Thank you for writing this wonderful, heartfelt piece. I wish I could walk around on campus and act as a sort of dopey, Irish, meat-shield for your children while they get the education they deserve, free from the hateful projection of others. If folks would WATCH documentary films like "The Long Way Home" and Ken Burns's "The U.S. and The Holocaust" I think the conversation would be more rational. I grew up Roman Catholic on Long Island, which makes me around 30% Jewish. I went to far more Bar and Bat Mitzvahs than Communion and Confirmation parties, and my youth soccer league had twin fields; one behind Goldberg Retirement Home and the other behind Greenberg Retirement Home. Which were right next to each other. And the two colors on our league's reversible jerseys were green and gold. Oh! The hilarity that would ensue every Sunday morning!
"Are we gold at Greenberg this week?"
"No! That was last week! We're green at Goldberg today!"
Anyway, reading your words reminded me of the moms of my childhood. I could smell Mrs. Wolk's kitchen! The bagel breakfasts at The Habermans' after the huge sleepovers they would have in their basement. Stuff like that. And it made me worried and feel deeply affectionate towards the safety and well-being of your children and everyone's children in harm's way. I guess good writing is supposed to do that, and this is just really well done. Cheers!
You are a special soul. In a sharply divided world, you shine through as capable of critical thinking and nuance. And you shared that beautifully. Your wisdom, imparted on your children is a powerful tool to help them navigate this inflection point. You know this. But you also know that wisdom and nuance won’t save our children from an absolutist with a gun.
Kids should be able to navigate their confusion and their outrage without fear of explosive devices killing them.
As a Jewish woman, like many Jews, I am horrified by the human price of Netanyahu’s war on Gaza. It’s uncomfortable to be Jewish in the world when so many, Jews included, conflate our religion with being Israeli. And they conflate being Israeli with being Netanyahu. It’s a conversation we need to have. The Palestinian people are suffering at the hands of a regime that should know better, should know that basic humanity should not be ripped from anyone. Young people know this. The better response to protests is to engage in real conversation. To let them know that their grievance is legitimate and that they are seen and heard. You are correct about everything.
I so appreciated your words, Ruth. As a black woman, I feel many of your same thoughts. I believe we all must stand united against hate and discrimination. Safety for Jewish, black, LGBTQ, and people of color is linked. I hope to learn more to be a better ally in the future.
I too am the mom of a Jewish college student and am feeling that "Pit" every day as protests rise, encampments spread and my fear for his and every students' safety builds. I'm reading this and head nodding all the way through, thank you for articulating all of it, including the messiness and complexities around the term "anti semitism." Sharing this with my community.
What a wonderful piece and spot on. I'd love to share some of this though the atmosphere is SO tense now it's hard to know if there remain open ears... Ty
Palestinians are being killed by the tens of thousands. If that’s not enough to center your thoughts on Palestinians, what will it take to change your frame of reference?
1000 times yes!!! Ruth this was beautifully, perfectly written. I couldn’t agree more with your ideas and hopes. WOW what a better place this world would be with this kind of work getting done.
Following in Dara’s steps. I believe you are spot on and wholeheartedly agree with you on all of this. I too will be sharing widely, and appreciate your eloquence.
Honored to be the first to “like” this but hope I will not be the last. I plan to share this far and wide. Thank you for writing it. ❤️
Thank you for writing this wonderful, heartfelt piece. I wish I could walk around on campus and act as a sort of dopey, Irish, meat-shield for your children while they get the education they deserve, free from the hateful projection of others. If folks would WATCH documentary films like "The Long Way Home" and Ken Burns's "The U.S. and The Holocaust" I think the conversation would be more rational. I grew up Roman Catholic on Long Island, which makes me around 30% Jewish. I went to far more Bar and Bat Mitzvahs than Communion and Confirmation parties, and my youth soccer league had twin fields; one behind Goldberg Retirement Home and the other behind Greenberg Retirement Home. Which were right next to each other. And the two colors on our league's reversible jerseys were green and gold. Oh! The hilarity that would ensue every Sunday morning!
"Are we gold at Greenberg this week?"
"No! That was last week! We're green at Goldberg today!"
Anyway, reading your words reminded me of the moms of my childhood. I could smell Mrs. Wolk's kitchen! The bagel breakfasts at The Habermans' after the huge sleepovers they would have in their basement. Stuff like that. And it made me worried and feel deeply affectionate towards the safety and well-being of your children and everyone's children in harm's way. I guess good writing is supposed to do that, and this is just really well done. Cheers!
You are a special soul. In a sharply divided world, you shine through as capable of critical thinking and nuance. And you shared that beautifully. Your wisdom, imparted on your children is a powerful tool to help them navigate this inflection point. You know this. But you also know that wisdom and nuance won’t save our children from an absolutist with a gun.
Kids should be able to navigate their confusion and their outrage without fear of explosive devices killing them.
As a Jewish woman, like many Jews, I am horrified by the human price of Netanyahu’s war on Gaza. It’s uncomfortable to be Jewish in the world when so many, Jews included, conflate our religion with being Israeli. And they conflate being Israeli with being Netanyahu. It’s a conversation we need to have. The Palestinian people are suffering at the hands of a regime that should know better, should know that basic humanity should not be ripped from anyone. Young people know this. The better response to protests is to engage in real conversation. To let them know that their grievance is legitimate and that they are seen and heard. You are correct about everything.
I appreciate your feedback and your thoughts. If we could hold basic humanity at the center of these conversations, it would make a huge difference.
I so appreciated your words, Ruth. As a black woman, I feel many of your same thoughts. I believe we all must stand united against hate and discrimination. Safety for Jewish, black, LGBTQ, and people of color is linked. I hope to learn more to be a better ally in the future.
Appreciate you!
Thank you for this beautiful, kind, respectful essay, which represents the very best of what it can mean to be Jewish.
Completely agree! I wish that a somewhat more concise version of this piece could be published and discussed, seriously and urgently, EVERYWHERE.
Wow. What a beautifully articulated and thoughtful piece. Like Dara I will be sharing this one. Thank you !
I too am the mom of a Jewish college student and am feeling that "Pit" every day as protests rise, encampments spread and my fear for his and every students' safety builds. I'm reading this and head nodding all the way through, thank you for articulating all of it, including the messiness and complexities around the term "anti semitism." Sharing this with my community.
What a wonderful piece and spot on. I'd love to share some of this though the atmosphere is SO tense now it's hard to know if there remain open ears... Ty
Beautiful and spot on. Agree with every word.
Thank you Ruth for sharing this wisdom and these truths. I am grateful for you and your work .
Palestinians are being killed by the tens of thousands. If that’s not enough to center your thoughts on Palestinians, what will it take to change your frame of reference?
1000 times yes!!! Ruth this was beautifully, perfectly written. I couldn’t agree more with your ideas and hopes. WOW what a better place this world would be with this kind of work getting done.
Following in Dara’s steps. I believe you are spot on and wholeheartedly agree with you on all of this. I too will be sharing widely, and appreciate your eloquence.