“A passion for Jewish peoplehood — for the collective identity and survival of the Jewish people, and a concern for the actual individual Jewish people who make up the peoplehood — requires the inconvenient act of caring about the survival and safety of Jews everywhere regardless of the version of antisemitism that they face or that they fear.”
Source: Yehuda Kurtzer, “Antisemitism, and the Inconvenience of Collective Identity”
“People love dead Jews. Living Jews, not so much.”
Source: Dara Horn, “Becoming Anne Frank” (Smithsonian)
“Progressives can and should debate Israeli government policies, and American government policies, and Chinese government policies, and stand firmly on the side of justice. In doing so, they must not impose litmus tests for Jews or disregard the historical Jewish experience of marginalization, oppression, and mass murder—and they must acknowledge Jewish self-determination in our indigenous homeland as a human right.”
Source: Carly Pildis, “Anti-Zionism Has No Place in the Progressive Movement” (Tablet)
“The whole point of ‘Anti-Zionism on Campus’ is that it takes courage to speak out in defense of Israel on campus today. ‘[C]ampus anti-Israelists are in it for the long haul,’ writes [Andrew] Pessin in an epilogue titled ‘Inconclusive, Unscientific Postscript: On the Purpose of the University, and a Ray of Hope.’ He continues: ‘It remains unclear whether those who do not believe that Israel is an unqualified abomination will be able to stay in it for the long haul as well. It is a hard battle to fight, and the personal costs are great.’
His words are intended to inspire — and, perhaps, to shame — the reader to speak up for his or her convictions in the face of anti-Zionism wherever it is found. When compared with what others have already given to the cause of the Jewish state, and what the citizens of Israel continue to give, it is not much to ask of anyone who proudly calls himself or herself a Zionist.”
Source: Jonathan Kirsch, review of Anti-Zionism on Campus: The University, Free Speech and BDS, edited by Andrew Pessin and Doron S. Ben-Atar (Jewish Journal)
“I understand why some Jews are alienated from Judaism or don’t see it as relevant to their lives, but I think it’s important for them to give Judaism another chance. If you’re Jewish, it is in you. Even if you weren’t raised with it, it’s somewhere in your genetic code, in your kishkes [gut].”
“The Holiness Hidden Within The World: Rabbi Rachel Timoner On Rediscovering Judaism,” interview conducted by Laura Esther Wolfson (The Sun)
I’ve been trying (with mixed success) to keep up with texts and videos of Holy Day sermons. Here’s one that I discovered (via Rabbi Jeff Salkin), that left an especially strong impression. Continue reading ›
Erika Dreifus is a freelance writer and book publicist. She is also the editor and publisher of The Practicing Writer, a free (and popular) e-newsletter that features opportunities and resources for fictionists, poets, and writers of creative nonfiction.
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