Another stellar and educational Drop. I like how you share Bret’s ideas) guess I’m on a first name basis too haha) and also have your own (what you disagree with) - your blog your voice.
After reading Miranda's clear and calm analysis of Bret Stephens' view that too much is spent on fighting antisemitism, my views are that (1) we will never conquer antisemitism no matter how much money we throw into and (2) we should never stop fighting anti-smites. ADL supporters would be better served shifting their generosity towards groups like Students Supporting Israel that fights campus anti-smites on the front lines, or StandWithUS and the Louis D.Brandeie Center for Human Rights that fights for Jewish students in the courtrooms. What message does abandoning the fight against antisemitism (anti-smites) give to philosmites, pro-Israel evangelicals if Jews stop fighting for ourselves? What message are we giving the Trump Administration that has withheld funding from universities with dismal records of protecting their Jewish students?
But there is something to the idea that making ourselves better Jews is fighting antisemitism. Dan Senor in his Commentary article “The Future of American Jewry After October 7 – How to Find Purpose and Clarity in Horror's Wake” put it this way: “If we can agree that Israel isn't going to win the information (ie the lack of hasbara everybody is shaking their head about – my comment) and we can't make anti-smites less antisemitic, and investing in non-Jewish causes will never be enough to grant us a get-out-of-the-pogrom-free card....the answer is shockingly simple. We must lead Jewish lives. For this is what has sustained Jewish ..existence in every century.”
Thank you for this excellent piece. Reminds me of Dara Horn saying that what gives her hope is that in her talks around the country she encounters far more ignorance than true malice. I hope both of you are correct, and that education, and people just seeing Jews doing Jewish stuff and seeing that it is beautiful or at least not threatening to anyone, will improve the situation.
Of course, education must be properly employed--just look at Dara Horn's essay on how Holocaust education has failed. Now everyone knows that genocide is bad, so they can falsely accuse Jews/Israel of committing genocide thereby gaining yet another antisemitic/antizionist libel. Another challenge is that most non-Orthodox Jews (including myself) have become so assimilated into secular American culture that they don't know how to do very much Jewish stuff, and are not competent to educate others about it.
As for Brett Stephens, I love the Sapir journal, and he is the only reason I semi-regret cancelling my NYT subscription years ago out of frustration with their antisemitism/antizionism (luckily I have a cousin who forwards me his essays so I can still read them).
I’ve educated several friends too. They really didn’t know where the info was coming from or how antisemitism works and morphs. And they didn’t know the history.
love this!! my intent to become 10% Jewier today is to ask my city's Jewish community whatsapp why we aren't sharing & discussing articles in a sub-group. we can't only be promoting lame Purim parties.
This is amazing. You capture everything, and I love your POVs!! Thank you for this 🙌🙏👏
Another stellar and educational Drop. I like how you share Bret’s ideas) guess I’m on a first name basis too haha) and also have your own (what you disagree with) - your blog your voice.
After reading Miranda's clear and calm analysis of Bret Stephens' view that too much is spent on fighting antisemitism, my views are that (1) we will never conquer antisemitism no matter how much money we throw into and (2) we should never stop fighting anti-smites. ADL supporters would be better served shifting their generosity towards groups like Students Supporting Israel that fights campus anti-smites on the front lines, or StandWithUS and the Louis D.Brandeie Center for Human Rights that fights for Jewish students in the courtrooms. What message does abandoning the fight against antisemitism (anti-smites) give to philosmites, pro-Israel evangelicals if Jews stop fighting for ourselves? What message are we giving the Trump Administration that has withheld funding from universities with dismal records of protecting their Jewish students?
But there is something to the idea that making ourselves better Jews is fighting antisemitism. Dan Senor in his Commentary article “The Future of American Jewry After October 7 – How to Find Purpose and Clarity in Horror's Wake” put it this way: “If we can agree that Israel isn't going to win the information (ie the lack of hasbara everybody is shaking their head about – my comment) and we can't make anti-smites less antisemitic, and investing in non-Jewish causes will never be enough to grant us a get-out-of-the-pogrom-free card....the answer is shockingly simple. We must lead Jewish lives. For this is what has sustained Jewish ..existence in every century.”
So I'll see your 10% and raise it another 20%.
Thank you for this excellent piece. Reminds me of Dara Horn saying that what gives her hope is that in her talks around the country she encounters far more ignorance than true malice. I hope both of you are correct, and that education, and people just seeing Jews doing Jewish stuff and seeing that it is beautiful or at least not threatening to anyone, will improve the situation.
Of course, education must be properly employed--just look at Dara Horn's essay on how Holocaust education has failed. Now everyone knows that genocide is bad, so they can falsely accuse Jews/Israel of committing genocide thereby gaining yet another antisemitic/antizionist libel. Another challenge is that most non-Orthodox Jews (including myself) have become so assimilated into secular American culture that they don't know how to do very much Jewish stuff, and are not competent to educate others about it.
As for Brett Stephens, I love the Sapir journal, and he is the only reason I semi-regret cancelling my NYT subscription years ago out of frustration with their antisemitism/antizionism (luckily I have a cousin who forwards me his essays so I can still read them).
I’ve educated several friends too. They really didn’t know where the info was coming from or how antisemitism works and morphs. And they didn’t know the history.
Great drop!
love this!! my intent to become 10% Jewier today is to ask my city's Jewish community whatsapp why we aren't sharing & discussing articles in a sub-group. we can't only be promoting lame Purim parties.