On Sunday evening, we were at the home of our daughter-in-law’s parents celebrating their anniversary. As we have with our son-in-law’s family, we’ve become close, which is a blessing. We are all Jewish, so inevitably there was some scattered talk about the events in Israel. But we had all been following the news, so none of us had anything new to say. In any case, the point of the evening was to celebrate the anniversary and also celebrate how our son Andrew and their daughter Rebecca had brought our two families together.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this awful time of war and hatred. And thank you for sharing the RFK video and that amazing Aeschylus quote: “In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” May the wisdom come soon.
Thank you. I quite often hear people who I think are well meaning call for Israel being dismantled for being an Ethno state. I don't think they realise the reality of what it means to be a homeless Jew in a world that has so often tried to wipe you out.
Thank you for this. Extra pining for my kids across country during this time. Hubby and I went to a rally. It was fantastic to hold an Israeli flag and see young people wrapped in it. My tribe is also my family.
We are all family. All related. I hurt as a Jew. I hurt as a human being. And it's not just the hurt of pain. It's the hurt of fear. And the hurt of anger. Lots of anger. Not just for the savagery, a blight on human history, but anger for what will have to be done in response to that savagery. Never again is now. Am Yisroel chai.
By halacha, I am the daughter of a Jew, inasmuch as my father's maternal grandmother was Jewish. Jennie Bolster married a Catholic, and they raised their children as Protestants in an intensely Protestant part of the country. So, by goyisch standards that makes me 1/8 Jewish. By halachic standards, that makes me 0% Jewish but my father 100% Jewish. My father has a respect for religion, but no express commitment. Given his background, I've always wondered whether he would have a right of return to Israel.
Incidentally, I rejoice in these mystic ties, and feel very connected to all of my marvelous roots. I rejoice that I am1/8 Jewish, 1/8 Catholic, a descendant of Hans Graff, the first Swiss Mennonite to arrive in the United States (1703), as well as 5th cousin twice removed of Milton Hershey, the man who invented cheap and awful chocolate. Finally, I am the descendant of three Mennonite bishops. These guys were fruitful, and they multiplied. I find the thought that I may be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob awesome and humbling. I think I really understand the sense of keeping on keeping on— which of course is what Mennonites and Jews have done for generations that are hard to count.
I have always viewed Israel as a land embroiled in perpetual war—as a war zone, never as a safe place. Before Israel came into existence, generations of Jews have chosen the Diaspora, with great wisdom to my way of thinking. Mennonites also made this choice when faced with the prospect of being sold as galley slaves or the death penalty—there are very few Mennonites left in Europe. My ancestor George Weber is found in the Mennonite Martyr's Mirror, as someone jailed for his faith with his property confiscated. He left Switzerland, and his grandchild sailed for America.
I think the safest place in the world for Jews is the United States. I see a good and long future for our country, because we have a concept of nationhood that simply cannot be beat. The rowdy, confused, anti-intellectual members of the American family have had a number of crazy moments, but we have gotten through them.
The Palestinian Authority allows the Israeli army access to the West Bank for security purposes. Israel won the Golan Heights fair and square from Syria in the 1967 war. If Israel removed all settlements from the West Bank, I think the residents of Gaza would eventually want to join a move toward blessed peace. May it be so, Amen.
Being together with your family provides comfort. My heart is aching for the Jewish people and the innocent civilians. I have no words as I don't understand this endless persecution of Jews.
Oct 11, 2023·edited Oct 11, 2023Liked by david roberts
My family and I stand with the Jewish people and with Israel 🇮🇱. I just can’t believe the level of antisemitism that’s surfaced, particularly from the American left, in these days. The same people who claim to speak against injustice are so silent or worse justifying terrorism. It’s downright shameful.
My heart and tears are with you and yours, near or spread far and wide. I am grateful that you were with family, to feel of each other's strength.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this awful time of war and hatred. And thank you for sharing the RFK video and that amazing Aeschylus quote: “In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” May the wisdom come soon.
Thank you. I quite often hear people who I think are well meaning call for Israel being dismantled for being an Ethno state. I don't think they realise the reality of what it means to be a homeless Jew in a world that has so often tried to wipe you out.
Thank you for this. Extra pining for my kids across country during this time. Hubby and I went to a rally. It was fantastic to hold an Israeli flag and see young people wrapped in it. My tribe is also my family.
We are all family. All related. I hurt as a Jew. I hurt as a human being. And it's not just the hurt of pain. It's the hurt of fear. And the hurt of anger. Lots of anger. Not just for the savagery, a blight on human history, but anger for what will have to be done in response to that savagery. Never again is now. Am Yisroel chai.
You write, "And an even greater debt to those Jews who have been killed, including as recently as a few day ago, solely because they were Jewish. "
To gently correct the record, the recent killings in Israel were not solely because the murdered were Jewish.
But I agree that has often been the case.
Beautiful thoughts. Thank you very much.
On to Italy
My Gentile heart aches for you.
By halacha, I am the daughter of a Jew, inasmuch as my father's maternal grandmother was Jewish. Jennie Bolster married a Catholic, and they raised their children as Protestants in an intensely Protestant part of the country. So, by goyisch standards that makes me 1/8 Jewish. By halachic standards, that makes me 0% Jewish but my father 100% Jewish. My father has a respect for religion, but no express commitment. Given his background, I've always wondered whether he would have a right of return to Israel.
Incidentally, I rejoice in these mystic ties, and feel very connected to all of my marvelous roots. I rejoice that I am1/8 Jewish, 1/8 Catholic, a descendant of Hans Graff, the first Swiss Mennonite to arrive in the United States (1703), as well as 5th cousin twice removed of Milton Hershey, the man who invented cheap and awful chocolate. Finally, I am the descendant of three Mennonite bishops. These guys were fruitful, and they multiplied. I find the thought that I may be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob awesome and humbling. I think I really understand the sense of keeping on keeping on— which of course is what Mennonites and Jews have done for generations that are hard to count.
I have always viewed Israel as a land embroiled in perpetual war—as a war zone, never as a safe place. Before Israel came into existence, generations of Jews have chosen the Diaspora, with great wisdom to my way of thinking. Mennonites also made this choice when faced with the prospect of being sold as galley slaves or the death penalty—there are very few Mennonites left in Europe. My ancestor George Weber is found in the Mennonite Martyr's Mirror, as someone jailed for his faith with his property confiscated. He left Switzerland, and his grandchild sailed for America.
I think the safest place in the world for Jews is the United States. I see a good and long future for our country, because we have a concept of nationhood that simply cannot be beat. The rowdy, confused, anti-intellectual members of the American family have had a number of crazy moments, but we have gotten through them.
The Palestinian Authority allows the Israeli army access to the West Bank for security purposes. Israel won the Golan Heights fair and square from Syria in the 1967 war. If Israel removed all settlements from the West Bank, I think the residents of Gaza would eventually want to join a move toward blessed peace. May it be so, Amen.
Indeed, we are all connected in some fashion.
Being together with your family provides comfort. My heart is aching for the Jewish people and the innocent civilians. I have no words as I don't understand this endless persecution of Jews.
Thank you, David.
My family and I stand with the Jewish people and with Israel 🇮🇱. I just can’t believe the level of antisemitism that’s surfaced, particularly from the American left, in these days. The same people who claim to speak against injustice are so silent or worse justifying terrorism. It’s downright shameful.
Thank you so much for sharing this David. Thinking about you, your family and the entire community during this terrible time.
Beautiful sentiments. That Aeschylus quote was from the translation by Edith Hamilton. I’ve got an essay about her coming out (hopefully) tomorrow.