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Hello friends! Some of you may remember this post I made a few weeks ago after I had the privilege of speaking at an event celebrating Palestinian culture.

Today, I had the chance to deliver this sermon at the synagogue I attend (a Canadian, Conservative and Zionist congregation).

Shabbat Shalom

This week's parsha, Vayeshev, continues one of the grand narratives of the book of Bereishit, the story of a man--Abraham--who started a family that became a tribe, and that tribe which would go on through the other sifrei Torah, the books of Shemot and beyond, to become a nation.

The stories in Bereishit, and particularly in Vayeshev, reveal the complexity of familial relations. This week's story starts with Jacob playing favourites amongst his sons for reasons we can understand from the stories we heard in previous weeks. And then we see the devastating impacts of that favouritism on the family: rupture, resentment, and murderous rage. And yet, despite the pain and trauma that arises from Jacob's blatant favouritism, the Torah does not condemn Jacob. We later come to see that the familial rupture caused by Jacob's favouritism is the foundation for the salvation and sustenance of B'nei Israel. Had Joseph not been cast into the pit and sold to the Midianites, the nation of our heritage may never have come to exist.

In a discussion of Vayeshev, the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks quotes from The Laws of Repentance, one of the great works of the sage Maimonides: "Therefore we should see ourselves throughout the year as if our deeds and those of the world are evenly poised between good and bad, so that our next act may change both the balance of our lives and that of the world." Rabbi Sacks goes on to explain that although Reuben's intervention to save Joseph was less effective than he had intended--a Midrash says, "Had Reuben known that the Holy One blessed be He would write about him, “When Reuben heard this, he saved him,” he would have lifted Joseph bodily onto his shoulders and taken him back to his father."--Reuben's intervention serves to show us that the long-term impacts of our actions can be more significant than we would ever think.

It's clear that Reuben's intervention saved Joseph in the short term, and played a vital role in the long term survival of his people--our people. I would also argue that Reuben's intervention saved his other brothers in the short term. Joseph may have been a brother from another mother, but he was still family. Jacob's grief when he thought that Joseph had been torn apart by wild animals is heartbreaking enough; imagine the horror if his sons had returned with Joseph's coat and their hands soaked in Joseph's blood.

I invite you to think about this idea: when members of a family decide to enact their worst impulses--even if we can understand where those impulses come from--it is so important for someone within the family to say, "no, this isn't who we are, this isn't what we want to become."

And here my remarks to you today are going to take a hard left turn. Those of you who know a bit about me and my politics will understand why I use that turn of phrase and may have some idea of where I'm headed.

I'm going to start with a comparison that may seem kind of contrived and superficial, but bear with me. I recently had the pleasure of attending a Palestinian cultural night, and there I learned about their style of embroidery known as tatreez. If you've ever seen a Palestinian woman dressed in a traditional thawb you'll be familiar with the vibrant colours and intricate patterns of tatreez, not unlike the coat of many colours that Joseph wore.

And yes, here I am suggesting that we the Jewish people are to Palestinians as the sons of Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah were to Joseph, son of Rachel. Our lineages are not identical, but there is much that we share in terms of heritage and culture. Obviously we both have a profound connection to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. We Jewish people have a history of being subjected to the whims of imperial powers, of being colonized and expelled, and in that way our past resembles the Palestinian present. We honour the memories and stories of figures who resisted colonial forces: Hanukkah is right around the corner and we celebrate the story of the Maccabees. Other figures of resistance that have a prominent place in Jewish lore are the martyrs of Masada, and those of the Bar Kochba rebellion. And on a completely different note I can also point out that we share with the Palestinians a commitment to literacy and learning, with literacy rates in the West Bank and Gaza of nearly 98% (as of 2022).

I understand why, in this post-October 7 world, it may be hard--impossible even--for some of us to see ourselves and Palestinians as part of the same family. I acknowledge the historical traumas inflicted on our people, the raw and open psychological wounds from seeing people like us treated brutally and cruelly, and the grief we share knowing that there are still people held captive by those who we can't trust to see us as kin. These undeniable realities may mean that Palestinians can only appear to some of us as mortal enemies and as an existential threat. I will say that the Palestinians I've had a chance to speak to face-to-face have been nothing but welcoming and gracious when I approach them with a spirit of brotherly love, but just because that is the right path for me doesn't mean that everyone else needs to follow in my footsteps.

To any of you who aren't ready to embrace Palestinians as family, please indulge me in suggesting another way that you can make a difference and give life to the words of Maimonides "that our next act may change both the balance of our lives and that of the world." You may know people whose sense of pain and hate is so strong that it leads them to engage in or to rationalize the unconscionable. I probably can't reach those people; once they get a sense of my perspective, they will label me and write me off as a traitor, a Hamas supporter, a useful idiot, a self-hating Jew. But some of you may be able to reach them, and save them as Reuben saved his brothers from the consequences of their worst impulses. You may find yourself in places, whether physical or virtual, where others in our Jewish family feel entitled to celebrate and encourage ongoing devastations and injustices being inflicted on Palestinians, most of whom are innocent of any wrongdoing. If and when you see that, I ask--no I beg of you-- that you please use your voice to remind our brothers and sisters of the 13 attributes of Hashem's mercy:

Adonai, Adonai, el rachum ve-chanun, erech apayim ve-rav chesed ve-emet, notzer chesed la-alafim, noseh avon vafeshah ve-chata'ah ve-nakeh.

My Lord! My Lord! God of compassion and grace. Slow to anger and full of lovingkindness and truth. Bestowing kindness to thousands of generations. Forgiving transgression, iniquity and sin. Granting of pardons.

We may find that like Reuben in this week's parsha, our attempts to intervene are less immediately effective than we would like, but with the passage of time we may discover that they are actually more impactful than we ever would have thought possible. I truly believe, and I hope you will take some time to consider, that our collective safety as Jews, here in the diaspora and especially in Israel, will only be secured when we find true and lasting ways of living those attributes of mercy, b'tselem elohim*,* in the image of god, in relation to Palestinians.

Thank you for bearing with me for this long. I'm going to wrap up right away.

Some of you may be familiar with the late Canadian writer and broadcaster, Stuart McLean, and his Dave and Morley stories from his radio show, The Vinyl Cafe. For those of you who don't know, The Vinyl Cafe is also the name of the independent record store that Dave runs in the stories, and it has one of the greatest and most memorable slogans I've ever encountered: "We may not be big, but we're small."

I think the same can also be said of us here in this congregation, in this community. Like Dave as proprietor of The Vinyl Cafe, we understand that our success is not measured in growth and size, it's measured in the depth of connections we forge among ourselves and with the wider community. Now more than ever, those connections are so important. We can use those deep connections to bring people together and call for peace. If we don't, the consequences for ourselves here and especially for our family in Israel could be dire. And here I do want to emphasize that while I've mostly spoken about family in a more metaphorical sense, when I talk about family in Israel I also mean it literally, as many of you know.

Every week during this service we say a prayer for peace, and I think it is worth dwelling on this line from that prayer: "We have not come into being to hate or to destroy, we have come into being to praise, to labour and to love." And it is with that spirit of love for this local community, the global Jewish community, the Palestinians who have held my outstretched hand, and the human family that we are all a part of, that I leave you with these two statements: Shabbat Shalom, and Free Palestine.

It was actually received pretty well.

CW: Bullying

This is a vent post and sorry if this doesn't belong here, I just have to get it off my chest.

They (and the entire school system really) made my life a living hell every single day for years. They inflicted all sorts of violence (including sexual) on me, humiliated me every single day and the whole school outcasted me, while their parents supported them and the teachers did nothing but blame it on me for "maladjustment". I was treated like less than dirt. They led me to multiple suicide attempts and left a lasting trauma that affects me to this day.

Recently I checked some of their social media accounts to see what they're up to, and what a surprise - they're doing their reservist service in Gaza, committing genocide. They upload their gleeful photos near ruins in Gaza and make fun of the Palestinians they murder and torture, while the teachers who stood and watched me get tormented praise them while posting their yellow ribbons and whining about "hostages" and October 7th. I cannot even begin to imagine the horrors these demons are now inflicting on Palestinians.

Super weird i know. but curious to know which books get this label to you all. i’ve read so many books on israel’s treatment of palestinians. but kinda wanting to read the misinformation so i actually understand where the talking points are coming from and what they are based on.

https://jewishcurrents.org/inside-yale-police-department-war-student-protesters-palestine

What methods would they have used, and if possible, share photos of a similar manual (hand created) process and what it might have looked like.

Thank you.

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.

Should I make a YouTube channel where I talk about my non-zionist beliefs?

I'm a convert and love Judaism with all my heart and soul but I reject Zionism and understand that the Torah warns us against such dangerous ideals.

Some people tell me that because of my demeanor and appearance, I might blow up and I'm not sure if I could handle it and what the potential backlash might be. Like me literally being blown up. (I live in America, white woman in my 20s)

Perhaps I'm egotistical BUT I want to dismantle Zionism!

It is the golden calf of our times. And I want to destroy it. I'll aim to speak more diplomatically in my videos and make references to scripture, the news, and the agenda of Zionists.

What could go wrong? Ha

Thoughts, warnings, advice?

Over the past week, my Instagram has been flooded with ads from a campaign called "Stand Up to Hate." It didn't take me long to discover tis was the newest project by Robert Kraft, a billionaire Trump donor and ardent supporter of Israel.

Kraft, who once gave a CNBC interview comparing pro-Palestine campus protestors to Nazis, founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) to counter anti-Zionist sentiment on social media.

Read the piece here

Researching Kraft and his foundation revealed a troubling pattern of conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, watering down white-nationalist antisemitism in the process.

My most recent essay is a deep into Kraft's Israel advocacy, FCAS' strategy, and how organizing for a free Palestine is both an act of solidarity and a method of combatting antisemitism.

Let me know what you all think!

If you enjoy this type of writing and want to support me get the word out to more people, you can subscribe to my newsletter for free!

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-12-19/ty-article/.premium/idf-not-updating-gaza-target-list-resulting-in-killing-innocent-civilians-seeking-shelter/00000193-dea5-d8a1-ad9b-ffff5c800000

This seems pretty damning 😩

Hi everyone,

​

This is our weekly 'Free Discussion' thread, where you can discuss anything. Tentatively this includes meta-topics as well, but as always our rules still apply.

We hope you're all having a good week!

So basically, I live in Israel. Recently, I just found out that this subreddit is a thing, and more generally, that there are a lot of Jewish people (non Israelis) who've had enough of the brainwash and lies that many of us were fed with for years. To be honest, I kind of envy you. You can speak freely about your opinions, there are probably many people around you who share the same or similar views. You have a place in community and a sense of belonging. I don't. I really have zero emotional connection to this place and what it represents. I don't want to live anymore in a society that doesn't value human life. I hate to see how people celebrate the suffer of others and enjoy it. All that hate is overwhelming to endure. I'm currently 19 and I wish there's still hope for me, but I can't help it, I feel helpless. I mean, fortunately, I'm exempted from the military because of my mental health, but contrary to what some people could perhaps expect, I don't have any other citizenship. Also, I'm afraid that I wouldn't be accepted into other societies; How would people react once they realize I'm an Israeli? I don't want to be automatically associated with all the terrible things that've happened in Gaza (or to Palestinians in general). How do I remove that identity curse from me? How can I make people realize that I'm the complete opposite of the demonic image they have in their minds?

In my area of the U.S. (I live in Jamaal Bowman's Congressional District . . . .), local Zionist advocates (who supported Latimer) will make comments such as that they strongly oppose Netanyahu and see him as an objectionable, right-wing figure, but at the same time will make much of their own nominal support for a "two-state solution," as if their moderation in this regard vindicates their pro-Israel stances.

In my view, some years ago, a peaceful settlement was much more possible, and a two-state solution (whether I agreed with it in principle or not) was viable.

But Netanyahu has worked systematically to make moderate solutions less and less possible, including by constant settlement expansion in violation of both international law and U.S. policy (the national platform of the Democratic Party in the U.S. says "we oppose settlement expansion").

The settlement expansion among other issues simply makes it much much harder to draw any kind of territorial map that will effectuate a two-state solution. The way in which Netanyahu has systematically worked to increase tensions has made it less likely that a peace deal will be popularly accepted and successfully implemented.

Thomas Friedman: "From 30,000 feet, Prime Minister Netanyahu really had a very intentional policy of strengthening Hamas and weakening the Palestinian Authority. So strengthening the Palestinian group that would never recognize Israel while weakening the one that would."

In my view, with moderate solutions increasingly far-fetched, radical solutions become more appropriate. This situation flows directly from Israeli policies, as implemented by popularly elected Israeli officials over a period of years. Although the more radical solutions to the conflict (which is now not only a conflict but a severe crisis), such as a 'one democratic state' solution or even (as grows increasingly defensible) simply allowing an Arab or Arab-Islamist government to rule the territory, are not desired by mainstream American Zionists, the narrowing of options flows from democratic choices by Israeli society and it seems to me that the "elections have consequences" principle should apply.

Hi all, I’m sorry if this isn’t the right place to ask - but is it possible to convert to Judaism if you don’t support Israel? I was in the process of converting in October 2023, but I stopped attending the temple I originally went to when they said that Israeli lives were worth more than Palestinian lives. Since then, I haven’t actually been able to find a temple or shul in my area that works with converts and isn’t pro-Israel (I live in Portland, OR)

I asked this question on another Jewish subreddit and was called a Hamas supporter and the overwhelming majority of responses said that I can’t convert if I don’t support Israel, but I figured I’d ask here as well.