Glimmer of hope for my Anti-Zionist Jewish brothers and sisters

[u/yazkan92]

Hello all,

I have been going through the posts on this sub and I noticed alot of Anti-Zionist Jews are going through rough times within their community and family and I just have a few words of gratitude and encouragement.

As a Palestinian growing up in west Asia, there was alot of conflation between Jews and Zionists which lead to many Palestinians and Arabs associating Judaism with oppression (in my opinion this is by design as it keeps both sides from having dialogue and fuels antisemitism rhetoric which is weaponized by Israel). it took me coming to Canada as a refugee and to meet brave people like you for me to separate the two and start educating myself on the difference.

It is because of people like you, that I strive to educate my own community to ensure Zionism and Judaism are not conflated, and to confront true anti-semitism when seen in plain view.

So many are trying to suppress your voices and with good reason as you are the biggest threat to the last remnants of western colonialism and imperialism. So please, keep raising your voices because you have no idea the impact it has on changing the status quo and bringing people together.

You are the domino piece that fell and will change generations of Jews to come, you are the voice that will raise your kids to understand that never again is for everyone. Please keep spreading awareness and educating people from your community because the only way change will come is if the Jewish community (especially in Israel) wakes up to the horrors being inflicted on the Palestinians and refuses to participate.

I know many of you are suffering the consequences of speaking out and taking a stand but I would just like to say thank you for standing against injustice and oppression. it is not easy being ostracized by your own, not easy to cut ties with years of brainwashing and conditioning especially to Jews who live or have family in Israel.

You are the beacon of hope for the future so do not despair and keep pushing, boycotting, educating and speaking out. History will remember your bravery, and your children and grandchildren will look back at you as being a moral beacon of light through these dark times. You may not see the impact you have today, but in time, this will be pivotal to dismantling this apartheid state and creating a one state for all.

[u/douglasstoll]

I feel like we, or at least my self personally, do not deserve this praise; but the intention of hope and love is felt and returned deeply, my sibling. Shalom aleichem, salaam alaikum.

[u/yazkan92 → u/douglasstoll]

I think the impact of speaking out or even changing your position on Israel as a state has huge implications and it is understated/diminished when looking at the current status quo, but years of propaganda and orientalism is the reason apathy and not empathy is prevalent in today's society on Palestine.

The fact that you may influence your neighbor, cousin, parents, friends from your community and change their perspective has massive ripple effects that will slowly and surely propagate through people. This will in turn affect future generations and in the long term affect the credibility and foundation of the Zionist project to the point that people will reconsider the state as it is now and question where they're going.

Anti-semitism or impacts of Anti-semitism worldwide has decreased substantially (still exists but much less) compared to a millennia ago because of the power of narrative and awareness. The same applies to Palestinians and Palestinian liberation to which unfortunately the fruits of this genocide won't be seen until years later.

[u/Adept_Thanks_6993]

I appreciate it. What's frustrating is how difficult it is for people to accept the basics. I really do believe some Zionists think they're on another plane of reality. If it's illegal for Russia, or China, or Syria or whoever to do a specific war crime, it should be illegal for our bloc too. Right? Am I crazy or does that seem normal?

But if I'm to be charitable to them, it's not that I don't sympathize. My great-grandfather and my grandfather (z'l) was enslaved to build latrines, the women and children were shot or gassed in Gross-Rosen, and my great-uncle was in the Sonderkommando. You think I don't want a Jewish state after all that? Of course I do. But more importantly than that, I don't want to have to look my baby cousin from Ra'anana in the eye and worry that she does anything similar to other people.

I'm sick of hearing from my PREPpy Reform immediate family about how "Arabs should go to the moon" and "The Israeli cops should beat up the ultra-orthodox protestors" (no joke! both real comments!) and then word vomit about "tikkun olam" or whatever the fuck. And then in the Orthodox community I found, they started saying the same things about Palestinians that anyone else would call Nazi rhetoric. And now my Gentile father is getting in on it? Has everyone just gone utterly fucking insane? Have I gone insane??? I'm ONE sensory overload from abandoning my family and re-embracing the Triple Gem in fucking Taiwan or some shit.

[u/yazkan92 → u/Adept_Thanks_6993]

You are definitely sane. Years of conditioning and propaganda mixed with inherited trauma from actual anti-semitism does have that effect. Having recently watched "Israelism" (if you haven't you really should), the indoctrination or conditioning starts at a very early age and dismisses even the existence of Palestinians as a people and dehumanizes them from the get go.

I find it difficult to convince the older generation as most are not receptive to change their 30 40+ year old views however the change can come from the younger generation and future ones.

I find it interesting that you are saying that the Orthodox community has begun pushing the same rhetoric, as they are the community most present in protests and standing up for Palestinian rights.

[u/Adept_Thanks_6993 → u/yazkan92]

In all honesty the whole thing of Jewish denominationalism applies less in Israel than it does in the Diaspora: as most Israeli Jews are not from places where the schism that led to denominations happened (i.e-Central Europe). What we would call "Orthodox" Jews in America and Israel have similar theological beliefs, but operate somewhat differently on a socio-cultural level.

The Haredi Jews in Israel have their own beef with the Israeli government that is separate from the struggle for Palestinian liberation, but not exactly invalid either given Israeli cops beating them in the streets. While there are a valued few who do support Palestinians, there are plenty who are just as racist against Arabs as Religious Zionists.

[u/yazkan92 → u/Adept_Thanks_6993]

I am curious about the beef between Haredi Jews in Israel and the government, is related to the draft exemption only? How are they ideologically different than "regular" orthodox Jews?

[u/eitzhaimHi]

Thank you for taking a moment to write this. Every glimmer brings warmth.

[u/yazkan92 → u/eitzhaimHi]

Keep fighting the good fight!

[u/zarakor]

I second this so much. I strive to educate people and it's your voices that I amplify the most. Coming from someone who "looks like you ", the message isn't as eye-opening as when it comes from "the perceived enemy". Humans are humans. That's not always easy for people to see. You help us show the world that humanity is universal.

[u/accidentalrorschach]

Thank you so very much for your encouraging and kind words and for taking the time to post here so thoughtfully! It does indeed help so much to hear that building genuine connections can shine through the some of the darkness to illuminate our shared humanity.

Growing up one of my closest friends was Muslim and she asked me not to tell her father I was Jewish. This confused me at the time, but now I see that many Middle Easterners may associate the harm the state of Israel has caused with all Jews, like you said. Sadly we face that problem now more than ever before... :(

I agree completely with your opinion that this conflation is "...by design as it keeps both sides from having dialogue and fuels antisemitism rhetoric which is weaponized by Israel..." I sometimes also wonder if even the very founding of Israel was also designed to cause harm to both Jewish and Muslim communities....to divide us and incite one another to tear each other apart. That is perhaps a very cynical and paranoid take, but I can't help but wonder if it was sometimes...

I refuse to let hate win. And that goes for my more difficult feelings about my identity as Jew this past year, I won't let state-sanctioned violence define Judaism for me, and I will not be silent on it either.

Humankind is better than this, and we know it. We are going to need a lot of compassion, love, and resilience to get through the years ahead.

Thank you for being here! Much love to you

[u/yazkan92 → u/accidentalrorschach]

British and American inherited colonial powers knew what they are doing when they carved out West Asia and created a European colony in the middle.

They are the OG antisemites after all!

The fictitious arab Jewish conflict narrative is the base which Israel is founded on.

Fear is a powerful component to bring people together for a common goal even if those people don't share the same culture or tradition. It was the only way to get for example Arab Jews who did not agree with European colonial views on the region as inferior, to agree to be part of the fabric of Israeli society and strip them of the Arab part of their culture.

You should keep in mind and I know many Jews may not know this but Jews have always prospered in the Arab world. Especially during the height of antisemitism in Europe.

Sephardic Jews for example found safety from Spains queen Isabella in Muslim Morrocco for example during the pogroms in Spain.

Prior to 1948 believe or not, there were Palestinian Jews living in harmony with the Palestinian Muslims and Christians, there was no distinction between both. In fact, my grandmother (may she rest in peace) used to tell me that when she was a child her parents used to leave her and her sisters with their Palestinian Jewish neighbour's to babysit whenever they go out...funny isn't it.

You should keep in mind that religiously Jews and Muslims share very similar beliefs and principles, which was the basis of this harmony. Culturally, the Arab Jewish population shared the same traditions as the country or region they lived in.

I would recommend reading Avi Shlaim an Israeli historian or watching his interviews as he explains in detail what I'm talking about here.

[u/a_f_s-29 → u/yazkan92]

I love Avi so much, he’s a pure soul and a true intellectual.

[u/xathirea]

I’m struggling a lot with this right now. There are no anti-Zionist voices within my community. My rabbi has forbidden any kind of criticism of Israel because she says it will cause divisions, but she ignores when people say the most dehumanising and disgusting things about Palestinians or blindly praise the Israeli government and army and refuse to acknowledge anything else. It’s horrifying, depressing and it breaks my heart.

Just like you I refuse to let hate win. I’m trying as hard as I can to educate the people around me and share Palestinian voices with them. I can only hope this conflict will end soon and that someday Israel will recognise and uphold international law.

And thank you for your kind words, it means so much to me. It’s people like you that give me the hope and strength to carry on. I hope there will be peace in our time.

[u/CkPleaser]

Thank you for this post. I never would have imagined that being vocally opposed to genocide and crimes against humanity would be so controversial. It can be lonely when surrounded by family and friends who have strong fascist leanings.

[u/BooknFilmNerd09]

I don’t think “the only way change will come is if the Jewish community wakes up” at all. It’s by Israel being forced to obey international law, and subsequently be dismantled.

Most Israelis are sadly never going to view Palestinians as human beings while the settler colony still exists, and tragically, I think a majority of Jews living outside of Israel will keep supporting Zionism for as long as the Zionist project continues in Palestine.

[u/NeitherFollowing4305 → u/BooknFilmNerd09]

I agree that Israel being forced to obey international law is vital to creating change and establishing peace, but i think completely dismantling the state of Israel could cause more problems than it would solve. I believe that the modern state of Israel cannot keep existing as it currently is due to all the displacement, destruction and death that it has caused and will continue to cause to Palestine, the Middle east and the wider world, but i also do not believe it is my place as someone who is not Jewish or Palestinian to say whether or not it should exist at all.

And whilst it does look like almost every single Israeli views the Palestinian people as subhuman, there are Israelis alive today who do view Palestinian's as people who have the right to be free and prosper. There are young, conscientious objectors in Israel who are rejecting the apartheid regime, such as Iddo Elam and Soul Behar Tsalik, who are facing jail time for their refusal (these two young men included). I am aware that they are a very small minority in Israel, however i don't believe that it is fair to claim that most Israelis will "never" view Palestinians as human beings. Even though the settler colony still exists, change is happening before us and Israelis and diaspora Jews are fighting for that change and attending protests despite having more on the line at risk than most of us allies.

My point is- there are Israelis and many diaspora Jews who are already wake/waking up and their contribution big or small to the Palestinian cause is valuable. We, as supporters of Palestine and the Palestinian people, cannot give up on the rest of the Jewish community and treat them as if they are a lost cause.