The Jewish People’s Undying Connection to the Land of Israel
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Fight these distortions and reclaim your authentic identity as a Jew.
Since October 7, 2023, surrounded by accusations against Israel and distortions about what it means to be a Jew, you may be feeling conflicted emotions regarding your Jewish identity. It’s essential to resist the lies that the world wants you to believe about being Jewish today in order to reclaim your authentic identity as a Jew.
Here are five lies the world wants you to believe.
With the distorted media reports and the protests across the world supporting Hamas, there is an implicit accusation that all Jews should feel guilty for wanting to defend their homeland and their people. You may have felt accused when food shortages were claimed in Gaza, even though Hamas was taking over the trucks full of supplies.
The world tells you that you should feel guilty for the hospitals that were destroyed, despite the fact that Hamas was launching rockets from them and using some of them as headquarters.
Let’s be clear. You should not feel guilty. You should not feel guilty for being part of a courageous, kind nation that is viciously attacked and then blamed when it tries to defend itself. On the contrary, you should feel proud that you are part of a people who love life and will fight to protect it no matter what.
With the blatant rise of antisemitism, even the advice from the Israeli homeland security has been to hide signs that you are Jewish when you travel. Don’t stand out. Blend into the crowd. The world tells you that you need to blend in to succeed.
But throughout history, Jews have held onto their language and their dress despite the antisemitism and the senseless hatred that surrounded them. It takes courage to be willing to not disappear into a crowd. It takes strength to hold your head high when you wear a kippah or a hostage necklace or a Jewish star and tell the world: This is who I am, and I am proud of it. Wear your Jewishness with pride.
You may have always been a quiet, reserved person who doesn’t want to make waves at the office or at social gatherings. The world is telling you that you can stay silent in the face of the incessant lies that demonize Israel and its brave soldiers. The world wants you to believe that you can stand off to the side and listen while others call Hamas freedom fighters instead of terrorists.
But the days when it was possible to be quiet and reserved are over. You cannot stand on the sidelines any longer. Your life and the life of your people depend on you speaking up when you hear others spreading disinformation. You cannot stay silent.
Many people believe that your Jewish education can end after your bar or bat mitzvah. The world tells you that you shouldn’t be “too Jewish” and there is no need to learn anymore about Judaism.
But what you learn for your bar or bat mitzvah is just the beginning of a lifetime journey of discovery. There is an infinite amount to learn about what it means to be Jewish and the precious wisdom that has been passed down to you for many generations. Don’t be the one to break the chain. Be open to learning and growing more each day.
In many countries across the world, Jews still fortunately feel at home in the Diaspora. The world may still be telling you that you don’t need Israel – you have America, England, Canada and Australia. But the rise of antisemitic incidents is shaking that sense of security. These safe harbors are no longer all that safe.
Israel, the Jewish homeland, is the insurance policy of every Jew across the world. It is a place where being Jewish seeps into everything. You do need Israel, and Israel needs you.
Don’t silently accept the lies and distortions that the world wants you to believe. Reclaim the gift of your heritage and stand proud as a Jew.
Facing rising antisemitism? Find your voice and community with United Against Antisemitism (UAA) on Aish+. This safe online space empowers Jewish students and young professionals with resources, expert guidance, and a supportive network to navigate today's challenges and build a stronger Jewish future. Click here to join and turn adversity into strength.
The 5 points of this article have set my mind in turmoil.
As a Gay Jew living in Idaho, USA I am confronted by these points in an increasingly parallel manner on a daily basis.
I will not be told what to think!
I will hold my head high!
I will survive!
JAC
Thank you for the inspiring article.
One brief argument against the antisemitic accusations raised after Oct the 7th I recently learned was:
Rape is not Resistance
I think every woman should keep this in mind and on her tongue when the discussion arises.
The organization that protects women did not protect Jewish and/ or Israeli women, plus the Red Cross protected the Jewish Israelis like they protected the concentration camp victims in the Holocaust, they lied and said concentration camps are humane what a big lie, to me as a child of a Holocaust Survivor( obm) the disease of anti semitism is not news to me, even after the Holocaust anti semitism exists in the guise of being anti Israel/ anti zionist = being anti Semitic in the colleges and universities the truth came out unfortunately
I am a Gentile member of an Orthodox Rabbi's webinar. I wear a kippah out of respect, but I am aware that should I do so outside where I live, it might well attract unwanted and unpleasant attention to myself.
I wish there were more interaction between Jews and Gentiles. I value my Jewish friends very much, and have learnt a great deal about aspects of the Jewish faith. Even though there are points of different interpretation, we remain friends, and to me this is how it should be!
All Jews should be proud and cultivate love and doing right for all other peoples . This is tikkun olam , making the world better
Thank you for this empowering article Debbie, concepts we think we know and live by, yet need to strengthen ourselves in daily.
Voting down accomplishes & proves nothing, with all due respect.
See Robert Kennedy's The Real Anthony Fauci for much info on Big Pharma, Big Junk Food and Big War etc.
During Trumps's first term, no new real wars began anywhere in the world, so-much-so that the largest manufacturer of arms in the US had a significant stock-slump - to the degree that when Biden (who was dividen' the country - tried to shove the clot-shot down people's throats, until was struck down by the Supreme Court!) came into office - and restarted wars all over the world, they had to rebrand, despite being a century old!
War is BIG business, and Israel, the US's closest ally in the Middle East, is VERY involved with that. So too, with the clot-shot, Israel had highest vax & myocarditis rates.
All Jews should read this, very well said. I, am VERY PROUD TO BE A JEW !
Amen!
When traveling through an area, it is wise not to call attention to oneself. The article notes that this is the recommendation of Israeli security forces; it is also recommended by US State Dept and security officials worldwide. This is not about giving up our identity permanently, it’s about staying safe in transit.
It is sad that Jews can't show their identity but are enemies could I guess life in the world is upside down like the plane that landed that way
At the moment, I would not call undue attention to my American background either. Americans are facing a lot of controversy everywhere these days.
Well, I have Jewish, Christian (eastern Orthodox from Romania), and Southeast Asian ancestors (probably from China but not sure 100 percent). I have heard people saying all of the above. The only thing I might comment on is that I do not believe Jews NEED Israel, they existed for 2,000 year without Israel as a Jewish state and they can do it again if necessary. Israel has a right to exist as a sovereign state where all Jews are welcome. Nonetheless, non Jews should be able to live there as well. A state should not discriminate against anyone's religion, or ethnicity, but when I was in Israel I did see any discrimination from Jews against people who were clearly not Jews in the country of Israel.
We do need Israel. Surviving is not living. Sure we survived the Holocaust but if we don't want it to happen again we need Israel. Non Jews have the rest of the world we just want our little peice of ancestral Homeland.
Non-Jewish citizens of Israel live there as well. These include Israeli Arabs (Muslim, Christian or of no faith), Druze, etc.
You are absolutely right, this person does not know if she is Jewish or not, anyway the Jewish homeland is Israel in the Torah it says so and in the movie " The Wizard of Oz" the song " Over The Rainbow " was actually a song about the land of the Jews the land of Israel that is what I heard
You're either bigoted or misinformed!
This person does not know who she really is, the expression is trying to dance on two weddings(trying to be in two places at once) which does not work at all in my view it is pretty sad she doesn't know if she is Jewish or not
Elena, I think you may have just written a typo in your comment. In your last sentence, I think you may have meant to write "didn't" see any discrimination.
I’m going to disagree with the fact that Jews don’t need Israel. . When I was in college my girl friends house an I went on the March of the Living from two German Consentration Campd in Poland Bergen Belsan and Auschwitz’s then on to Israel. The first part of the trip was gut wrenching and very emotional. When we got to Israel we were welcomed with open arms and we saw what Israel was and is to Jews across . World . Israel is our home and Israeli people are our family. It’s the only place that welcomes Jews and brings us home with open arms.
I agree with you the trip you took visiting concentration camps and ten Israel proves the reason why Jews their rightful homeland that we wished for and dreamt about for two thousand years or more
Please detail the "discrimination" you claim to have seen. Many time people read into an interaction what they expect to see rather than observe what is actually happening.
Ok, there is clearly something wrong with me and I quite obviously hang with the wrong people and am isolated from the world but I have never and do not now think such and I have never heard anyone I associate with or have come into contact with who have shared such thoughts and for the record, I am a Christian. Off to make an appointment with a shrink.
You say you are a Christian and the author appeared to be talking about Jewish beliefs, such beliefs are are NOT universal to all Jews, or people like me who have mixed Jewish/other ancestors, but I think you know that.