Dear Phyllis, I've been greatly appreciating your writings since I discovered Substack just recently. I'm Australian by birth, now also a British citizen, and I just cannot comprehend the amount of antisemitic / antizionist madness that has come to the surface in the last couple of years and more. I'm not Jewish, but I lived for some years in the heart of Melbourne's Jewish community, while I was at high school in the late 1990s. We were taught thoroughly about the Holocaust, even in the Anglican girls' school I went to. Anti-Israel rhetoric was only heard from a handful of fringe extremists while I was at university. Now it's totally mainstream. It's insanity.
I was back in Melbourne recently (I live most of the time in the UK) and made a point of visiting the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, just to quietly give my support and be reminded of these things that should never be forgotten and should never happen again. And although I knew this already, it just underscored it even further: anyone who thinks there is ANY comparison between Israel's treatment of Palestinians and Nazi Germany's treatment of Jews, is a MORON who has absolutely no clue about history. (I have been to Israel too, just once, but I absolutely loved the place and it is always in my prayers.)
I just want to stand with Israel and its people in whatever ways I can, however small. Thanks so much again for all you are doing.
Re your comments, Israel has been part of my life from the beginning. Not because anyone, any rabbi, any institution "brainwashed" me ....poor Seth Rogan......I investigated for myself. No Birthright programs. No paid for trip from my parents. Israel was one of my destinations on my first overseas trip after finishing undergrad degree. It turned into my ultimate destination once the YK War broke out while I was on a boat from Crete to Greece. Via Istanbul. Two British gentiles, young men like myself, convinced me to volunteer on a kibbutz. The Welsh guy was even returning to Israel to his kibbutz for a second stint. where is he today? Does he still feel so strongly about Israel. RE Jew Hate, in the nineties one of my students, a Domincan immigrant told me how her friend dismissed the Holocaust, "Who cares , just Jews" The student told me, "I don't feel that way." Just my reflections on your very good post.
Dear Phyllis, I've been greatly appreciating your writings since I discovered Substack just recently. I'm Australian by birth, now also a British citizen, and I just cannot comprehend the amount of antisemitic / antizionist madness that has come to the surface in the last couple of years and more. I'm not Jewish, but I lived for some years in the heart of Melbourne's Jewish community, while I was at high school in the late 1990s. We were taught thoroughly about the Holocaust, even in the Anglican girls' school I went to. Anti-Israel rhetoric was only heard from a handful of fringe extremists while I was at university. Now it's totally mainstream. It's insanity.
I was back in Melbourne recently (I live most of the time in the UK) and made a point of visiting the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, just to quietly give my support and be reminded of these things that should never be forgotten and should never happen again. And although I knew this already, it just underscored it even further: anyone who thinks there is ANY comparison between Israel's treatment of Palestinians and Nazi Germany's treatment of Jews, is a MORON who has absolutely no clue about history. (I have been to Israel too, just once, but I absolutely loved the place and it is always in my prayers.)
I just want to stand with Israel and its people in whatever ways I can, however small. Thanks so much again for all you are doing.
Your best yet ....thank you.
Re your comments, Israel has been part of my life from the beginning. Not because anyone, any rabbi, any institution "brainwashed" me ....poor Seth Rogan......I investigated for myself. No Birthright programs. No paid for trip from my parents. Israel was one of my destinations on my first overseas trip after finishing undergrad degree. It turned into my ultimate destination once the YK War broke out while I was on a boat from Crete to Greece. Via Istanbul. Two British gentiles, young men like myself, convinced me to volunteer on a kibbutz. The Welsh guy was even returning to Israel to his kibbutz for a second stint. where is he today? Does he still feel so strongly about Israel. RE Jew Hate, in the nineties one of my students, a Domincan immigrant told me how her friend dismissed the Holocaust, "Who cares , just Jews" The student told me, "I don't feel that way." Just my reflections on your very good post.
You've put into words what many of us feel. Thank you.