We Were the Lucky Ones
3 min read
You have reawakened my Jewish identity.
Dear Anti-Israel Protesters and Antisemites,
Thank you. Your antisemetic rhetoric has taught me four powerful lessons.
Over the years, a part of my Jewish identity has been compromised. I’ve looked to the non-Jewish world for directions on big questions like “how to live” and “who am I”. The past few weeks, you have reminded me that I don’t belong. I can no longer rely on the non-Jewish world for those answers. I am forced to turn towards my Jewish roots for answers.
Thanks to the wake up calls that I am Jewish, I am beginning to ask real questions. What does it really mean to be a Jew? What are the passions and pleasures of a Jew? What's the role of connection and love in Judaism?
I am grateful to the Jew-haters for sparking my journey into a rich and meaningful Jewish world.
The notion of “the chosen people” always evoked shame surrounding privilege and elitism. I distanced myself from it. Then the war happened and the western world, particularly anti-Israel advocates, have been obsessing over Israel’s morality in battle. They are holding Israel accountable to a higher standard than any other country. I can’t help but marvel at the world reaffirming the Jewish narrative of being the chosen people. If they can say it without shame, then I can internalize it with pride.
Yes, Jews are a people with higher morals and standards. We are sensitive, kind and compassionate people. Whenever we forget that, the world, especially the anti-Israel advocates, will remind us who we are meant to be. .
Before the war, there was so much disunity and friction amongst the Jewish People. October 7th changed all that. Israel is united as never before. Jews around the world are coming together. The rise of antisemitism created space for the largest pro-Israel rally ever. When you experience hate, you gravitate towards love. The amount of overflowing kindness practiced by Jews in the past few weeks has been mind-blowing. So, thank you to all those antisemites for reconnecting me with pride to my newfound extended Jewish family.
I thought I could rely on the western world for safety. I trusted academia that preached humanitarianism and civil rights. I trusted a culture that protested for equality and tolerance. I trusted politicians that promised “never again.” I trusted the media that professed diversity and acceptance. And the feeling of needing God's protection slowly dissipated. We’re ok. They have our back.
And then they didn’t. Antisemitism seeped into all the groups I trusted. I realized, I only have God to rely on. Only He is keeping us safe and protected. I’ve turned to God in prayer and good deeds to concretize and build my faith. My trust in God has gotten stronger and deeper thanks to the rise in antisemitism.
So to all of you antisemites out there, I have a lot to be grateful for. Thanks to you I have grown a lot the past few weeks. I’m getting comfortable with my Jewish identity, getting clarity as to what it means to be a Jew, discovering incredible Jewish people, and strengthening my relationship with God. The past few weeks of hate and bigotry and have been filled with so much love and light. You’ve sparked an inner revolution. And for that I am so grateful.
If you're waiting for a reason to become active in defending our Jewish heritage. Here are a couple of thoughts to consider: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana, Ph.D. Harvard University; Cambridge, MA, USA (P.S.: Sourced from the walls of Auschwitz). And a Lutheran pastor - Martin Niemöller WROTE: When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. GET READY & SPEAK OUT - NOW - & Get back with G-D!
We can also point out that - Hamas Etc., - has in the past immensely inflated their casualty numbers - and when they've had a member die - they've had a HUGE turnout of people for the funeral parade. Like the one they showed - where a man was on the burial stretcher. HE FELL OFF - THEN - GOT UP - and got back on the burial stretcher - BY HIMSELF.
NOW - again - they've HUGELY INFLATED the number of their dead - after Israel responded to their TERRORIST ATTACK - OF KILLING 1400 ISRAELIS - KIDNAPPING - RAPING ETC.. They've denied there were Israeli babies TORTURED and killed.
However - also note that - this time - there's been a NOTICEABLE LACK OF MEDIA VALIDATED - HUGE FUNERAL PARADE VIDEOS - considering the HUGE NUMBERS OF THE DEAD - they claim Israel has inflicted on them.
I am not Jewish; however, I strongly support Israel. I always have and I always will. All expressions of antisemitism are abhorrent to me. I was raised to believe that the Jews are The Lord’s Chosen People. I want everyone to know that there are many people like me. There are many non-Jews who support Israel. 🇮🇱
Thankyou for expressing what so many of us are feeling. I am evangelical Christian by faith. My father was 100% Jewish. Although I am the child( almost 70) of assimilation, I cling fast to my Jewish heritage. I have always felt "other". Am Israel chai.
Very moving article. Thank you for writing it and publishing it.
I just hope the unity sticks. Unfortunately, it hasn't the previous times we've faced tragedy.
Wow! I agree! Since the war I also have returned to my synagogue, feel a unusual sense of strength, and am now an outspoken advocate of my faith instead of hiding in the shadows. I feel the strong presence of G-d around me now than ever before. Thank you for your article:)
Very, very true words! We only have Ha Shem to rely on - and that's what HE is waiting for: Our return, our Tshuva to HIM, face to face, because HE wants 100% of our heart, not just a Shabbat corner! Maybe that's why HE gave permission to the enemy to strike us? ( read Hijov chapter 1&2)
Aish needs a "report" button so that posts by self-hating Jews and anti-semites can be reported.
I repeat a comment made previously: the recurring Arab behaviour is to attack Israel and when Israel defends herself effectively, shout for a ceasefire. It’s the Bully blubbering because his target wasn’t the pushover expected.
Some things are worth a war.
And since when is an offensive against a specified enemy “revenge on ALL gentiles”?
Please rethink your conclusions and verify your assumptions: you have a faulty understanding probability based on false information.
Re deletion of your comment: you probably used an inappropriate word. It happened to me also and when I reposted with different phrasing the comment was allowed.
Very well said. I agree with the writer 100%.
What a beautiful article. Israel, the Jewish people, and Torah are all one! The louder they scream their hate, the prouder I am of who we are and the light we bring to this fractured world. Audelia, welcome back to the family!
You have added a candle to light the world
SO BEAUTIFUL! & Welcome BACK
Same as me! I was like a ghost before the 7/10 ! Now I know better than ever that I want to pray, to remember
better My identify and to be proud of it! The jewish people now is only like one only family . And I know that we are like olives that when someone is squeezing them
Is caming out better a good oil!
Welcome to the club!
Wonderfully stated. Loved reading this. Thank you!
Those who share dislikes of my post are no doubt war-mongers or Satans. No decent Jew would be pro-war considering the hell of the Holocaust was all in the name of war. Being haughty about your sonship of God's chosen does not constitute mitzvos but the opposite. Get real! I am of Jewish ancestry myself and have learnt through the history of what calamity wars do to our poor ailing world. I am all for Tikkun Olam and no amount of militaristic egotism will ever help Tikkun Olam, in fact, it will assist in doing just the opposite. This war is souring the reputation of the Jewish people and that is a curse, not a blessing. So, I cry "NOT IN OUR NAME!"
I am a non Jew altho.... In high school with a high Jewish population , I was asked one day why I "deny/or never mention being a Jew?" "What????" was my reply!" I am not Jewish",.."ah but your last name is a Jewish name". I asked my Father that evening if it was so.. and he replied with anger and sarcasm. So I wonder.. I have loved the Jewish nation and people since I was very young.. in my heart. Perhaps there is something to this.. You are God's chosen race. More Nobel Prize winners by far than any other people or nation . Full of life and joy and heritage. I always envied that. So.. I stand with Israel. God bless and keep you all. There are many I know in the Christian faith I do share , who love you as do I . Shalom
You cannot escape being Jewish, whatever your beliefs. I note Stephen Fry has shut up quite a bit recently.
"You cannot escape being Jewish"...? It's in the blood, isn't it? I was not brought up jewish, but all women have on my mother's side have three first names and one of them is jewish. My grandma kept Jewish customs, never speaking about them! When I "discovered" Israel, immediately I started learning Hebrew, and it didn't feel difficult; the Kosher Kitchen is logic for me, and when I am in Israel I feel like being at home! Maybe my blood is Jewish!?
I am an Arab. An ex-Muslim and now passionately Catholic. Recent anti-semitism has awaken if not intensified my love for my Jewish brothers and sisters. Jesus was Jewish. Denying the Jewish race is denying Jesus’ our Lord and our God ancestry.
Long live the Jewish race.
Long live the chosen race
Long live Israel.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Isreal bless you always.
Amen!🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
Considering all the wars conducted in the name of the church, this comment is hilarious!
There is no Jewish race! Being Jewish is having an Eternal Covenant with the Living G'D who created heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains and everything therein!
I am a Jew, and yes, more proud than ever. I love everything about the article…..do NOT like the photo with the use of the word “Goyim”. We need to be careful not to become like them. Just as antisemitism is often subtle, so are words like that. Words matter — we of all people should know that. Please don’t tell me it just means “non-Jewish”. We know it means much more than that.
But it does only mean non-jewish... infact, it means nations (goy=nation) and the torah reffers to the jews themselves as goy (goy gadol, a big nation).
I should also note that the photo with the word goyim is from an antisemite rally or something like that, the person holding it is not a jew, so the context of the photo is different.
Love how God brings good like this out of evil.
Yes, I agree 100% with this article. I am not ashamed of being a Jew…. I just hope this situation will remind our people that it’s not temporary, we have to commit totally, and continue on the same path. Only then we’ll succeed.
I’m not Jewish. I went to the March on Washington because rape and murder are always wrong and I cannot explain or condone the anti-semitism I have seen since October 7th. One of the reasons I went was to demonstrate that you are not alone. There are a lot of people, just like me, whom you wouldn’t pick out from a crowd, who do have your back. I am horrified by the tragedy of October 7th and I continue to be horrified by the display of antisemitism I have seen since. You may not know me, but I’ve got your back.
Patrick, as Jew, I cannot be more grateful to you. It is good to see there is reasonable people still in this world. I would be delighted to have a conversación with you.
Beautiful! Thank you for going to the rally and supporting us. It is very welcome! ❤️🇮🇱
Supporting Israel. Praying for Israel. AM YSRAEL CHI.
Can the author explain how to discern between mythology and reality?
Reality= G-d exists. It's immensely more logical that the world came about by an Intelligent Creator than by chance. The world coming about through random particles is impossible.
Reality= G-d will punish evil doers -see 13 principles of Rambam.(2/3 will die)
Mythology = believing that a people -who 98% feel proud due to atrocities committed by hamas & 75% that condone their actions - are our brothers who want peace. Or believing that their agenda is innocuous.
Mythology= thinking gentiles will like you more if you act like them.
Mythology= believing that the secular ideology will bring peace. Only when Jews connect with Torah will gentiles respect us. I experienced it. It's a benefit of doing Torah, yet the real gain is Getting close to G-d and achieving your purpose.
Bob - think about this - does this happen in myth - or in reality: How - do SEEDS - planted near - and in the same earth - as other seeds in a garden - know how to grow - into their different individual forms/consistency - size - colors - taste - and take different mineral elements from the earth - and - taste different than the other seeds - as well as - also produce - progeny seeds - which always replicate the parent seed? Ever seen a NATURAL FRUIT(S) - like Cherries - Sunflowers - Watermelon etc,. - without SEEDS? This only happens in reality. And MATHEMATICAL PROBABILITIES - make it - and the chance that creation - was by chance - INFINITELY IMPOSSIBLE. With very little effort - the "BIG BANG THEORY - EVOLUTION - can be shown to be EXTREMELY FAULTY!
De wereld heeft ons joden nooit geholpen, kijk naar de geschiedenis.
We stand samen met GOD .
We hebben sinds 2000 jaar een sterk leger die Israël beschermd tegen POGROMS en waanzinnige aanvallen. voor het eerst zijn we relatief veilig tegen deze antisemitische waanzin.
Het doet een oude man goed dat de Israëlieten eindelijk samengaan en HASHEM weer gezamelijk vereren en trots zijn op hun bijzondere identiteit.
Vertrouw op HEM, maar wees verstandig en voorzichtig.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your article. I wish I had written it myself. I've seen antisemitism upfront and personal on both the East and West Coasts and in the Southeast where I currently live. I've heard everything from "your last name is clearly Scandinavian (yes, and our first names too), are you really Jewish or "mixed"? to "your son and you don't look Jewish." Guess what people? We are, we are! Will ignorance ever just disappear? Always: my family are loud & proud Jews
Never Again
So beautiful and well said! Even though I grew up a religious Jew, I love this newfound unity and pray it doesn't dissipate! We need Israel, and we need our family of fellow Jews to keep our nation strong! Am yisroel chai!
Why do you feel the need to keep repeating yourself. This is not a conversation about killing, it's about reawakening your mind and soul of your Jewish identity.
Identity and soul are not much use against bullets.
Hamas are not of the sort to sit down to a philosophical and ethical debate.
Beautiful..
Beautiful. So perfectly said
Excellent article. Thank you!
100% agree - We only have God to rely on
We have been given the tools to live a "good" life. As humans we wander off the path, but in crisis we have the answers to follow the correct path. We must be united under God, and proud of prevailing as Jews in a antisemitic world.
To be frank I have always been amazed at Jewish people who walk around masquerading as non Jews, 'integrating' into society as much as possible, hiding their identity and being ashamed.What were they ashamed of? I am also even more surprised how they are horrified when their children marry non Jews.Isnt that what they were aiming for? Integration? I have always been religious and had everything on a platter in that department so i will admit i don't really get it.Maybe nows a good time for us all to talk.
we aren't ashamed of being Jewish, we are afraid of being Jewish. What some people will do to harm "our children" if we weren't there to protect them, when vile things are said, and not understood.
"Why would our friends say that?", "Why would my teacher ( who I had loved as a parent away from Home), say that, and in front of my whole class?"
it is remembering our hurt as children, and tying to protect our children from the same.
Did that make any sense?
It does, but as is now evident that way doesn’t work. Hard as it is we must rise above fear and carry out our mission. A hidden Light cannot illuminate.
Thank G-D for people like you - who are being reawakened - to their 4000 year old Jewish Heritage - showing it to the whole world. And hopefully - who are being reawakened to RELEARNING - what G-D has COMMANDED US TO DO to KEEP HIS TORAH COMMANDMENTS & LAWS - HELP OUR FELLOW JEWS and CONVERTS - to do the same. So that - G-D - WILL REMOVE OUR PUNISHMENT. SO THAT WE - can once again receive G-D's Blessings and PROTECTIONS. ALL FOR ONE - and ONE FOR ALL.
Amen!!
I never denied my Jewish background. However this horrendous action has mobilized more people than can be imagined, Jews and non-Jews. Too bad this had to happen for us to realize who we are and band together. This feeling and realization must continue for us all to be safe. Never Again!
BEAUTIFUL!
This is the jubilee year of restoration. The one true God of Abraham,Issac, Jacob is calling his people back to their roots. The horrific sacrifice of the 1200 innocent souls has not been done in vain. God Bless Israel and God Bless those that support and ally to Israel. You still have many friends in the non Jewish world. Shalom.
Unrelated to this particular article, but I came to the conclusion a while back that there is something inadequate about the use of the words "antisemitism" and "antisemites". Those words represent an almost innocuous and academic dialogue. I advocate calling them what they are - Jew hatred and Jew haters respectively - and I would want to see that more representative terminology applied more widely.
So well said. The left liberals ,l. Was one but they’re aren’t screaming to have
the hostages released, all of them show their lack of humanity. Thanks for posting.
I too have deepened my observance of Shabbat because of anti semitism worldwide!!!!
You are not the only one
So sad that this is what had to awaken people