Pat, I’m a paying subscriber because your posts have been a kind of existential therapy, if not, sometimes, life support. I don’t belong to a community of like minded people. Frankly, such a community doesn’t really exist where I am - and this includes my family, wildly marked by my mother’s mental illness, which includes profound hatred for our own kind. Reading your passionate, dark, funny, informative and very human essays has been one of my lifelines over the course of this horrible, revelatory time. I thank you with all my heart and am so glad to be in your choir. Long may you sing ❤️
Every day I struggle with the depression I have felt since October 7, 2023. I have been an LGBT rights and Anti-racism activist since my teens and am now 72. I grew up in a very racist and homophobic Southern American state and city. My family was constantly verbally (and the kids physically) attacked because my father was a dark Middle Eastern/African Jew and was considered "colored" in the Jim Crow South. But I have never experienced Jew hate as intense as I have in Portland, Oregon now. And it breaks my heart to see so many people who consider themselves progressives saying that the "honor killings" of feminists and LGBT people in Gaza, reported on for years by human rights organizations don't matter. I feel as if I am in Stalinist Russia where asking for sexual/gender freedom was counterrevolutionary and Jews were slaughtered for being Jews. You are a bright light in this darkness. Please keep writing and posting!
I stumbled on your postings on Substack and they have been like a life preserver to a drowning man. In a year of horrible darkness when I've felt like the whole world has gone insane, it is so powerful to hear a kindly voice, to read words of support and to know that we are not alone. As the child of a Holocaust survivor, I often found myself trying to understand, viscerally, what my mother felt. Now, unfortunately, I think I have some sense. I think so many Jews, like me, have felt so utterly along and abandoned by those we saw as allies and friends. Hearing from you, and the handful of brave souls like you, who are speaking up in the face of so much hate, and facing very real consequences for doing so, helps me maintain my faith in humanity.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank you and God Bless you.
Merry Christmas and thank you for the Hanukkah wishes but mostly I want to thank you for all you do for us all year. Your moral compass, intelligence, analysis and fabulous sense of humour helped me through a dark year, helped me continue to write and fight without losing hope. I wish your columns were required reading for all high school and university students. Thank you a million times.
You call yourself a writer, but what you really are is a thinker who can express himself well in writing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who can write well, but can't think, and so all they do is churn out lies or drivel! You communicate the truth! And we all thank you for it!
I believe/hope that I have said it before, but again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support. It has meant so much to me, for all of the reasons that you have outlined. All the best of the holiday season to you!
I’m just going to repeat what others said here, but felt another voice confirming how important your words are wouldn’t go amiss. I have no Jewish support system (areligious), so the support I get is from Substack writers and the Jewish subreddit. Despite a supporting non-Jewish husband, I feel alone, and what keeps me gobsmacked is that the cr*p is never ending. There are positive lights coming, but meanwhile, the hits keep coming. My friends don’t want to hear about my concerns (still not sure why, except that I’ve realized that most non-Jews just don’t care, and most liberals don’t want to see what open borders has done and could do in the future), and those who will talk to me say things that drive me crazy. (One indicated that Israel is not a black and white issue, and that I won’t listen to the “other side”. There is ONE side, and I told her that, and got a head-shake in return.) So hearing your excellent words, especially from a non-Jew, is extraordinarily helpful. Thank you.
I think you have the answer to your question, Pat. The "choir" wants to hear you, and the choir has been bruised and battered. Also writing what you honestly believe in is therapeutic, whereas writing to influence a certain segment of the population is a chore. Let's stand in support of selfish writing pleasures.
I am sure you are reaching a wide audience. I have been referred to your writing by a number of people. I don’t know if I am your target audience but I certainly appreciate your honesty, efforts, and ability to engage, but even more, purity of your heart.
I want to join the chorus of grateful voices. Indeed, as a Jew who has asked why we are hated my whole life, your writing has given me new insights and knowledge. I am also very moved that a person who is not Jewish cares enough to research and write about anti semitism
Pat, I’m a paying subscriber because your posts have been a kind of existential therapy, if not, sometimes, life support. I don’t belong to a community of like minded people. Frankly, such a community doesn’t really exist where I am - and this includes my family, wildly marked by my mother’s mental illness, which includes profound hatred for our own kind. Reading your passionate, dark, funny, informative and very human essays has been one of my lifelines over the course of this horrible, revelatory time. I thank you with all my heart and am so glad to be in your choir. Long may you sing ❤️
I deeply appreciate your words. Thank you.
Every day I struggle with the depression I have felt since October 7, 2023. I have been an LGBT rights and Anti-racism activist since my teens and am now 72. I grew up in a very racist and homophobic Southern American state and city. My family was constantly verbally (and the kids physically) attacked because my father was a dark Middle Eastern/African Jew and was considered "colored" in the Jim Crow South. But I have never experienced Jew hate as intense as I have in Portland, Oregon now. And it breaks my heart to see so many people who consider themselves progressives saying that the "honor killings" of feminists and LGBT people in Gaza, reported on for years by human rights organizations don't matter. I feel as if I am in Stalinist Russia where asking for sexual/gender freedom was counterrevolutionary and Jews were slaughtered for being Jews. You are a bright light in this darkness. Please keep writing and posting!
Thank you Carol. THese are difficu.lt times. Stay strong.
I've seen this as an explanation to why speak up, written by Gavriella Zahtz (https://substack.com/profile/79097870-gavriella-zahtz):
There are times when you must speak,
Not because you are going to change the other person,
But because if you do not speak,
They have changed you.
I've been living by these words, shedding friends on the way by speaking out.
Thank you so much! You are really inspiring - and even if it is mainly the choir at this moment, inspiration can accomplish a lot going forward! 😘
Pat
I stumbled on your postings on Substack and they have been like a life preserver to a drowning man. In a year of horrible darkness when I've felt like the whole world has gone insane, it is so powerful to hear a kindly voice, to read words of support and to know that we are not alone. As the child of a Holocaust survivor, I often found myself trying to understand, viscerally, what my mother felt. Now, unfortunately, I think I have some sense. I think so many Jews, like me, have felt so utterly along and abandoned by those we saw as allies and friends. Hearing from you, and the handful of brave souls like you, who are speaking up in the face of so much hate, and facing very real consequences for doing so, helps me maintain my faith in humanity.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank you and God Bless you.
This is why I do this. I didn't realize it when I started ... Thank you Shalom!
Merry Christmas and thank you for the Hanukkah wishes but mostly I want to thank you for all you do for us all year. Your moral compass, intelligence, analysis and fabulous sense of humour helped me through a dark year, helped me continue to write and fight without losing hope. I wish your columns were required reading for all high school and university students. Thank you a million times.
You are so kind, Cynthia. Thank you! Chag sameach!
Thank you ! You are correct your writing helps Jews feel a bit less alone. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Diane!
You call yourself a writer, but what you really are is a thinker who can express himself well in writing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who can write well, but can't think, and so all they do is churn out lies or drivel! You communicate the truth! And we all thank you for it!
Thank you Vivian!
Thank you big time for your writing! I feel so less alone and your insights are incredible. ❤️ you!
Thank you Laurie!
I believe/hope that I have said it before, but again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support. It has meant so much to me, for all of the reasons that you have outlined. All the best of the holiday season to you!
Thank you Ian. Happy holidays!
Excellent post, Pat! Thank you for work this past year, and happy holidays to you and yours!
Thanks Derek. And to you!
I’m just going to repeat what others said here, but felt another voice confirming how important your words are wouldn’t go amiss. I have no Jewish support system (areligious), so the support I get is from Substack writers and the Jewish subreddit. Despite a supporting non-Jewish husband, I feel alone, and what keeps me gobsmacked is that the cr*p is never ending. There are positive lights coming, but meanwhile, the hits keep coming. My friends don’t want to hear about my concerns (still not sure why, except that I’ve realized that most non-Jews just don’t care, and most liberals don’t want to see what open borders has done and could do in the future), and those who will talk to me say things that drive me crazy. (One indicated that Israel is not a black and white issue, and that I won’t listen to the “other side”. There is ONE side, and I told her that, and got a head-shake in return.) So hearing your excellent words, especially from a non-Jew, is extraordinarily helpful. Thank you.
Thank you Tina!!
I think you have the answer to your question, Pat. The "choir" wants to hear you, and the choir has been bruised and battered. Also writing what you honestly believe in is therapeutic, whereas writing to influence a certain segment of the population is a chore. Let's stand in support of selfish writing pleasures.
You are very kind David. Thank you!
I am sure you are reaching a wide audience. I have been referred to your writing by a number of people. I don’t know if I am your target audience but I certainly appreciate your honesty, efforts, and ability to engage, but even more, purity of your heart.
Thank you Ilana!~
I want to join the chorus of grateful voices. Indeed, as a Jew who has asked why we are hated my whole life, your writing has given me new insights and knowledge. I am also very moved that a person who is not Jewish cares enough to research and write about anti semitism
Todah Nurit!
Here's to 1, 2 and 3!
Also...there is a spiritual component to articulating the truth, and to reading it.
Will update my subscription to paid.
Thank you and please keep going.
Try and stop me!