Excellent article by Avigail shedding light on how settler colonialism regularly employs religious sectarianism to create and provoke division as a means to control land and resources. All religions have historically attracted sociopaths and narcissists who see such organisations as vehicles to acquire power. Governments also see religion as a means to an end. As an Irish Republican, for me the Israelis are just the latest iteration of genocidal empire-builders. Nothing special at all. Any self respecting god would self-destruct rather than be associated with the likes of Israel or those who describe themselves as Israelis.
Some of those who protest as Jews are religious, and others may follows some of the Jewish traditions. Others may be choosing to protest as Jews, essentially, because they feel that it gives them more political leverage than protesting as non-Jews. Their example and presence does powerfully repudiate the argument that criticism of Israel is always and necessarily antisemitic. On the other hand I agree with your points. It's a somewhat complex topic.
It is and I see both sides. I agree with the Rabbi’s point but also with those who choose to call themselves Jews and do not accept Israel’s definition of a ‘good Jew’ (that’s a real thing in Israeli culture). I wanted to mention my own choice, which is to not call myself a Jew because I have no idea what makes me a Jew except Israel’s nonsense ‘race science’. I am only making a choice for myself, while seeing that others have a pov of their own.
I am more comfortable with your point of view than I am with any type of secular definition of what constitutes a Jew which I find, at best, confusing. Your situation is somewhat different in that you already have some additional political clout on account of being a former Israeli and would not gain anything politically by describing yourself as Jewish.
A couple of "Jewish" people that I know within the Palestinian rights movement have said, with irony, "I'm Jewish when I want to be!" They get the absurdity of their position, but reserve the right to describe themselves as Jewish for political purposes when it suits them to do so, or as not Jewish for personal reasons when it doesn't.
Can you just confirm that you received my (very minimal) proofreading suggestions for the last two articles?
Thanks Adam, and yes, I have received it. Just haven’t had a chance to do anything with it yet, but will do soon. I am sorry I haven’t replied. Just busy that’s all. I am starting work tomorrow and have a pile of things to attend to that I ignored during my 3-week break but they are awaiting… I deeply appreciate the efforts you put into making my writing better. You know that. A.
Thank you. That is very similar to what I have said in the past: that Israel is what you get when you give a state with the powers of a state and a military force to a cult…
Bon courage with ‘contextualising’ your - and others’ - Jewishness in the face of the ‘absolutist’ Zionists and Jews and their Christian ‘useful idiots’. ‘Spades’ has to be discarded in favour of ‘Hearts’ and ‘Clubs’
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do wish us all a far better new year than the one that has just passed, in that absurd way we, humans, have of separating and naming continuous aspects of nature, such as the indistinguishable portions of our earth's rotation and revolution around the sun, that we call days, months, years, etc.
As an American, I absolutely do feel the need to protest the actions that outrage my conscience, especially those of my own government, and any one else who would purport to speak for, or on my behalf. If someone is claiming me as support for their bad behaviour, I do protest as a caring human, but I also want to set the record straight that these people, governments, politicians, etc., do not speak for me, and have no right to claim so.
Thank you, Avigail! I see the reason however why there are "Jewish" speakers against Zionism in the West, who identify as Jews, such as Max Blumenthal, Aaron Mate, Daniel Mate, Gabor Mate, Alex Rubinstein, Asa Winstanley, Tony Greenstein, Norman Finkelstein, Miko Peled, and in the past, Israel Shahak, Hajo Meyer, Hedy Epstein and so on.
It is not about tribalism. European Jewry has been secularized since the age of Enlightenment, unlike Jews elsewhere. Jews in Europe suddenly faced a situation where they did not have any religion to define them as Jews. They switched to other ideological outlets. They started to look to build a secular Jewish identity. That's where Zionism caught the chance and started using Jews, recruiting them to become Zionists. Which was conveniently tied to socialism and even communism, because this is what secular Jews were interested in.
To defeat Zionism among Jews, we must build a different secular Jewish identity that will make Zionism useless and undesirable. Because people need belonging and they need to attach, as well as be authentic. Jews of European descent need a secular, humanitarian Jewish identity that will make them reject Zionism.
There was such Jewish identity in the US before Zionists started the Holocaust porn and wild propaganda after the 6-Day War. Jews in America still have their own identity not connected to religion or Zionism at all, but because of Zionist propaganda, they have hard time maintaining it. Same in Europe: Zionists had as their first objective to destroy Yiddish culture in Europe and USSR. To replace secular Jewish identity with Israel.
This must be reversed.
I do not see why being Jewish must be connected to religion. I know Jews who are buddhists or Christians but Jews nevertheless and very far from tribalists. Belonging to a certain group of people does not mean to be a tribalist. It does not mean losing all individuality or losing one's own conscience in order to be loyal to one's own tribe.
On the contrary, healthy group or national identity makes one respect other nations and groups .
Lena, personally, I have no idea what a ‘secular’ Jewish identity even means. Judaism is a religion, not a race or an ethnicity. If a person does not observe Jewish religion, how are they Jewish?…
The article was more about Rabbi’s Shapiro’s concern that activists who emphasise their Jewishness when they support the Palestinians are only playing into Israel’s claims that it is a ‘Jewish state’ and that it speaks for ‘all Jews’. It’s worth listening to what he has to say and see what you think. I realised that even without knowing him I’ve always felt uncomfortable with ‘Jewish’ activism. Isn’t it enough to be a human being to object to genocide? Jews in Europe moved away from Jewish religion in the 19th Century, but could not get away from an identity as Jews because Europe was racist and considered Jewishness a race. One of the Rabbi’s points, which I a also inclined with is that Jewish identity was really defined by those who hated the Jews and that Zionism has adopted it. Can a person be called a Christian or a Muslim if they do not follow Christian or Muslim religion? Why are Jews any different, except if people accept the obsolete and antisemitic definition of Jews as a race or an ethnicity. People are free to identify themselves as they will, it’s just that activists who identity as Jews need to be careful that they are not playing straight into Israel’s hands. Being a human being first is more important than being a member of a particular group, any group.
It’s not a hypothetical. I have secular Muslim friends who identify as Muslim. I know Irish Catholics who are secular but very much identify as Irish Catholic as opposed to Protestant.
Avigail, secular Jewish identity means a lot. It is language (Yiddish), literature, music, culture, cuisine, traditions, theater. Like I said, it is ONLY in Europe, because elsewhere there has been no downfall of religions. Only in Europe. So the communities remained, but there was no religion. That was especially true in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus. And through immigration, in North America and West Europe.
No, being Jewish has nothing to do with religion. And believing in Judaism does not make one Jewish either.
Jewish people look in different ways, but one can tell that one is Jewish by looks. Because people in the communities married one another. And rarely mingled with the outsiders.
I am talking about European-descent Jewry.
You can ask Gabor Mate why he and his family are Jewish. Or Finkelstein.
Or Ilan Pappe.
Like I said, cultural-communal identity that traces back several hundreds of years, does not have to be "tribal" at all. People need positive, respectful, welcoming to others national and cultural identity. With Jews, they only have a negative, excluding, supremacist Zionist identity. That must change back to what it was before Zionism.
In the USSR, we had Jewish Autonomous Republic with its language, media, literature, music, theater, politics and communal activities. Nobody was a "tribalist" there.
And I am asking them precisely that question. I will not be defined by Israel’s ‘race science’. Groups may have some DNA in common but DNA is not identity. Identity is a social construct and everyone can decide to define themselves anyway they wish. I am making my own choice and everyone else is free to make theirs. Is this a problem? Each group can be more or less inclusive. It’s up to the group and its belief system. I have no need to be a part of any group at all. I am just a human being.
Avigail, all those words and you haven't shown how a Jew expressing their inherent compassion and love for humanity that flows from their spiritual beliefs by protesting the existence of Israel and its genocide somehow legitimizes Israel. I'm a member of JVP and participate in their weekly calls and initiatives for protest. These people, mostly Jews, are a godsend to our cause of defeating Israel. I know of no non-jewish organizations doing as much to defeat Israel as are Jewish-led organizations. The Quakers come close in intent but not numbers. The fact that Jews oppose Israel is one of the strongest demonstrations that Israel ISN'T a Jewish state or driven by Jewish values, and it's important that people throughout the world know that so as not to confuse the two. I believe Jews must practice their jewish values against Israel - the country that lays false claim to them - or they will become irrelevant in life just as I would be if I did not protest it.
I shared what Rabbi Shapiro says, and I also acknowledged that others have an opposite view, that people protesting as Jews precisely show Israel up as not speaking for all Jews. I did not choose sides here. I expressed my own, very long held position that I am in fact not a Jew. I am only Jewish because Israel says I am based on the bogus race science idea that my ‘blood’ is Jewish. I protest and always have protested as a human being. My so-called Jewish heritage in Israel was noxious. I did not grow up on any positive or universal Jewish values as people like yourself and Katie grew up on. It is not my history and I do not share that experience with you. I decide what to call myself, not Israel. I am not telling people what they should or shouldn’t do. I am simply expressing my own choice here.
Hi, Katie Halper here. Thanks for the shout out. I identify as Jewish for several reasons but what I find undeniable is that it is politically wise to identify as a pro Palestine Jew because it dispels the notion that being Zionist and being Jewish is one in the same and it helps dispel the notion that antizionism is antisemitism.
Hi Katie, Thanks for taking an interest in my essay and for commenting. Here is a previous reply I made to someone with respect to this essay:
… I see both sides. I agree with the Rabbi’s point but also with those who choose to call themselves Jews and do not accept Israel’s definition of a ‘good Jew’ (that’s a real thing in Israeli culture). I wanted to mention my own choice, which is to not call myself a Jew because I have no idea what makes me a Jew except Israel’s nonsense ‘race science’. I am only making a choice for myself, while seeing that others have a pov of their own.
Avigail, your eloquent and articulate essay is thoroughly on-point and factual. Its rational, logical and comprehensive message is honest and straightforward and illuminating. It is unfortunate that so many, both Jews and non-Jews, in Israel and abroad, remain rabidly committed to the false assertions and arguments which you, and some others, have so effectively dismantled and clarified. It's a tragedy that these falsehoods are so deeply embedded in and accepted by so many people who mindlessly embrace them in a fog of ignorance and psychopathy. The real travesty is that there are those who actually understand the deeply dishonest nature of these lies but spread them without conscience or hesitation as a means of manipulation and obfuscation to justify the most evil, despicable and ghastly agendas imaginable. Thank you sincerely for your contribution to this issue. It is deserving of the most widespread dissemination possible.
Nearly a year back, I wrote a polite reasoned email to kthalps explaining why it made no sense, indeed it was counter-productive to use the caption that she continues to use in her X handle "As a Jew I call for ceasefire". I laid down arguments for why the "As a jew part" was problematic. Your article - with some reservations - goes much much better than my email.
--> "Despite repeated invitations, I have consistently refused to join pro-Palestine groups and organisations that identify as Jewish. I have always thought that supporting the Palestinians has, or should have nothing to do with identifying as Jewish. Supporting human beings suffering from injustice, or oppression in any context is a universal moral duty." <---------------------
This computes a 100%. The fact that one can simply use a principled moral calculus to voice opposition instead of tacking along a perceived ancestry or racial or group-membership is indeed what makes this position the correct position.
--> "I do not accept the label ‘Jewish’ to describe myself. There is nothing ‘Jewish’ about me. I do not observe Jewish religion, and as a woman, I do not like any version of it. I am not ‘traditional’, that is I do not observe even a watered down version of Jewish customs or traditions and my spiritual beliefs bear no relation to Jewish religion." <--------------------
The closest parallel to this is the use in Indian contexts of Brahmanism - that position at the top of the caste-food chain in India's 4-fold hierarchy (the other three are warrior caste, trader class, and the last one is worker, colloquially speaking; the important take away being that Brahmins consider themselves superior to other castes. To them, non-Indians are I guess not Brahmins?). So in an analogous manner, a Brahmin Indian opposing caste, would not make any sense saying "As a Brahmin, I oppose casteist behavior". THAT phraseology makes no sense. One could just say "On moral grounds I oppose such things". Does this comparison make sense to readers?
Like I said there are some points elsewhere where I diverge from your core argument, but I wish not to dilute my enthusiastic support of your core points with those so maybe I'll drop a separate comment later on. But yes brilliant essay as per usual, Avigail. Required reading for all.
If, for arguments sake, a majority of Palestinians thought it was helpful for people to identify as anti Zionist Jews would you still advise against it?
There are many opinions among Palestinians I know. Most don’t care about my background at all, only that I am another human standing shoulder to shoulder with them. The article is entitled ‘our shared humanity’ for a reason. I believe the majority of Palestinians do not see what Israel is doing as a ‘Jewish thing’, and have no qualms with Jewish religion, only with Zionism’s genocidal setter-colonialism.
I find it offensive that Israel defines my ‘identity’ and ‘affiliation’ for me, seemingly leaving me with no choice. I did not grow up on any of the ‘Jewish values’ that you and other good people in the US say you have grown up on. I believe you, and I envy you to some extent, but that was not my experience at all.
Israeli society, its philosophy of life, and its institutions are there to justify genocide. This includes the interpretation of Jewish religion they teach even in the secular school system.
I have always been puzzled by how anyone who calls themselves Jewish does not, at least, critique the morality behind Joshua leading a comprehensive genocide in Canaan, supposedly at god’s instructions. I never understood how anyone can celebrate the Passover Seder and not consider how wrong it is to rejoice in the killing of all the eldest sons of Egypt on the eve of the Exodus.
Of course, none of it is actual history but these are identity myths that go right to the heart of Jewish ‘identity’. As a human being I can’t possibly identify with this, and if to be Jewish means I have to accept such stories/myths uncritically , then I choose to not be Jewish (and it is a choice, unless you believe in ‘race science').
I don’t know (I really don’t know) what goes on in non-orthodox synagogues in the West, and how they reconcile these stories with enlightened ‘Jewish values’. Israel revels in these stories, which are taught uncritically right from kindergarten and in families even earlier. There is never any moral questioning of any of this.
It is all taught as identity stories even in the secular school system, which I attended. No one questions the morality of it, because the moment they do, the entire quasi-religious justification for Zionism, the Nakba and the continued genocide in Palestine falls apart.
In light of my upbringing in Israel and my education there, I am justifiably suspicious of Jewish identity, as it is understood by non-religious Western Jews. As I said, I don’t know anything about what is taught in non-orthodox Synagogues, and whether these identity stories are questioned and critiqued on moral grounds. If they are not, then you can see the inherent contradiction between them and universal human values.
I think everyone needs to make their own choice, katie (see my other reply to you). I am making mine. I am not decreeing anything for anyone else. My position is just that, my position, and there is always a diversity of views in any group and in any contexts, as you obviously well know. I also do not know everything as I said above.
My own personal moral sense does not align with any version of Jewishness that I grew up with in Israel. One of the disadvantages of Western Jews, I think (and I could be wrong), is that they really don’t know, or understand Israel at all. The only ones who do are the ones who join the ranks of the ‘settlers’. “
Until you live there you can’t know Israel and this is deliberate. Israel has always presented a very carefully crafted image of itself to the world, including to Western Jewish communities. Its citizens (including the 20% Palestinian citizens who are now in great danger) know the real Israel. Thank you for reading and commenting.
^^ Just to affirm I am not retreating reflexively or just being polite, I adduce a helpful parallel. I am a non-evangelical vegan since 1994 (and I am much older than that) but if someone influential had a X-byline that said "As a lifelong carnivore, I can understand and support why veganism is the right ethical choice" I guess I'd take it. So for a real ongoing human genocide, your thought experiment wins over mine.
First off, I appreciate the respectful thoughtful exchange of views here. I am not of any Abrahamic religion. I am personally unacquainted with anyone of jewish faith. Ergo, my views are limited by what I am able to gather from descriptions of lived experiences such as yours - or by as much careful reading as one can of the Talmud, but lastly and recently by seeing for oneself the unavoidable majoritarian[1] behaviour of Israelis and jews - many publicised by themselves. That, and the brutality in Gaza is indeed where most of the worldview shaping of jewry has occurred - not just for me - but dare I say many millions. Many of us havenow delved into things that were previously uninteresting - WorldWar2, Nazis, Jewry, Zionism, jewish history, Talmudic beliefs and jewish dissidents. That has necessitated a radical rethink of previously long held (positive or neutral) views, having to have them revised now to heretical opinions vis-a-vis conventional history and wisdom.
Most importantly for me - it completely negates Judaism and/or a pride in jewish ancestry as a positive thing at all. Nothing I could read up or views expressed indicated that the creed had a relatable moral calculus - at least to me. Avigail - your description of formative life in Israel does everything to reinforce my belief and takes nothing away from it
Indeed, based on jews' own descriptions of behavioural patterns like "Frayer" (but not only), judaism seems to be a huckster's creed, focused on getting tribe members to get ahead with rules-of-thumb, guidelines - even and especially at the cost of non-jews. Everything in the past 450 days has reinforced that view. In short, I could not see why anyone would want to take pride in this particular heritage or ancestry especially to call for a ceasefire. How could that be effective ?
Katie's counterpoint is a thought exercise in democratic effectiveness I guess. If a majority of Palestinians - rightly or wrongly - believe that there existed *superior* value in a public self-identified jew calling for ceasefire - would that not help - how could that hurt - she's asking? You have commented re:that in your introductory paragraph. I do not know any Palestinians so perhaps you are right. They simply prefer solidarity as humans rather than a labeled category. Still, as you say if they have no qualms with the jewish religion (like I now do) then it can't hurt to tag that "as a jew" to that X byline. No ?
[1] Needless to add, exceptions exist, but don't seem to abound.
Look, Judaism is a religion and like all religions it is not a monolith. Every single religion and faith on Earth can be used for good or for evil, depending on the disposition/psychology of the adherent. It it is not a nebulous group of people calling themselves Jews who are committing genocide. It is Israel that does and there is a group of people calling themselves Jews who have been supporting Israel, as there are people calling themselves Jews who do not and who publicly express their opposition to Israel and its acts. I don’t think it’s that complicated. The Rabbi’s position (see the interview, if you haven’t already) is that when Israel defines itself as a 'Jewish state', it puts a target on the back of every Jewish person on the planet. Israel has no right to claim that it speaks for all Jews, not to mention that the definition of Jewishness is hugely problematic. I do not see myself as Jewish, but Israel claims I am because of my ‘blood’… The Rabbi’s position is simple. Anyone who emphasises their Jewishness alongside their support for the Palestinians validates Israel’s false claim to be a ‘Jewish state’. He asks why is it not enough for people to support the Palestinians as human beings. I have always thought this but not because of the reason he gave, which was new to me (that it validates Israel’s claims to Jewishness) but because I always thought that it doesn’t matter what ‘label’ I have, I am a human being first and anything else, second. As human being we all have a duty to support other human beings who are being mistreated, or killed. Let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be. Israel loves this. It wants people to be confused about whether or not to support the Palestinians and what it means. Let’s show them that we are human beings who are concerned about human beings and who do not approve of humans mistreating or killing others.
Thank you, Avigail, for this write-up. I have always found your articles very insightful and I've shared some of them with family members and friends. You've helped answer many questions that had been troubling me since the time I was able to read and took an interest about middle eastern politics, especially about Palestine, from back in the 80s. In the days where mainstream media was the only news outlet we had, we tended to just accept, sometimes without questioning, that what's reported was authentic. Thank God, that now we have alternative sources of news and people like yourself and Alon Mizrahi sharing your perspectives from the "other side". Things are slowly falling into their places and the puzzles are starting to fit in. Once again, thank you. Stay safe.
Yes, just like trans identities, Jewish identities can only bring suffering, because all identities do. The more we do awareness practice the less we have to identify with anything about ourselves. We are new and limitless in each new moment.
I don't find it helpful at all for people to say 'I'm a Jew and I oppose Israel', they are saying 'I'm somehow different to you'. Why not just be a decent human being who opposes Israel. Or even just an earthling. Or not even that. A form that has consciousness.
Or not even 'opposing' Israel at all. Resistance creates an identity as a resistor. Which is how the cycle of division keeps going.
Excellent article by Avigail shedding light on how settler colonialism regularly employs religious sectarianism to create and provoke division as a means to control land and resources. All religions have historically attracted sociopaths and narcissists who see such organisations as vehicles to acquire power. Governments also see religion as a means to an end. As an Irish Republican, for me the Israelis are just the latest iteration of genocidal empire-builders. Nothing special at all. Any self respecting god would self-destruct rather than be associated with the likes of Israel or those who describe themselves as Israelis.
Brilliantly said, Brendan. 🙏🏼
Another very powerful and eloquent article...
Some of those who protest as Jews are religious, and others may follows some of the Jewish traditions. Others may be choosing to protest as Jews, essentially, because they feel that it gives them more political leverage than protesting as non-Jews. Their example and presence does powerfully repudiate the argument that criticism of Israel is always and necessarily antisemitic. On the other hand I agree with your points. It's a somewhat complex topic.
It is and I see both sides. I agree with the Rabbi’s point but also with those who choose to call themselves Jews and do not accept Israel’s definition of a ‘good Jew’ (that’s a real thing in Israeli culture). I wanted to mention my own choice, which is to not call myself a Jew because I have no idea what makes me a Jew except Israel’s nonsense ‘race science’. I am only making a choice for myself, while seeing that others have a pov of their own.
I am more comfortable with your point of view than I am with any type of secular definition of what constitutes a Jew which I find, at best, confusing. Your situation is somewhat different in that you already have some additional political clout on account of being a former Israeli and would not gain anything politically by describing yourself as Jewish.
A couple of "Jewish" people that I know within the Palestinian rights movement have said, with irony, "I'm Jewish when I want to be!" They get the absurdity of their position, but reserve the right to describe themselves as Jewish for political purposes when it suits them to do so, or as not Jewish for personal reasons when it doesn't.
Can you just confirm that you received my (very minimal) proofreading suggestions for the last two articles?
Thanks Adam, and yes, I have received it. Just haven’t had a chance to do anything with it yet, but will do soon. I am sorry I haven’t replied. Just busy that’s all. I am starting work tomorrow and have a pile of things to attend to that I ignored during my 3-week break but they are awaiting… I deeply appreciate the efforts you put into making my writing better. You know that. A.
Yes, thanks!
Israel is what you get when you give any group of humans de facto unlimited rights and no responsibilities.
It works the same for any group of humans.
Thank you. That is very similar to what I have said in the past: that Israel is what you get when you give a state with the powers of a state and a military force to a cult…
Thank you Avigail for this brilliant lesson in humanism.!…
Thank you Avigail for sharing your thoughts and knowledge whit us.
Beautiful and humanistic as ever.
🙏🏼
Bon courage with ‘contextualising’ your - and others’ - Jewishness in the face of the ‘absolutist’ Zionists and Jews and their Christian ‘useful idiots’. ‘Spades’ has to be discarded in favour of ‘Hearts’ and ‘Clubs’
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do wish us all a far better new year than the one that has just passed, in that absurd way we, humans, have of separating and naming continuous aspects of nature, such as the indistinguishable portions of our earth's rotation and revolution around the sun, that we call days, months, years, etc.
As an American, I absolutely do feel the need to protest the actions that outrage my conscience, especially those of my own government, and any one else who would purport to speak for, or on my behalf. If someone is claiming me as support for their bad behaviour, I do protest as a caring human, but I also want to set the record straight that these people, governments, politicians, etc., do not speak for me, and have no right to claim so.
Thank you, Avigail! I see the reason however why there are "Jewish" speakers against Zionism in the West, who identify as Jews, such as Max Blumenthal, Aaron Mate, Daniel Mate, Gabor Mate, Alex Rubinstein, Asa Winstanley, Tony Greenstein, Norman Finkelstein, Miko Peled, and in the past, Israel Shahak, Hajo Meyer, Hedy Epstein and so on.
It is not about tribalism. European Jewry has been secularized since the age of Enlightenment, unlike Jews elsewhere. Jews in Europe suddenly faced a situation where they did not have any religion to define them as Jews. They switched to other ideological outlets. They started to look to build a secular Jewish identity. That's where Zionism caught the chance and started using Jews, recruiting them to become Zionists. Which was conveniently tied to socialism and even communism, because this is what secular Jews were interested in.
To defeat Zionism among Jews, we must build a different secular Jewish identity that will make Zionism useless and undesirable. Because people need belonging and they need to attach, as well as be authentic. Jews of European descent need a secular, humanitarian Jewish identity that will make them reject Zionism.
There was such Jewish identity in the US before Zionists started the Holocaust porn and wild propaganda after the 6-Day War. Jews in America still have their own identity not connected to religion or Zionism at all, but because of Zionist propaganda, they have hard time maintaining it. Same in Europe: Zionists had as their first objective to destroy Yiddish culture in Europe and USSR. To replace secular Jewish identity with Israel.
This must be reversed.
I do not see why being Jewish must be connected to religion. I know Jews who are buddhists or Christians but Jews nevertheless and very far from tribalists. Belonging to a certain group of people does not mean to be a tribalist. It does not mean losing all individuality or losing one's own conscience in order to be loyal to one's own tribe.
On the contrary, healthy group or national identity makes one respect other nations and groups .
Lena, personally, I have no idea what a ‘secular’ Jewish identity even means. Judaism is a religion, not a race or an ethnicity. If a person does not observe Jewish religion, how are they Jewish?…
The article was more about Rabbi’s Shapiro’s concern that activists who emphasise their Jewishness when they support the Palestinians are only playing into Israel’s claims that it is a ‘Jewish state’ and that it speaks for ‘all Jews’. It’s worth listening to what he has to say and see what you think. I realised that even without knowing him I’ve always felt uncomfortable with ‘Jewish’ activism. Isn’t it enough to be a human being to object to genocide? Jews in Europe moved away from Jewish religion in the 19th Century, but could not get away from an identity as Jews because Europe was racist and considered Jewishness a race. One of the Rabbi’s points, which I a also inclined with is that Jewish identity was really defined by those who hated the Jews and that Zionism has adopted it. Can a person be called a Christian or a Muslim if they do not follow Christian or Muslim religion? Why are Jews any different, except if people accept the obsolete and antisemitic definition of Jews as a race or an ethnicity. People are free to identify themselves as they will, it’s just that activists who identity as Jews need to be careful that they are not playing straight into Israel’s hands. Being a human being first is more important than being a member of a particular group, any group.
It’s not a hypothetical. I have secular Muslim friends who identify as Muslim. I know Irish Catholics who are secular but very much identify as Irish Catholic as opposed to Protestant.
That’s fine. Please see my other comments and replies to you and others. 👍🏼
Avigail, secular Jewish identity means a lot. It is language (Yiddish), literature, music, culture, cuisine, traditions, theater. Like I said, it is ONLY in Europe, because elsewhere there has been no downfall of religions. Only in Europe. So the communities remained, but there was no religion. That was especially true in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus. And through immigration, in North America and West Europe.
No, being Jewish has nothing to do with religion. And believing in Judaism does not make one Jewish either.
Jewish people look in different ways, but one can tell that one is Jewish by looks. Because people in the communities married one another. And rarely mingled with the outsiders.
I am talking about European-descent Jewry.
You can ask Gabor Mate why he and his family are Jewish. Or Finkelstein.
Or Ilan Pappe.
Like I said, cultural-communal identity that traces back several hundreds of years, does not have to be "tribal" at all. People need positive, respectful, welcoming to others national and cultural identity. With Jews, they only have a negative, excluding, supremacist Zionist identity. That must change back to what it was before Zionism.
In the USSR, we had Jewish Autonomous Republic with its language, media, literature, music, theater, politics and communal activities. Nobody was a "tribalist" there.
Nobody was racist either.
And I am asking them precisely that question. I will not be defined by Israel’s ‘race science’. Groups may have some DNA in common but DNA is not identity. Identity is a social construct and everyone can decide to define themselves anyway they wish. I am making my own choice and everyone else is free to make theirs. Is this a problem? Each group can be more or less inclusive. It’s up to the group and its belief system. I have no need to be a part of any group at all. I am just a human being.
Avigail, all those words and you haven't shown how a Jew expressing their inherent compassion and love for humanity that flows from their spiritual beliefs by protesting the existence of Israel and its genocide somehow legitimizes Israel. I'm a member of JVP and participate in their weekly calls and initiatives for protest. These people, mostly Jews, are a godsend to our cause of defeating Israel. I know of no non-jewish organizations doing as much to defeat Israel as are Jewish-led organizations. The Quakers come close in intent but not numbers. The fact that Jews oppose Israel is one of the strongest demonstrations that Israel ISN'T a Jewish state or driven by Jewish values, and it's important that people throughout the world know that so as not to confuse the two. I believe Jews must practice their jewish values against Israel - the country that lays false claim to them - or they will become irrelevant in life just as I would be if I did not protest it.
I shared what Rabbi Shapiro says, and I also acknowledged that others have an opposite view, that people protesting as Jews precisely show Israel up as not speaking for all Jews. I did not choose sides here. I expressed my own, very long held position that I am in fact not a Jew. I am only Jewish because Israel says I am based on the bogus race science idea that my ‘blood’ is Jewish. I protest and always have protested as a human being. My so-called Jewish heritage in Israel was noxious. I did not grow up on any positive or universal Jewish values as people like yourself and Katie grew up on. It is not my history and I do not share that experience with you. I decide what to call myself, not Israel. I am not telling people what they should or shouldn’t do. I am simply expressing my own choice here.
Beautifully stated, Abigail. Your sanity on this topic should be a beacon for us all.
🙏🏼
Hi, Katie Halper here. Thanks for the shout out. I identify as Jewish for several reasons but what I find undeniable is that it is politically wise to identify as a pro Palestine Jew because it dispels the notion that being Zionist and being Jewish is one in the same and it helps dispel the notion that antizionism is antisemitism.
Hi Katie, Thanks for taking an interest in my essay and for commenting. Here is a previous reply I made to someone with respect to this essay:
… I see both sides. I agree with the Rabbi’s point but also with those who choose to call themselves Jews and do not accept Israel’s definition of a ‘good Jew’ (that’s a real thing in Israeli culture). I wanted to mention my own choice, which is to not call myself a Jew because I have no idea what makes me a Jew except Israel’s nonsense ‘race science’. I am only making a choice for myself, while seeing that others have a pov of their own.
Avigail, your eloquent and articulate essay is thoroughly on-point and factual. Its rational, logical and comprehensive message is honest and straightforward and illuminating. It is unfortunate that so many, both Jews and non-Jews, in Israel and abroad, remain rabidly committed to the false assertions and arguments which you, and some others, have so effectively dismantled and clarified. It's a tragedy that these falsehoods are so deeply embedded in and accepted by so many people who mindlessly embrace them in a fog of ignorance and psychopathy. The real travesty is that there are those who actually understand the deeply dishonest nature of these lies but spread them without conscience or hesitation as a means of manipulation and obfuscation to justify the most evil, despicable and ghastly agendas imaginable. Thank you sincerely for your contribution to this issue. It is deserving of the most widespread dissemination possible.
Nearly a year back, I wrote a polite reasoned email to kthalps explaining why it made no sense, indeed it was counter-productive to use the caption that she continues to use in her X handle "As a Jew I call for ceasefire". I laid down arguments for why the "As a jew part" was problematic. Your article - with some reservations - goes much much better than my email.
--> "Despite repeated invitations, I have consistently refused to join pro-Palestine groups and organisations that identify as Jewish. I have always thought that supporting the Palestinians has, or should have nothing to do with identifying as Jewish. Supporting human beings suffering from injustice, or oppression in any context is a universal moral duty." <---------------------
This computes a 100%. The fact that one can simply use a principled moral calculus to voice opposition instead of tacking along a perceived ancestry or racial or group-membership is indeed what makes this position the correct position.
--> "I do not accept the label ‘Jewish’ to describe myself. There is nothing ‘Jewish’ about me. I do not observe Jewish religion, and as a woman, I do not like any version of it. I am not ‘traditional’, that is I do not observe even a watered down version of Jewish customs or traditions and my spiritual beliefs bear no relation to Jewish religion." <--------------------
The closest parallel to this is the use in Indian contexts of Brahmanism - that position at the top of the caste-food chain in India's 4-fold hierarchy (the other three are warrior caste, trader class, and the last one is worker, colloquially speaking; the important take away being that Brahmins consider themselves superior to other castes. To them, non-Indians are I guess not Brahmins?). So in an analogous manner, a Brahmin Indian opposing caste, would not make any sense saying "As a Brahmin, I oppose casteist behavior". THAT phraseology makes no sense. One could just say "On moral grounds I oppose such things". Does this comparison make sense to readers?
Like I said there are some points elsewhere where I diverge from your core argument, but I wish not to dilute my enthusiastic support of your core points with those so maybe I'll drop a separate comment later on. But yes brilliant essay as per usual, Avigail. Required reading for all.
If, for arguments sake, a majority of Palestinians thought it was helpful for people to identify as anti Zionist Jews would you still advise against it?
There are many opinions among Palestinians I know. Most don’t care about my background at all, only that I am another human standing shoulder to shoulder with them. The article is entitled ‘our shared humanity’ for a reason. I believe the majority of Palestinians do not see what Israel is doing as a ‘Jewish thing’, and have no qualms with Jewish religion, only with Zionism’s genocidal setter-colonialism.
I find it offensive that Israel defines my ‘identity’ and ‘affiliation’ for me, seemingly leaving me with no choice. I did not grow up on any of the ‘Jewish values’ that you and other good people in the US say you have grown up on. I believe you, and I envy you to some extent, but that was not my experience at all.
Israeli society, its philosophy of life, and its institutions are there to justify genocide. This includes the interpretation of Jewish religion they teach even in the secular school system.
I have always been puzzled by how anyone who calls themselves Jewish does not, at least, critique the morality behind Joshua leading a comprehensive genocide in Canaan, supposedly at god’s instructions. I never understood how anyone can celebrate the Passover Seder and not consider how wrong it is to rejoice in the killing of all the eldest sons of Egypt on the eve of the Exodus.
Of course, none of it is actual history but these are identity myths that go right to the heart of Jewish ‘identity’. As a human being I can’t possibly identify with this, and if to be Jewish means I have to accept such stories/myths uncritically , then I choose to not be Jewish (and it is a choice, unless you believe in ‘race science').
I don’t know (I really don’t know) what goes on in non-orthodox synagogues in the West, and how they reconcile these stories with enlightened ‘Jewish values’. Israel revels in these stories, which are taught uncritically right from kindergarten and in families even earlier. There is never any moral questioning of any of this.
It is all taught as identity stories even in the secular school system, which I attended. No one questions the morality of it, because the moment they do, the entire quasi-religious justification for Zionism, the Nakba and the continued genocide in Palestine falls apart.
In light of my upbringing in Israel and my education there, I am justifiably suspicious of Jewish identity, as it is understood by non-religious Western Jews. As I said, I don’t know anything about what is taught in non-orthodox Synagogues, and whether these identity stories are questioned and critiqued on moral grounds. If they are not, then you can see the inherent contradiction between them and universal human values.
I think everyone needs to make their own choice, katie (see my other reply to you). I am making mine. I am not decreeing anything for anyone else. My position is just that, my position, and there is always a diversity of views in any group and in any contexts, as you obviously well know. I also do not know everything as I said above.
My own personal moral sense does not align with any version of Jewishness that I grew up with in Israel. One of the disadvantages of Western Jews, I think (and I could be wrong), is that they really don’t know, or understand Israel at all. The only ones who do are the ones who join the ranks of the ‘settlers’. “
Until you live there you can’t know Israel and this is deliberate. Israel has always presented a very carefully crafted image of itself to the world, including to Western Jewish communities. Its citizens (including the 20% Palestinian citizens who are now in great danger) know the real Israel. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Touché, point taken. Hmmm. ^^
^^ Just to affirm I am not retreating reflexively or just being polite, I adduce a helpful parallel. I am a non-evangelical vegan since 1994 (and I am much older than that) but if someone influential had a X-byline that said "As a lifelong carnivore, I can understand and support why veganism is the right ethical choice" I guess I'd take it. So for a real ongoing human genocide, your thought experiment wins over mine.
Please read my replies to Katie, and see what you think.
First off, I appreciate the respectful thoughtful exchange of views here. I am not of any Abrahamic religion. I am personally unacquainted with anyone of jewish faith. Ergo, my views are limited by what I am able to gather from descriptions of lived experiences such as yours - or by as much careful reading as one can of the Talmud, but lastly and recently by seeing for oneself the unavoidable majoritarian[1] behaviour of Israelis and jews - many publicised by themselves. That, and the brutality in Gaza is indeed where most of the worldview shaping of jewry has occurred - not just for me - but dare I say many millions. Many of us havenow delved into things that were previously uninteresting - WorldWar2, Nazis, Jewry, Zionism, jewish history, Talmudic beliefs and jewish dissidents. That has necessitated a radical rethink of previously long held (positive or neutral) views, having to have them revised now to heretical opinions vis-a-vis conventional history and wisdom.
Most importantly for me - it completely negates Judaism and/or a pride in jewish ancestry as a positive thing at all. Nothing I could read up or views expressed indicated that the creed had a relatable moral calculus - at least to me. Avigail - your description of formative life in Israel does everything to reinforce my belief and takes nothing away from it
Indeed, based on jews' own descriptions of behavioural patterns like "Frayer" (but not only), judaism seems to be a huckster's creed, focused on getting tribe members to get ahead with rules-of-thumb, guidelines - even and especially at the cost of non-jews. Everything in the past 450 days has reinforced that view. In short, I could not see why anyone would want to take pride in this particular heritage or ancestry especially to call for a ceasefire. How could that be effective ?
Katie's counterpoint is a thought exercise in democratic effectiveness I guess. If a majority of Palestinians - rightly or wrongly - believe that there existed *superior* value in a public self-identified jew calling for ceasefire - would that not help - how could that hurt - she's asking? You have commented re:that in your introductory paragraph. I do not know any Palestinians so perhaps you are right. They simply prefer solidarity as humans rather than a labeled category. Still, as you say if they have no qualms with the jewish religion (like I now do) then it can't hurt to tag that "as a jew" to that X byline. No ?
[1] Needless to add, exceptions exist, but don't seem to abound.
Look, Judaism is a religion and like all religions it is not a monolith. Every single religion and faith on Earth can be used for good or for evil, depending on the disposition/psychology of the adherent. It it is not a nebulous group of people calling themselves Jews who are committing genocide. It is Israel that does and there is a group of people calling themselves Jews who have been supporting Israel, as there are people calling themselves Jews who do not and who publicly express their opposition to Israel and its acts. I don’t think it’s that complicated. The Rabbi’s position (see the interview, if you haven’t already) is that when Israel defines itself as a 'Jewish state', it puts a target on the back of every Jewish person on the planet. Israel has no right to claim that it speaks for all Jews, not to mention that the definition of Jewishness is hugely problematic. I do not see myself as Jewish, but Israel claims I am because of my ‘blood’… The Rabbi’s position is simple. Anyone who emphasises their Jewishness alongside their support for the Palestinians validates Israel’s false claim to be a ‘Jewish state’. He asks why is it not enough for people to support the Palestinians as human beings. I have always thought this but not because of the reason he gave, which was new to me (that it validates Israel’s claims to Jewishness) but because I always thought that it doesn’t matter what ‘label’ I have, I am a human being first and anything else, second. As human being we all have a duty to support other human beings who are being mistreated, or killed. Let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be. Israel loves this. It wants people to be confused about whether or not to support the Palestinians and what it means. Let’s show them that we are human beings who are concerned about human beings and who do not approve of humans mistreating or killing others.
Thank you, Avigail, for this write-up. I have always found your articles very insightful and I've shared some of them with family members and friends. You've helped answer many questions that had been troubling me since the time I was able to read and took an interest about middle eastern politics, especially about Palestine, from back in the 80s. In the days where mainstream media was the only news outlet we had, we tended to just accept, sometimes without questioning, that what's reported was authentic. Thank God, that now we have alternative sources of news and people like yourself and Alon Mizrahi sharing your perspectives from the "other side". Things are slowly falling into their places and the puzzles are starting to fit in. Once again, thank you. Stay safe.
Yes, just like trans identities, Jewish identities can only bring suffering, because all identities do. The more we do awareness practice the less we have to identify with anything about ourselves. We are new and limitless in each new moment.
I don't find it helpful at all for people to say 'I'm a Jew and I oppose Israel', they are saying 'I'm somehow different to you'. Why not just be a decent human being who opposes Israel. Or even just an earthling. Or not even that. A form that has consciousness.
Or not even 'opposing' Israel at all. Resistance creates an identity as a resistor. Which is how the cycle of division keeps going.