Free Will, God, and the Logic of Choice
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Now is the time for Jewish unity, courage, and renewed leadership — to turn loss into strength and division into resolve.
There is no way to sugarcoat it: Zohran Mamdani’s election was a crushing defeat for the Jewish community of New York. We worked so hard to stop the DSA machine, but came up short. The city with the single largest population of Jews in the world has just elected an anti-Zionist mayor.
Watching the rejoicing Mamdani campaign is painful. So many of his supporters have taken to social media to gloat about defeating the “Zionists.” Their candidate has won, and these snarky anti-Zionists will set the agenda in the years to come.
It is humiliating for a community that has long had a place around the municipal table to be reduced to beggars, hoping for some crumbs of attention from the new mayor.
Unquestionably, there will be postmortems about our community's failure. Yes, we faced a nearly impossible task: electing a deeply unpopular candidate who ran against a slick, smiling, Teflon candidate. Even so, this election exposed our community’s weakness.
We are years behind Mamdani’s backers, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), in terms of organization and recruitment. The DSA had an army of canvassers willing to take their cause into the streets, and they have a pipeline developing candidates for every possible elective position.
Even more painful is that this defeat shone a light on internal weaknesses in our community. A significant cohort of young Jews is less attached to Israel, or even anti-Zionist. Many proudly declared they were “Jews for Mamdani.” How many fall in this group is unclear, but it may be as many as 30% of 18- to 29-year-olds.
This probably correlates with assimilation among young Jews. Those who are less attached to Israel are often less attached to Judaism. But that offers no comfort at all. It is still a tragedy that so many are alienated from their Jewish identities.
The election campaign has also exposed ugly rifts within our community. Some passionate opponents of Mamdani lashed out at fellow Jews they felt had failed them.
These attacks allowed people to vent their anger, but they did nothing to stop Mamdani. On the contrary, they threaten to tear apart our community.
Division is the Achilles’ heel of the Jewish people. We often fight each other, only to have our enemies exploit our divisions. The Talmud condemns what it calls sinat chinam (pointless hatred), which it blames for the destruction of the Second Temple. Multiple Jewish factions focused first on fighting each other, paving the way for the Romans to conquer the country.
This is not just a history lesson. If our community cannot unify, we will certainly fail.
Zohran Mamdani and Tucker Carlson represent a new era in American politics in which populists demonize Israel to advance their own agenda.
To add even more angst, this election comes at a time when both the Left and the Right are turning away from the Jewish community. Zohran Mamdani and Tucker Carlson represent a new era in American politics in which populists demonize Israel to advance their own agenda. Antisemitism is going mainstream, and we are shocked to find former friends peddling bizarre conspiracy theories.
It is a very difficult time for New York Jews. It's beginning to feel like the 1930s.
Our vacation from history is over.
Things used to be easier. Although not every politician felt comfortable with Israel or the Jewish community, it was usually a product of ignorance. The old playbook was to create relationships, advocate, and educate these opponents. This was often very effective. Some ended up being passionate supporters of Israel.
That was then. Right now, we need to throw out the old playbook.
Mamdani is a mayor unlike any other. I know some are optimistic that he will turn out to be more moderate than his platform.
Unfortunately, that is wishful thinking.
Mamdani is a talented politician who knows how to project an image of concern and understanding. But you cannot judge a candy by its wrapper. Mamdani has very troubling associations. He campaigned with Imam Wahhaj and palled around with Hasan Piker. Statements he makes in unguarded moments, like “the boot of the NYPD on the necks of Black and brown New Yorkers was laced up by the IDF,” show what Mamdani really believes.
Considering that Mamdani’s parents and wife are far more radical than he is, one has to assume that Mayor Mamdani will not magically moderate.
Yes, there's no sugar-coating our current predicament. However, yes, there is a however. There is a very good reason to be optimistic.
We can take a different approach, and we can succeed.
After Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership of the UK’s Labour Party, the Jewish community organized with a passion. For five years, the community took their case to the public, exposed antisemitism in the Labour Party, and worked tirelessly to oppose Corbyn’s initiatives.
And it worked.
We must do the same, and I'm confident that we will.
This election campaign has been a test of our community's character. Nachmanides writes about the biblical concept of a test. He offers the profound insight that a test is not there to discover who you are. A test forces you to become who you can be. A test is a challenge that brings out previously unseen potential.
Every test transforms you.
And this test has transformed our community.
We've seen the best of our community in the last few months. We were determined. We worked hard. Volunteers, young and old, door-knockers, all were available to campaign at a moment's notice.
We fought the good fight.
As Jews, we know our history, which has its triumphs and even more challenges. There is one common lesson in all of this history: we never lost faith in ourselves. We never quit. Nothing stopped us from pursuing our destiny.
Yes, Mamdani’s election is a difficult defeat. However, we have overcome far worse in the past.
And we will overcome again.
Am Yisrael Chai!
This op-ed originally appeared in the Jerusalem Post.
Time FOR. AALIYAH. WAKE UP. GD IS TALKING 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
OUR FAMILY SPENT MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION ALERTING FELLOW JEWS TO LOOMING RISKS OF ANTISEMITISM AND SOCIALISM, MANY OF WHICH ARTICLES WERE PUBLISHED IN TIME TO MAKE A CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE IN THE ELECTION RESULTS; BUT WE NEVER HEARD ONE WORD FROM ONE RABBI. THEN DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, 1,000 RABBIS UNITED IN A LETTER OF WARNING. MAY KLAL YISRAEL NEVER FORGET AND NEVER FORGIVE TODAY'S ELECTION RETURNS AGAINST OUR PEOPLE!
Give the man a chance to prove himself. HaShem works in mysterious ways.
Amen, Amen. NYC voters made their decision in a free and fair election.
Surely, we can put pressure on Mamdani, and others in government, now.
Shema ends with EMES. Let us encourage more and more truth, EMES!
According to the exit poll, 1/3rd of Jewish voters in NYC voted for Mamdani!
May they be forever shamed!
Should they be shamed just because they are seeking another way towards Peace? Maybe one should research why they voted for Mamdani. It is comforting to note that in faith the Children of Abraham viz, Ishmael and Isaac voted together. That indeed is true democracy. Can you imagine Abrahams happiness if he was to witness this historic scene.
The most important part: invoking HaShem’s help.
Talmud, Eruvin 54B tells of a Rabbi Preida, who had a student needing 400 repetitions of each lesson, and more.
In politics, we need repetition, as well. If we can repeat our concerns about Mamdami over and over, he might wake up. And with Trumpsters, too, with repetition, over and over, again, some might wake up and save the nation, from insanity... Amen, Amen,,,
It is unbelievable. Madman’s election is a failure of many in the NY Jewish community to act responsibly. The teachers union I believe, endorsed him. There was a time (long ago) when the teachers union was substantially Jewish. Obviously this is no longer the case.
There were enough Jews for Mussolini too !
NY Jews should be seriously considering getting out - at least out of the City limits.
Meanwhile if Mamdani does not hole his own boat by mismanagement and get voted out next time, at least vote against him next election.
We must fight back, but we never fight hard enough. The ADL has become a liberal organization defending the liberal Democrats and allowing antisemitism to reach new heights in the US. We defend other minorities and dialogue, but they never defend us. It is time to call those who we defend (Blacks, Hispanics, LBGTQ) to stand with us. Where are all the Jewish billionaires using their funds to organize against antisemitism, like the wealthy Muslims and Soro’s do to support antisemitism. Where are protests organized in NYC after the election against Mamdani? In the last 50 years, we Jews talk but show no action. We should be taking to the streets, just like our enemies do.
The problem wasn’t most Jews. The problem, or the proximate cause of mamdanis being elected, are too many angry, alienated foreigners and, especially, too many sad, lonely white females staring both financial insecurity and isolation in the face. Did Jews like the Frankfurt school and sundry Marxists have anything to do with this? Yes, but most Jews voted for Cuomo.
Nothings forever and NYCs day in the sun is over. Frankly, the city lost its dynamism a long time ago and is now just a wasteland. Time to move to another city.
A difficult time for all New York Jews? Not so; not for all. Many support the mayor-elect they voted for. You suggest it's beginning to look like the 1930s. Again, not so. That began with the fine people on both sides in Charlottesville. That began when Mr. Trump had dinner with Nick Fuentes, who openly praises Hitler. That began when the current administration started sending stormtroopers to peaceful cities and building detention camps in the swamps of Florida.
Is Mr. Mamdani wrong for including the people of Palestine when he says what we’ve been saying for seventy-five years? Never again.
Considering that the “people of Palestine” are usually the instigators, we should certainly not forget to keep an eye on them!
On Succot we read about Ezekiel and Gog and Magog so are we in that time frame the birth pangs of Moshiach on the way to come and have a redemption around the corner
Let us not forget when Biden took office in 2020 the Reform and conservative Rabbis, in a letter to Biden stated "Israels security is Compromisable. Why? Because Biden did not get along with Israels newly elected Prime Minister by the Israeli people, Bibi Netenyahu. Well, their wishes came through on October 7, I hope they all feel good. As for their newly "Stand with Israel, The Reform and conservatives do not stand with Israel, they voted for Kamalah who would have not sold Israel any arms. Look what happened, Hashem put Trump back in who actually saved Israel from the world - - my sympoties to the Liberal Democratic Jews who are so disappointed.
Since the Jewish liberal Messiah has been President, Obama, all Jewish liberal Democratic Organizations held on to the ideas of their idol Democratic organization and let go of the truth, actually that started in 1990. They let any, non-white anti-Jewish, Anti-American prejudice activity, against Jews or Americans . . They let them get away with it.. and gave them a pass. The ADL doesnt show/list any minority organization on their wall of hate, ONLY WHITE ORGANIZATIONS. Now, do you wonder why White Conservatives are anti-Jewish? And meanwhile, the conservatives are doing everything to protect Jewish Rights and Israel. Yes there are Hate white orgs, but politically speaking it is the democrates that are antisemetics. Look at what Biden did-Sanctions israel and fed the terrorist.
I moved out of NYC and 30 years ago. I can tell you that “countless” Gentiles would not murder us in cold blood. There are those who stand with us as fellow human beings, the ones who joined the resistance against the Nazis. Others fear the division of modern politics and know we must return to a saner way of dealing with the other side, be it ethnic (Jews v. Muslims v. everyone else) They want it to stop. Finally, there are those who are not ideological nor religious, but who just want the diversity of life in NYC to continue. I’m a Catholic who converted to Judaism 40 years ago. I belong to an Orthodox shul. My non-Jewish friends have asked me, post 10/7, if I am ok. I did the same for Muslim friends after 9/11.
SHA(LO)M = SHAM LO His name?
If you divide Shalom into two parts, pulling out Lamad Vov, this is what you get.
Let me suggest that for more peace, Shalom, we give more credit to HaShem,
and to other people, all the time.
Instead of focusing on who we want to eliminate, maybe, we can look for the GOOD in other people, all the time, and try to give them more credit...
So many comments here from right wingers condemning the anti-Semitism of the left without, as usual, any recognition of the actual Nazi sympathizers and neo-Nazis infesting the right wing and MAGA. Like they don't exist! I am always amazed at the right-wing Jewish capacity to ignore the fascists in their own midst. How do you do it? What will you say when MAGA and Trump turns on you? Blames Jews for everything horrible they did? You know this is already happening. In the US the far-right Nazi podcasters are blaming Israel for Kirk's murder and every other thing, they will end up absolving Trump for his crimes and saying he was nothing but a tool of Bibi. They will blame Steven Miller and ignore all the other non-Jews who orchestrated the MAGA movement. Again, this is well underway.
What will happen to Manhattan's eruv?
AM ISRAEL JAI
I would respect this Rabbi's opinion if he did what he preached and emigrated with his whole family to Israel. This cowardice is typical of the ultra-orthodoxy. A well-educated Jew can appropriately be disgusted with the behaviour of the current Government of Israel and its wilful blindness to the actions of settlers in the so-called greater Israel. The Torah dictates rules of conduct for all Jews. Anti-social conduct masked as "for the greater good" doesn't cut it with the intelligentsia. False equivalents create anti-semitism in the diaspora.
With the deepest of respects, if any Jew in America actually feels disgusted by the actions of the Israeli government to defend its people and pursue a war to eradicate the Jihadi death cult of Hamas, then they are the exact opposite of well-educated. They are the result of the complete and utter failure of the Jewish community and its education system.
Would you prefer Jews to be on the receiving end?
I am proud of the efforts of the government of the State of Israel and especially jews who ran to join the difficult fight against an enemy who slaughtered, raped, burned, and hostage took. Apparently this doesn't effect you much. It is the result of the state in the middleeast that has the greatest democractic governance and opportunity for all it's citizens. It is a state that has to put up with those who despise it's very right to exist surrounding it, who have a legacy of 1400 yrs of being colonizers of all.
I think all of us should pack up and move to Israel before it’s too late.
I look forward to the time when I can say "Beruchim HaBayim" - Welcome Home to you.
The Jews of NY always voted Democrat. People like me who were labeled as racist. Now you got what you voted for all these years and you are complaining? What did you think was going to happen?
NEW AMSTERDAM was founded in 1626, 400 years, ago!
"Rome wasn't built in a day" Time will tell what Mayor Mamdani is able to accomplish for the good or for the bad... I don't live in NYC, but I hope for the best...
If Mamdani fails, as Mayor, New York City fails!
We have to wish the new Mayor, Hatzlacha Raba, right?
Perhaps, perhaps, with ongoing pressure, he will wake up to the truth, AMES.
Naive.
You are crazy!
This Anti-Semite will do
all he can to fight Israel
and Jews. His parents
are big haters of all things
Jewish.
Their little boy will be a
plaque on the Jews.
On top of all that he's a
Communist.
Florida beckons.
TRY WAIT This is a saying in Hawaii, to pause and relax, all the time.
Day by day, we can try to develop better strategies to cope with anti-Israel efforts, etc.
"Two wrongs don't make a right"
What's it like living in la la land?
In the 1930s, there were Jews in Germany who said "That Adolf, he's a vegetarian, you know. He can't possibly be a bad man".
Very well said and encouraging. We live with our history of oppression and hatred as well as Jews leaving the fold and becoming the greatest haters of Am ha Kodesh-nothing has changed. History is scattered with the corpses of self-hating Jews, poor useless fools.
The only variable is the state of Israel, eretz ha kodesh, the final stand of Hashem's people.
Tanach tells what we are very likely to face in the near future from the nations of a world gone horribly wrong...we are seeing it unfold before our eyes.
Aliyah is the only option for survival and redemption. Leave now before its too late, but only leave if you are for Hashem and Torah-true Judaism otherwise just stay in the diaspora and get on with your pathetic lives.
You have 20%-30% of people who are still halachically Jews, who have adopted radical socialism and hatred for Torah and Israel as their new religion and on the other side, 20-30% of those who associate with the Orthodox community and continue on the true path of Torah. Then there are the 40%-60% of Jews in the middle, who are assimilated but still hold on to some Jewish practices, support the State of Israel and try to be good people and do the right thing within the limitations of the disastrous Jewish education they received from their family.
And my dear brother, those 40%-60% are who you choose to attack and call pathetic?
That's diametrically opposite to the reason why Aish HaTorah was set up in the first place. To bring back the silent majority of the 40%-60%.
Thank you, I am one of that 40-60% you mention, and there is nothing so discouraging as encountering the superior attitudes and arrogance of some of the Israelis, and that includes my own family who made Aliya decades ago and treat me like something of an idiot or not a real Jew. Meanwhile I believe I live a righteous life in how I treat others and do service in the world. I would rather be a humble and less religious Jew who does good than a self righteous religious Jew who actually doesn't do that much for anyone else.
Wow, you make the offer sound so attractive. Nothing like an Israeli Jew insulting diaspora Jews while demanding they come to Israel on their terms. Smart.
YOU ARE. CORRECT 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱AAALIYAH. NOW. USA IS DOOMED. FOREVER. RIP
This article sounds like a pity party. As a Jew this article sounds like fear mongering and victim rhetoric- spreading your truth that Jews and Muslims are destined to be pitted against each other til the end of time- blech
Are you pro Trump? Who’s put ICE into our cities- racially profiling people- physically pulling them into unmarked cars and detaining them- let’s not let our sense of justice get confused as to what is truly evil that is happening in our country.
I'd appreciate if you could explain how it is fear-mongering to accurately quote a Mamdani making the absurd claim that police brutality in NYC is caused by the IDF.
Or pointing out that he campaigned with an unindicted conspirator in the 1993 WTC bombings.
Or campaigning with Hasan Piker, who at Mamdani's victory party declared it was a shame the US won the Cold War against the USSR, which murdered millions of innocent people
Renee, what is wrong with supporting Trump? Have you lived in a world with illegal immigration, not knowing where someone is from, what they are bringing to the collective American trouble, a problem for you? These are not immigrants like the turn of the 20th century, proud of their heritage, but wanting to be American, not imposing Judaism on the greater whole. What is wrong with that? You have over 1 million people nationwide, we don't know who they are, what their agenda is, or if they have a criminal past...so Trump is wrong by wanting Law and order? ICE, a federal agency, is not just grabbing people off the street; they are picking up those they know are criminals. Is it wrong with that? And my parents are immigrants, legally sponsored. Law and order is a breath of fresh air.
Actually they are grabbing people indiscriminately, including those legally in the US who are awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.
What is wrong with supporting Trump? Oh, I don't know, how about everything? What was wrong with supporting Hitler, you might as well ask. Are you a Jew or not? How can you not see a fascist right in front of you?
Then you don’t have Jewish children.
Perhaps POTUS should invite Netanyahu for a visit. He could arrange to meet him in New York City, have a nice lunch or dinner at a local restaurant, and then bid him farewell. The purpose, call Mamdani on his threat to arrest Netanyahu. This would expose Mamdani as a fraud and embarrass him and his handlers in front of the whole world. Those who celebrate his victory would come to realize their candidates victory isn’t quite as earth shattering as they had hoped. His power is limited, very limited.
Only through better Jewish education, which starts at home, can we hope to win over the hearts and minds of young people. I don't know how to do this as I fear we may have lost the parents through intermarriage and apathy. I know outreach on campuses like Chabad energized my children immensely and they chose Jewish spouses and are raising Jewish children.
What a beautiful comment Judy. May Hashem bless you, shine His light upon you and your family, bring peace to you and all His people. Amen.
So what exactly are you planning to do?
What is the next step ?
Am Yisrael chai! Those who rise too high have a long way to fall.... he will fall hard!!!
Jewish unity existed briefly at Sinai but never again. In the early 1930’s there existed the “Association of National German Jews”. They were a group of highly assimilated “Jews”. When they read about Hitler. Yemach sh’mo, they figured he was talking about the Jews in the log black coats and beards, not loyal Germans like them. So they voted for Hitler. Guess where they ended up?
And my mother, a holocaust survivor said if hitler were on the Democratic Party ticket, Jews would vote for him. She voted democratic most of her life, not because she always believed what was said but because of their history of voting that way. We are a kind compassionate group of people so we only vote one way and can only see what we want to see. The Jews in Germany and in Europe were well bred, smart, intelligent people (look at their families in Israel and what has been accomplished) and yet they believed that “it would be ok.” Look at us here in America now….it will be ok is all you hear. And the hatred for one man who has done a lot for Israel is just like the hatred of all Jews from Hitler. And don’t say it isn’t because if you really listen you can hear it…
I appreciate your concerns, but we are supposed to have FREE SPEECH, in the USA.
That means, we try to give each person a chance to speak out, even if we are afraid they will speak words of hate. Let them speak, before we try to silence them.
Let me confess that I have struggled all my life to voice my concerns, as a very shy person. My shyness and timidity has caused me much suffering. I was a shy college teacher, for many years, but I never realized how I handicapped myself.
I believe that Jews will speak out against Mamdani, and their voices will be heard.
A new born baby cries out, and we are happy to hear his cries. But somewhere along the way, maybe in school, we learn to silence ourselves and others.
"Words from the HEART, enter the HEART" Much thanks
Two things. First, the assimilation of young Jews and their disaffiliation from Israel is a parenting failure first and foremost. Too many Jewish parents do not care about being Jews or about Israel, and prioritize their desires and goals over being Jews and what that entails. No community action, no organization, no initiatives, no funding will fix this basic failing. It is a failure of parenting and only parents who care enough about being Jews to make the sacrifices, live intentional Jewish lives, and get their children a solid Jewish education (*not* Hebrew school) will change this.
Second, we are sojourners everywhere but in Israel. Chaverim, don't try to fix broken NYC. Don't try to save the Jew haters from themselves. Move. Another state will do.
We raised our children in an orthodox home and sent them to day school. They are both pro-Israel, but they are not religious. The pull of secular society is very strong. My daughter married a Jewish man who turned out to be an abusive drunk.
I am so sorry your daughter married such a horrible person.
True. But. 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱is best
I am not Jewish, but am a Christian who fully supports Israel and Jewish people everywhere, in that they have the absolute right to exist as a nation and be sovereign and to THRIVE and be a light to us all. I found this commentary as I was lamenting Mamdani's victory, and my heart breaks for what has been, and what is. But your commentary, with the unified theme of the spiritual meaning of a TEST is encouraging. I will do all that I can to continue to support Jewish people and Israel. PLEASE let us gentiles know what more we can do. Wishing the Jewish population of NYC LIFE and PROTECTION and PEACE!
Dear sir, I don't wish to negate your experience.
And my heart and mind are with and for the Jewish people and Israel and I will support and defend them in any way I can.
I wish you peace.
Hi,
I appreciate your words. One of many things that would really help is to educate people-especially the impressionable and/or young-as to the concept of “light unto the nations” and the facts about many contributions that Jews have provided to the world. It would be a great help if people heard an honest voice that they know, speak differently from what is fed to them by social/media.
Thank you for standing up for what is right please ignore the comments below
Amen! I am a Pastor of a nondenominational Church in Virginia. This past Sunday I preached a message entitled, Why I Am A Christian Zionist, And Why It Matters”. God Bless you for standing with Israel. To my Jewish friends please know the Tucker Carlson’s and Replacement Theology advocates do not speak for the Christian’s Community at large, at least not those whom I know.
Jewish power and influence in NYC ended when Ed Koch's time as mayor finished.
Now it's the time for Jewish billionaires and millionaires to step forward so that even poor Jews can make aliyah.
Maybe we need to have more organizations like Nefesh B; Nefesh. Re: Aliyah. Not everyone can or wants to make aliyah. I am so proud of my friends who have successfully done it but I have also heard about families who have returned to America. Btw--I took my first trip to Israel 6 years ago right around this time, but it certainly will NOT BH be the last one!!
If I ever meet you, Nancy, I'll give you a great big hug!
🙂
What Jewish power are you so ignorant that you don’t
know that Jews are only one percent of the entire world where do we have power? You sound like Roger Waters of Pink Floyd who says Jews run the world and if we run the world, we’re doing a pretty bad job of it. AALIYAH NOW
NYC elected a terrorist in a suit. He is a jihadist willing to say anything to get elected. Time for the Jews of NY to leave.
Delusional much?
That's a big ask. There are plenty of things that make modern Israel unappealing, such as its heavily socialist nature. For Americans, moving to another state will do. There are likely several. A main point is to leave Blue areas and go to Red ones.
"Heavily socialist nature"? Could you give us some examples please?
Why, so we can face the anti-semitism of the neo-nazis in the right wing?
So move to Israel
YOU ARE CORRECT 💯💯💯💯. Aaliya. IS THE ONLY ANSWER
NYC Jewish communities needed to get out the vote for better candidates in the primary. Cuomo stepped down as governor because of multiple complaints from women about harassment and worse. He also brought no fresh ideas for current problems, especially housing.
NYC is a Democratic city. That being the case, I would encourage the community to register as Democrats so they can vote in the primary. They can also switch back to being GOP or independents in other years.
The message to Mamdani voters should have been his lack of experience. It’s an enormously difficult job, and it needs someone with much more experience.
And remember that the state and federal governments have oversight over cities. The courts may be very busy for the next 4 years.
To all who wonder how Germans could elect Hitler 90 years ago - here is your answer with the election of the reincarnation of Hitler - Mamdani. If the Jews will remain passive in a wait-and-see attitude the results will be similar. All of us, whether Jews in NYC or outside, must unite for a fight for our lives and reduce this enemy to dust.
Germans in 1933 were fed up with high inflation and pitched battles in the streets between various leftist groups. Hitler ran with the war hero Hindenburg. It was thought that Hindenburg would be a moderating influence. Unfortunately, he died during his first year as Chancellor. That gave Hitler av free hand.
I have been sounding the alarm in the US for years. Initially no one took me seriously. Now, more people are looking into Aliyah or immigration to another country where they can obtain residency. It’s 1933.
Rabbi Dr. Rosenberg says "if we had a powerful military in Israel the Holocaust might not have happened" With the greatest respect to the Rabbi Dr., are you so certain that Hashem couldn't have orchestrated a Holocaust if Israel with its powerful military would have existed?
Regarding the collective freak out on New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. He comes from an interfaith background and grew up celebrating both Islamic and Hindu festivals like Diwali and Holi. He appears quite secular. His political positions diverge significantly from traditional Islamic teachings—he supports LGBTQ rights, marijuana legalization, and unrestricted abortion access, all of which conflict with orthodox Islamic positions. He married his wife in a secular civil ceremony at City Hall in 2025, presided over by a clerk. He says his Muslim identity is integral to his political and personal life, referencing Islamic principles of justice and compassion, not unlike Bernie Sanders’ cites his Jewish identity for similar reasons. In fact, he is criticized in some Muslim circles as ...
... as Bernie Sander is by Jewish circles specifically for a lack of religiosity. If you had judged Jimmy Carter by his positions and rhetoric of his 1970 Georgia gubernatorial campaign, one would conclude he was a racist, when he was anything but. My point is judge Mamdani by how he governs. Anything else is mere projection.
Gedaliah, it's enough that Mamdani is a socialist. Socialists hate nationalism, patriotism, and particularism because they impede their globalist ambitions. That's why they hate Jews and Judaism. That's why they rage about Israel and "Palestine" but are silent on Sudan, Congo, Nigeria... Whether he is religious, Mamdani's feelings about Israel and Jews are mainstream on the Left. He does not need to be a religious Muslim. And I've met a few friendly Muslims, so that's not necessarily a predictor, though, unfortunately, too often it is.
The judgement of Mamdani doesn't have to be made on the basis of how religious of a Muslim he is. Just what he's said and done:
Muslims use Jews like you as useful idiots.
Hindus despise Mamdani because he turned against his mother's religion when he turned to Islam.
You can continue in la la land or start living in the real world and recognise what a threat he truly is.
Islam is a patrilineal religion. If one’s father is Muslim, so is the child.
And Judaism is a matrilineal religion.
So if a Muslim man is with a Jewish woman and they have a child, is the child a Jew or a Muslim?
Both of his parents are anti Jewish Muslims, that support terrorism and not a Jewish state, and also support BDS and Muslims have the same goal as Nazis ( Y " S) make the world and Israel " Judenrein "
In the Talmud, ERUVIN 54B there is mention of a Rabbi Preida, who patiently gave his student 400 repetitions of each lesson, and more, if necessary.
==============================================
In our POLITICS, we may need many repetitions, in order to wake people up, from their ignorance and their biases and brainwashing. We will have daily lessons about Mamdani, and from Trump Insanity. Time will tell, if we wake up to the truth, or not...
There are really only two sources for Anti-Judaism. Everything else are just distractions and icing on the cake. 1)) Narcissism is the primary source of Anti-Judaism.2)) Gnosticism is the other primary source of Anti-Judaism.
Can you elaborate on what you mean?
Anti Judaism in my view comes where the Jewish bible was given on Mount Sinai( which in Hebrew is hate) my mother( obm) said " hate and jealousy are twins" when you are jealous of someone you start hating them, this is a simple concept to me, your view most people don't understand the meanings of the words you are using, my theory is the simple version of being Anti Judaism
Michael, are you trying to define Anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) or attempting to justify it?
All believing Jews are Zionists. Our prayers are "directed" towards Jerusalem. However, Zionists can differ as to what being a Zionist means. Jewish Israelis have a broad spectrum of beliefs re: Palestinians, Arab Israelis, the West Bank, and Gaza. We in the United States (and in Israel) need to realize that we are all one "Am". We need to stop the name-calling among ourselves.
Well, I hear what you mean but many Orthodox Jews disassociate themselves from the term Zionism due to its historic anti-Torah, socialist nature as a political movement.However, I do agree that all Orthodox Jews should be "Lovers of Zion", ie, they acknowledge that there is a positive mitzvah to settle the Land of Israel, to establish and support an independent Jewish state and pray for Hashem to bring the Jewish people home from the four corners of the earth to live in the Land that Hashem Has given us as an eternal inheritance, to live in safety and peace, performing the ratson of Hashem.
I can't help but to think that this is Hashem calling his beloved home. Israel has been open for alilyah for nearly 80 years. I remember hearing a shiur once that compared leaving Mitsrayim to pregnancy. A baby in the womb is in the safest most comfortable place, until its time to exit. Once the process starts the womb becomes dangerous evenly deadly. Yet the child is scared and knows nothing but the comfort of its beloved home. It takes so much effort to get the child out, but once out or born their eyes open and life begins. Likewise American has been a good, and mostly safe home for Jews, maybe leaving is scary it seems dangerous. What could be safer than to be where Hashem has promised his children? Maybe its time to be born! אם ישראל חי!
What could be safer? I'm sorry but seriously, what about Israel should feel safe to Jews like me living in the US? It is surrounded by vicious enemies. October 7th was absolutely terrifying. Part of me would love to live in Israel but it looks like an island in a sea of Muslim hatred that threatens to swamp it. Maybe you don't understand what it looks like from the outside. But when you say what could be safer it seems detached from reality.
His acceptance speech concentrated on NYC economic issues, not foreign policy. Hopefully, he will continue to do so. But if not, we must fight, and not suffer silently.
Liberalism is a mental defect and the number of observant Jews who are still members of the antisemitic/anti-Zionist Democratic Party is shameful. These Jews better wake up and realize that the Democratic Party hates them and Israel.
I’m an Orthodox Democrat, as are many of my friends. We don’t hate Israel, we support it and tell our elected leaders that.
My local officials are not antisemitic. I would not support an anti-Israel candidate. However, as a US citizen, my primary concerns are for my fellow American citizens. The GOP is largely the party of evangelical Christians, whose goal is for American Jews to make Aliyah, leaving them with a Christian country.
Have you heard of the term "Chickens For KFC"?
And the MAGA party only supports Israel insofar as it has the support of Evangelical Christians, who don't actually support Jews or their mission in Israel. Otherwise MAGA is filled to the brim with anti-Semites and neo-Nazis.
crushing defeat brought on in a large part by NYC wealthy liberal jews
Didn't the Prophets say The entire World will turn against Israel in the Latter days? The USA is no exception.
This article promotes continued hatred, fear, and division, in my opinion.
That's quite a charge, which is utterly meaningless unless it's explained, as the article is rather clearly a call for unity and courage against openly expressed antisemitism by a sly politician whose baseless Jew hatred is so strong that he can't even try to deny it!
You would have said the same thing about the rise of Hitler in the 1930's.
You can respond to hate with love if you want. And when he slaps your cheek in response, you can lovingly turn the other cheek. But don't expect the rest of us to be just as suicidal.
Hear! Hear!
You use self defense and legal firearms , also security by ex Israeli soldiers to guard Jewish houses of worship, Yeshivas. Jewish centers, etc and Jewish organizations to protect you, you can't rely on the police, what will be with the police anyway
The Rabbis letter is an oversimplification. The young Jews and the Reform Jews will not unite with us. Why? Because they have no interest in following the Torah. The Torah is where all answers are found. This is not a case of baseless hatred. It is rather a lack of education. How do we come together when these young people get their information from tik tok. There is a reason that Orthodoxy is growing while everything else is dying out.
A solution is the same as the solution for university campuses. Jews need to pull their donations. We can shut down the diamond district in New York, move it. There are so many busy run by frum Jews. We need to use the power that we have. But most of all, we need to live as proud Jews, following the Torah. It is our lifeline. Chabad has the right idea
False. Just attended the World Union for Progressive Judaism vibrant conference in Jerusalem. Very Zionist. Not dying, but expanding across the world. All Jews must be part of the struggle, and to say only Orthodox Jews count is a big mistake.
Peter. Like your "progressive" definition of Judaism, it sounds as if you also have progressive definition of Zionism.
Forgive me, but, are Zionism and Judaism inseparable? Always?
Zionism is simple belief that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state hence Judaism and Zionism are inseparable.
So does Palestine. I am a Jew. Not a Zionist.
It's quite apparent that you are ignorant of the facts: "Palestine" is a misnomer! (It's actually the Roman name for Judea, as the land of Israel was previously called.)
Those called Palestinians today are by and large proven enemies of our people and their word is meaningless, as history (especially recently) has unfortunately shown.
You needn't be a flag-waving Zionist, but at least be a good, knowledgeable Jew!
Respectfully, what kind of a jew ignores rhe fact that umpteen times in the Tanach, we are promused this land? (Do you know what "tanach" means?) Furthermore, without the Tanach, Christianity and islam are empty pumpkin shells, so christians and muslims, if they have their heads on straight, should be marvelling at this fulfillment of prophecy, against all odds. And so should you.
As a non zionist jew how many jews do you think will exist in the world in 100 years if there were no Israel?
If you are not a Zionist, are you saying you do not believe in the City of David in Jerusalem?
According to our enemies that are Muslim zionists is code for Jews, I can't believe are so ignorant after the Holocaust, the fact is Jew = Zionist, you can't be one without the other, then you don't know the concept of both, in all of Jewish books they are intertwined
The problem is that two “Palestines” exist already: the PA since 1995 and Gaza since 2005. Neither has developed itself as a viable state and neither has stopped attacks on Israel and Israeli civilians.
So it’s not a question of does “Palestine” have a right to exist. The many attempts at binding peace treaties proves that. It’s a question of what “Palestinians” actually want. And judging by both actions and statements, what they want is no Israel - period. That is the be-all and end-all of their desire.
Is that what you want also?
Yes
Before you'll get clear answers to these questions, the root question must be asked first... "What is 'Zion'?" *This* question gives inescapable context to yours.
Ok... What *is* Zion? It's the name of a small mountain/hill in Jerusalem--but also a name used synonymously with the Jewish city of Jerusalem itself.
Therefore, Jerusalem = 'Zion', the holy capital city of the indigenous Jewish people-nation.
Since the 10th century CE, all Jews close the Passover Seder (Jewish feast that commemorates the Exodus from Egypt) with the exclamation: "! לשנה הבאה בירושלים" or, "Next year in Jerusalem!" For Ashkenazim, the final prayer on the holiest Jewish day, Yom Kippur, concludes with this shout too.
So, every Jew prays to our holy hill in our holy city, Zion. No substitute.
They are separatable in theory, but in practice, 99% of anti-Israel rhetoric is just plain old anti-Semitism.
Many Jews, Israelis included, dislike the present Israeli government. They live in Insrael and serve in the IDF. Clearly not anti-Zionist nor anti-Semites.
There is, unfortunately, all kinds of internal "sibling rivalry" between Jews. Different political opinions, different religous opinions, etc. This is where the distinction between Zionism and Judaism can come out. I think most (loyal) Israeli citizens dislike some element or another of the current government. I have no problem with that.
But in the world-at-large, anti-Israel rhetoric is usually just anti-semitism (or going with the woke flow, with no concern for the facts). I'm not saying that Israel is perfect. We can debate the merits and drawbacks of different policies and politicians.
But in the big picture, on the world stage, I think it should be obvious that Israel is the "good guy" and Hamas etc. is the bad guy.
Sigh. I am so saddened but not surprosed by Mamdani's victory. A very good friend of mine is in the process of making aliyah and I admire her for that. When it comes to my family and myself, we are not currently planning on making aliyah. However, I have learned to never say never. I completely agree that Jews need to be united more now than ever. regardless of where they live.
Time to ponder an exit strategy.
So Jews need a valid unexpired passport, for just in case they need to make Aliyah
It is very hard to be optimistic in this very antisemitic climate that we are living in. It is so true that the more we are divide then the stronger our haters become. We have to try so hard to be unified. I just don't know if we can heal the terrible rift in our community. Yes, Hashem told Avraham to look up and we have to do the same thing. We know that only Hashem can get us out of this horrible situation that Jews all over the world are facing. I hope and pray that we have the stength to do so.
How fortunate to be a jew in North West London
Are you sure?
And the will!