¨On December 24, 1943, Anne Frank and the other people in hiding in the Secret Annex received a homemade Christmas cake from helper Miep Gies. The cake was decorated with “Peace 1944”.
This was not just a Christmas present. In a time filled with fear, uncertainty and lost freedom the cake was also a sign of hope and a longing for peace.
The longing for peace remains relevant today. Especially at a time when antisemitism and other forms of group-based hatred are on the rise and peace is far from guaranteed.
At the Anne Frank House we are dedicated to teaching younger generations that peace is never guaranteed.
We do this through Annes life story. With your help, we can expand our reach...¨
Thank you so much for posting! I am so happy to hear about your organization. Anne Frank's Diary was an important part of my education to the story of the Holacaust. I am so happy to hear about your educational programs for my grand niece and nephews! God bless you.
To: Prime Minister Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and all Australian political leaders
ADD YOUR NAME ✍️ We will not be divided after Bondi
Campaign created by Jewish Council of Australia
¨To Prime Minister Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and all Australian political leaders:
We call on you to show real leadership to keep our communities safe from antisemitism, violence and racism.
We urge you to stand strong against those who are weaponising the Bondi massacre to push bigotry, hatred and division.
Jewish safety and the safety of every other marginalised group go hand in hand.
Pitting Jewish safety against Palestinians, Muslims and migrant communities, and eroding all of our civil liberties, doesn't make Jews safer. It makes the real fight against antisemitism harder.
We cannot allow our collective grief and fear to be used as a political weapon to attack the Palestine solidarity movement or any other democratic movement.
We need to strengthen connections between communities and cultivate grassroots efforts to tackle racism and antisemitism at its core.
We urge you to adopt measures which will keep Jewish people, and all people, safe from violence and racism, including:
Funding grassroots cross-cultural community initiatives to help form strong relationships of understanding and solidarity;
Cracking down on big tech companies that profit from spreading online hate;
Adopting and fully funding the Australian Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism framework;
Fixing failing gun laws;
Recognising and consulting with diverse Jewish voices;
Protecting our rights to peacefully protest and speak out against injustice.
The path to safety is democratic and rooted in our shared community.
Why is this important?
On Sunday at Bondi we witnessed the appalling consequences of hatred and how it breeds radicalisation and violence. But as the Jewish community and the whole country grieved, some politicians went on the attack, exploiting a tragedy to sow division and pit our communities against each other.
Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce are attacking our Muslim and Palestinian friends, families and neighbours. Benjamin Netanyahu and Jillian Segal are pushing to erode our civil liberties and attacking those who peacefully protest genocide. Andrew Hastie and Josh Frydenberg are trying to score political points by attacking migrant communities.
But we all deserve to feel safe, no matter our religion or where we come from. We cannot allow our grief, fear and anger to be used as a political weapon to spread division and hate.
Jewish communities are beautifully diverse, culturally and politically. Antisemitism and racism flourish when the diversity of any community is erased. The far-right Israeli government does not speak for Jewish people in Australia and is not interested in our safety. Only we can create safety for each other.
We are asking all Australians to unite behind the call to end antisemitism, racism and gun violence in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy.
The only way to build lasting community strength and safety is by coming together.
There are a number of incredible partner organisations working with the Jewish Council to promote this campaign. Note that signatures collected on this page will be tallied together with those collected by our partners.¨
Elle Beah! This poem is amazing. I so hope everyone here will read it. Are you publishing your poems somewhere? Do you have your own substack? How can we support you in getting your poetry read?
Than you once again Marianne for your powerful words that can transform and hopefully arouse the same courage in each of us to protest the atrocities that are going on! Yesterday was the 8th day of Hanukkah.. May the Festival of Lights and prayers and actions we take be the light that change the world and make it once again a place where we embrace diversity, we fight for justice and peace for all! Sending peace, health, happiness and abundance of love to all!❤️🕯️🕉️☮️🕎🙏🏼❤️
The light, the light, the light! The light of the world has been born again with the passing of the longest night of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). The Hanukkah candles have been lit, and the Christmas Star emerges. May all peoples of the world know love and peace!
Marianne, thank you for addressing the frightening rise in both misogyny and antisemitism in your two recent Substacks. You’ve hit the nail on the head both times. Just today, the Vice President of the United States said at a Turning Point event: “The only thing that has truly served as an anchor of the United States of America is that we have been, and by the grace of God, we always will be, a Christian nation.” The crowd roared in applause. He also said that, in America, “you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore.” How scary that a white, (male), Christian nationalism is being declared at the highest levels of our government. Now more than ever we must call down the light against the forces of darkness you so accurately called out.
This is so frustrating. How can a guy with the fanciest of educations speak such lies. The first amendment to our Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion."
I agree with you,but more needs to be mentioned about the hatred and injustice in Israel causing the genocide of the Palestinians,and at the same time turning many in the world against Jews.
There were rally’s by hundreds of thousand of Americans saying “not in our name” when we bombed Iraq. Are the Jews in and outside of Israel saying that? Nobody should be the victim of a hate crime against any nation or ethnic group.
There are huge demonstrations in Israel against the attacks in Gaza. They have been happening almost from the beginning of the response to October 7, 2023.
That’s good to know. Where are my fellow American Jews on that? This is such dicey territory, where, if you are going to jump in with opinions, best you be express sensitivity to how the Israeli government treats Palestinians.
I liked reading your post the second time as much as the first. You bring light into the world and you bring light into the world. I too am a tech wizard. Love, love love
Thank you for this, Marianne. As an American Jew, I am horrified by the embrace of Trump and Netanyahu by so many Jews. Their approach is fomenting anti-Semitism on the left and right. In my opinion there are several factors fueling the rise in anti-Semitism. Radical Islam and it's followers are alive and well and have infiltrated our college campuses for decades. The white nationalist movement is on the rise, fueling anti-semitism on the right. Israel's brutality in prosecuting the war with Hamas has fanned the flames of hatred among those who intertwine the Israeli government and Jews. It is a very dangerous time in many ways. At 68, my fear is for my children and future generations, not for myself.
It saddens me to read this, I’ve no idea what it means to stand in the world as a victim of antisemitism or to carry the scars of the holocaust as part of my lineage. It was very much a part of my western education however and I’ve visited Dachau where I had a visceral experience of ‘never again’.
I also hear the pain and the fear in the voices of my Jewish friends when the subject of Gaza comes up. During these discussions it is obvious that we are seeing the same set of circumstances but one of us is viewing it through a very different narrative. Since I did not grow up Jewish, when October 7th happened, like many - I was hungry for understanding and no longer content to be told it was somehow beyond my comprehension. My thirst for knowledge led me to the academic works of people such as Illan Pappe, Norman Finkelstein, Edward Said… as well as figures such as Gideon Levy and Miko Peled.
I do no derive my worldview from Candace Owens nor am I a defender of Hamas. In the name of peace, and the light you speak of, I ask you to consider that my dislike for Zionism and my criticism of Israel does not equate to hating Jewish people, in fact, I’ve become more sympathetic and not less as I see Zionism as a significant contributor to antisemitism. I hope you can concede that recent legislation that broadens the definition of antisemitism to include critism of Isreal is having a very chilling and dangerous impact on free speech. Men and women of good will everywhere are using thier voices to stand alongside organizations such as Jewish Voices for Peace against oppression precisely because we learned ‘never again’. Accusing people of Jew hatred when no such sentiment exists is not adding light to the world. I do not deny antisemitism exists, those extreme views however belong to a very narrow dangerous subset of White Christian Nationalism which I view to be as abhorrent as Zionism.
No, it does not help. If we can't see Oct. 7th as an act of pure evil perpetrated against innocent people, then to me no other claim of concern for social justice is genuine.
Of course any legislation deeming criticism of Israel antisemtic, is abhorrent and even fascistic. Can you give evidence of that actually happening? There are laws in some states seeking to ban participation in the BDS boycotts, and I would agree with you that such laws are wrong. Some say any criticism of Israel is antisemitic, of course, but neither you nor I would agree with that. Of course it's not. And one more thing...the people who died on Oct. 7 were among the Israeli population that DOES support the Palestinians!!
When I ran for President I saw firsthand what kind of purveyor of falsehoods Norm Finkelstein is - including about me. The list of people you say you're getting your information from is not unbiased. Please consider reading Haaretz. I respect it..
One more thing. You say you find Zionism "abhorrent." Okay...can you tell me what you think it is? Hamas etc. have changed the word to mean something it doesn't mean, so then you can more easily hate Jews. I've never called myself that, but all it means is someone who believes Jews should have a homeland. It does NOT mean Palestinians shouldn't. Anyone claiming "form the river to the sea," whether Jew or Arab, is canceling out the legitimate rights of the other. Both peoples have a right to be there.
to think Israel is innocent when they stole the Palestinians land is incorrect. Most of the people living in Israel are more or less innocent. But the way the Israeli govt treated the palestinians since the nakba is obviously evil, and provoked their reaction. (possibly even allowed oct.7 as an excuse to get all their land) BTW, you would have probably been my first choice for president.
I too think Christian Zionism, [lM. Huckabee] is abhorrent. Many Christaijn churches have divested from Israeli bonds as they do not want to support policies that are harmful to Palestinians. When I followed CZ all the way to its core I was both shocked and embarrassed, [Again] for America. Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel is regressive. So the Jews all get back to the homeland and Jesus returns and we are all saved and the rapture happens. Really? Yes, this is what he and other Christian Zionists believe in 2025. That is a magical theology that is a corrupt as Bebe. I am a Christain and I love Marrianne. But CZ is lnot Christlike.
Where did I say I thought October 7th was ok? It wasn’t. I’m against all and any acts of terrorism. If you think the collective punishment that’s been inflicted on innocent Palestinians in response is ok however, then there isn’t any basis for continued dialogue.
Re: Zionism; as the belief in a homeland for Jews, I have no issue whatsoever, all people deserve a homeland, including Palestinians, it’s a right that is enshrined in international law.I’m talking about the Zionist expansionist program that has brought displacement, death and destruction to both Jews and Palestinians. Yes Jews have the right to safety, but it will never come about when it’s at the expense of the safety and rights of others.
Yes, I will send you the data regarding the number of registered incidents of antisemitism in the US before and after the laws were changed.
My sources are mostly Israeli Jews so I don’t understand what bias they have? I included Gideon Levy of Harretz (Im a subscriber) and I won’t discount the body of academic research on Isreal and Gaza by Norman Finkelstein because of whatever personal attacks were made against you.. I’m not aware of this.
Sounds like you believe in a one state solution, where both people have the right to live under equal laws. I’m currently reading Pappes book; Isreal On the Brink which paints a very compelling case for this and a way it might even become a reality one day. It will take dialogue however, such as the one we are having here. I hold this as highly helpful no matter how difficult.
I do not believe in a one state solution. I believe in a two state solution.
One state is the destruction of a Jewish state. Many say "Oh we don't like the idea of an ethno state!!" But then they have no problem with the 56 Muslims states in the world. Isn't that interesting...?
Regarding a one state, at this point can you tell me who and what would be the governing body? How that would actually work, in practice? And do you honestly believe that wouldn't be the beginning of the bloodiest civil war right now?
The occupation of the West Bank is illegal and deeply wrong. I've been saying it for years. Netenyahu is a war criminal, all that is true. Gaza is a crime. There are many changes necessary in Israel from a human rights perspective, and we should support all efforts - including in Israel - to make them happen. The United States killed on million Iraqis - hideous and criminal - but I don't remember anyone suggesting that therefore the U.S. should not exist.
We need a consortium of Arab countries to deal with this fairly, and to direct the creation of two states. They have offered many times, and Netenyahu has refused.
I see One state as the evolution of the Jewish state, not it’s destruction- a truly holy land. Where fear is eradicated and all people live with equal rights in harmony and peace. More practically speaking, the book I mentioned by Pappe outlines a possible path to get there. I believe it is possible and am committed to supporting and dialoguing with my Jewish friends to bring about this vision.
Marianne, I find your views and Laurie Z's fascinating. It seems the deeper root of the problem still centers on religion/culture. So isn't it rational to create a 'united state' there--with a name encompassing both Israel and Palestine or, better yet, something symbolizing 'oneness'? However, living in America today, as you observe, us sapiens have yet to evolve with many in our country striving to force Christian Nationalism upon us. So it's back to religion--again!
Our once great story of America, with its Declaration of Independence and Constitution, may even collapse. So, it seems we can no longer inspire other nations of the world to be inclusive!
Finally, it seems a critical mass of our world's populous must ignite to make the last sentence of your essay herein a reality--it seems a global mission: "Claim this planet for the kingdom of love." It's a powerful, beautiful sentence Marianne--I'm applying it as my New Year's resolution and new mantra--viewing all human actions and plans to be directed at creating 'a kingdom of love'. (I know Deepak Chopra continues to say human problems are due to our 'ego conflicts,' and he says only 'love' can solve them. I think most of your readers realize your messages as well as Deepak's are prescient--needed for Nature to remain coherent. Thus, it seems our urgent, paramount challenge on Earth continues to be helping others realize that 'love' is the ultimate law of our Cosmos! Avatars have been trying for mileniums--we must too. So be it!)
"in the midst of darkness, call down the Light". Yes, all day, every day. When the time comes for us to be tempted to persecute and ravage the present persecutors and ravagers, let us also remember that we are not of their ilk.
Also I think it should be mentioned that the hatred of trans people and gays or gay men at least is a twisted form of misogyny as well. It is the feminine in us they hate. So I've long thought that particular form of bigotry is a disguised and disgusting form of misogyny
ANNE FRANK HOUSE
¨On December 24, 1943, Anne Frank and the other people in hiding in the Secret Annex received a homemade Christmas cake from helper Miep Gies. The cake was decorated with “Peace 1944”.
This was not just a Christmas present. In a time filled with fear, uncertainty and lost freedom the cake was also a sign of hope and a longing for peace.
The longing for peace remains relevant today. Especially at a time when antisemitism and other forms of group-based hatred are on the rise and peace is far from guaranteed.
At the Anne Frank House we are dedicated to teaching younger generations that peace is never guaranteed.
We do this through Annes life story. With your help, we can expand our reach...¨
https://www.annefrank.org/en/
Thank you so much for posting! I am so happy to hear about your organization. Anne Frank's Diary was an important part of my education to the story of the Holacaust. I am so happy to hear about your educational programs for my grand niece and nephews! God bless you.
To: Prime Minister Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and all Australian political leaders
ADD YOUR NAME ✍️ We will not be divided after Bondi
Campaign created by Jewish Council of Australia
¨To Prime Minister Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and all Australian political leaders:
We call on you to show real leadership to keep our communities safe from antisemitism, violence and racism.
We urge you to stand strong against those who are weaponising the Bondi massacre to push bigotry, hatred and division.
Jewish safety and the safety of every other marginalised group go hand in hand.
Pitting Jewish safety against Palestinians, Muslims and migrant communities, and eroding all of our civil liberties, doesn't make Jews safer. It makes the real fight against antisemitism harder.
We cannot allow our collective grief and fear to be used as a political weapon to attack the Palestine solidarity movement or any other democratic movement.
We need to strengthen connections between communities and cultivate grassroots efforts to tackle racism and antisemitism at its core.
We urge you to adopt measures which will keep Jewish people, and all people, safe from violence and racism, including:
Funding grassroots cross-cultural community initiatives to help form strong relationships of understanding and solidarity;
Cracking down on big tech companies that profit from spreading online hate;
Adopting and fully funding the Australian Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism framework;
Fixing failing gun laws;
Recognising and consulting with diverse Jewish voices;
Protecting our rights to peacefully protest and speak out against injustice.
The path to safety is democratic and rooted in our shared community.
Why is this important?
On Sunday at Bondi we witnessed the appalling consequences of hatred and how it breeds radicalisation and violence. But as the Jewish community and the whole country grieved, some politicians went on the attack, exploiting a tragedy to sow division and pit our communities against each other.
Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce are attacking our Muslim and Palestinian friends, families and neighbours. Benjamin Netanyahu and Jillian Segal are pushing to erode our civil liberties and attacking those who peacefully protest genocide. Andrew Hastie and Josh Frydenberg are trying to score political points by attacking migrant communities.
But we all deserve to feel safe, no matter our religion or where we come from. We cannot allow our grief, fear and anger to be used as a political weapon to spread division and hate.
Jewish communities are beautifully diverse, culturally and politically. Antisemitism and racism flourish when the diversity of any community is erased. The far-right Israeli government does not speak for Jewish people in Australia and is not interested in our safety. Only we can create safety for each other.
We are asking all Australians to unite behind the call to end antisemitism, racism and gun violence in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy.
The only way to build lasting community strength and safety is by coming together.
There are a number of incredible partner organisations working with the Jewish Council to promote this campaign. Note that signatures collected on this page will be tallied together with those collected by our partners.¨
https://petitions.getup.org.au/petitions/from-bondi-a-call-for-unity-add-your-name
Marianne—
Thank you
for telling the truth
without softening it
for polite company.
What we’re living through
has a name now:
Moral Injury.
That moment
when you realize
the world you were helping build
(like a devious, deranged fiancé)
never planned
to keep its damned promises.
I believed—
we believed—
that this country,
unfinished as hell,
was still evolving
toward justice…
toward intelligence…
toward decency…
toward a collective regard
for human life.
As a Black woman—
descended from the enslaved
and the displaced—
your lifelong devotion
to reparations
made me weep...
When your campaign rose—
and Bernie’s—
I thought:
Oh my God.
They See it.
They are not ALL
Crazy and bone-stupid
THEY GET IT
They finally get it.
Dr. King’s dream
is breathing...
The nightmare is ending!
Even if you didn’t win,
(Which I still believe you
Could've IF the system was
Actually what We believed it was)
I believed the direction
was right.
Our collective Souls were
RIGHTEOUS
... ... ...
Then the crystalline mask didn’t just slip—
it shattered...
This ain't politics.
This is the moment
an abuser shows his face
after years of charm.
Love-bombing
turns to contempt.
Contempt
turns to violence.
America showed us
who it really is.
And here’s the revelation
that made my stomach turn:
The depth
of MISOGYNY
still alive
even among
some Black men...
(My so-called "brothas")
Men who know racism
in their bones—
yet refuse to see
that misogyny
is its twin.
Men who cry freedom
while standing
on women’s throats...
ALL WOMEN--
Ehck!!!
F those bastards!
That ignorance
is not innocent.
It is lethal.
And realizing it
wasn’t intellectual.
It was visceral.
As a Black woman
standing beside
a Jewish woman,
I know this truth:
When monsters rise,
they come for women first.
And they always
come for Jews.
They always come for Blacks...
For the Children--
Our bodies
become battlegrounds.
Commodity
Our pain
gets debated.
Our warnings
get dismissed.
Until history
comes back around
with blood on its hands.
So don’t they dare tell my Black ass that this isht is
“perspective.”
Don’t call it
a “difference of opinion.”
That lie
is part of the violence.
Viktor Frankl told us
what survives the camps:
Those who have a WHY
can bear almost any HOW.
Our WHY
is the Children.
And we owe them
better than this.
So yes—
we will call this isht out.
Daily.
Relentlessly.
Until the roots
of racism,
misogyny,
antisemitism,
and supremacist delusion
are dragged into the undeniable
LIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!
This is the
Great Motherhood
of Overstanding
speaking now.
Black women.
Jewish women.
Worldwide WOMEN
Women who remember.
Women who warn.
Women who cuss
Spit and FIGHT!
Women who will not be silent.
We do not deny the darkness—
but we do not kneel to it.
Because even now—
even here—
we know:
Light wins.
Love prevails.
God outranks
every monster.
God Bless the
AMERICA
Creator claim the
WORLD that
We now
BIRTH
In Body
Mind
Soul
IN LIGHT
So, must it
BE
And so...
IT IS
🙏
Elle Beah! This poem is amazing. I so hope everyone here will read it. Are you publishing your poems somewhere? Do you have your own substack? How can we support you in getting your poetry read?
These lines about women:
<<Our pain
gets debated.
Our warnings
get dismissed.>>
Oh yes! Thank you thank you for writing this
Thank you so much Marianne. Your article inspired it... You inspire me...
The current state of our country & the world
Wrung it out
Thank you...
God Bless You...
ellebeahlb.substack.com
This is beautiful work. Thank you.
So kind of you to say Rebecca.
Thank you 🙌
Than you once again Marianne for your powerful words that can transform and hopefully arouse the same courage in each of us to protest the atrocities that are going on! Yesterday was the 8th day of Hanukkah.. May the Festival of Lights and prayers and actions we take be the light that change the world and make it once again a place where we embrace diversity, we fight for justice and peace for all! Sending peace, health, happiness and abundance of love to all!❤️🕯️🕉️☮️🕎🙏🏼❤️
The light, the light, the light! The light of the world has been born again with the passing of the longest night of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). The Hanukkah candles have been lit, and the Christmas Star emerges. May all peoples of the world know love and peace!
On the eve of Christmas may this Holy day fill your family with much love and light ❤️🕯️🕉️☮️🙏🏼❤️
Marianne, thank you for addressing the frightening rise in both misogyny and antisemitism in your two recent Substacks. You’ve hit the nail on the head both times. Just today, the Vice President of the United States said at a Turning Point event: “The only thing that has truly served as an anchor of the United States of America is that we have been, and by the grace of God, we always will be, a Christian nation.” The crowd roared in applause. He also said that, in America, “you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore.” How scary that a white, (male), Christian nationalism is being declared at the highest levels of our government. Now more than ever we must call down the light against the forces of darkness you so accurately called out.
This is so frustrating. How can a guy with the fanciest of educations speak such lies. The first amendment to our Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion."
Exactly!
May all minds be cleared of anything that is not love and may all people awaken to the truth of who we are.🙏
I agree with you,but more needs to be mentioned about the hatred and injustice in Israel causing the genocide of the Palestinians,and at the same time turning many in the world against Jews.
I'm sorry, but you just proved everything I was saying. We killed one million Iraqis is the Iraq war, and the world didn't turn against all Americans.
Read the further comments posted since yours, they make my point.
And the world should condemn the Iraqi slaughter also as well as the US support of the Israeli genocide. I certainly did,as I would hope you did too.
There were rally’s by hundreds of thousand of Americans saying “not in our name” when we bombed Iraq. Are the Jews in and outside of Israel saying that? Nobody should be the victim of a hate crime against any nation or ethnic group.
There are huge demonstrations in Israel against the attacks in Gaza. They have been happening almost from the beginning of the response to October 7, 2023.
That’s good to know. Where are my fellow American Jews on that? This is such dicey territory, where, if you are going to jump in with opinions, best you be express sensitivity to how the Israeli government treats Palestinians.
A lot of the Israeli protesters were mostly concerned with hostage return rather than ending the genocide in Gaza.
Although many did.
I liked reading your post the second time as much as the first. You bring light into the world and you bring light into the world. I too am a tech wizard. Love, love love
Amen!
On the spiritual
After Bondi - Rabbi Sharon Brous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGESa_0PVIE
and psychological dimensions of what is unfolding around us right now and historically
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joost_Meerloo#Rape_of_the_Mind
"And do not fear them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul."
---Matthew 10:28
Thanks for this Marianne, love and justice is the way to save humanity from believing any people should be violently terrorized like this.
I love your words, "love and justice is the way to save humanity,".
Thank you for this, Marianne. As an American Jew, I am horrified by the embrace of Trump and Netanyahu by so many Jews. Their approach is fomenting anti-Semitism on the left and right. In my opinion there are several factors fueling the rise in anti-Semitism. Radical Islam and it's followers are alive and well and have infiltrated our college campuses for decades. The white nationalist movement is on the rise, fueling anti-semitism on the right. Israel's brutality in prosecuting the war with Hamas has fanned the flames of hatred among those who intertwine the Israeli government and Jews. It is a very dangerous time in many ways. At 68, my fear is for my children and future generations, not for myself.
Thank you for recognizing ALL those factors. I agree.
It saddens me to read this, I’ve no idea what it means to stand in the world as a victim of antisemitism or to carry the scars of the holocaust as part of my lineage. It was very much a part of my western education however and I’ve visited Dachau where I had a visceral experience of ‘never again’.
I also hear the pain and the fear in the voices of my Jewish friends when the subject of Gaza comes up. During these discussions it is obvious that we are seeing the same set of circumstances but one of us is viewing it through a very different narrative. Since I did not grow up Jewish, when October 7th happened, like many - I was hungry for understanding and no longer content to be told it was somehow beyond my comprehension. My thirst for knowledge led me to the academic works of people such as Illan Pappe, Norman Finkelstein, Edward Said… as well as figures such as Gideon Levy and Miko Peled.
I do no derive my worldview from Candace Owens nor am I a defender of Hamas. In the name of peace, and the light you speak of, I ask you to consider that my dislike for Zionism and my criticism of Israel does not equate to hating Jewish people, in fact, I’ve become more sympathetic and not less as I see Zionism as a significant contributor to antisemitism. I hope you can concede that recent legislation that broadens the definition of antisemitism to include critism of Isreal is having a very chilling and dangerous impact on free speech. Men and women of good will everywhere are using thier voices to stand alongside organizations such as Jewish Voices for Peace against oppression precisely because we learned ‘never again’. Accusing people of Jew hatred when no such sentiment exists is not adding light to the world. I do not deny antisemitism exists, those extreme views however belong to a very narrow dangerous subset of White Christian Nationalism which I view to be as abhorrent as Zionism.
I hope this helps ✌️
No, it does not help. If we can't see Oct. 7th as an act of pure evil perpetrated against innocent people, then to me no other claim of concern for social justice is genuine.
Of course any legislation deeming criticism of Israel antisemtic, is abhorrent and even fascistic. Can you give evidence of that actually happening? There are laws in some states seeking to ban participation in the BDS boycotts, and I would agree with you that such laws are wrong. Some say any criticism of Israel is antisemitic, of course, but neither you nor I would agree with that. Of course it's not. And one more thing...the people who died on Oct. 7 were among the Israeli population that DOES support the Palestinians!!
When I ran for President I saw firsthand what kind of purveyor of falsehoods Norm Finkelstein is - including about me. The list of people you say you're getting your information from is not unbiased. Please consider reading Haaretz. I respect it..
One more thing. You say you find Zionism "abhorrent." Okay...can you tell me what you think it is? Hamas etc. have changed the word to mean something it doesn't mean, so then you can more easily hate Jews. I've never called myself that, but all it means is someone who believes Jews should have a homeland. It does NOT mean Palestinians shouldn't. Anyone claiming "form the river to the sea," whether Jew or Arab, is canceling out the legitimate rights of the other. Both peoples have a right to be there.
to think Israel is innocent when they stole the Palestinians land is incorrect. Most of the people living in Israel are more or less innocent. But the way the Israeli govt treated the palestinians since the nakba is obviously evil, and provoked their reaction. (possibly even allowed oct.7 as an excuse to get all their land) BTW, you would have probably been my first choice for president.
I too think Christian Zionism, [lM. Huckabee] is abhorrent. Many Christaijn churches have divested from Israeli bonds as they do not want to support policies that are harmful to Palestinians. When I followed CZ all the way to its core I was both shocked and embarrassed, [Again] for America. Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel is regressive. So the Jews all get back to the homeland and Jesus returns and we are all saved and the rapture happens. Really? Yes, this is what he and other Christian Zionists believe in 2025. That is a magical theology that is a corrupt as Bebe. I am a Christain and I love Marrianne. But CZ is lnot Christlike.
Thanks for your reply.
Where did I say I thought October 7th was ok? It wasn’t. I’m against all and any acts of terrorism. If you think the collective punishment that’s been inflicted on innocent Palestinians in response is ok however, then there isn’t any basis for continued dialogue.
Re: Zionism; as the belief in a homeland for Jews, I have no issue whatsoever, all people deserve a homeland, including Palestinians, it’s a right that is enshrined in international law.I’m talking about the Zionist expansionist program that has brought displacement, death and destruction to both Jews and Palestinians. Yes Jews have the right to safety, but it will never come about when it’s at the expense of the safety and rights of others.
Yes, I will send you the data regarding the number of registered incidents of antisemitism in the US before and after the laws were changed.
My sources are mostly Israeli Jews so I don’t understand what bias they have? I included Gideon Levy of Harretz (Im a subscriber) and I won’t discount the body of academic research on Isreal and Gaza by Norman Finkelstein because of whatever personal attacks were made against you.. I’m not aware of this.
Sounds like you believe in a one state solution, where both people have the right to live under equal laws. I’m currently reading Pappes book; Isreal On the Brink which paints a very compelling case for this and a way it might even become a reality one day. It will take dialogue however, such as the one we are having here. I hold this as highly helpful no matter how difficult.
I do not believe in a one state solution. I believe in a two state solution.
One state is the destruction of a Jewish state. Many say "Oh we don't like the idea of an ethno state!!" But then they have no problem with the 56 Muslims states in the world. Isn't that interesting...?
Regarding a one state, at this point can you tell me who and what would be the governing body? How that would actually work, in practice? And do you honestly believe that wouldn't be the beginning of the bloodiest civil war right now?
The occupation of the West Bank is illegal and deeply wrong. I've been saying it for years. Netenyahu is a war criminal, all that is true. Gaza is a crime. There are many changes necessary in Israel from a human rights perspective, and we should support all efforts - including in Israel - to make them happen. The United States killed on million Iraqis - hideous and criminal - but I don't remember anyone suggesting that therefore the U.S. should not exist.
We need a consortium of Arab countries to deal with this fairly, and to direct the creation of two states. They have offered many times, and Netenyahu has refused.
I see One state as the evolution of the Jewish state, not it’s destruction- a truly holy land. Where fear is eradicated and all people live with equal rights in harmony and peace. More practically speaking, the book I mentioned by Pappe outlines a possible path to get there. I believe it is possible and am committed to supporting and dialoguing with my Jewish friends to bring about this vision.
Marianne, I find your views and Laurie Z's fascinating. It seems the deeper root of the problem still centers on religion/culture. So isn't it rational to create a 'united state' there--with a name encompassing both Israel and Palestine or, better yet, something symbolizing 'oneness'? However, living in America today, as you observe, us sapiens have yet to evolve with many in our country striving to force Christian Nationalism upon us. So it's back to religion--again!
Our once great story of America, with its Declaration of Independence and Constitution, may even collapse. So, it seems we can no longer inspire other nations of the world to be inclusive!
Finally, it seems a critical mass of our world's populous must ignite to make the last sentence of your essay herein a reality--it seems a global mission: "Claim this planet for the kingdom of love." It's a powerful, beautiful sentence Marianne--I'm applying it as my New Year's resolution and new mantra--viewing all human actions and plans to be directed at creating 'a kingdom of love'. (I know Deepak Chopra continues to say human problems are due to our 'ego conflicts,' and he says only 'love' can solve them. I think most of your readers realize your messages as well as Deepak's are prescient--needed for Nature to remain coherent. Thus, it seems our urgent, paramount challenge on Earth continues to be helping others realize that 'love' is the ultimate law of our Cosmos! Avatars have been trying for mileniums--we must too. So be it!)
Wishing you Marianne, a promising 2026! Joan
Well put, although I think the situation there is hopeless. A good Israeli peace org. is New Israel Fund.
Also, in case you ever wondered who from Montréal purchased 2 coffee mugs and 2 T-shirt’s in support of your 2020 presidential campaign, it was me.
That means so much to me. Thank you!
"in the midst of darkness, call down the Light". Yes, all day, every day. When the time comes for us to be tempted to persecute and ravage the present persecutors and ravagers, let us also remember that we are not of their ilk.
Call it out. Stand together.
Also I think it should be mentioned that the hatred of trans people and gays or gay men at least is a twisted form of misogyny as well. It is the feminine in us they hate. So I've long thought that particular form of bigotry is a disguised and disgusting form of misogyny
In the name of God, command that they go. 🩷 And it would be even better if “they” transformed to remember their true selves. 🙏
I think that is the highest command.
Yes, use the Light, but dont forget action and service!
This essay is exquisite. 💟
ALWAYS