Thanks for your heart felt connection with Jews and Palestinians. This situation is a real tragedy of epic proportions for all parties.
I come from a multi generational Zionist family. My grandfather recruited Golda Meir into Zionism in Chicago.
I have 75 cousins in Israel. All are truly left wing liberals and have worried about the plight of Palestinians for the past 40 years and worked with multi-ethnic groups who have tried to improve conditions.
Now, regardless of feelings of revenge, none of my relatives are anything but very depressed over the futility of current conditions for either side. How can a sane, humane person take any solace from bombing civilians and killing children? None can. Everyone is brutalized.
At this point, all parties are stuck without an immediate solution. Joe Biden is one of the bright lights in this dark nightmare. If any world politician can lead the parties to a solution, he's the one. He has the empathy, the vision, the backbone and the power.
I agree. I actually think if anyone can do it he can. Also have you heard of Standing Together? www.standing-together.org -- I'm sure you have, but in case you haven't, I heard from their co-founder yesterday and hearing him gave me some hope.
I am Jewish and I sincerely appreciate your compassion. Antisemitism is a virus- but those who are spreading it are the Proud Boys, Trump, Elon Musk etc. Saying that you are horrified by what Israel is doing- and has done- is not antisemitic. It's consistent with the left's support of human rights. Yes, Israel is not the only country that violates human rights- not by a long shot- but it is (I assume) the one that receives the largest amount of aid from the US. I believe that as Americans who believe in democracy and protecting human rights, we have a responsibility to speak up. Speaking against the actions of the Israeli government is not being antisemitic.
Absolutely not! Which is why we'll be pressuring Biden to pressure Bibi to step down, although I know we can't REALLY affect that decision from here. Still, it can't hurt. And I will be watching closely to see how we can support the Democrats shaping the conditioned-aid proposal--seems like a reasonable thing to attach human rights requirements to any funding.
As a long-time feminist, it has been particularly painful for me to observe the deafening silence from women's organizations regarding the extensive raping perpetrated by Hamas against Israelis on October 7, along with the apparent obliviousness of much of the left to the horror of having over 1200 civilians murdered in one day in a country the size of New Jersey. I'm meeting a lot of "the problems started when Israel fought back" online, as if this tragedy in multiple dimensions would be just fine if Jews stopped acting as if having their relatives and friends murdered and kidnapped was a big deal.
Netanyahu will be voted out. After getting elected in 2006, Hamas replaced elections with killing opponents. Who if not the IDF will remove Hamas from their position of power in Gaza? Both have to go before new leaders can work out how to live in the same land without killing each other.
Thank you for all this - the love and willingness to stand present with horrific trauma and the encouragement to connect with our special human friends who are Jewish and/or Palestinian. I also want to thank you for the specific TO DOS about how to contact the press. I am completely horrified by the ignorance of our mainstream voters about what is happening. And I really do fault the press. So I'm going to write letters til I'm blue in the face, and I really value your input about how to send messages, and what to say, and to whom exactly we write. Thanks again. This was a helpful newsletter.
Thank you for your kindness in acknowledging the pain that is being felt in both Jewish and Muslim communities right now. As a Jew I can attest, there is so, so much pain, hurt, and fear. And there is a world of difference between being critical of the current extreme right wing Israeli government and its policies/actions - and wanting to deny Israel’s right to exist at all or to rejoice (as some have) at the brutal murders of innocent civilians (I make no apologies for calling the latter anti-Semitic). As a teacher I know that both Muslim and Jewish kids are struggling right now...thank you for reminding us all to be human and to be kind, to reach out, and to listen with compassion to one another.
In your Spread the Word section, I'm blown away. Just yesterday, I messaged The White House of all places because I'm having trouble finding info on how my state is benefiting from the 2021 bills. And then this showed up. So grateful. A bit of background. My governor is taking credit for all of this economic activity and I received a newsletter from my congressional rep who said this in the mailer "Sessions worked hard to secure federal funding in Texas for FY 2023." When you check his voting record, this is a full on lie. So thank you!
I was one of people who gave to Movement Voter Project yesterday following your link via the website. I gave $50 but I dont know how to email you so Im writing my comment here. I hope you get this. I would love my donation to go to the match if that's possible. I can forward you my Act blue Recipt if that's helpful. my email is pwood@jps.net Thanks. Patsy Wood
Thank you for prodding me to call Abdul Chaudhry, my friend and business associate for 30 years. He nor his son nor their families have had any negative blowback on their person or business here in Central NC or neighboring states where they sell Halal meats. He has always been so straight in his business dealings that being Muslim has not had ill effect. Thank you also for Sarah's email to BuildBackBetter.. I hope She/they have some benefit from shared insights and references to "Sex and the 21st Century: AR-W/(P-I) x ATroc = Q". Love, Doc
Was hoping to share useful insight with Sarah@Buildbackbetter.org. Falling birth rates need to be adopted by All Tribes to be globally effective in reducing pollution and alleviating climate change without encouraging war and genocide and murder by pestilence or starvation. Pregnancy rates are already well in that direction in Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Australia, most of India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, EU, UK, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and several others where data is not World Bank accurate.
Hey Jess
Thanks for your heart felt connection with Jews and Palestinians. This situation is a real tragedy of epic proportions for all parties.
I come from a multi generational Zionist family. My grandfather recruited Golda Meir into Zionism in Chicago.
I have 75 cousins in Israel. All are truly left wing liberals and have worried about the plight of Palestinians for the past 40 years and worked with multi-ethnic groups who have tried to improve conditions.
Now, regardless of feelings of revenge, none of my relatives are anything but very depressed over the futility of current conditions for either side. How can a sane, humane person take any solace from bombing civilians and killing children? None can. Everyone is brutalized.
At this point, all parties are stuck without an immediate solution. Joe Biden is one of the bright lights in this dark nightmare. If any world politician can lead the parties to a solution, he's the one. He has the empathy, the vision, the backbone and the power.
Right now, all we can do is wait..and hope.
I agree. I actually think if anyone can do it he can. Also have you heard of Standing Together? www.standing-together.org -- I'm sure you have, but in case you haven't, I heard from their co-founder yesterday and hearing him gave me some hope.
Thanks for this Jess
I'll check with my relatives to see if they know standing -together
I am Jewish and I sincerely appreciate your compassion. Antisemitism is a virus- but those who are spreading it are the Proud Boys, Trump, Elon Musk etc. Saying that you are horrified by what Israel is doing- and has done- is not antisemitic. It's consistent with the left's support of human rights. Yes, Israel is not the only country that violates human rights- not by a long shot- but it is (I assume) the one that receives the largest amount of aid from the US. I believe that as Americans who believe in democracy and protecting human rights, we have a responsibility to speak up. Speaking against the actions of the Israeli government is not being antisemitic.
Absolutely not! Which is why we'll be pressuring Biden to pressure Bibi to step down, although I know we can't REALLY affect that decision from here. Still, it can't hurt. And I will be watching closely to see how we can support the Democrats shaping the conditioned-aid proposal--seems like a reasonable thing to attach human rights requirements to any funding.
Thank you for your words of caring.
As a long-time feminist, it has been particularly painful for me to observe the deafening silence from women's organizations regarding the extensive raping perpetrated by Hamas against Israelis on October 7, along with the apparent obliviousness of much of the left to the horror of having over 1200 civilians murdered in one day in a country the size of New Jersey. I'm meeting a lot of "the problems started when Israel fought back" online, as if this tragedy in multiple dimensions would be just fine if Jews stopped acting as if having their relatives and friends murdered and kidnapped was a big deal.
Netanyahu will be voted out. After getting elected in 2006, Hamas replaced elections with killing opponents. Who if not the IDF will remove Hamas from their position of power in Gaza? Both have to go before new leaders can work out how to live in the same land without killing each other.
I agree on all of this.
Hey Jess,
Thank you for all this - the love and willingness to stand present with horrific trauma and the encouragement to connect with our special human friends who are Jewish and/or Palestinian. I also want to thank you for the specific TO DOS about how to contact the press. I am completely horrified by the ignorance of our mainstream voters about what is happening. And I really do fault the press. So I'm going to write letters til I'm blue in the face, and I really value your input about how to send messages, and what to say, and to whom exactly we write. Thanks again. This was a helpful newsletter.
Absolutely! I'll keep them coming!
Thanks for getting me to finally write to the NY Times about their horrible reporting. I've been meaning to for years!
Thanks for writing!
Thank you for your kindness in acknowledging the pain that is being felt in both Jewish and Muslim communities right now. As a Jew I can attest, there is so, so much pain, hurt, and fear. And there is a world of difference between being critical of the current extreme right wing Israeli government and its policies/actions - and wanting to deny Israel’s right to exist at all or to rejoice (as some have) at the brutal murders of innocent civilians (I make no apologies for calling the latter anti-Semitic). As a teacher I know that both Muslim and Jewish kids are struggling right now...thank you for reminding us all to be human and to be kind, to reach out, and to listen with compassion to one another.
Thank you, Susan. I really appreciate those words. And I'm sending hugs.
In your Spread the Word section, I'm blown away. Just yesterday, I messaged The White House of all places because I'm having trouble finding info on how my state is benefiting from the 2021 bills. And then this showed up. So grateful. A bit of background. My governor is taking credit for all of this economic activity and I received a newsletter from my congressional rep who said this in the mailer "Sessions worked hard to secure federal funding in Texas for FY 2023." When you check his voting record, this is a full on lie. So thank you!
Oh it's a lie alright. They're just assuming no one will check. So glad you found the info helpful!
HI Jess
I was one of people who gave to Movement Voter Project yesterday following your link via the website. I gave $50 but I dont know how to email you so Im writing my comment here. I hope you get this. I would love my donation to go to the match if that's possible. I can forward you my Act blue Recipt if that's helpful. my email is pwood@jps.net Thanks. Patsy Wood
Emailed you! BTW you can always just hit "reply" to any of the newsletters and it comes straight to me!
Jessica and everyone who follows her, I'm so grateful to you and your work. Beside our own, there are other voices out there that calling for sanity. Here are two essays that have brought me hope: Rebecca Gordon -- https://voxpopulisphere.com/2023/11/29/rebecca-gordon-the-hamster-wheel-of-war/ and Rabbi Sharon Brous's interview with Ezra Klein https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/17/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-sharon-brous.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CE0.XCED.F4RcHOr9g1r-&smid=url-share
I loved that Ezra Klein interview!
I posted it in the newsletter last week! Will check out the article now!
Love that. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for prodding me to call Abdul Chaudhry, my friend and business associate for 30 years. He nor his son nor their families have had any negative blowback on their person or business here in Central NC or neighboring states where they sell Halal meats. He has always been so straight in his business dealings that being Muslim has not had ill effect. Thank you also for Sarah's email to BuildBackBetter.. I hope She/they have some benefit from shared insights and references to "Sex and the 21st Century: AR-W/(P-I) x ATroc = Q". Love, Doc
I'm not sure what that last reference is to but I'm glad it helped. And very glad you called your friend!
Was hoping to share useful insight with Sarah@Buildbackbetter.org. Falling birth rates need to be adopted by All Tribes to be globally effective in reducing pollution and alleviating climate change without encouraging war and genocide and murder by pestilence or starvation. Pregnancy rates are already well in that direction in Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Australia, most of India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, EU, UK, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and several others where data is not World Bank accurate.