r/JewsOfConscience • u/sourb0i • 13d ago
Op-Ed Antizionist Jewish Discord?
I live in a very rural area, and there are only two jewish families that I know of within driving distance- both of which are pretty zionist. However, i would love to discuss Torah, Jewish philosophy/theology and politics with people on a more personal level (for example, a group to talk about each week's Parsha). Does anyone know of any Discord groups (or other social media) that are like this?
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u/ContentChecker Jewish Anti-Zionist 11d ago
We have a moderator Discord, which could maybe one day become a JoC community Discord too.
Having a good Discord mod team would be crucial to ensure it wouldn't just be another potential vector for infiltration/harassment.
We already have a lot of disgruntled stalkers on Reddit. So I think the main issue is ensuring safety for our users.
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u/douglasstoll Reconstructionist 13d ago
Shabbat shalom, many of us who are observant don't post much on the Sabbath, I usually try to refrain but I wanted to reach out so you didn't feel ignored.
To be honest, this is one of the most consistent communities I've found. Also Tzedek Chicago is pretty wonderful. It is a lonely time for those of us opposed to the state of Israel and their occupation of our Palestinian siblings.
I got lucky in that my closest Reconstructionist Shul is open to the difficult conversations, and while not explicitly anti-Zionist by any measure, it holds space for those that are to feel welcomed, which is frankly a rare thing within much of so-called institutional Judaism these days. For myself, this both/and community has let me learn so much about what Zionism and the state of Israel mean for our Zionist siblings, to build my own empathy. To be clear, I am staunchly opposed, but hearing someone's story whose parents and family felt rescued by Israel from oppression within the Soviets, that's a powerful story.
I'm sorry I don't know a specific discord link, I don't use discord much myself. This reddit community is great. The Judaism Unbound networks and communities are not expressly anti-Zionist but make a specific point of legitimizing and validating Jewish anti-Zionist perspectives, and are an incredible community to learn with. Svara too, if you want to get talmudic. Tzedek Chicago for liturgy and holidays. Your local anti fascists for throwing bricks. Your neighbors for mutual aid.
My family has been more and more "visibly Jewish" for a breadth of reasons, safety through solidarity, inviting curiosity, standing up in the face of actual antisemitisms, and show that Jews opposed to the legal state of Israel exist and aren't just ultra Orthodox.