I hope the Jewish population in the US is paying very close attention to the anti semitism taking place in the US right now and I especially hope they take note of the democrat politicians who have been critical of Israel here recently.

It's my impression many Jews in the U.S. do not identify with their brethren in Israel.

I have long been at a loss to understand the support of the Democrat party by many Jews. I do know Jews who share my confusion.

quote:

It's my impression many Jews in the U.S. do not identify with their brethren in Israel.

I feel the same, they vote heavily dem. It makes no sense to me

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
It's my impression many Jews in the U.S. do not identify with their brethren in Israel.

I had a Jewish housemate in 2008 for several months. Jacob was born here, and a hardcore lefty (still is afaik). His half brother Mordechai was born in Israel and served in the IDF. They couldn't be more completely different. Mordy came to visit once and I was asking him about his time in the IDF. He was telling us about a former Spetsnaz guy they had come talk to his unit about the different AK's and explain how they worked, what kind of abuse they could tolerate, etc. I told Mordy I had one under my bed, and he wanted to see it. Jacob about shit his pants that there was an AK47 in the house, and even asked me "you're comfortable with people being able to own those?" I assured him I was. His brother laughed at him.

I think a lot of Jews in this country have too much time and distance on the problem.

My Aunt by marriage in NYC had parents and an aunt that were survivors of the holocaust. She is a far left ex-hippie that had a George W. Bush as Hitler poster on her refrigerator back in 2004 I think. Go figure. My conservative Jewish friends that are pro-Isreal frequently call out other jews for always siding with the democrats despite the clear anti-semitism that is brewing in the party.

Seems for many people the political ideology and party choice from one's 20's takes priority for most of their lives. Jews were democrats back when Republicans were seen as New England country clubbers that didn't admit Jews as members.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
It's my impression many Jews in the U.S. do not identify with their brethren in Israel.

I think the media favors that impression, but anecdotally, speaking to my 30-something daughter and her husband, and hearing from their peers, many young Jews are deeply concerned about Israel's well-being, and by extension, the rise of anti-semitism here in the U.S.

As a Jew, I've always been acutely aware that U.S. anti-semitism bubbles fervently just below the surface for many of my fellow Americans, and it only takes something like what is going on in the Mideast for it to boil over into something like the hate crime attack that recently took place in L.A.

As a Jew, I'm also acutely aware that even though I was born in America, I, like other American citizen Jews are truly only guests here and everywhere else in the world except for Israel.

I abhor the historical illiteracy and ignorance of any Jew whose heart bleeds for the Palestinians over Israelis. And I would remind them of the words of Goldie Meir: "There will be peace when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us."

I just posted this in the Trump thread:

So, I had a quick chat w/ someone from ISR. They admit that democrats in America do things that are not favorable for ISR. Like lifting sanctions. Like providing money to terrorist groups. Like engaging with Iran. Like revealing, to Iran, ISR state secrets / things said in confidence.

And yet, they are thinking it's better for ISR to have a democrat as POTUS because they will go against ISR tendencies to fight back; they will encourage ISR to cease fire and seek peace.

I countered that while that may be true, it's not because they are seeking the best interests of ISR. And it's not relevant to seek peace when the other party has demonstrated repeatedly that it's not their goal. The other party as expressed time again verbally and through actions that peace is not the objective but rather the elimination of ISR and jews.

At which point we ran out of time to discuss further.

This is a person in ISR! If we pick up the chat again, what should I say? My position is that democrats are bad for USA and bad for ISR. But how do I make that latter point to someone in ISR? Frankly, it took me off guard.

quote:

Originally posted by M'headSig:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
It's my impression many Jews in the U.S. do not identify with their brethren in Israel.

As a Jew, I'm also acutely aware that even though I was born in America, I, like other American citizen Jews are truly only guests here and everywhere else in the world except for Israel.

Guests? Not in my country. I don’t give a shit if you are Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, Pastafarian or Catholic, if you are a citizen, and you love the country to the point of being willing to sacrifice for it, then you are my brother, not a “guest”.

quote:

Originally posted by M'headSig:

As a Jew, I'm also acutely aware that even though I was born in America, I, like other American citizen Jews are truly only guests here and everywhere else in the world except for Israel.

I know what makes you say this, but I want to tell you for myself (and I hope most other Americans), that I think of you as no less American than me or anyone. This is your home. If you also can count Israel as home, then good for you, but America is your home.

Reloader-1 and others,

Thank you for saying so. I meant no disrespect toward you or toward the fine people here and elsewhere who have no animosity towards Jews and others who are not Christian.

Forgive my my cynicism and pessimism, but past history has shown that when times get tough, minorities often become scapegoats. I hope that is not the case in the future.

Unfortunately, the O.P.'s initial post triggered by current events does not make me feel optimistic.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by M'headSig:

As a Jew, I'm also acutely aware that even though I was born in America, I, like other American citizen Jews are truly only guests here and everywhere else in the world except for Israel.

I know what makes you say this, but I want to tell you for myself (and I hope most other Americans), that I think of you as no less American than me or anyone. This is your home. If you also can count Israel as home, then good for you, but America is your home.

+1 - Agree!!

I learned about this in an awkward way when I first visited ISR. I'm not well educated in politics and history although vaguely familiar with the historical plight of jews and the formation of ISR. In any case, as I would naturally do whenever I first visited a new country, I was excited to try real Israeli food. To which the local response was - there is no such thing as Israeli food. Israeli food is wherever they were living.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
This is a person in ISR! If we pick up the chat again, what should I say?

Don't bother. Given what you related: It's pointless. This says it all:

“To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.” – Thomas Paine

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I have long been at a loss to understand the support of the Democrat party by many Jews. I do know Jews who share my confusion.

I am of the tribe as it were and it confuses the hell out of me too.

The multiple and well-founded warnings to my family of the consequences that the election of braaaaack hussein obama would have on Israel and Jews in general fell on deaf and DUMBfounded ears.

I further warned them at the time when ‘the squad’ were mouthing off all of their anti-Semitic hate and tripe without any substantive consequence was more of a green light for anti-Semite’s to stoke their vile hatred.

It bothers (not nearly a strong enough word, but it is my immediate family) me that my own family,

a) failed to acknowledge the warnings that I delivered nicely wrapped to them prior to braaaacks two elections and the 2020 election,

and

b) now FAIL to acknowledge the direct connections and consequences for supporting the obama elections and installment of a puppet whose policies, both foreign and domestic, bring great harm to Israel and Jews around the world.

Don’t even get me started on their ‘position’ on the private ownership of firearms! GRRRRRRRR!

Is there such a thing as JINO?

Do rigorous orthodox jews have the same positions? Sorry, this may not be right - but basically, jews who are very familiar with their cultural origins and history and experiences. Or jews that had first hand experience with the persecution of WWII?

But then again, I wonder in amazement that people born and raised in ISR seemed to be accepting of the O, Shrillory, and ilk.

I'm also Jewish. I have family in Israel and my three nieces in Israel already served in the IDF, one as an officer. My son just graduated Virginia Tech (as did I) and he's moving to Israel in August for language training before joining the IDF late 2021 as part of the "lone soldier" program. He was at Tel Aviv U. in Spring 2020 as an exchange student before COVID sent him back in March. He's deeply committed to Israel. As am I.

Anyhow, I've always been a bit perplexed by how liberal American Jews are in general, not all to be sure, but the great majority. Yet most Jews are also pretty strongly pro-Israel. They tend to view far left politics that are (essentially or truly are) anti-Israel in a "yeah, well, I don't like it but its the price we have to pay." If they address it at all. It is kind of oxymoronic. But that's how it has been for a long time.

Ben Shapiro often says he wished Jews would 'preach what they practice'. Religious Jews are very conservative on their beliefs and actions, but when it comes time to vote, they vote against what they practice and vote for people that hate them. Same goes for Hispanics and a lot of black people. They practice conservatism in their house but vote the opposite. It's nuts, they literally will vote for someone who wishes them harm. Why?

If ISR had the oil and not the muslim dominated countries that do, would the global community then be more in favor of ISR? But I thought the global community hates oil?

I just don't understand why, for any reason, we would patronize countries that largely harbor, support, enable, condone or at least ignore jihadist organizations that have an eternal will to eliminate us.

I have a customer who's a fiercely pro-Israel Jew, yet he still votes Democrat.

Been seeing pickups with folks flying Palestinian flags. I have a feeling this is going to escalate.