Steal This Idea: Why Judaism Says No to Microlooting
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Yep, right there in peace and pot-loving Woodstock.
Something pulled me to Woodstock, the hamlet frozen in time that pays unending homage to the sixties. Anyway, I was in Tannersville, a short drive away.
As soon as I arrived I got a text from my daughter who was also headed there: Are you going to the pro-Israel peace rally?
In Woodstock? What?! Where? This I had to see and be part of.
It’s at the drum circle, she texted me. I just passed by in the car.
I tried to get my husband to join me. “It’s a pro-Israel rally in Woodstock!” Somehow, I hadn’t expected such a rally in a place that symbolizes progressivism.
My husband has little taste for hippie culture and begged off to listen to a podcast in the car, so I walked on Mill Street to the drum circle pavilion myself. Gift stores and vintage clothing shops with funky names called to me but I resisted.
Twenty feet away from the drum circle, I saw four or five people holding blue and white signs: We Stand With Israel. Was this the big deal rally, all four people? One blond-haired woman who looked decidedly patrician (not Jewish) held aloft a huge flag of Israel. All four rally goers looked over the age of 50, so I guess I fit right in. This showing was way too paltry, though. I texted my daughter and son-in-law to come join me, fast. They said soon, soon. They were buying edibles in the Sunflower grocery market.
About thirty feet away, in the center of the drum circle, young people milled around holding flags the vibrant color of watermelon — green, black, red. The colors of the Palestinian flag. Oh…. So that’s what kind of rally it was. Not a pro-Israel rally, but an anti-one.
Around 40 people had showed up. They dwarfed our little group. One woman had even dyed her hair black, green and red.
I’d heard about raucous anti-Israel protests. An elderly Jew in California died when a protestor hit him in the head with a microphone. I was nervous. Then I remembered: This is peace and pot-loving Woodstock. Nothing bad will happen.
“Any spare flags?” I asked a white bearded gentleman of the pro-Israel group.
None, but he handed me a We Stand With Israel placard. Just then a young religious couple passed by – newlyweds from Lakewood. Please, I said. We need young blood. Hold this, and they obligingly held the placard and joined our group. Now we were seven.
Between the pro and anti-Israel rallies opened a middle space, where the two groups actually mingled and exchanged ideas in normal tones. Wow, I thought, this was my kind of anti-Israel rally. I didn’t change anyone’s opinion and no one changed mine, but at least it was civilized. No screaming. No throwing red paint on beloved landmarks.
Quite refreshing, I remarked to the flag-bearing woman who I’ll call Patricia. She shrugged.
I sat on a stoop close to the drum circle and waved my placard. A man across the street gave me a small smile and thumbs up. A car drove past with teenage girls, practically jumping in their seats, yelling Hurray to me. Nice.
The newlywed couple moved on. So did another two pro-Israel rally-goers. Now we were down to three people. Where were my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter?
After 20 minutes passed, White Beard Sage and Patricia told me that they had to leave, taking their flag and placards with them. Oh! I felt bereft. These were my newfound rally buddies. Well, no point in staying without the accessories.
As Patricia and I rolled up the Israeli flag, an auburn-haired woman in her forties strode past, flashing a Julie Roberts smile at us. Mid-stride she said, “You guys know you’re on the wrong side of history.”
She meant the wrong side of her revisionist history. Her vapid line made me roll my eyes, but okay. I’d expected worse.
Still smiling broadly, she said, “You’re supporting Hitler, you’re his accomplice. You stand for killing babies. But then, that’s what you do.” She tootled her fingers goodbye.
Patricia and I looked at each other. I’m usually quick on my feet but the idiocy and cruelty of these words so undid me, I just stared, my words knocked out of me. It’s one thing to be insulted online, but to your face? In Woodstock?
That Julia woman’s comment had ripped the mask off Woodstock. Its love-and-peace vibe seemed to conceal a lot of hate for Jews.
Patricia said, “Not a rational word comes out of any of their mouths. One of them just told Sam here that he should burn with all the other Jews.”
“Who said it?” I whipped my neck around.
“See the woman with the short dress and dirty hair?” she pointed, but a Palestinian flag blocked my vision. “Her hair is always dirty,” she added, before thanking me and saying goodbye. Later I texted her the picture of us holding the Israeli flag aloft.
I wanted to get out of here fast. That Julia woman’s comment had ripped the mask off Woodstock. Its love-and-peace vibe seemed to conceal a lot of hate for Jews.
I was glad to spot my granddaughter toddling toward me, followed by her parents, and together we walked down toward the library. Suddenly the place looked different. Seedy, aimless, kitschy. The hold-out hippies in the street looked anxious.
Something I’d heard over the weekend came back to me. Someone made a comment about Kamala Harris, calling her too aggressive. For some reason it was her toughness that really got under his skin. That same person had no issue though with the aggressiveness of male politicians. And I thought then: If he can tolerate aggression in a man but not in a woman, he may have a misogynistic streak.
And I thought of Julia and all those progressives who can tolerate or look away from the murderous aggression displayed by countries like China, Russia, Syria, Iran, Sudan, North Korea… but how little they can stand Israel’s legitimate aggression against those who swear an October 7th repeat. A secure, strong Israel sticks in their craw in a way that feels they’ve been personally violated.
If you point out their warped thinking, they’ll say: Stop deflecting from Israeli war crimes.
And I say, stop deflecting from your obsession and hate of the only Jewish-majority country in the entire world. You’re an antisemite. Accept it, just like those on the fringe right accept who they are and don’t try to pretty it up. We won’t be gaslit by you. You hear that, Julia? Go on and stand on the wrong side of history with the pro-Hamas youngsters.
After I resolved the world’s hypocrisies, at least in my mind, I set out lunch on a table in front of the Woodstock library, where we had a lovely picnic of leftover cholent.
Ruchama's award-winning novel, In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist was just republished with a short story sequel.
Sorry you had to confront the worst that the world has to offer: Ignorance, insolence, inanity, idiocy, and inhumanity.
Woodstock and the surrounding areas are filled with Jewish people. Don’t judge the whole town over these sick demonstrations which unfortunately are “trendy” and their views are not shared by all. I am visibly frum, go every week for a class and am always treated respectfully by everyone I encounter.
It's not "trendy", it's called being a decent human!
The hippie lady in Woodstock is correct, but not in the way that she intended. Jews *are* on the wrong side of history. If history followed it's normal patterns, the light of the Jews would have been extinguished many times over. Many nations tried: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, and all of their modern counterparts. Yet today, the Jewish people are thriving, and there is a Jewish presence in the Land of Israel, and a prevalence of Torah study and observance, unlike any seen since ancient times. Noisy progressives say things that are hurtful and demeaning, but in the big picture, they are no match for Toras Emes.
I can’t understand how you said nothing to an antisemite. You need to cut loose from the fear and open your mouth to speak truth to lies.
Because it's not actually regular jewish People that others are against, but only a particular group (Zionists). Just as jews are against a particular group (Hamas), and not regular Palestinian (Arabic) People. But these things do not get communicated properly oftentimes.
You are in error. The term “Zionism” is modern but the intention of returning to the land of Israel is ancient and enshrined in all of Judaism. Have a look through the Sidur (Jewish prayer book) and see how often that yearning, intention and outcome is mentioned. All faithful Jews are “Zionists”.
Not to worry. PM Netanyahu lead Israel this far, determined to VANQUISH the savage, barbarian scum who started this war. This very well might be the first time that Israel isn't lead around by the nose.
The throngs of Israelis demonstrating for a settlement to save hostages are understandable, from a human perspective, but they won't sway the PM. Total defeat of Hamas is very near.
I disagree… until the hostages are more important than Hamas, Netanyahu isn’t doing his job.
I hope no more Jews will be tempted by wokery.
Aka Bernie Saunders.
Sanders. The only thing he knows about Jews and Judaism and Israel is the Holocaust. He is a Jew in name only!
There is a substantial and very frightening growth of self hate among progressive Jews. Their lack of knowledge about the history of Israel and the continuous violent Arab violence is sad.
It's really amazing the rubbish that comes out of the mouths of some people. I simply can not understand hatred of a person who is unknown.
These so called people don't know much about Hitler(may his name be erased) or the Holocaust, anti semites/anti zionists use that language to get Jews angry and upset, and their side are the murderers in psychcology it is called projection what they are they call our side, they are the real Hitlers(may his and anyone like him name be erased) am yisrael chai
History repeats itself, and sad as might be, youth now a days are more ignorant than past generations, picture yourself during your adolescent years with all this technology at your disposal? BUT the error or mistake whichever way you want to look at it is OURS: worst even, in the name of sympathy and benevolence we allowed crooked socialist/ communist academia members indoctrinate our children for at least 3 decades, we allowed leftist communist blood thirsty apologist infiltrate different political and public office positions. We agreed on giving them a chance to participate in the democratic forum even though we knew Islam IS NOT a democratic movement, because it is NOT a religion. Now we are reaping what we sow, and MUST put a strong opposition to take it down and destroy it.
Sadly you are right with your points, unfortunately people did not stop this brainwashing for happening to our youth, how do we stop this insaniry from happening
Great!
On Oct 7th, Israel was brutalized by their neighbors where not 1 Jew lived in Gaza. Hamas started this war and israel with the help of other democracies must cancel out Hamas throughout the Gaza. After polio vaccine which is assisted by Israel , it was suggested no further cooperation with Gaza as to food, fuel, any services until the remaining hostages dead or alive are returned to Israel. The death of Palestinians is on th shoulders of Hamas exclusively.
And I guess in her mind hamas are a bunch of Boy Scouts!!!!! She forgot that ISRAEL GAVE BACK gaza for land for peace!!! Isn’t that funny!!!! Hamas and the rest of here friends must be very proud of here!! I wondered what the people of Gaza think of here and here friends!
The people that lived in Gush Katif said " don't kick us out of our houses, instead of flowers, fruits, vegtables you will have terrorism" their plea fall on deaf ears this the consquences of giving up land, that is why the government of Israel a long time ago and do what Rabbi Meir Kahane(obm) book said "They Must Go", unfortunately terrorism happens in Israel because they didn't remove the thorns from the side, when Joshua conquered the land of Israel if you don't kick out the 7 nations you will live to regret it
Welp, sad to say, but this kind of tripe has been around for many years. To this day my sisters have not been able to form the words October 7th, but are on the bandwagon for every social justice cause.
There is so called "social justice" but when it comes to Jews and/or Israel it is another story, every country can defend itself from the enemy but when it comes to Israel it is another story it is a double standard, any Jew that defends terrorists are like Benjamin Netanyatu says "useful idiots" Jews that are with our enemies will also sufger the same faith like other Jews, it is so sad that there are Jews like this, during the Holocaust the same thing happened, which was around 80 years ago
It’s crucial that each of us votes according to our values and needs. However, our numbers are relatively small and unlikely to sway an election. Our true power lies in how Jewish influencers and opinion leaders choose to wield their influence. Celebrities, media figures, and high-profile political personalities, along with successful Jewish businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, have the ability to drive societal change. For real impact, we need a shift from those at the top—those who can effect broader societal improvements. Their decisions and actions can make a significant difference.
Baby killers?? Jews??
Never now, never in all of Jewish history was a recorded incident of Jews killing babies.
From Pharoes killing first born males .to massive terrible acts of f killing children and family during raids in the 1930's ...
The 7.10 baby beheading and worse to pregnant women .
Even the nazis would have looked the other way .
Such propogandada this Julia spreads is plasphemy....m
Beautifully written. I also loved her novel Seven Blessings.
For a long time, I idealized the Hippie movement. The music, the vibe, the optimism, and openness felt so genuine compared to the uptight conventional values that seemed arbitrary and restrictive.
However, my perspective changed over time. Jewish mystical texts reveal that many traditional values have profound, redemptive roots. Even seemingly harmless personal choices can have unseen spiritual effects that impact everyone.
Recent events, such as the rise in antisemitism on the left following October 7th, highlight how quickly ideals of freedom and tolerance can turn into hostility when not grounded in deeper spiritual values. While the hippie ethos may offer an attractive facade, it’s the spiritual depth and adherence to meaningful values that truly matter and endure.
It always amazes me the things that these woke idiots say. They have no clue. What they don’t realize is that if they had been at the October 7, peaceful rally, they would’ve been murdered and raped as well. But they don’t realize is it the freedom that they have right now would be totally destroyed under Hamas rule, it makes me so sad that they don’t wake up, but they will sooner or later
I’m a woke Zionist Orthodox Jew. Woke simply means to be aware of what’s going on around you.
We have a different definition of woke. I am very aware of what is going on around me. But what angers me is the attitude of the younger generation and the hate that is going on. I am a Zionist. I am not orthodox, but I am a tough Jew.
Then you need to look up the CORRECT definition of "woke"!
Imo we need a new phrase to replace the term woke. I propose the term benighted to describe people who are ignorant about Hamas and Israel in general.
Truth!
You are absolutely right
I love the music from the '60s. Some positive changes came about during the '60s and '70s, but alas anti-Semitism was still alive and kicking. It was merely wrapped in a prettier package.
Amen!