Thank you Peter. I think about this constantly. With all the death and destruction in Gaza, the violence and displacement in the West Bank, and now the occupation and destruction of southern Lebanon, I simply cannot understand how so many people can be so cruel and insensitive to other's suffering. One walk through Gaza would change many minds (I would hope). A few days ago a close friend of mine asked if I was interested in joining a "birthright-like" 7-day trip to Israel to show support for Israel and the IDF. I was horrified and in shock at the total lack of awareness. And the 10's of thousands for the Israel Day parade, the flags. What are pople celebrating?. Honestly, it's extremely confusing to me. We're horrified with congressional redistricting here in the US (which is disgusting), but ok with the horrific violence and oppression carried out by Israel. I don't have a whole lot of optimism these days.
Many Jews see and increase in anti-semitism as evidence that Israel must destroy its enemies. In fact, it is Israel's war in Gaza and now in Lebanon that has caused anti-Israeli sentiment -- which they confuse with anti-semitism.
Very hard to listen to. American Jews may be reluctant to look at the suffering but they know it's happening. It's classic denial, a psychological condition. Israel is a problem that the world has to fix.
Maybe, Peter, the people you claim are "otherwise good people" are in fact NOT good people. Their kindness, their generosity, their empathy is restricted to only their fellow Jews. They have put themselves outside the rest of humanity and should be viewed and treated as such.
thank you...this I will forward my daughter, married to a Zionist...instead of attending my Orthodox shul I am going onto the Palestine Museum weekly Shabbos zoom, because kol yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh...we are all responsible for what is being done in our name, as you say...I also attend Doctors Against Genocide webinar every Sunday. This allows me to listen to those in Gaza, like Ahmed Muin Abu Amsha, founder of Gaza Birds Singing. His singing made me cry, this past week and the one before
thank you, peter. this is so painful. it's taken me years to understand how collective trauma fragments and numbs the heart -- a deep, visceral response that we see being manipulated.
The ongoing attempt to close off attention to the agony of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza is so painful. The manifestation of obtuseness and hard-heartedness of those who refuse to see this is beyond comprehension. Celebrating Israeli parades with Ben Gvir is obscene. Tussling over Israeli products an organized misdirection. Anger and shame are all I feel. Rachmenes
Thank you, Peter. As usual, so well said and so important to say. I would just add that to your list of things to look at squarely the destruction of so many villages and institutions in an increasingly large swath of southern Lebanon.
Thanks Peter for your words on this, but unfortunately I think that your view that if American Jews would just look at the suffering Israel has brought upon the Palestinians, they might begin to understand why there is so much anger against Israel is optimistic. Many Jews seem conditioned to not think of Palestinians as humans but only as undeserving animals. This gives them license to remain very unconcerned with any suffering Palestinians endure.
I have been thinking about this as well!! I have friends who blindly defend Israel. One is even sending her son for the summer as if nothing has changed in this world.... and the only thing that makes sense is this. They have not seen what we've all seen - They also don't want to see it. Ignorance is bliss and a coat of armour that protects them from being accountable. It's heart breaking
Thank you Peter. I think about this constantly. With all the death and destruction in Gaza, the violence and displacement in the West Bank, and now the occupation and destruction of southern Lebanon, I simply cannot understand how so many people can be so cruel and insensitive to other's suffering. One walk through Gaza would change many minds (I would hope). A few days ago a close friend of mine asked if I was interested in joining a "birthright-like" 7-day trip to Israel to show support for Israel and the IDF. I was horrified and in shock at the total lack of awareness. And the 10's of thousands for the Israel Day parade, the flags. What are pople celebrating?. Honestly, it's extremely confusing to me. We're horrified with congressional redistricting here in the US (which is disgusting), but ok with the horrific violence and oppression carried out by Israel. I don't have a whole lot of optimism these days.
Many Jews see and increase in anti-semitism as evidence that Israel must destroy its enemies. In fact, it is Israel's war in Gaza and now in Lebanon that has caused anti-Israeli sentiment -- which they confuse with anti-semitism.
Very hard to listen to. American Jews may be reluctant to look at the suffering but they know it's happening. It's classic denial, a psychological condition. Israel is a problem that the world has to fix.
Maybe, Peter, the people you claim are "otherwise good people" are in fact NOT good people. Their kindness, their generosity, their empathy is restricted to only their fellow Jews. They have put themselves outside the rest of humanity and should be viewed and treated as such.
Israel delenda est.
Thank you Peter. Thank you for your clarity and compassion for all of us.
thank you...this I will forward my daughter, married to a Zionist...instead of attending my Orthodox shul I am going onto the Palestine Museum weekly Shabbos zoom, because kol yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh...we are all responsible for what is being done in our name, as you say...I also attend Doctors Against Genocide webinar every Sunday. This allows me to listen to those in Gaza, like Ahmed Muin Abu Amsha, founder of Gaza Birds Singing. His singing made me cry, this past week and the one before
thank you, peter. this is so painful. it's taken me years to understand how collective trauma fragments and numbs the heart -- a deep, visceral response that we see being manipulated.
Israel has a right to defend itself at --- The Hague. Israel is a terrorist state.
The ongoing attempt to close off attention to the agony of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza is so painful. The manifestation of obtuseness and hard-heartedness of those who refuse to see this is beyond comprehension. Celebrating Israeli parades with Ben Gvir is obscene. Tussling over Israeli products an organized misdirection. Anger and shame are all I feel. Rachmenes
Thank you, Peter. As usual, so well said and so important to say. I would just add that to your list of things to look at squarely the destruction of so many villages and institutions in an increasingly large swath of southern Lebanon.
Thank you, Peter.
Peter, thank you for every word you write and post you make
Thank you Peter for shedding light on this situation for speaking to our people.
Your messages often shared in front of your shafe of sefarim is a balm to a weary Yiddishe neshama.
Thanks Peter for your words on this, but unfortunately I think that your view that if American Jews would just look at the suffering Israel has brought upon the Palestinians, they might begin to understand why there is so much anger against Israel is optimistic. Many Jews seem conditioned to not think of Palestinians as humans but only as undeserving animals. This gives them license to remain very unconcerned with any suffering Palestinians endure.
If only the people who need to hear your passionate plea were listening! Thank you so much for speaking for so many of us! You are such a blessing!
I have been thinking about this as well!! I have friends who blindly defend Israel. One is even sending her son for the summer as if nothing has changed in this world.... and the only thing that makes sense is this. They have not seen what we've all seen - They also don't want to see it. Ignorance is bliss and a coat of armour that protects them from being accountable. It's heart breaking