A J Mast for The New York Times
Alvin H. Rosenfeld is the author of an essay critical
of liberal Jews that has generated heated debate.
Posted on 01/31/2007 3:35:39 AM PST by Pharmboy
A J Mast for The New York Times
Alvin H. Rosenfeld is the author of an essay critical
of liberal Jews that has generated heated debate.
The American Jewish Committee, an ardent defender of Israel, is known for speaking out against anti-Semitism, but this conservative advocacy group has recently stirred up a bitter and emotional debate with a new target: liberal Jews.
An essay the committee features on its Web site, ajc.org, titled “ ‘Progressive’ Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism,” says a number of Jews, through their speaking and writing, are feeding a rise in virulent anti-Semitism by questioning whether Israel should even exist.
In an introduction to the essay, David A. Harris, the executive director of the committee, writes, “Perhaps the most surprising — and distressing — feature of this new trend is the very public participation of some Jews in the verbal onslaught against Zionism and the Jewish State.” Those who oppose Israel’s basic right to exist, he continues, “whether Jew or gentile, must be confronted.”
snip...
The essay, written by Alvin H. Rosenfeld, an English professor and the director of the Institute for Jewish Culture and the Arts at Indiana University in Bloomington, castigates a number of people by name, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, the historian Tony Judt, the poet Adrienne Rich and the Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, in addition to a number of academics.
Mr. Judt, whose views on Israel and the American Jewish lobby have frequently drawn fire, is chastised for what Mr. Rosenfeld calls “a series of increasingly bitter articles” that have “called Israel everything from arrogant, aggressive, anachronistic, and infantile to dysfunctional, immoral, and a primary cause of present-day anti-Semitism.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Ping...
The truth hurts liberals.
To be honest I've always wondered about this myself. Why are there so many Jews that seem to support the same ideology that loathes them?
I asked my Israeli friend about this, and he explained that Jews feel that Democrats are charitable, perhaps the same way Catholics do.
The difference is that Catholics' existence isn't being threatened.
Maybe it's denial? Maybe Carter's true colors coming out will be a little wake up call.
Some of the most anti-Semitic, anti-Israel people I know are liberal/secular Jews.
Hmmm...
Religionists will always find an excuse to hate Jews for some religious reason. Secularists will always find an excuse to hate Jews for some secular reason. The confused who are part religious and part secular will find excuses for Jew-hate from both parts.
Most 'analyses' are just political or religious posturing.
Agreed. I believe it stems from self-obsession to the nth degree (ie., "I am me and not part of that group that others are talking about").
Simpler answer: there are many who are Jews in name only, who while ethnically Jewish, actually worship Socialism.
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Every year at Passover the Jews speak of the four sons at the table: the wise son, the simple son who is indifferent and unconcerned, the young son who doesn't even know what to ask but who is open and receptive; then there is the wicked son, so-called because he wants no parts of the tradition that the others are practicing, and denigrates or derides the traditions and those who practice them. These authors who fuel the fires of Jew hatred are the wicked sons and daughters.
This is news? Or a surprise? Michael Lerner and Noam Chomsky are self hating Jews. Why aren't they in the article?
Perhaps the innovation being observed is that 'respectable' secular socialist Jews (not just the kooks) have turned on the secular socialist government of Israel. That's why liberal warhorse Constitution-destroyer Alan Douche-yer-wits is so mystified.
Good question. Perhaps it's because they were waaaay ahead of the curve on this issue, and are not considered part of the classic mainstream as would be, for example, Richard Cohen. Just a guess...
Liberal Jews embrace the same philosophy as the NAZI's in Germany, "Socialialism".
I realize this post may get deleted.
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...if it would get deleted, it's only because it's "Socialism" and not "Socialialism". ;-)
Yes, that is a problem for American Jews, but even worse the antagonism towards Israel provides a ready excuse for we gentiles to abandon a foreign policy supportive of Israel. To be sure, 87% of nonobservant Jews vote DemocRAT, but they are only 2.5-5% of the population. The big danger is the other 95% of the population who see this and wonder why should I support Israel.
IMHO we are only an election or two away from a radical abandonment of Israel unless we can turn public opinion around. This especially includes the nonobservant Jews.
Always lurking in the background is why Israel and Jews are hated--not for their failures but for their successes. Observant Christians know the second deadly sin is envy and the object of envy is to destroy the envied object. Anything that gives caving in to envy credence permits its full flowering in a deadly determination that will make the Jihadists smile.
It is not too late but it is getting near evening.
This is a great piece. Rosenfeld is calling out the anti-semites, and they don't like it one bit.
Why the left is so committed to hating Israel is more than I can fathom...from Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan to Jimmy Carter, and liberal Jews...it's a strange, hateful community.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The only difference between these retarded freaks and the Neturei Karta retarded freaks is that Neturei Karta dresses funny.
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