs to grow. Thank you for writing it and thank you for standing up for what you believe in.
Not all Jews in the US, share the sentiments of Truah or the Jewish left, aka woke dopes. A large part of us are embarrassed by these spineless, useless tokens. Tru'ah, by the way, supported, and met with, the terrorist family of Nabi Selah, and refused to meet with the parents of Malki Roth killed by the S'barro bombing (the terrorist who committed the massacre came from Nabi Selah). They have always been garbage and they will always be garbage. Just because they have the title "rabbi" doesn't mean they are to be respected.
A large part of us are proud of Israel, understand what she needs to do and support her. We understand the threat to Israel. We know that the survival of the Jewish People depends on a strong Israel and we weep, and pray with our Israeli cousins that Hashem protects them.
We actually aren't focused on the day after in Gaza. We know that Israel has to first get rid of Hamas and then turn her attention to Hezbollah.
Some of us in the US understand and know Jewish history.
Don't lump every Jewish-American into 1 basket please.
We should have learned after the Dreyfus Affair that assimilation and appeasement do not keep us safe.
I did not learn. I have been a liberal Jew my entire adult life.
On October 7, even before Israel had retaliated, social media was inundated with posts that said "Death to Israel!" and in the next breath, "Death to the Jews!" Meaning death to Jews worldwide. I used to say, "Israel is a foreign country, I do not vote there, I do not have any control over its policies." October 7 showed me that in the popular imagination, there is no difference between Israel and Diaspora Jews, and the fate of Israel *is* the fate of Diaspora Jews. October 7 told me that in the popular imagination, everything the _Protocols of the Elders of Zion_ says is true, and that especially on the left, all the responsibility and all the blame for all the suffering of the world lies at the feet of the world's Jewry, and the only solution is the Final Solution. October 7 told me that the people I've been fighting for my whole adult life, people for whom I agitated for justice, always hated me, personally. That when Jews contribute tsedakah to help the unfortunate, the unfortunate call these "tentacles" seeking power and domination. October 7 told me that although I've been a feminist since I was 12, feminist groups don't consider me worthy of human rights because I'm actually not human.
Yesterday was my father's yahrzeit. I dearly loved my father but fought his political ideas my whole life. I found his level of antisemitic paranoia intolerable; I could not live that way. On October 7 I realized he had been right and I am so sorry I fought him. I was trying to do right by all people. I didn't realize they would not consider doing right by us.
Assimilation and appeasement are galut strategies and they never really worked. American Jewish groups that denounce Israel to show that they're the good kind of Jew are kidding themselves. The only good Jew is a dead Jew. And the only Jew with a chance is a Jew that can fight back. We need to support Israel with everything we have. Am Israel chai.
In the words of Winston Churchill:
Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no
survival."
I wanted to add to the voices from the diaspora (UK in my case) who are 100% behind Israel. We know you are fighting for us.
Keep fighting. It's the emptiest shofar that makes the largest t'ruah.
Such an important piece. For those who love Israel, including diaspora Jews, we have found that there is too much sadness, too much trauma re Oct 7 to feel an equivalent amount of sadness for Gazans. In part it may be because we are not entirely sure how much of the population in Gaza, excluding the children, were and are Hamas supporters, which then removes them from the category of innocent civilians. But mostly it is because the amount of trauma and suffering of Israelis simply takes up most of your heart with little left over for others. I’m sorry if that’s hard to hear or understand, but when so many have little if any compassion for the plight of Jews now or ever, I think we have the right to mourn for our own people first, before we move on to anyone else.
I am glad u were ‘cancelled’. They don’t deserve you and you will continue your fight elsewhere.
And people like us, gentiles Christians pray for Israel. Our hearts too, are broken for you and with all my heart I wish I could kiss and hug the pain away, but your God is a great God, He is a healer and He will wipe away the tears of His people. His love for you is an everlasting love. Be strong, be brave and put your trust in Him.
Truah has its hearts broken by the lies of murderers and rapists.
Wonderfully nuanced piece, and as always, thank you for sharing your impressions of how it feels to be Israeli at this time. I take exception with one small point: when it comes to the utter destruction of life and material the IDF has wrought in Gaza (without as of yet having achieved its two primary goals), I think it would be more intellectually honest to acknowledge that "vengeance" has indeed played a part. First as a deterrent--"This is what happens if you dare attack us", and secondly in the obvious (to anyone who has ever served) loosening of the Rules of Engagement. The IDF has long prided itself on "the purity of arms" and being the most moral military in the Middle East. But when responding to an enemy capable of the barbarism of Oct 7, one might have to meet them on a level field.
Danny I know you are busy and get thousands of emails so I have given up on ever getting a chance to speak with you. I had the good fortune of having you teach while in Jerusalem with a Boston educators group led by Daniel margolis.
That aside I totally support the stance you are taking with the American liberal left! Groups like truah nif etc I have sent them email protests for over a year. As a speaker from the Middle East forum( a group worth following) coined them as inconvenient nuisances Who needs enemies when we have them.
My heart is with you and the rest of the Israelis who deserve better/more compassion from their Jewish brethren in the US. But as you see here and below. There are many diaspora Jews who understand what’s really at stake. Also look at jewbelong. We need guidance from you on how we can get our voices heard in the public to make a difference. HELP
It's false to say that Israelis aren't thinking about the day after - many people are discussing this, and there's been lots of coverage of it in the media, and it's even been mentioned in this excellent Substack! Liel should stop speaking for "the Israelis" so much.
Chag same'ach. Thank you for everything.
Daniel, thank you, and thank you to all the wonderful comments that lift our hearts and make us proud to be Jews. There are the “weak” Jews who yearn for acceptance in their assimilated country who walked without resistance into the camps, and there are the strong Jews
Who will always fight for the rights of the Jews even the weak ones. Israel is in our hearts and branded in our neshama. No government or groups can remove this. Even if we can not fight as warriors we will fight with our spirits to protect Israel. Am Yisrael Chai!!
Dr. Gordis -- your substack is so important -- it really gives us diaspora Jews a sense of what is going on in Israel from a perspective we don't see in the media. I will never be able to understand the Jews that jump on the band-wagon of Israel as the oppressor -- they don't understand that Israel is trying to survive and to live in peace. And perhaps more important they may not understand the significance of Israel and the imperative for every Jew that Israel must survive and thrive. Chag Sameach -- hoping for a holiday of peace and safety for you, your family, and all of Israel.
This post was eloquent and right-on. Daniel Gordis at his best--loving Israel and the Jewish People.
I recently finished reading your book “impossible takes longer”. It was such an affirming book written with a sense of nuance that allows the readers to both celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the State of Israel and recognize places where it needs to grow. Thank you for writing it and thank you for standing up for what you believe in.
“The only thing standing between the Gazan people and a ceasefire is Hamas.” - Anthony Blinken. U.S. Secy. of State, this morning https://jewdicious.substack.com/p/passover-poland-april-19-1943