House Jew, Field Jew
“I find very little interesting conversation about what Zionism is,” announced Peter Beinart to Tablet on Saturday. “The term has become so politicized and associated with the right that this is a moment where the question of what Zionism is and the variety of different Zionisms that can exist really needs to be discussed.”
One can’t help but agree with him. I for one long for an active discussion of the theories of Herzl, Nordau, Weizmann, Ehad Ha’am, Jabotinsky, Syrkin, Katznelson, Berdichevsky, Gordon, etc., etc.; and the myriad permutations of Zionism enacted by their various followers.
That is not, however, what Beinart has in mind; which is not surprising, since one doubts he has ever heard of any of the men mentioned above; with the exception of Herzl and, perhaps, Jabotinsky, with the recognition, no doubt, that he must despise the latter and regard the former with tentative and reserved respect, if only to note how lamentable is the failure of his followers to live up to his glorious dream.
What Beinart does have in mind has, in fact, almost nothing to do with Zionism: A group blog called “Zion Square” at the Daily Beast, in which various figures associated with the left in Israel and abroad will opine on Israel and the Middle East. “Through the blog,” says his director of editorial operations, described by Tablet as “excited,” “Peter will bring a lot of different viewpoints.”
Indeed he will, as is borne out to a point well beyond irony by the news that one of the participants, Yousef Munayyer, upon whom Beinart was particularly keen, had specially written to Tablet in order to emphasize that “he does not support a Jewish democratic state,” and is a “firm supporter of the Palestinian right to return, an end to the Israeli occupation and equal rights for all people living throughout the land regardless to religion, nationality or ethnic background.”
Given certain realities that hardly need mentioning, Munayyar supports an Arab supremacist state in place of Israel. Whatever this may be, it is most decidedly un-Zionist, leaving one to wonder why, exactly, Mr. Beinart was interested in, let alone keen on, including Mr. Munayyar among his contributors.
There is, of course, the possibility that Mr. Beinart is simply living in his own world, comfortably insulated from reality. He claims for example, that “one of the defining characteristics of the organized Jewish community’s discussion is the Palestinian voices rarely have a chance to be heard by a Jewish audience.” This may well be one of the most ludicrous statements ever uttered by a man with a pedigreed education. As anyone who has so much as glanced at a newspaper, the internet, or a TV news report in the last decade can tell you, Palestinian voices are ubiquitous. They are inescapably everywhere, blared from television and computer screens the world over on a daily basis, and are impossible for Jews to ignore even if we wanted to, and often violently imposed upon us by Palestinian supporters and apologists, especially on college campuses. I doubt there is an actively Zionist Jew at any of America’s major universities who has not been, at one point or another, physically threatened by a Palestinian voice.
What is also ubiquitous, inescapable, and everywhere, however, is Jews like Beinart, who have salvaged otherwise drifting careers and explained away otherwise troubling facts by adopting a stance toward Israel and Zionism — about which, in fact, they know very little — that is characterized by a studied ambivalence, a critical stance, ethical qualms, perhaps even a troubled relationship. For non-Jews who regard Israel and its supporters with little more than unabashedly racist contempt, this is all terribly gratifying, of course (it is, after all, the price of club membership), but it is neither — as its practitioners imagine it to be — particularly new or original. It amounts to little more, in the end, than your average public auto-da-fe, the ancient reality that Jews must always apologize for standing up for themselves; gentiles never do.
It is not particularly new in historical terms either. There have always been Jews willing to leap to the defense — or at least to listen to the voices — of those who would, if given half a chance, slit their and their children’s throats. The Russian pogroms, the 1929 Arab riots, the 1939 Arab riots, the terrorism and war of the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, 80s, ‘ 90s, the Crown Heights pogrom, the second intifada, suicide bombing, mass murder: all have had their Jewish defenders. Some so passionate that the Zionist Berl Katznelson, of whom Beinart has likely never heard, felt the need to rise and accuse and ask:
Is there another whose sons have become so intellectually and spiritually corrupted that everything their people does, all its creations and sufferings, are degraded and hated, and everything their people’s enemy does, every robbery and every murder and every rape fills their hearts with admiration and infatuation?
Of course, there may be, but I doubt they will be given a group blog on one of America’s premier web sites, or a book deal, or a lecture tour, or in fact anything. Indeed, one need only look at how pro-Israel Muslims are treated by the media. For all intents and purposes, they do not exist. Pro-Palestinian Jews, on the other hand, are a fetish so adored that they have become in the eyes of gentiles that worst of all possible totems: a credit to their race.
It is good for the Jew and good for the world that the Jews live alone in their own land. Mr. Beinart’s concept of responsibility for people with power is more than adequately met by modern Israel that is informed by its Judaism. Other cultures have not been as fortunate to have been molded by the seminal experiences of Jews. The current European opposition to Israeli exceptionalism is formed on their unabashed shame of two world wars that they simply could not seem to avoid, just as the US is made in the image of its Revolution and Civil War.
Jews come to the table with the experience of the Exodus from Egypt, where we came kicking and screaming from the slavery that produced the first written description of the Stockholm Syndrome, where we were always looking back to Egypt for examples of the wealth and comfort of the elite that we so desired. Our fight for independence included two and a half tribes out of twelve that demanded to remain outside of Israel proper – east rather than west of the Jordan river and quickly disappeared from the national experience, forty years wandering in the desert because we could not see in our mind’s eye the value of independent living, and then finally more than two thousand years of productive life that educated Jews still remember to this day. Jewish exceptionalism has won its right to exist in the face of all opposition. We continue to integrate past experiences with current ones, rather than reject the past as pollution of the present. We continue to be interested in tradition, law, and precedent. We see the future as the progression of the past, in no way freeing us to do as we see fit without first referencing it. That is such an overwhelming difference that, like any antique or artifact, we look aghast at anyone trying to destroy such a structure or ornament. The Jewish past that we celebrate every year at the time of Passover is the ability to walk away from slavery no matter how enticing it is. It is the first freedom for slaves that did not include personally bloodied hands that stank of the wholesale slaughter of the slave holders. I wonder what Mr. Beinart celebrates when he sits down to his abbreviated Sedar?
Well written. I am not Jewish but a student of history. I would support Israel against any of the middle eastern countries for the very selfish reason of my survival and the survival of all that is good.You have to be an idiot not to realize that the Jews will continue to advance and make the world a better place and the others would,well, just exist and destroy all that is intelligent and good about humanity.Keep working on those artistic friends of your and try to convince them to come over from the dark side. You have explained something to me that has been a puzzlement to me for years.How Jews have endured so much under the “isms” and ,at least in America ,continue to support them.
Wow
Bravo. You’re a real mentsh.
Excellent – clearly stated and deeply felt.
The worry about Jewish power parallels the Left’s general worry about Western power, and its attempt to cast Israel as a colonial outpost reflects the Left’s willful ignorance of the benefits that came from spreading the Western way of life.
It’s part of a larger multi-culti, anti-Western trope – but because Jews are involved, it’s all one turn more tightly screwed.
Ben David:
I agree with your sentiments. We need to do a better job of defending the Western ideas and ideals.
The notion that a pedigreed education means anything, but diddly squat, is worth mentioning. Most are (erroneously) convinced that because someone attends a prestigious university that they know what they are talking about, that somehow they are right (pun intended) in their thinking. They are not.
As a matter of record, I have often commented that the so called smarties are really not so smart. While Harvard is held up as the creme la creme, (with their twin Ivy cohorts) the courses there (except for the hard sciences) are a joke.
Consider: when my son, who attended the ‘other’ school across the Charles (MIT) wanted to rest his weary brain, (oh, those problem sets!) what did he do? He took his humanities requirements at Harvard, as part of a reciprocal relationship between the schools.He was able to attend their classes, garner an easy A, without breaking a sweat.
Why is this tidbit important? It is important because most of these leftist blowhards use their ‘pedigreed’ education, not only as a symbol of their rarefied intellect, but as an attempt to bludgeon others into their way of thinking! IF most understood how easy the classes are at (the likes of) Harvard, they would tune out much of their idiocy, as well as their mendacious lies.
The question must be asked- why is it that so many house/court Jews (and much of the left) hail from the social sciences/humanities? Because getting such a degree is ‘easy as pie’.
As to Jewish power? It’s the blood libel of all blood libels. The oh so powerful Jews seem to have a terrible time beating back the most enduring of hatreds-anti-semitism.
Case closed.
Adina:
As someone who has studied hard sciences, engineering and humanities (Journalism and English literature) later in life, I agree with you. In the sciences and engineering I worked hard, at least 50-60 hours a week at a good university back in the late 1970s and early ’80s; in the humanities, no more than half that time.
Perry, and I up your ante.
I defy ANY elitist blow hard to spend one semester toiling in the hard sciences/engineering at a reputable university. In fact, if they spend one month at MIT or Caltech they will require brain transfusions, simply because they do not have the requisite brain matter to deliver.
Again, the real smarties laugh at the likes of Beinart and crew. They can (intellectually) chew them up and spit them out.
Not so much a house Jew as a poodle. Having never struggled or suffered, it is rather easy for him to pass judgement on those who have earned their success. Exactly who is he a spokesman of? Who is he apologizing for? I wonder what it would take for Peter to defend his Jewish identity? What might provoke him to step off of his fantasy island? I suspect that he would prefer to be lead to the slaughter discussing ethical nuances with his executioner. Ah. the advantages of a higher education.
He’s not covering for anybody but his backside.
He trembles at the least effort a Jew makes at protection.
G0d forbid someone will notice that Beinart is supposedly/allegedly of the same faith.
Beinart? Yawn, a putz.
I sit in Yerushalayim waiting for both Shabbat and my next grandchild, equally imminent, with joy beyond measure.
There is no better answer to the Beinarts of the world than to ignore them, have children and build Eretz Yisroel.
Amen!
Shabat Shalom.
Menachem:
Shabbat shalom. You’re right; it’s always better to build than destroy, which defines the heart of Judaism and the Jewish People. Kol haKavod
Absolutely and the best part is you get to be a human being 24/7 and not just a video game with no soul like Beinart who gets turned on by someone else to amuse them and when no longer needed cast away.
amen and shalom!
The answer you seek my dear friends is to stop referring to JINOs as Jews. It is their game, not ours. This suicidal moron is no more a Jew, than me standing in my garage, makes me a car.
This is a point I’ve always wondered about as a Christian. Here am I, having gone through a pretty ordinary series of events over the years, believing in God, leaving God, coming back to God as my first child stirred in his mother, my wife.
To the best of my knowledge Christians do not look at themselves as a race, perhaps Jews don’t either; maybe some do, I just don’t know. Maybe the Jewish race thing came about by conflating “race” with “people?” When I was a kid, Jewish kids tried to explain the idea of a chosen people, and of course, at a certain age I couldn’t even glimpse what they were telling me. Later, looking at history, I began to wonder more of what “chosen” meant. I agree that anyone can make decisions about their life, that they can walk away from anything or toward anything.
Seriously, is a Jew always a Jew or can he choose not to be? I’m not looking for the big answer. There are innumerable contexts that can be applied to address such a question but I’m more interested in the flavor of
your perspective.
Excellent question. Race in Judaism is not a matter of physical attributes but of a set of beliefs and moral action that bind people together. Amalek a tribe descended from Esau and the eternal enemy is never defined in terms of physical characteristics and neither are the patriarchs themselves. We know their nationality through their works. The same is true of Jews as a Chosen People. They are Chosen to carry through the Creators purpose through a set of predefined mitzvahs but all human beings are chosen as servants to the Creator. It is up to each individual Jew and non-Jew to realize his spiritual nature and pursue. Choseness is not a status but a course.
America itself could be defined as a race and not as a group of races. The race is the commitment to freedom and individual rights.
Mr. G,
I add this to my considerations. StillShrugging (31) gave me quite a bit to chew on as well. On a personal level I gravitate toward the the IDEA of “Jew” (to the extent of my understanding), as I do the IDEA of “American.”
Both of your perspectives are complementary insofar as they both address the extrinsic and intrinsic.
The idea of an American race is not one I’d ever thought of. I’m guessing that it’s a perfectly valid approach within defined contexts, say, of culture. It’s unlikely that I should ever wrap my head around that perspective as preeminent.
In a similar vein, however, I do believe that ideas drive cultures*, that the idea of America which I and millions of others carry in our minds is that of the highest realization, now and in the future, of human worth and potential.
*whether those ideas are tied to our DNA make-up is a whole other kettle of
fish!
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insight on this. T
I’ve dealt with both types of Jews – the self-hating American types, and the happy confident Israeli soldier type. I’ll take the Israeli soldiers.
I’ll second that! Night and day difference.
Am Yisrael Chai — in spite of the Bainarts, Roger Cohens, Tom Friedmans, David Axelrods, et al of the world…
House Jew; Field Jew
Thanks for an adjective one can apply that descriptively soars better than As-a-Jew, Finkler etc.
Not well religiously educated, I figured out before I was 18 that bullets, explosives and Zyklon B gas make no distinction between the observant Jew, the atheist Jew, the communist Jew or the Jew who becomes a Christian. They are all dead.
That realization made me a religious Zionist Jew.
VERY well said.
What is also ubiquitous, inescapable, and everywhere, however, is Jews like Beinart, who have salvaged otherwise drifting careers and explained away otherwise troubling facts by adopting a stance toward Israel and Zionism — about which, in fact, they know very little —…
Peter has copped positions merely as a function of “the price of club membership” ?
I know a certain president, in fact, an entire political movement, for whom that applies.
It’s easy to pontificate from the safe-haven of America. How about sending Mr.Beinart to Iran and keep him there for a while? Then maybe he will have better understanding the meaning of being a Jew in diaspora.
http://www.debka.com/article/21856/
Perfect Title! “House Jew, Field Jew”, says so much with so few words. Beinart is a JINO.
Brilliant article.I see Beinart as the archetypal guy who wants to be considered a leftist at any cost. If he supports Israel, the leftist crowd around him will shun him. He is the good Jew to the left unlike the bad Zionist Jews. It is pretty obvious that he is willing to gamble away the lives of Israelis to make Israel into the leftist utopia of his dreams.
As for Pro-Israel Muslims, I don’t think they are any more representative of Muslims than the Pro-Palestinian Jews are of the Jewish community. But, it’s clear that the media portrays the anti-Zionist Jews as “Courageous” whereas Pro-Israel Muslims are sellouts.In truth, most of the anti-Zionists have plum jobs writing calumnies about Israel while Pro-Israel Muslims face a real threat to their lives.
“whether the Jews are willing to admit that we wield power in a way that we didn’t 50 or 75 years ago, and to acknowledge that with power has to come responsibility”
Yes, and one of those responsibilites, as Ruth Wisse has written, is to make hard decisions between bad alternatives and worse alternatives, so as not to abandon the state’s responsibility to protect its inhabitants from those who actively seek to slaughter them. It’s easy to keep your hands clean when you have no power and no responsibilty. When you have power, you have to live in the real world, not in Beinart’s fantasy world where (he thinks) no one will bother you if you don’t bother them.
As to Adina Kutnicki’s comment; when I went to school the smart ones went into the sciences such as chemistry, physics, maths not the pseudo sciences like environmentalism or climate sciences. The smart ones had the ability to solve problems and employ abstract thinking. The dumb ones took arts particularly sociology, political science and psychology, because you couldn’t fail them. the problem is the smart ones went on to develop computer technology, engineering advances, medical discoveries while the dumb ones developed government policies, political correctness,affirmative action,victim agendas and were most likely to become poiticians. The problem is, for the important things that most effect are daily lives are being led and influenced by the dumb ones while the smart ones contribution has been only to enhance the conveniances of life.
“Is there another whose sons have become so intellectually and spiritually corrupted that everything their people does, all its creations and sufferings, are degraded and hated, and everything their people’s enemy does, every robbery and every murder and every rape fills their hearts with admiration and infatuation?”
The United States?
I’m in total sympathy with the author’s views, but I’m a little uncomfortable with what seems like broad-brush contempt for gentiles. Speaking as one.
Couldn’t agree more, speaking as a Jewish lady.
If you were a farmer, you would understand the Jews better. For farmers, it is so difficult to get things right. At first farmers viewed their results to be the outcome of gods playing with them. If you bowed and scraped enough, the god would bless you. Then farmers developed their art and skill. Although luck still played its part in their crops’ outcomes, the knowledge of farming developed over time. We Jews argue with the Deity all the time. Here’s what we know! Now tell us what we’re missing. Educate us, please. Slowly we begin to appreciate the gift of a world with stable physical laws and we extend that appreciation to human intercourse. We avoid chaos and entropy by stirring the elements of life constantly. Farmers and Jews can both understand how the world operates and appreciate the stability that has been miraculously provided to us.
Since most farmers are not Jewish, not all Gentiles are without understanding. Really dedicated mothers know the same things that farmers know. Since most mothers are not Jewish and therefore, most dedicated mothers are not Jewish, not all Gentiles are without understanding. Since most engineers are not Jewish, not all Gentiles are without understanding. I could go on, but you no doubt get the point. Those people who need things to work out well need not be Jewish. But Jews seem always to want things to work out for the best, for themselves, their families, the Jewish People, and the world. They try to extend the “work out well” concept to a wider view than their personal existence and safety.
This is very good, but it omits the precedent of the “court Jew” of past centuries. People like Beinart can very easily be characterized as Court Jews. I would not be surprised to learn that Malcolm X in part derived his explanation from some familiarity with that idea.
Beinart doesn’t understand that Israel is the most hated country on earth. He doesn’t understand that if Israel is destroyed–has ve-shalom–there will never be a Palestinian state; instead, the neighboring countries will divide the land and persecute the Palestinians, as they always have. Anti-Zionism is a totally selfless movement, committed to destroying Israel and its people no matter what the price.
The following dialog is perpetually taking place between Leftists and Jihadists:
http://www.jochnowitz.net/Essays/AVirtualDialog.html
Did Beinart ever notice the signs at Occupy Oakland and other places? Did he hear what too many of the Occupy were saying on bullhorns in New York? The goyim did, and we hate that kind of thing. The Nazis disgraced the German people forever.The more countenance Beinart and his kind give the Jew-haters, the tighter he sets the noose around his/their own neck. Maybe, deep down, he wants to take a final shower?
Speaking of the Occupy Movement, here’s something about their bowel movements:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ows-protester-caught-video-dumping-human-waste-manhattan-plaza-article-1.1048469
Beinart is not “living in his own world, comfortably insulated from reality.” He sees things as they are, actually.
For example, that Israel is under siege, and it’s open season on Jews everywhere now, too.
So naturally, in light of these revoting developments, he has to take this serious step to protect himself, right?
What you all have to realize is the the founders, the Zionists were by and large Marxist, any the Israel political culture is actually hard left by US standards.
Further there are a large number of Israelis whose ideology, if adopted would result in the death of the state, something they really want. If you don’t believe me, read Arutz Sheva for a while.
The Left’s tactics used against the West, are being used against Israel and because of its ideology and history cannot reply meaningfully by word or dead.
There will be no Third Temple, but there might be a second Shoah, unless Israel finds it heart, and will to live; Beinart has nothing to do with that.
Amen, Amen, and Amen to the article and to the commenters here. Obviously there are many Jews, and Christians, who are awake, alert and more than willing to stand with “field Jews”. And to Rob Crawford, who compared self loathing Jews to the leftist mindset creeping over America’s youth, you are so right!Yours is perhaps the most important comment of all. It is America which has been the difference between complete savagery and hope for humanity. Even at our worst, this nation has been the best hope for humanity on the planet.
Patriotic Americans of all backgrounds must shake off the self hate being drummed into our people by the elite of the media, the universities, and the politicians-most typified by the current president. Thank God for this great nation and God bless America.
It’s a little more complicated than simply dividing people into two groups. Now Mr. Beinart became famous for writing an article in the New York Review of Books that discussed the future of American Judaism and a growing penchant for young American Jews to lose their relationship to Israel. His challenge has refocused the leadership of various denominations, the Jewish Federation and others including those behind Birthright on how best to reinforce that essential relationship. He recently wrote an Op Ed in the NY Times asking people to support targeted boycotts against the Settlements in the West Bank which I find myself completely against. And he has this new platform called “Zion Square,” to generate discussion presumably about the futute of Zionism, Judaism and his new book; “The Crisis of Zionism.” I believe we are all in the field with plenty of work to do and plenty of problems to sort out.
Benjamin; I have always wondered about the rabid anti-semitism/Zionism by so many leberals, including far too many “Jews”. I certainly don’t have an answer. Could you help explain this?
Down through the ages there has always been leftist Jew Quislings and they all came to a bad end. In this time stream the same thing will happen to the “House
Jews”!
a great article, BUT–this line disturbed me:
“We have little trust in the kindness of gentiles because we have rarely enjoyed it.”
I certainly hope this isn’t true, but I have a feeling it is. how else explain the antipathy the Jews had for Sarah Palin, who was–and is–one of the strongest pro-Israel voices out there? my fellow co-religionists need to get over their fear of Christians; the evangelical Christians in this country are our best friends right now.
and with Obama as president, we need all the friends we can get.
Or how about Ron Paul. One of the few people on Israel’s side when it bombed Iraq in 1983. And who says how ending all foreign aid would likely help Israel since the U.S. currently gives about 12 billion to Israel’s enemies. And who says Israel is a sovereign nation that should be treated like one, instead of this weird asking the U.S. for permission all the time etc stuff that goes on.
Netanyahu stands in front of Congress, tells everyone Israel can take care of itself, that it doesn’t need the U.S. to defend it, etc, and everyone cheers. But when someone repeats what Netanyahu said, they get labeled an anti-Semite. Gimme a break.
Before you dismiss my question as “flippant”, I beg you pause and reflect, as I framed it in regards to the American Jewish Community’s perpetual lemming-like plunge off of the “Progressive” Cliff. Q. “What do you call a Jew with a gun?” A. “An Israeli”. Which, to me, answers the seemingly perplexing (to others) question as to why the western world’s media (and the liberal American Jewish community) has turned against their favorite “Underdog” of the post WW II era, “The Jews”; and transmogrified into their former nemesis’, the NAZI’s, mind-set by their overarching (and, in some cases, apparently visceral) hatred of their formerly favorite “Protected” class. (Read media accounts of the horrors of the NAZI concentration camps just post WW II and accounts of two decades or three later to see the stark difference. The answer is almost too crystal clear for all but the most obtuse to ignore; They (the Israeli’s), became conservative and they were too successful against their enemies, the medias new favorite “Underdog”, the newly-created, “Palestinians”.
My only problem with this article, and it may simply be a factor of where the author lives/has lived, is that he puts all Gentiles into a single anti-Semitic group. That is simply not the case! There are many of us Gentiles, especially among–but not limited to–the larger group generally referred to as Evangelical Christians, who are proud to be known for our commitment to the continued existence and safety of the JEWISH state of Israel as well as the Jewish people in general, regardless of where they may live, and we always will regardless of how politically and/or socially unpopular such a stance may become! There are millions of us, and, quite frankly, we, along with American Jews of course, are the only reason why our current presidential administration has given Israel what little support that it has. It will be our voices loudly defending Israel if/when she decides that a strike on Iran is necessary for her survival and then carries out said strike. It will be our voices condemning the anti-Semitic rhetoric that is sure to come from the Left if/when that happens, and it will be our voices warning the president that there will be political consequences to siding against Israel if/when such a strike occurs!
Jews have been discriminated against & persecuted worldwide, including in the United States. Before World War II there was a ship full of Jewish refugees from Germany that was denied entry into the U.S. by FDR, a Leftist of course, despite knowing full well what would happen to them if they returned to Germany. That persecution–to a lesser, but none-the-less very real, extent–continues by the Left to this very day. (These are some of the MANY reasons I can not understand why the Jewish population of the United States is seemingly so dedicated to Liberalism!!! Perhaps this is the ultimate example of Stockholm Syndrome.) Because of this, and the fact that American Jews tend to live in Leftist strongholds like New York, I understand why so many may feel as if they have no friends beyond the Jewish community, but that is a mistake. Israel & the Jewish people do have friends among the Gentiles. I am but one of millions. As I state regularly on my Facebook & Twitter accounts, as well as to anyone with whom I discuss this issue, I STAND WITH ISRAEL & THE JEWS!!! I ALWAYS HAVE, & I ALWAYS WILL!!!!!
I am a Christian and not a gentile. Gentile means of another “tribe”; it derives from the Latin gentiles, similar to the Greek barbaroi [ bearded ones], from which comes the English barbarian. Those of us who know its derivation shrug when we see it used, though its better than goy, which is quite offensive, if you think about it. Big deal, what does it really matter, since most people don’t really intend any insult.
That said, I do agree with comments 18 and 28 that point out the author’s decidedly chilly treatment of Christians and other non-Jews. My eight decades of life has exposed me to innumerable good people, both Jewish and Christian, and I don’t believe any group has a monopoly.
And then there’s people like Gene Simmons, who when he needed his car fixed said, “That’s what Gentiles are for.” (Oh yeah, and he also voted for Obama because he’s black.)
Please accept my apologies if you were offended. I did not intend to do so, but I am aware that my rhetoric is often harsher than I would sometimes like it to be.
Terence57 – thank you for considering and thinking about this difficult question. Jews are a race if you will, based on dna tracking throughout the world, even though we can look like every other race of people by skin tone, racial features, etc. Religion is another thing entirely, from non-observant, reform, conservative, orthodox. JINO’s are mixed in with all. Jews fight each other based on religion and politics. Fact is, doesn’t matter to Nazi’s and Islamofacists. They would like all annihilated. They will not care that my kids have a Christian mother, and the rabbi doesn’t consider them Jewish. They are endangered nonetheless. They will slaughter Christian’s as well, as they do now in many parts of the world. Jews are simply the canary in the coal mine, which imho, is the real meaning of “chosen” – chosen as an example and a warning of what happens when one is blessed by God, but turns away from him. This happens along the entire spectrum of the religion (don’t be fooled by outward appearances of who claims to be religious and who is not) – think Anthony Wiener, Chuck Shumer, Rahm Emanuel etc. who think they are “good Jews” (just ask them), but are the furthest thing from it (wolves in sheeps clothing,if you will). The only hope I can see, is for Conservative Jews to stop embracing these Jewish “brethren” and call them out for who they are. Same as conservatives in general should stop supporting the elites in this country (don’t see their movies, don’t watch any Fox phonies that imbed the libtards in every discussion and think this is a debate instead of a foolish attempt to act “fair and balanced”, don’t support RINO’s like Bush family, cry baby Boehner, etc, etc.). Real Conservative Jews love our Christian brethren who support Israel in word and deed. God bless you and I know he does imho.
And you as well, friend.
So, I was smart enough not to try and form a single question from many!
If I follow you, in the everyday, down to earth sense, a lot of what constitutes
“Jew” can be thought of as what the “other” projects onto that person however cursorily that person falls into the category. It’s a lesson that applies broadly, I guess. We have our personal identity and, then, the extrinsic label that the world applies to us.
BTW, if the moniker is an indicator, I should guess that Rand provided a lot of intellectual food for you as she did for me.
Thanks for your kind response. T
“It is good for the Jews to have power; we are glad we have it; and our primary responsibility is to maintain it and, if necessary, expand it.”
Beautiful. And I speak as the mother of a recently discharged IDF combat soldier, and a daughter who has just completed basic training for an officers’ program.
As parents, we have always tried to teach them to take responsibility, to take action, and not to shirk from the consequences or from hard work.
I suspect it would do Peter Beinart much good to grab a rifle and man a post right up their on the borders of Israel. Beinart would quickly get an epiphany of the real world, instead of the comfort of a studio.
That has a tendency to change one’s fatuous opinion rather quickly.
The Jewish world in Europe before some kind of emancipation became general (probably before the 1860s) actually did have an equivalent of the dichotomy between House Negro and Field Negro; only it wasn’t a dichotomy, it was more of a continuum.
At the extreme House Negro end of the continuum was the Court Jew, someone who provided services (typically financial) to a ruling prince and lived and prospered financially by this – at the price of having to endure insult and contempt from the other, Gentile, courtiers, and knowing that he was not living as a good Jew.
At the other end of the continuum was the Jew living in a traditional Jewish “small” town (shteytl – this is a Yiddish diminutive but some shteytlach were only “small” in the level of civic self-government allowed to them) or village; in Transcarpathian Ruthenia or Moldova, where Jews had never been forbidden to own land, even on small farms and in tiny villages.
Of course Shtetl Jews and their descendants have kept a far richer Jewish culture than those who actually sought assimilation to hostile Gentile environments. The House/Field distinction is matched pretty exactly.