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America's Left-Wing Jews Ashamed of Israel's Jews
Townhall.com ^ | March 24, 2015 | Dennis Prager

Posted on 03/24/2015 7:32:39 AM PDT by Kaslin

American Jews on the left were beside themselves last week. Israel's Jews did something that utterly infuriated these American Jews: Israel's Jews overwhelmingly voted for a man of the right (or for other right-of-center parties). And not just any right-winger, but the only leader in the Western world to publicly differ from their hero, President Barack Obama.

To understand their fury, one must first understand that no one is more certain of their moral superiority than the left. This is true the world over, and among Jews it is particularly so. For the leaders of the American Jewish religious left (Reform, Reconstructionist, and now Conservative Judaism) Jews who are politically or socially conservative are a disgrace to Judaism, which, for left-wing Jews, is essentially the same as leftism. Both religious and secular Jews on the left regard Jewish conservatives as moral traitors to the Jewish people.

But certitude of their moral superiority is not the only reason American Jews on the left went ballistic last week. There are deeper, psychological, reasons.

Left-wing Jews live, work and socialize with left-wing non-Jews, and they believe that they are -- to their great regret -- identified with the Jewish state in the eyes of fellow leftists. Now, when Israel has left-wing governments -- as it did in its first few decades and periodically after that -- being identified with Israel is not problematic. But with Israel's Jews repeatedly electing conservative governments, American Jews on the left believe that they must make it as clear as possible that they in no way support a right-wing Israel. Their moral self-esteem needs it and their left-wing credentials need it. Just look at how Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, a lifelong Democratic activist and fervent liberal, has been ostracized from polite left-wing company solely because he is an outspoken defender of Israel.

As American Jews on the left see it, their moral credibility in the eyes of fellow leftists in the news media, Hollywood, and academia is threatened by Israel. They must therefore make it abundantly clear that a) they not only do not support the right-wing government of Israel; they do not even support Israel at this time; b) they regard Benjamin Netanyahu as a vile human being; and c) they are ashamed -- simply ashamed -- of Israel's Jews for having voted for a right-winger.

Thus, to cite only a few examples:

In Time Magazine, Joe Klein wrote:

The great majority of Israel's Jews are bigots:

[Netanyahu] "won because he ran as a bigot. ... The public ratification of Netanyahu's bigotry [confirmed this]."

Most Israeli Jews are as contemptible as history's anti-Semites:

"A great many Jews have come to regard Arabs as the rest of the world traditionally regarded Jews."

Israel's very founding was steeped in evil:

"[Read about] the massacres perpetrated by Jews in 1948 to secure their homeland."

These Israeli Jews embarrass me. Don't consider me one of them:

"This [victory] is shameful and embarrassing."

In Israel's Haaretz last week, left-wing American Jewish writer Peter Beinart actually advocated that America punish Israel and join the international fight against Israel:

"[This means] backing Palestinian bids at the United Nations. It means labeling and boycotting settlement goods. It means joining and amplifying nonviolent Palestinian protest in the West Bank. ... It means pushing the Obama administration to present out its own peace plan, and to punish -- yes, punish -- the Israeli government for rejecting it. It means making sure that every time Benjamin Netanyahu and the members of his cabinet walk into a Jewish event outside Israel, they see Diaspora Jews protesting outside."

In The Washington Post, Harold Meyerson, another American Jewish left-wing columnist, joined the hysteria with these calumnies against Netanyahu (and the equally reviled Republicans):

"At the rate he was going, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might have called for stripping Israeli Arabs of the right to vote altogether."

"Bibi [is] henceforth the Jewish George Wallace."

"Perhaps Likud and the Republicans can open an Institute for the Prevention of Dark-Skinned People Voting."

Of course, as Charles Krauthammer, an American Jewish conservative, wrote last week, "There would be no peace and no Palestinian state if Isaac Herzog were prime minister either. Or Ehud Barak or Ehud Olmert for that matter. The latter two were (non-Likud) prime ministers who offered the Palestinians their own state -- with its capital in Jerusalem and every Israeli settlement in the new Palestine uprooted -- only to be rudely rejected.

"This is not ancient history. This is 2000, 2001 and 2008 -- three astonishingly concessionary peace offers within the past 15 years. Every one rejected."

But none of that matters to the left. The left lives in John Lennon's song "Imagine." Thus, the left imagines that if Israel completely withdrew from the West Bank and allowed a Palestinian state to be created now, it would be completely unlike Gaza and completely unlike Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Libya; it would be a peaceful Arab Muslim island in the midst of the cruel sea of Arab Muslim countries that surrounds it.

But what if they were wrong and rockets then rained down on Israel?

The Kleins and the Beinarts and the Meyersons wouldn't retract a word. As I wrote some 30 years ago: "Being on the left means never having to say you're sorry."

Anyway, only those bigoted Israelis would pay the price.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: america; benjaminnetanyahu; jews
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1 posted on 03/24/2015 7:32:39 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Apparently, many American Jews are not interested in seeing Israel survive as a nation — why?


2 posted on 03/24/2015 7:35:11 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.a)
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To: Kaslin

Methinks we should find a way to trade our Jews for theirs.

Our Jews (or, at least the liberal portions) contain an evil and coldness that pretty much overwhelms the good that Jews have contributed to society throughout the ages.

And, they are perhaps the cause behind the hatred of those people.

After all, who - in their right mind - does not loathe and f*rt in the generation of - those who are weak minded enough to be liberal?


3 posted on 03/24/2015 7:36:48 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Kaslin
I have an old friend who is Jewish and consvervative and he tells me that the Rich Old Jews and Younger have no respect for GOP and would rather be seen at a Plan Parenthood event than a GOP fundraiser.

He says they have what is coming their way just like in Europe in the 1930's

4 posted on 03/24/2015 7:38:06 AM PDT by scooby321
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To: Da Coyote

Israel has too many left-wing Jews as it is; they do not need more.


5 posted on 03/24/2015 7:41:23 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Kaslin

Ask yourself this if American and Israeli Jews were to switch nations how long would Israel exist, or I should say cease to exist?


6 posted on 03/24/2015 7:41:37 AM PDT by dowcaet
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To: scooby321
I have an old friend who is Jewish and conservative and he tells me that the Rich Old Jews and Younger have no respect for GOP and would rather be seen at a Planned Parenthood event than a GOP fund raiser. He says they have what is coming their way just like in Europe in the 1930's

I guess so! Blinded by what? Hatred of what they see to be a "Christian" party? I don't get it.

7 posted on 03/24/2015 7:42:07 AM PDT by madison10
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To: BenLurkin

Dated a NY Jewish girl years ago and we got talking back in 2008 again. She was going to vote for the fairy we have today. I asked her about Israel and she told me that he would be a better friend to Israel than Obama.

That just demonstrates how stupid some Jews are. I’d love to say to her today how is that good friend of Israel doing and I bet she would still defend him , the Dems, and herself


8 posted on 03/24/2015 7:50:33 AM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: Kaslin

These people are seriously mentally ill. They’ll jump into the ovens - not have to be pushed.


9 posted on 03/24/2015 7:51:18 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: "I should like to drive away not only the Turks (moslims) but all my foes.")
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To: Kaslin

Bibi is a “bigot” because he objects to the annihilation of Israel by Iran?


10 posted on 03/24/2015 7:51:31 AM PDT by mom.mom
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To: madison10

Question; Do left-wing Jews celebrate Easter?


11 posted on 03/24/2015 7:55:27 AM PDT by rusureitflies? (Not much to say, yet.)
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To: Kaslin

Netanyahu did the unthinkable. He thought for his country and not acted like a puppet of the left wing.


12 posted on 03/24/2015 7:55:28 AM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: manc

It’s not so much because they’re Jewish that they’re left wing, but rather because they’ve grown up in left wing cities, attended left wing schools, and have wealthy parents (who worked hard to create their wealth). Everything’s been given to them as if the Tooth Fairy delivered it while they were sleeping. They haven’t had to and don’t know how to critically think about their wealth and civilization.


13 posted on 03/24/2015 7:57:49 AM PDT by captain_dave
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To: BenLurkin

American Jews ... will ... one day, be gathered back to Israel, as God says they will. Then they will understand, firsthand!


14 posted on 03/24/2015 7:58:09 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Da Coyote

The Jews are not going to be “gathered to the USA”! The Jews are all going to be gathered back to the land of Israel. God has promised that. We’ll be losing the Jews here, per God’s plan!


15 posted on 03/24/2015 7:59:48 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Kaslin

That’s okay. They are ashamed of you too. The difference is theirs is justified.

The Jewish families over here bathe in weallth and luxury and are liberal as they come. There’s a reason (JAP) Jewish American Princess was coined. The only thing remaining in them that is Jewish is their blood and a few traditional Holiday celebrations. They all feed at the trough and feet of Obama.


16 posted on 03/24/2015 8:00:45 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: dowcaet

Israel won’t cease to exist and all those Jews will be gathered back to Israel, as God says! God says that Israel will remain a nation before him forevermore. And in the Bible, it says that ALL ISRAEL will be saved, upon the return of the Messiah of Israel, back to earth, to set up his one-world government, with his capital city at Jerusalem!


17 posted on 03/24/2015 8:02:49 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: rusureitflies?

LOL ... none of the “Jews” do ... :-) ...


18 posted on 03/24/2015 8:04:13 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: BenLurkin

Leftists first, Jews second.


19 posted on 03/24/2015 8:09:10 AM PDT by Pirate Ragnar
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To: Excellence

Thus, the left imagines that if Israel completely withdrew from the West Bank and allowed a Palestinian state to be created now, it would be completely unlike Gaza and completely unlike Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Libya; it would be a peaceful Arab Muslim island in the midst of the cruel sea of Arab Muslim countries that surrounds it.


20 posted on 03/24/2015 8:33:45 AM PDT by Excellence (Marine mom since April 11, 2014)
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