Those Shameful Thoughts and What They Really Say about You
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Who gets to speak for the Jewish people today?
We’ve all heard the anti-Israel voices who speak out “As a Jew,” insisting that Jews must be separated from the State of Israel. And once they declare “As a Jew,” it seems anything goes—whitewashing antisemitic violence, ignoring the massacre of our people, turning a blind eye to the taking of hostages, all while touting their Jewishness and standing with those who wish to destroy Israel rather than live in peace.
Who gets to speak for the Jewish people today?
Hannah Einbinder called for a “Free Palestine” as she accepted her Emmy award. Later, she said that it is her obligation to distinguish Judaism and Jewish culture from the “ethno-nationalistic” State of Israel.
To all the Hannah Einbinders of the world, I extend my hand and invite you on a journey of spiritual self-discovery. Being Jewish means you have a great legacy to explore. Our connection to the land of Israel is more than a culture or a nationalistic movement. We, the Jewish people, have returned home after 2,000 years. Though we traveled to the four corners of the earth and endured every kind of persecution, we never forgot Jerusalem. Even today, at every chuppah you hear the sound of shattered glass recalling our majestic Temple in ruins. Every Passover Seder concludes with “Next year in Jerusalem.” The Jewish people and Israel share one heartbeat. If together we are a body, then Israel is our soul.
To speak for the Jewish people, you must first know what it means to be a Jew.
Perhaps we do not all agree on policies, and it is everyone’s right to express their views. But know this: Israel is part of our heritage as Jews. Abraham and Sarah, the very first Jews, were promised that this land would be an eternal inheritance for their children.
To represent the Jewish people, you must be more than “Jew-ish.” To speak for the Jewish people, you must first know what it means to be a Jew.
How can I speak “as a Jew” if I am indifferent to my story? To cast aside my great legacy, to be unmoved by my journey, to be ignorant of my roots—this is to throw my birthright to the wind. As the world rewrites our history, I become the token Jew who unknowingly repeats grotesque falsehoods about Jewish dominance and genocide. Like a malignant cancer, its viral spread devastates and destroys.
After the Holocaust, the world was ready to say Kaddish for the Jew. Yet somehow, we inhaled death and exhaled hope. The land that lay barren, silently waiting for her children, bloomed once again. A nation of dry bones found the strength to rebuild. A broken people began to miraculously heal.
I speak as a child born upon the ashes of the Holocaust. I live with the souls of those who perished. They sit at my dinner table, hover above me, and give me no rest. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, little cousins—all murdered. We are told zachor—remember! To remember is to know what I stand for, what I fight for, and the world that was lost. No one stood up for us. There was nowhere to go. We have the responsibility and the mission of memory.
Now, when the world has turned upside down—when wrong is right and murder is justified “by any means”—we have the power to rise above the darkness. We are a nation that has withstood slavery, suffering, and slaughter. We have brought the light of Jewish values to the world. We have refused to break. Our traditions uplift us, our faith emboldens us. Within every Jew remains a spark waiting to ignite. The fire within us is filled with love for life, for unity, and yes—for our land. Despite pain and suffering, you will not find burning rage, but rather a fiery desire to triumph over evil.
It is time to ask: What do I love about my Judaism? How can I connect to my people? Do I know my story?
“As a Jew” means you are part of an incredible family. We may look different, dress differently, speak different languages—but we are one people. Carry us in your heart. Learn the secret of Jewish resilience. Hold onto the strength of our nation. Know where you come from. Love the land of milk and honey, as the golden sun rises above Jerusalem and heaven kisses earth. This is your eternal heritage.
I just want to post a correction to my typos on my comments to Judy below. No, I do not support Muslim Terrorism. I protested for the release of the hostages and when Jews were attacked.
I guess the " rabbi" needs lesson in the Torah and Jewish history which are learned both plus the prophets about Samson and Gaza which was one of some cities were the Philestines lived and the name Philestines and Palestinans translates to invaders also the Philestines worshiped the idol worship of dagan translated as a Merman, that was part of the prophets and in the past the Jews had problems with the ancient enemies and Psalms 83 mentioned our enemies of the past and new enemies now 2 countries Iraq used to Babylon and Iran used to be Persia, you see I know my history plus my mom( obm) was a Holocaust Survivor from Auschwitz-Birneau, am a child of a Holocaust Survivor( obm) and know also Holocaust history too
I don't hate anyone that got brainwashed to believe in lies, propaganda , falsehoods of a made up people called the " Palestinans" according to Jewish history the Jews are the real Palestinians the others are imposters, I know the Torah and know Jewish history too, and besides your book, the organization " Stand With Us" explains the history of the Jews of our connection to the land of Israel, the Roman's renamed " Judea " "Palestine " to try to stop the revolt of the Jews in the Roman times, also the world Palestine comes from the ancient people the Philestines which were in Gaza and are mentioned to Joshua and Judges and Samson the Judge had to fight the Philestines just like Israel as to fight their enemies now,
This first sentence is poorly constructed. I hope {“rabbi” freewoman} refers to Hannah Einbinder. The remainder of this comment is fine.
Rebbetzen Jungreis-Wolff’s essay is a work of art.
I must of read the article before now, and both times it is the right message but Jews shouldn't be fooled once again from enemies like it happened before, when the enemy said the saying they want to destroy Israel and murder all the Jews there and also around the world G _ d forbid then their goal will be com5 just like the Nazis ( Y"S) wanted making the world and Israel " Judenrein" ( free of Jews) G _ d forbid, sadly and unfortunately some Jews are gullible and ignorant useful idiots and fall for their propaganda and falsehoods
Jews want to live in peace but our enemies want the same like the Nazis ( Y"S) did murdering a lot of Jews like in the Holocaust, when the enemies talk about genocide in reality it is projection they want to make genocide against the Jews and Israel
Why is Israel giving aid to their enemies that want to murder them , and do another October 7, 2023 and a bigger scale, did the allies send humanitarian aid to the Axis powers in World War 2
i am a Jew who lived in Jerusalem 45 yrs ago. i almost made aliyah but personal issues necessitated my return to the states & other than a funeral, i have not been back.
i am Jew as much as any of you, and tired of being called an enemy of the Jewish People, an anti semite, who believes in the protocols of the elders of zion or the blood libel. this is narishkeit and bs.
There is no way i can support the actions of Israel. i have seen the pictures read the reports & there is no way to justify the mass killing Israel has engaged in. Just because Jerusalem and Israel are holy to us, does not give us the right to slaughter massive numbers of people.
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof, Bakesh Shalom Viradfayhu. Lo Tirtzarch.
I am a Jew and not in my name or Gods name.
You are a Jew that would vote for Adolf Hitler ( Y" S) too, and the Muslim Arab terrorists you support want the world and Israel " Judenrein" ( free of Jews) I read about what these terrorists teach their children and it is to murder Jews and take their land away from them, in the prophets it says in the end of days Ishmael will claim Israel as their inheritance and steal the identity of the Jewish people, the real Palestinians are 5he Jewish people and don't lecture me and bring G _ d into it, by supporting terrorists it is no better than supporting Nazis ( Y " S) I guess you want the world and Israel " Judenrein" ( free of Jews) your mother must not be Jewish, anyone supporting our enemies is a self hater or a anti semite disguised as a Jew
Judy,
You don't know me and you sound like someone on drugs when u say I would vote for Hitler. If you knew me you would know how crazy a statement that is, a 1,000,000 percent lie. I have been called many things but fascist is not one of them.
No I don't Muslim extremism and I protested for the release of the hostages and when were attacked in Pittsburgh, Monsey, Brighton, Ma, Arlington MA etc.
I stand up for human rights for Jews and everyone.
I cannot and will not say the killing Israel is engaged in is ok. It's not. And all the name calling on earth won't change that fact.
You must of not read the words when the author says about " free Palestine" you must learn about your Jewish heritage and the Jewish bible and the Jewish people's connection to land of Israel and our inheritance from G _ d on the condition we keep the Torah( the Jewish bible) we are in exile from the land of Judea that the Roman's renamed Palestine to deny our connection to your land after always revolting against the Roman's, more then 2000 years ago Judea/ Palestine/ now Israel always belonged to the Jewish people if anyone says otherwise they are a brainwashed and ignorant and also mentioning G_d's name in vain, which is against the Jewish bible, Jews don't turn the other cheek. Jews believe in self defense when someone comes to massacre you and make a mini Holocaust
I thank all non Jews for supporting Israel and Jews, by doing so you are protecting Judeo- Christianity and western values and making sure will not end up G _ d forbid with Sharia Laws( Muslim Laws) which would be a disaster for non Muslims
Hannah Einbender did not get a lesson in the lesson of the Holocaust, and what " free Palestine " really means to destroy Jews and Israel G _ d forbid and take our land for themselves, and like I said before and make the world and Israel " Judenrein " ( free of Jews) just like Nazis( Y " S) wanted to do, and these Muslim Arab terrorists use the same tactics like Joseph Gobbels ( Y " S) the propaganda minister of Nazi ( Y " S) Germany and now the enemies now are using the same playbook, so I agree with a lady that claims to be a Holocaust Survivor that our enemies now are Nazis ( Y " S ") that speak Arabic, so no Jews should be fooled now because in the past nobody believed Hitler ( Y " S) unt8l it was to late, as a child of a Holocaust Survivor ( obm) I will be watch out
cont. the relative of The Grand Mufi of Jerusalem and the Nazis( Y" S) had a alliance before the Holocaust to plan the final solution ( code for murdering Jews during the Holocaust) these ignorant characters that say " free Palestine " should really to their homework and learn the truth, they are talking about their demise, I am a Jew that believes in self preservation and unfortunately we can't coexist with a society that wants us dead, just like the Nazis ( Y"S) did during the Holocaust, how does anyone make peace with anyone like that, the children get brainwashed since in their mother's womb unfortunately, I read in a magazine and their mentality is not to live but to die by murdering Jews one way or another
As a Jew to say " free Palestine " is ridiculous because the goal of Muslim Arab terrorists living in Gaza is to make the world and Israel " Judenrein " ( free of Jews) ( this word is German), in Gaza and in Arab Muslim countries they have the book " Mein Kenif " ( my fight or my struggle) by Adolf Hitler ( may his name be erased) , so any Jew saying " free Palestine" will get the consequence like the Nazis( may their name be erased) did to the Jews making a Holocaust and murdering 6 million Jews and 5 million non Jews, these ignorant people should learn history and to their research from Yad Vashem. a lady from the kibbutz were the mini Holocaust took place called what happened Nazis( Y" S) that talk Arabic, it is not surprising to me Yasser Arfat ( Y" S)
Yes, the mufti was a nazi supporter, absolutely, and that does not make all Palestinians nazi supporters. Do you know that local Palestinians saved Jews during the Hebron massacre in 1929?
i dont want ANYONE getting killed, and there is a big difference between the nazis in Germany who murdered jews who posed no threat to them simply out of hatred.
the Palestinians were fighting back against people who took their land from them. i dont justify ANY KILLING. PERIOD.
Anytime another people tries to take over a land, the native population will fight back, like Native Americans fought settlers who came here. that is not a holocaust, that is people fighting for their land. i wish they did it peacefully but that is not in any way the same of what the nazis did to the Jews of Europe.
Cont. to stop the Jews from revolting against the Roman's, and the name Palestine comes from the Philestines which were a people in the times of the prophet( the names Philestines and Palestinans come from the word invaders), in Genesis it is wriiten in the commentary of Rashi if the world calls Jews chiefs you say G _ d made the heavens and ear5h and G _ d gave the land of Israel as a inheritance on condition we follow the Jewish bible, what alleged rabbi doesn't know this, with so called Jews like you we don't need enemies, in the Holocaust there were some Kapos( Jews) that helped the Nazis( Y " S) destroy other Jews , my mother( obm) told me of one that even helped murder her mother this was in Auschwitz-Birneau, and concentration camp s9 don't lecture me about anything
If you are in Israel and go to a Arab Muslim village your life is in danger if you are a alleged Jew
my friend, an American Israeli went to Arab Muslim villages 7 months ago and was welcomed/treated like a beloved sister. The problem is we dont have enough daily connections w Muslims, and think everyone is out to kill us. I have Muslim friends, some Palestinian, who have been nothing but loving/good to me. I dont favor killing anyone, I pray for the day when we realize we all will have to learn to live together or G-d forbid die together. We only think we are separate from them. Ultimately, there is no them, only US. the human race. when we keep killing them, we kill ourselves too, because sadly, every bomb we drop will come back to us. i dont want that but that is how it goes. On the other hand when we give love, love comes back, not always but often.
It is possible to know one’s identity as a Jew and to love Israel while finding the actions of Netanyahu’s regime abhorrent.
I am a Jew and not an ignorant one. Am Yisroel Chai does not mean that the government can do horrible things to aid a corrupt Prime Minister. G-d is in charge.
The only words in your message that ring true are the last four.
G-d has indeed helped the PM make the tough decisions to protect our country, b"H!
The rest of your message is hackneyed and quite meaningless.
Clearly, you have swallowed the leftist media's distortions and played judge and jury without knowing the facts.
And the "horrible things" you refer to were done by brutal terrorists who justify their dastardly acts by claiming ownership of a land that was never theirs!
FYI, no army in the world except our Jewish one goes so far as to risk its own soldiers in order to protect enemy civilians while it's fighting an existential war.
Be a discerning reader and ferret out the truth in current events, please.
Explain toe please how this prime minister you seem to revere missed the multiple warnings that were given to israel about a coming attack? Also explain to me why he gave literal Truckloads of money to Hamas thru Qatar, millions of dollars and you see him as.a Hero.
I never gave Hamas a penny nor would I.
Why am I considered an enemy and he considered a hero,?
This terrible attack on October 7th happened on his watch with The Best Surveillance in The World!! With money this so called hero gave them.
Why don't you open your eyes and see what's going on?
Beautifully said ! I’m not Jewish, but support Israel and Jewish communities everywhere. As a Christian shall continue that is my faith and as I say ! Trust in the lord can never go wrong ! To trust in God truly have that Faith we stand not just by you We stand with you ! God bless !
Amen! I have no doubt that the majority of these Jews are decent people who mean well. Always remember that they have been made, molded, crafted. By ignorant or indifferent parents (it ALWAYS starts with the parents, which I know as a parent myself). By "educators" who are too often ideological commissars. By social media that is, in reality, a cesspool. And by the all-too-many truly evil people on the other side who are crafting the lies, libels, and slanders that are uncritically picked up by all of these people and poured into the minds of the weak and vulnerable who are pressured beyond tolerance to conform and comply by "tolerant" people who preach "diversity". Because of this, I really appreciate the tone of this article; an invitation. Yasher koach v'chag sameach.
I agree to this statement and Yaher Koach V' chag samach also Am Yisrael Chai
Beautiful. Thank you.
Excellent ! Very well said ! AM YISROEL CHAI!!!
Amen, I agree and Am Yisrael Chai!!!!
Thank you for writing this piece and pinpointing the problem with those who speak “as a Jew” with their ignorance of what that is. I was especially appalled by Hannah Einbinder’s Emmy acceptance speech. It is unfortunate that she probably will not read this article but she does need someone to tell her this.
Straight to the point!
Fantastic commentary.