A very uncomfortable situation- how to handle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a jewish (American) person who doesn't want to hear people bash Israel, I would appreciate the call from you. Yes, a lot of what Israel is doing is atrocious but this country has been defending themselves from all sides for their entire "life".

I have never heard ANYONE unleash on the IDF without ALSO talking smack about Jewish people. THAT is the real issue for me. Their antisemitism comes roaring out, and they can't/won't see that.

I have. And it gets called antisemitism anyway.

+1

I am against what Israel is doing and that doesn't make me antisemitic.

YES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would call her OP. She obviously felt very isolated. I am Catholic and am in a circle that's about half Jewish, with the other half mostly non practicing Catholics and protestants. We are close enough that we talk deeply about any and all issues.

But my Jewish friends feel the sting of antisemitism constantly (not from our group but other communities to which they belong). Many identify strongly with Israel. It is very difficult to have a conversation about Israel without sounding antisemitic.

I would call her and just listen. I'm sure she feels isolated and unsure of her place in this group.

Thank you for acknowledging this. It’s what posters are missing: it’s a discussion that requires knowledge, a desire to learn, space to listen, language boundaries, empathy and sensitivity. The large majority of people are missing one or more factors. Based on this, not engaging is often best and the correct thing to do. A few posters on this thread should realize their limits. It’s admirable your group can engage in a positive manner. It is how interfaith growth and understanding can happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a jewish (American) person who doesn't want to hear people bash Israel, I would appreciate the call from you. Yes, a lot of what Israel is doing is atrocious but this country has been defending themselves from all sides for their entire "life".

I have never heard ANYONE unleash on the IDF without ALSO talking smack about Jewish people. THAT is the real issue for me. Their antisemitism comes roaring out, and they can't/won't see that.

This. Anyone who is Jewish in America feels very vulnerable right now (see: murders of two people outside a museum in DC if you want an example close to home) Many of us disagree vehemently with Israel, but believe it has a right to exist. Hamas and other groups do not, and they want us all dead.

I would have left also: I want to know who has my back when the SS knocks on my door. I try to do the same for my other friends from vulnerable communities.

[Anonymous]

Suggest the group go here over your next lunch outing: [https://novaexhibition.com/?utm_term=nova%20exhibit%20washington%20dc&utm_campaign=Nova+Exhibition+DC&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7276653784&hsa_cam=22614585267&hsa_grp=180360805196&hsa_ad=755384943985&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-2430128539901&hsa_kw=nova%20exhibit%20washington%20dc&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22614585267&gbraid=0AAAAAq2n3b_frtReAfFK-YvNxJmSOSkyl&gclid=CjwKCAjwpMTCBhA-EiwA_-MsmRSxCJnKsnXmm3i-oGOxL0DhdKACxzIcKqiM1ooxmTfom66LIthn3RoCO9QQAvD_BwE]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suggest the group go here over your next lunch outing: https://novaexhibition.com/?utm_term=nova%20exhibit%20washington%20dc&utm_campaign=Nova+Exhibition+DC&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7276653784&hsa_cam=22614585267&hsa_grp=180360805196&hsa_ad=755384943985&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-2430128539901&hsa_kw=nova%20exhibit%20washington%20dc&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22614585267&gbraid=0AAAAAq2n3b_frtReAfFK-YvNxJmSOSkyl&gclid=CjwKCAjwpMTCBhA-EiwA_-MsmRSxCJnKsnXmm3i-oGOxL0DhdKACxzIcKqiM1ooxmTfom66LIthn3RoCO9QQAvD_BwE

[Anonymous]

you don't want to be part of this group they sound low IQ and low class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a jewish (American) person who doesn't want to hear people bash Israel, I would appreciate the call from you. Yes, a lot of what Israel is doing is atrocious but this country has been defending themselves from all sides for their entire "life".

I have never heard ANYONE unleash on the IDF without ALSO talking smack about Jewish people. THAT is the real issue for me. Their antisemitism comes roaring out, and they can't/won't see that.

I am genuinely not trying to be inflammatory but I do find your last paragraph hard to believe. Have you not spoken with any of the many Jewish voices against instances of IDF brutality?

I also find it weird, that the only non-Jewish people who talk about this issue and are anti-IDF are anti-semitic in your opnion. What constitutes then being anti-semitic to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jewish here and APPALLED at what Israel is going, the satanic government and how they are killing it for all Jews around the world. GIVING US A BAD NAME INDEED.

Everyone is hypersensitive on either side but Israel in my eyes is now indefensible. She should have put on her big girls patns and realized that! Its not against Jews in general but the genocide that Israel and its govt are committing I have not problem separating the two. HATE what he is doing to all innocent Jews around the world.

I don't think you owe a phone call, leave it along- as your DH suggested. It will just further the divide.

Thanks for saying this. I couldn't agree more, only that it is not giving you a bad name as someone who is Jewish, at least to any normal person (and I think most of people are).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish, and I am completely against the genocidal actions of Israel.

I think this woman and many like her have really struggled after a lifetime of brainwashing and cognitive dissonance. It's okay to disagree with her politically and yet to empathize with her distress. You feel for your friend, and it's okay to reach out to her.

This is not a religious issue, though it's close to her due to her religious identity.

Wow yeah ok: “Your belief that you experienced antisemitism is all in your head - the Jews brainwashed you.”

OP hopefully comments like this can make you understand why this woman noped out. Even if the comments were just about Gaza and couldn’t be seen any other way, she had no way of knowing what kind of bizarrely offensive comment might pop out of the mouth of someone who would never make the equivalent comment about other groups. Maybe she just did not want to take that risk at that moment.

FWIW, I (also Jewish) read that "brainwashing" line as referring to brainwashing about Israel, not brainwashing about antisemitism.

Yes, that's what I meant. I've heard it from so many people questioning what they've been taught all their lives by people they trusted. Many people were taught the Nakba didn't even happen. That is brainwashing. These are good, decent, American Jews who've been taught lies for political reasons.

Just stop troll.

I'm not a troll. Just someone asking for empathy for people who've been raised to believe Israel is an innocent victim their whole lives. It's hard to see and reconcile what's happening. It brings up all sorts of strange reactions. You can disagree with your friend, but if she's a decent person, keep the friendship, check in on her, etc.

But the GOVERNMENT of Israel isn't innocent -- it's doing terrible things. Just like many of us would say American can be fine, but the elected president and his cronies are awful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not Jewish, and I am completely against the genocidal actions of Israel.

I think this woman and many like her have really struggled after a lifetime of brainwashing and cognitive dissonance. It's okay to disagree with her politically and yet to empathize with her distress. You feel for your friend, and it's okay to reach out to her.

This is not a religious issue, though it's close to her due to her religious identity.

Wow yeah ok: “Your belief that you experienced antisemitism is all in your head - the Jews brainwashed you.”

OP hopefully comments like this can make you understand why this woman noped out. Even if the comments were just about Gaza and couldn’t be seen any other way, she had no way of knowing what kind of bizarrely offensive comment might pop out of the mouth of someone who would never make the equivalent comment about other groups. Maybe she just did not want to take that risk at that moment.

FWIW, I (also Jewish) read that "brainwashing" line as referring to brainwashing about Israel, not brainwashing about antisemitism.

Yes, that's what I meant. I've heard it from so many people questioning what they've been taught all their lives by people they trusted. Many people were taught the Nakba didn't even happen. That is brainwashing. These are good, decent, American Jews who've been taught lies for political reasons.

Just stop troll.

I'm not a troll. Just someone asking for empathy for people who've been raised to believe Israel is an innocent victim their whole lives. It's hard to see and reconcile what's happening. It brings up all sorts of strange reactions. You can disagree with your friend, but if she's a decent person, keep the friendship, check in on her, etc.

But the GOVERNMENT of Israel isn't innocent -- it's doing terrible things. Just like many of us would say American can be fine, but the elected president and his cronies are awful

Yes, I agree

[Anonymous]

Who elects these democratic governments? What to say of the values of those who elect their government officials?

[Anonymous]

When y'all look around in a few months and realize that you don't have any Jewish friends, come back and read the posts on this thread and you'll understand why.

[Anonymous]

no thanks to any friend that supports, votes for, funds, or “feels connected” to ethnosupremacism, whether American, Muslim, Hindu, or otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no thanks to any friend that supports, votes for, funds, or “feels connected” to ethnosupremacism, whether American, Muslim, Hindu, or otherwise.

Ok thanks perfect person. I’m totally sure you’re subjecting all the other people in your life including random school moms to purity tests based on all possible relation to “ethnosupremacism.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no thanks to any friend that supports, votes for, funds, or “feels connected” to ethnosupremacism, whether American, Muslim, Hindu, or otherwise.

Being Jewish should have no bearing on what is happening in Gaza, Israeli policies and actions, or the new conflict this week. Critical thinking! And that is the entire point here. You keep trying to conflate the two concepts, and that's where all the "uncomfortableness" is coming from.