I’m an old American Jewish conservative (to the right of Atilla the Hun via Jabotinsky and Meir Kahane) gun and Tanahk toting totally hetero man yet your writing is so exquisite and comforting that I must say once again you Pat have brought me to tears. Thank you your work means a lot to me.
"So many of my Jewish friends have told me that it is not even the hostility they have experienced on social media and elsewhere amid this pandemic of anti-Jewish hatred that has been the most painful. It has been the absolute silence of almost all their non-Jewish friends."
Yes, Pat, that’s painful for us. Actually, maybe not painful. We are supremely used to being Jews Alone.
These useful Jewish idiots (cf. Lenin) provide essential cover for all the jihadist Jew haters, against (wholly accurate) accusations of anti-Judaism and antisemitism.
Keep writing. But you’re up against the Gospel, the Quran, Mein Kampf, the Hamas Covenant, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Facebook and X. Rather like deploying kids’ plastic buckets and beach shovels against a major tsunami.
Your article had me scared in that I always wondered why natan sharansky got out of politics and I alluded from misreading the title that he was pro-arab, just the author. 😏
But still ponder why he's not in politics, him and Moshe Feiglin 👌
I feel very much the same way! I feel like I’ve been gaslit by the west and my own country. How, when, and where did we lose sight of what’s good? True? And kind?
Thank you for sharing your consistent message of support, friendship, and also common sense. Cheers!
You have illustrated very effectively what many Jews, myself included, have had trouble explaining to even ourselves. Before this madness was unleashed, I happily called myself a more or less typical liberal. I am no longer comfortable with that label. I'm not about to rush out and buy a red hat either mind you but I can't say that I still live in the world where I came from. For the moment I guess, I am just going to have to go it alone politically. That may make for some awkward moments with others now but it's the best that I can do.
You’re not alone. There are a whole bunch of us out here who feel this way, life-long liberals who no longer know where we belong. “Radically centrist” as one fellow Jewish liberal friend put it. I don’t even know if that’s an accurate description, but like you, I think we feel like we’re just floating at sea in our one-person rafts.
Congratulations on your Substackiversary! It’s the only Substack of which I read every single article. You are a gift to the Jewish community, who would be entirely alone if not for our few courageous friends like you who are willing to visibly stand with us. And I’m very happy to hear that your Substack is succeeding by all the standard metrics too! 👏
You are truly a ray of sunshine and voice of reason and morality in these mostly dark and depressing times. Thank you for all you do and for who you are.
I have a suspicion that most of the Jew haters out there do not know any Jewish people, or if they know them, they don’t know them well. This is my experience in my circles anyway. To me it’s impossible not to be on the side of an amazing people who have survived countless attempts to exterminate them. But I know people who completely discount the Old Testament because it’s the history of the Jews. What’s that about??
And don’t forget wanting Israel somehow deleted from the land! It’s ludicrous. I can understand ignorant people jumping on the hate bandwagon, but people who profess to be Christian must see that no Jews = no Jesus, and that everything he said and did was steeped in Judaism.
Thank you, Pat. Your ethical and generous views, incisive writing, morality, and empathy are a deep comfort to me during this terrible year. My husband and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. There are many times, as San Francisco liberals, we have felt abandoned. You help us keep the faith.
Hi Pat, I was going to reply to our short email exchange but could not find the email. In any case, reading today's article left me with a single ray of hope. Thank you. My wife and I went to Israel in the summer of '23, my second visit, her first. We spent about three weeks in June traveling here and there with a group led by my dear friend Rabbi Irwin Huberman. He and I both grew up in Montreal, he became a journalist and then, at 50, a rabbi. As you have noted, during the Passover Seder we Jews intone, "next year in Jerusalem." We returned to California, resumed our lives and then came Oct. 7. I could go on at length but suffice to say, I couldn't possibly appreciate your writing more.
I’m an old American Jewish conservative (to the right of Atilla the Hun via Jabotinsky and Meir Kahane) gun and Tanahk toting totally hetero man yet your writing is so exquisite and comforting that I must say once again you Pat have brought me to tears. Thank you your work means a lot to me.
Thank you.
"So many of my Jewish friends have told me that it is not even the hostility they have experienced on social media and elsewhere amid this pandemic of anti-Jewish hatred that has been the most painful. It has been the absolute silence of almost all their non-Jewish friends."
Yes, Pat, that’s painful for us. Actually, maybe not painful. We are supremely used to being Jews Alone.
But here’s what’s worse: former Jewish friends and acquaintances who are Un-Jews (cf. Troy and Sharansky: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-un-jews-natan-sharansky), "As a Jew..." Jews, and out-and out “pro-Palestinian” “progressive” Jews.
These useful Jewish idiots (cf. Lenin) provide essential cover for all the jihadist Jew haters, against (wholly accurate) accusations of anti-Judaism and antisemitism.
Keep writing. But you’re up against the Gospel, the Quran, Mein Kampf, the Hamas Covenant, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Facebook and X. Rather like deploying kids’ plastic buckets and beach shovels against a major tsunami.
Maybe. But that juyst makes me write harder!
Your article had me scared in that I always wondered why natan sharansky got out of politics and I alluded from misreading the title that he was pro-arab, just the author. 😏
But still ponder why he's not in politics, him and Moshe Feiglin 👌
You are just a fantastic writer, Pat.
Thank you Allan. I have one talent.
I feel very much the same way! I feel like I’ve been gaslit by the west and my own country. How, when, and where did we lose sight of what’s good? True? And kind?
Thank you for sharing your consistent message of support, friendship, and also common sense. Cheers!
There are no people on this earth I respect and appreciate more than non-Jews who stand up for Jews.
You have illustrated very effectively what many Jews, myself included, have had trouble explaining to even ourselves. Before this madness was unleashed, I happily called myself a more or less typical liberal. I am no longer comfortable with that label. I'm not about to rush out and buy a red hat either mind you but I can't say that I still live in the world where I came from. For the moment I guess, I am just going to have to go it alone politically. That may make for some awkward moments with others now but it's the best that I can do.
We need to keep pounding at their hypocrisy.
You’re not alone. There are a whole bunch of us out here who feel this way, life-long liberals who no longer know where we belong. “Radically centrist” as one fellow Jewish liberal friend put it. I don’t even know if that’s an accurate description, but like you, I think we feel like we’re just floating at sea in our one-person rafts.
As a lifelong Democrat, and progressive (I thought), I have been horrified how easily people have turned on the Jewish community.
Congratulations on your Substackiversary! It’s the only Substack of which I read every single article. You are a gift to the Jewish community, who would be entirely alone if not for our few courageous friends like you who are willing to visibly stand with us. And I’m very happy to hear that your Substack is succeeding by all the standard metrics too! 👏
You are truly a ray of sunshine and voice of reason and morality in these mostly dark and depressing times. Thank you for all you do and for who you are.
Thank you Sandy.
Pat, thank you so much for joining with us in such a large hearted and clear thinking way. I for one could not be more grateful.
Again, thank you, Pat, for your steadfastness, values, and of course your wit and clarity and compelling writing.
It was truly a pleasure to meet you in person last week.
You too. Thank you so much for making the time!
I have a suspicion that most of the Jew haters out there do not know any Jewish people, or if they know them, they don’t know them well. This is my experience in my circles anyway. To me it’s impossible not to be on the side of an amazing people who have survived countless attempts to exterminate them. But I know people who completely discount the Old Testament because it’s the history of the Jews. What’s that about??
What’s it about? Simple: sucessionism, anti-Judaism and Jew hatred.
And don’t forget wanting Israel somehow deleted from the land! It’s ludicrous. I can understand ignorant people jumping on the hate bandwagon, but people who profess to be Christian must see that no Jews = no Jesus, and that everything he said and did was steeped in Judaism.
Thank you, Pat. Your ethical and generous views, incisive writing, morality, and empathy are a deep comfort to me during this terrible year. My husband and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. There are many times, as San Francisco liberals, we have felt abandoned. You help us keep the faith.
Congratulations, Pat. Delighted to have shared this year with you. Amazing job indeed. Am Yisrael Chai!
I couldn’t agree more with every word you’ve written Pat. Standing with Israel is a no brainer
Hi Pat, I was going to reply to our short email exchange but could not find the email. In any case, reading today's article left me with a single ray of hope. Thank you. My wife and I went to Israel in the summer of '23, my second visit, her first. We spent about three weeks in June traveling here and there with a group led by my dear friend Rabbi Irwin Huberman. He and I both grew up in Montreal, he became a journalist and then, at 50, a rabbi. As you have noted, during the Passover Seder we Jews intone, "next year in Jerusalem." We returned to California, resumed our lives and then came Oct. 7. I could go on at length but suffice to say, I couldn't possibly appreciate your writing more.
I feel like I should say to you what I tell Veterans, Thank you for your service. Better yet, Thank you for your righteousness. 🙏🙏
Thank you CK.