Sharing a few feelings with my Jewish brothers and sisters
Thoughts not opinions
From childhood, quite soon after my fascination with new toys and my asshole faded, Israel was the subject of controversy. There were numerous wars, most of which Israel won.
Partly because I grew up in a ferociously antisemitic environment, I never did develop a British identity. I was Jewish, and Jews support Israel, period, full stop, end of story. In my early twenties, I even lived in Israel for a period of time.
Although I am an Agnostic Jew, I have always been proud of the fact that Judaism stood for how a fair and just society should behave. We stood for justice, compassion, a duty to repair the world, and above all else, morality. We were the good guys. Are these values adhered to by all Jews? Oh, hell, of course not. That would be ridiculous. But there was, at its core, a reason we could be proud of who we are and what we stand for.
In
more recent years, many Jews and non-Jews have signed on to either the
Zionist or Antizionist camps. Ferocious debates have been omnipresent
going back decades. Each side insisted they and they alone held the
moral high ground. I feel the discussion of whether or not Israel has a
right to exist should have ended a long time ago. It’s a country.
Make no bones about it, I have voiced my objections to many of Israel’s policies numerous times. Israel’s behavior on occasion has been cringeworthy. Then again, I argued, just about every country I can think of has done some really bad shit.
Among Jews, the vitriol between Zionists and Anti-Zionists has never been uglier. So much so that most shuls feel a need to stay clear as if it were a high-voltage fence. The vast majority of Jews who are members of a shul are content to keep it that way, because to do otherwise “invites discourse and animosity”. Unaffiliated Jews tend to only care about their heritage and Israel when antisemitism comes to their doorstep.
Jews, who are deeply involved with all matters Israel, lean more towards joining organizations outside of the shul. Shuls are more than prepared to discuss and act upon all aspects involving antisemitism. Which is certainly an important cause, but is unabashedly selective.
I have been decidedly reluctant to say anything that might give the antisemites ammunition. I dread the thought of saying something that antisemites will co-opt and twist into something along the lines of, “See, even a Jew hates what he is”. I have no way of knowing, but I suspect I am not alone in feeling that way.
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