The Pope, the President, and What Judaism Says About AI
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And where will we go?
The most common conversation I’ve had with friends over the past few weeks was discussing where we’d run away to if antisemitism in America continues to rise. If we need to pack our bags and run to another country, where would we go?
I’ve heard everything from Canada to India, to South America. But, eventually, everyone agrees that Israel, despite the current war going on, is safest for Jews right now. Israel is our home, and even though there is always the threat of being attacked, we’re still safer there than we are in America where antisemitism has blown up beyond anything I could ever imagine.
The second part of the conversation my friends and I have is: “Did you renew your passports?”
Our grandparents and parents taught us to always have our passports current because Jews must always have their passports up to date in case we need to flee the country at a moment’s notice. So, of course, my kids’ passports are all up to date.
Do non-Jews have their passports up to date at all times?
What is this inherent fear and feeling of being ready to pick up and run away in the middle of the night if necessary? This is not a normal fear. Do non-Jews have their passports up to date at all times?
On a recent phone conversation my sister said to me, “I’m not sitting around and waiting until Kristallnacht to leave the country. By then it will be too late.”
This feeling of needing to be ready to run away, to always have our passports ready is from hearing stories about the Holocaust. My sister told me that she was talking to her friend’s grandparents who, upon hearing about the increase in antisemitism in America, only responded with, “Well, it’s been a nice few decades here.”
We’ve never really felt stable in America. Deep down we knew this comfortable time would come to an end because we’ve been told this by our parents and our grandparents. My father has always been insistent about my brothers and himself wearing a baseball cap over their yarmulkas when they go places where people are not used to seeing religious Jews. He still reminds his grandsons to tuck in their tzitzis and put on a baseball hat. I always used to think it was a bit extreme.
“No one cares that we’re Jewish, Abba!” I remember telling him when we were on vacation with my parents in Wisconsin a few years ago and he was arguing with my brother-in-law to put on a baseball hat. “It’s 2019 and this is America!”
Now I hear myself telling my sons, “Put your hood on,” to cover their yarmulkas. “No walking home from school anymore.”
My kids don’t know that I’m nervous that someone will spit at them or call out to them, “Dirty Jew” or “Free Palestine!” As if my kids were capable of freeing Palestine.
My husband tells me that he’s been waking up from nightmares about having to pack up the kids and run away. Nightmares about people breaking into our house and attacking us. I just respond by saying, “The Holocaust nightmares? Of course.”
When I was a kid and read Holocaust books, I used to have nightmares of Nazis breaking into our house and carrying us away. I used to wonder what I would do in a concentration camp. But recently, the nightmares are even more vivid because we don’t even have to imagine anymore what it was like for the Jews of Europe as they were shot and tortured and carried away. We got to watch videos and see pictures of the horrors of October 7 in Israel on high resolution screens.
This Holocaust survivor trauma is so ingrained in us, it is part of our being. Passports renewed? Check. Country to run to? Check. Cash hidden in the house to access quickly? Check. Nightmares constantly that they’re coming for us next? Check.
Don’t worry, America. We know we’re not wanted here. We’re making plans.
Where will we go? To Israel, of course.
It's a little sad and disappointing to hear this perspective.
The possibility of moving to Israel is a supreme privilege, not a last resort to escape antisemitism. Your family will be warmly welcomed here, but new Olim should focus on their great fortune to have the opportunity to immigrate to Israel after nearly two millennia during which the option was all but impossible.
I can't believe the question "And where will we go?" each and every time I hear it. Are you for real?! Why is this even a question?! Has American Jewry gotten so lost that it's forgotten where it's true homeland is?! Wake up!!! And come home.
This may be a point, but it is also important to understand that the verses and Talmud explain that anti-Semitism is also a message from Heaven. The more we focus on heaven, the more they ignore us. And quite the opposite, they help us out with various services. If we forget about heaven, (heaven forbid!) then heaven sends us messages. Rabbis have said 'if we don't make kiddush (holiness - i.e. the oncoming of Shabbos), the Gentiles make havdala (separation - i.e. the ritual at the end of Shabbos).
nice idea, but is it real? were all the jews murdered in the shoah, “forgetful of heaven”? maybe we should focus instead on calling out the antisemites, and joining with our friends, instead of on blaming the victims.
Only 20% of the Jews left Egypt at the time of the exodus. It's no different today. I don't think there's a point in arguing about which country is safest. In megillat Esther 4:13, queen Esther is chastized, "do you think you're safe just because you reside behind the palace walls?" If Jews are threatened somewhere, then Jews are in some degree of danger anywhere. So why make aliyah? Because whether you are religious or not, Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Ethiopian, etc, on the Left or the Right, gay or straight, zionist or not, you can be true to yourself and just be YOU, without worrying or feeling it necessary to hide your beliefs, outlook and lifestyle lest you be blacklisted. Israel is the only place in the world today where this is the case!
As an American, I stand with the Jewish-American community in our country, and with the Jewish People worldwide. I am not Jewish, and found this website when searching the internet for ways to support the Jewish community. It seems like a growing majority of young Americans (my generation) have been gaslit into buying the anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda along with other propaganda (including massive anti-American propaganda) which is weaponized and used to strategically flood social media by America’s enemies. While leftist and right-wing radicals alike, whose hearts are anti-American, may not want you, they do not speak for me or for America. We want you here at home, in our shared homeland, with us. Please don’t give up on America quite yet. We need you. I suspect Israel does too.
Let us not give up on America. Israel needs America, and American Jews need to stand up against the anti-semites around us--regardless of whether we are left or right.
No, Moishe, Israel does not need America. We need our fellow brothers and sisters living here with us instead of fooling themselves that they're doing good by living in the USA.
I stay in NH, thank you, where I can be armed every day.
Nasty words and spray paint can only hurt me if I let them.
Sadly, it took Oct 7th for the administration to realize that they left many of their citizens disarmed for reasonz.
you can’t solve every problem with a gun. especially not when you’re 2% of the population. stop kidding yourself.
I don’t know where you are seeing this happening, but in Arkansas we aren’t seeing this. As an American I can honestly say that I love the Jews and Israel!
the bulk of american jews, and the worst antisemitic incidents, are in new york and californica.
Who is funding the pro-Palestine movement?
It turns out that it's Rachel Gelman, a 33 year old Jew from a billionaire Jewish family.
No other religion has so many self-haters.
We are going to lose because we are being betrayed by our own
This article is spot on! Sad but true
A hundred years ago, a lot of Jews in Russia were Bolsheviks and that brought nothing but disaster for the Jews of Russia,
A hundred years later, a lot of Jews in America are Woke and that will bring nothing but disaster for the Jews of America.
This Jewish obsession with left wing politics must come to an end.
No more help for people who hate us.
I earnestly hope that there will be no more support for the Democrats or Liberals or Progressives now that we'll all seen their anti-semitism.
Woke started out as trying to wake people up to the abuse Black Americans are still facing today. Now it's been bastardized accusing Israelis of being "colonists" and "oppressors."
And don't kid yourself. the right is just as antisemitic. Maybe Jews need to break off from both parties and start their own party.
It's the insane Jewish desire to change the world that upsets so many others and makes them hate us.
But then Jews hate themselves, a Jew, Rachel Gelman, has been funding the pro-Palestine movement.
the mistake is blind party loyalty, just like any other prejudice. there are good (and bad) people everywhere. they should have to earn our trust and friendship.
I feel there is something missing from this discussion. We all have dreams about our futures, so does the Almighty, and He told us about them from D'varim all the way through the nevi'im, and that is that His People return to His land and live as intended to, in the Promised Land.
Perhaps it is time to set aside our dreams and think about His, regardless of where it is safer!
Your narrative pulls your readers into the swirling black hole of distrust and despair.
Come back into the light.
You worry more about losing your life than your soul.
I think what we are forgetting thanks to fear is that the majority of Americans are pro-Israel, which means they are pro-Jew. The “antis” just scream louder than normal people and act like children. Protect your self. You have that G-d given right to be American and live in America. Maybe it’s time to move to an area that isn’t having these anti-Jewish issues. There are plenty of places that aren’t “too far left “ metropolitan cities.
And, you know, all the amendments to the constitution apply to us. Including the 2nd. Just saying.
I agree that the majority of Americans are pro-Israel. My problem is that the antis are so much louder, more menacing, and seeming more powerful. If the antis are willing to go all out and the pros are only willing to speak up quietly, individually - where does that leave us?
What's the point of Jewish billionaires and millionaires having all that money if they're not going to share?
They need to set up funds so that poor Jews can make aliyah.
There's no point waiting for an American Crystal Night.
You can start the sharing.
The Jews in the Diaspora are just as important as the Jews in Israel. We are all fighting for our right to exist in this world. In order to ensure the strength and safety of Israel, we must also be spread out in the diaspora. This is the key to our survival.
This is an absurd claim. I haven't found anything written in the Torah about Jewish people needing to be spread out in the Diaspora. Have you Rivka?
Don't run. Buy guns and ammo. This GOP voting Jew lives in Texas. I will start nothing. But I'm not without arms.
right. spending the rest of your life in Jail for killing someone instead of spending the rest of your life in Israel. Yeah, makes perfect sense ......
It's Texas! (Except Austin). There might be a parade.
Darn straight!
I live in Canada, where it's probably harder than in Texas for private citizens to own guns. I imagine that if you can easily acquire weapons and ammunition, so can Jew haters. I wish you well and hope you are never in an armed confrontation.
Gd forbid this necessity arises.
Sorry but one persons response about fighting for the USA is absolutely laughable. Wait. There were Jews who fought for their country. Germany. Aren’t Jewish people supposed to be smart? Ding ding…Fight for Israel.
Also. Why question where you would go? A moron would wonder where. A jew? Israel of course. This is totally embarrassing and base level knowledge. Does this even warrant a discussion?
The future of our people is in Eretz Yisrael and nowhere else. HaShem is sending gentle nudges to get people to start thinking about what kind of future they want for themselves and their families. But making Aliyah should be done because it is right and absolutely, indescribably wonderful to be able to live here—even with the difficulties. We can live proudly as Jews here. Making Aliyah takes time too because the bureaucracy is daunting. Try not to wait until it is your escape. Come because it is where you belong
Apparently there are two different "Private."
I don't agree. What you've written is like a seduction.
Running in fear is exactly what people did before and it didn't change anything.
The time of Moshiach is upon us. He will call us home when the time is right.
And Israel is not peaceful even on a good day, and you know that, as do I.
Stop running and hiding and being cowardly. HaShem expects us to be brave and confident; to operate with true faith, courage, and joyful expectation of Moshiach.
He owns every lands and every land is meant for us to have peace to set our feet upon and to operate in.
Why are you surprised that the closer of Moshiach's arrival, the increase in agitation among non-believers?
How do you not know that for every advance in the kingdom of HaShem, the Adversary of this creation and his horde work to keep pace?
You job is to remain steadfast; faithful.
There is no way all Jews are supposed to congregate in Israel before Moshiach.
What, and let the enemies of HaShem have only Israel to aim their guns at to end it all?
Stay put. Have courage. Be strong. Be strengthened. Be faithful. Be joyful. Be confident.
A lot of people that ran were saved. The ones that stayed, not so much.
Israel is what we have and this is our country the only place for the Jews to be safe
Jews are not protected in America as we see right now
And it will get much worse, sadly so that many Jews in America are blaming Israel for what is happening to them right now in America
Hopefully this opinion will change because we in Israel sending our kids to the army when they are 18 years old
They cannot attend college, like the kids in the US and live a comfortable life
But we are doing this for all of the Jews in the world that we have our country where we will be always safe despite the failure that has happened on seven of October!
I am in Israel and this is my country and I would not change it for anyone or any comfortable life elsewhere
TRACHT GUT VET ZAIN GUT
Whoa. Hold the show.
Yes. Get your passport, or update the one you have.
That is just practical and common sense.
But fearmongering? No way.
Stay in your place. The Moshiach will call us all home. Stop being fearful.
It is a time for great confidence, piety, and joyful expectation.
Why is antisemitism on the rise? Because people are easily led; but, more importantly: Moshiach is due, will change the world, and the very people who rejected the Torah to begin with either sense this and hate it, or know this and are trying to prevent it by upsetting the practices and piety of the Jewish Nation.
The day is almost won. It is no time to start acting senseless/faithless, like the enemies of HaShem, and your soul.
Be faithful.
"Your place" is Israel.
The author and the bulk of commentators remain "typical Jews", with the negative connotation: flee, hide, cover your Jewishness. Why not to say "I am proud of being a Jew, I do worry about the fate of Israel, but I was born (or naturalized) here, in the USA, I love this country and am ready to fight for it!". First and foremost, drop your life-long allegiance to the D party. They were our friends - 60 years ago, and even then - dubious. Now ilhan omar is their symbol and banner. Stop supporting them with your taxes in "blue" States. Move to Florida, Texas, any "red" one. Buy and learn how to use a handgun and a rifle. Yes, overcome your Jewish innate (and inane) fear of firearms. Even an 80-year old woman can learn how to be proficient.
Moving to Israel, besides being a personal earth-shattering event, makes us, old folks, an unproductive burden on already stretched to the limits Israel. Moving within the US is much less painful personally, and will give your new State one more R vote. And you can even make yourself useful by volunteering for some political campaign and election process. Don't panic!
both the far right and now, as we are seeing, the far left hate Jews. the left is just more passive aggressive about it.
Nope. Evangelicals are Israel's best friends. My home is in a red state, and I would be armed if I didn't lose my weapons in an unfortunate boating accident.
I'm 61. If I go that way, they will regret it. I will start nothing. But I will defend.
Trump has Jewish Grandkids. Biden has always been antisemitic scum.
Hear! Hear!
Like he cares about his Jewish grandkids, and he’s the one who’s been disparaging Jews lately. There is no proof that Biden is antisemitic, and his support of Israel has been mostly spot on. I disagree with some decisions about my homeland, but I also read them carefully and didn’t make assumptions. I shudder to think where we’d be in our war of trump were president.
Aliza, you are correct. And Pres. Biden has more Jewish grandchildren.And two Jewish DILs and one Jewish SIL.And has visited Israel so often.I think the first time in his 20s.
Pres. Biden has more Jewish grandchildren than Trump. And Pres. Biden has always loved the Jewish people and Israel.
Evangelicals claim to be Israel's best friend but in truth they are a wolf in sheep clothing. Their long con is to convert every Jew (thus annihilating us. Read their book of Revelations. They are gung ho on the End Times which ends with jesus establishing a new Israel and of the remaining 144K Jews, they become converted. They also engage in a lot of missionary work specifically targeted to Jews. So no, the right are no friends of Israel or Jews.
if you think red states are friends to Jews, you are sadly mistaken. Not to mention how horrible health care is in most red states. The only reason the Gentile right cares about Israel is their belief in jesus returning to rebuild a new Israel -- and in the process "converting" the last remaining 144K Jews (rendering the world Jewless), as told in their book of revelations. Like the old Yiddish saying, you lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
This is my favorite reply today!
It's not the last 144,000. It's simply144k. Health care in Texas is superb. Stay in the Blue States. If you have no guts or willingness to defend yourself, Texas Jewboys don't need ya.
You know zilch about evangelicals.
I know they are dishonest with their intentions toward Israel. Sorry you drank the kool aid.
Neither do Ohio Buckeyes!
Obviously, you don’t have any Christian friends. Mine seem more worried about the anti-Christian stance of the current administration.
???. Biden is Catholic.
what anti-christian stance? letting them run roughshod over our rights? please. just look at that nut in south dakota. the christian friends i know are about love and helping their neighbor; and against crooked judges that don't believe in justice.
Yes, Shozhie. You are correct.
This is a great topic. I renewed my American passport three months ago with a "just in case" thought in the back of my mind. Knowing the passport needs to have six months of time on it before the actual expiration date, I wanted to be ahead of the game. I also have made mental note of who would shelter me "just in case."
Our God is ruler of the universe; He made known His plans for His Chosen People to the prophets. The Whole House of Israel will be restored to their own place in the Promised Land, which will be expanded to its full promise of territory when the Lost Ten Tribes return. That is, all the way to the Euphrates! Not likely to happen before the truly anointed Messiah builds the Third and Final Temple.
Although it's easy enough to maintain a current passport, fleeing the only place you've lived or known is not remotely feasible for most people. While I commend those who are able to move to Israel and enjoy life there, it's simply not a viable option for many. Of course, I appreciate (and cherish) the existence of Israel as a haven for our people, and I'm as strong a supporter as you'll find. But as an older person without any savings...absolutely no knowledge of Hebrew...and no friends or relatives in Israel....So, if God forbid, the Jew-hatred of the left becomes the norm here? I'll stay and fight. Remember the 2nd Amendment? USE IT!
Talk to Nefesh b'Nefesh, an organization that helps Jews make aliyah, counsels them about the financial benefits available to olim, including rent subsidies. If you're over 65, you'll get free Bituach Leumi (social security), also FREE health insurance. The State of Israel wants Jews to come home, and they facilitate it.
I'm also over 65. But wouldn't I be a burden drawing free Bituach Leumi? Why does the state want elderly jews to come home?
Ditto. I want to know the same answer. Wouldn't I be a burden cuz I'm even older.
Why would you be a burden if you are determined to use your talents either in the workplace or as a volunteer and n Israel? Anyone at any age can contribute in one way or another.
I agree with you up to the point when you say " Jew-hatred of the left becomes the norm." I'd say the FAR left. AND But what about the antisemitism of the far right?
I still regularly wear my kipa openly in western Wisconsin, without anyone bothering me, although I do wear a hat when I go to Minneapolis...and my passport is current. 😐
Yes, we should all go to Israel where 1 nuclear bomb from Iran can do the job, ר''ל. Why not drop the hysterics? Before Shemini Atzeres, "antisemitic incidents" were up because certain fringe crazies emboldened by the political climate, but also because antisemitism trackers had more resources to count more incidents! Since Shemini Atzeres, the antisemitism of the anti-America left has bubbled up, but when the war is the over and not in the news, the kids will go back to school like nothing happened.
Germany had a millennium-long history of Jew hatred before WWII that the Nazis tapped into. The US, Baruch Hashem, doesn't.
Here is a post about the topic Emes Ve-Emunah: The Sky is Not Falling (haemtza.blogspot.com)
Sadly, you sound like many typical German (or other European) Jews in the 30s!
It can never happen in Germany, they thought: the country was so cultured, and 70% of its university professors were Jews.
At the very least, you should feel (at most?) a tad uncomfortable.
Remember that Hashem is orchestrating these events, so they deserve deeper analysis, even concern.
True. Last time around, Hashem orchestrated the murder of one third of the Jewish people.
That was prophesized, so what's your chiddush?!
Besides, why not look at it this way: He saved two thirds then and myriads more (your ancestors among them) throughout our troubled history.
His promise is that we are His eternal people, but not that all of us will survive to a ripe old age in every generation no matter how far we move away from Torah, cv"s. (And yes, when there's a decree of punishment, we suffer as a people to remind us that we are all responsible for each other.)
I would say Hashem did not orchestrate such a horrible movement. The decisions of Horrible men did.
It can happen here. I will also stay and fight.
“The kids will go back to school like nothing happened” taking their hatred with them, passing it on to their children and basing their day-to-day decisions on it. Does that not trouble you in the slightest?
Unfortunately, the future leaders of the country will be drawn from these students. So we won't just have "the squad" in Congress, but a squadron. These are people who think of Jews as the epitome of white oppressors.
What happened to voting them in? I didn’t vote these people in? Jewish and Republican here! Democrats voted this sludge in! You don’t want it, don’t vote it in!
What if one cannot afford to make Aliyah? Are they just waiting to be murdered G-d forbid by Muslims like happened in WW2 with Nazis? Like, how serious is this really?
It might be more accurate to say that one cannot afford not to make aliyah!
As for your last question, I doubt any person is qualified to answer it.
Study the prophecies, and look for mass conversions of your brother tribes now "lost" in paganism (Christianity). When the truly anointed messiah begins to build the third and last Temple I predict they will swallow their pride and return to the Covenant.
Like we have money to move in same city, let alone out of country. Yeah right…
The big problem for Americans is school tuition for our children. Many European countries subsidize private school tuition. I wish we had moved when we had young children.
There are organizations which can help, such as the Jewish Agency, etc. - search in Google.
The JA paid for my flight and haulage (11 boxes!) and cancelled the debt after 5 years in Israel.
In Israel you'll get free health insurance and very cheap school tuitions. Contact Nefesh b'Nefesh to learn about all the subsidies available to olim.
All the money spent on you could be spent on solders' socks and food. Israel already has plenty of freeloaders.
These conversations are not new but they are more intense. I remember a conversation I had with a Holocaust survivor from Budapest about 20 years ago. I had picked her up for an event. As we drove away, she checked her pocket book. “We have to go back! I forgot my papers!”
We were running late. “It’s ok,” I told her. “It’s not going to happen here,”
“That’s what my father said,” she remarked, her eyes misting as she remembered the conversation.
I turned the car around and she retrieved her papers. Perhaps she was the wiser one.
Yes Suzanne it is very troubling. K.J. never got over having to quickly leave Germany as a child, thank God he was able to.
We stand with Israel! You would always be welcome in our home! Only God can truly protect us!
My Holocaust survivor mother in law (RIP) was discouraged by Nefesh from making Aliyah. She was 65+, only had Social Security. She was told that realistically, she could not afford Israel.
YES
He can, and does, protect His people anywhere, but His eye is always on Eretz Hakodesh.
"The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps."
It is sad to read such an article as this one.This is what happens when the Nations forget, or fail to believe in the spiritual aspect of Creation and how our World functions.
If only the Nations could remember they all were given the opportunity to serve Hashem as Israel is supposed to.
Israel has the highest responsibility of all the nations and must be given the Temple Mount in peace and rebuild the Temple so our world can Function at it's full potential.
I would like to see the Jews to return to Israel not because of persecution and fear for their life's, rather to live there as Hashem taught them to be a light to all the nations and bring the error of our Messiah to reality.
What's "error of our messiah" mean?
It is written in the Prophets. The Messiah will come and we will live in peace in the world.
I am so sorry, era.
🙂
Spot on Your homeland awaits
If you're thinking that way, why not answer the call of History -- ultimately the One Who runs it -- and plan your move now as an oleh and not as a refugee, God forbid. For more inspiration, read Eim Habanim Semeicha.