Bravo. This took Guts. Unsubscribe? Hell. I'm going to share this widely. I'd include Katie Halper on your list of individual Jews who tries desperately to bring on rabbis to hammer home the point that Zionism is antithetical to the basic peaceful and help-the-downtrodden tenets of Judaism. But so what: as you say, the Jewish orgs with any power to put a halt to this only seem to puke forth the antisemitism trope. To hell with their sorry arses.
The irony is that I’m not at all religious and don’t really have any skin in the game when it comes to Judaism. But I think it’s important to show the various ways Zionism is evil and one of the examples is how it corrupts Judaism. I also highlight it to try to reach people who do practice Judaism. But the main reason I think it’s important to have groups like Jewish Voice for Peace or to highlight the Holocaust survivors who are antizionist is to make it harder to claim that antizionism is antisemitism and to kind of be Jewish human shields for Palestinians. In that, I think it’s a useful solidarity tool. Palestinians aren’t a monolith of course, but anecdotally, Palestinians have expressed appreciation for people speaking out “as Jews.” I’m making a documentary about Holocaust survivors protesting the genocide in Gaza bc that’s what Never Again really means.
This also doesn’t mean that Jewish organizations writ large aren’t complicit in the genocide and haven’t destroyed never again.
I commend you for your podcasts. They do make a difference. Thanks to both yourself and Aaron. I look forward to your documentary. Meanwhile, I enjoy listening to Gabor Maté, who despite his infancy when he escaped, does bring some of that perspective.
Nate, I'm not sure why you title your substack, Do Not Panic. This is such a powerful and appropriately panicked post. So grievously truthful. There really are no words for it. The catastrophe. The monstrous demonic energy. The dissolution of any kind of hope. A foreshadowing of the extinction rolling down on all of us.
Thank you for this. I 100% agree with your very honest and heartfelt statement of fact. One which many of us have been privately thinking but have not put into words. I must say I feel there Jewish people who are in despair over Isreal’s actions - I know some have been arrested showing support for Palestine Action - but not enough sadly to make a difference. I feel many feel the same but are too scared to speak out.
To be fair, I am sure that most germans in 1944 would deny that the Holocaust was taking place, and besides, the Jews deserved it.
Until suddenly, those same germans got a whole new attitude. This began around May, 1945.
This change in heart was not the result of moral suasion and a careful weighing of available evidence. Nor was it the fruit of a moral awakening, like a religious conversion.
Rather, it was because nazi germany was on the losing side. All this chest-thumping Darwinist "The World Belongs To The Strong!" talk ain't nearly so much fun when you are on the receiving end and The Red Army is beating down your door.
I will say as an Antizionist Jewish person, that I think it's important for us to build new Institutions that actually represent Antizionist Judaism. These old instituions have been ideologically captured by zionism and don't represent the millions of diaspora Jews that want a Free Palestine. Zionism will never be representative of Judaism and as Antizionist Jews we are working everyday to fight for this. I understand your frustration but please understand that the younger generation of diaspora Jews feel this as well. We are incredibly enraged that instituions that claim to represent us, try to paint us all with a broad brush and claim we are a monolith. I think it's important to talk about how Mainstream Jewish Institutions have been ideaologically captured by zionism but that is different than conflating a political ideaology with religious/cultural identity. There's a book called The Threshold Of Dissent by Marjorie Feld that's about how Jewish Institutions got captured by zionism. Thank you for reading this.
I think extremist, bigot Zionists are being used by global big money players. It is all about money. Using zealots, and hiding behind them and blaming them for coups, revolutions, and genocide, for another country's personal gain, is an old war tactic used by imperialist countries, such as the United States and England, and now many others.
Over 60 years ago Hannah Arendt predicted Jews living outside of Israel would begin to distance themselves from this militaristic and exclusivist state. I agree that in ‘western’ countries like yours and mine, the main Jewish organizations and institutions are still solidly behind Israel. However I do think there are changes happening and that these institutions are starting to be out of touch with the community as a whole. In a recent poll 30% of American Jews agreed that Israel was committing genocide in Palestine. For those under 40 years of age it rose to 40%. These are minorities, but significant minorities nonetheless, and I’m willing to bet these will increase over time. Also there are traditional Jewish communities in countries like Iran, Turkiye and India who have no attachment to Israel. I agree that zionism, a racist and violent ideology created by Europeans, has hijacked Judaism. I agree with Ilan Pappe and others that we are witnessing the final days of the zionist project and its end can free Judaism, an ancient and venerable religious tradition, from Israel. Finally I hesitate to blame the current genocide in Gaza on Judaism because that too easily leads to anti-semitism. I can’t count the number of anti-semites I have had to block trying to sleaze their way into discussions on Palestine.
Also there is a difference between people and organizations. As my friend who sent me this piece texted me: “Where it’s fuzzy for me is, ok, nearly all Jewish orgs support genocide, but that doesn’t mean nearly all Jews do. Our government and my media are in almost complete lockstep with Israel, but WE’RE not. Just underscores the increasing gap between power and people.”
"The holocaust of Gaza is more morally corrosive to our shared humanity than the Nazi holocaust because the perpetrators don’t hide it, our governments openly support it, we have daily videos of the most horrific violence imaginable, and still it continues. Auschwitz was done in secret. Gaza is done in public. Gleefully."
^^absolutely. i'm connected to fellow nurses & doctors in gaza; they say that almost as devastating as what's happening is the world's silence. i live online in a twitter silo where people (like you) speak up daily, but out in the rest of the world, it's all trump all the time. pure trumpertainment.
in terms of your calling out mainstream jewish organizations: 100%. it's hard not to associate zionism with judaism when the zionist state inflicting the holocaust is jewish. i have to say, though, i respect those jewish individuals like zach foster & others who've been speaking out loud & clear from day 1.
You are almost there. "Of course there are hate crimes against Jews . . . . I am tried of the desecration of the Holocaust to make false and hysterical claims intended only to shield Israel and its crimes."
You are still colonized by the Jewish State of Criminality -- Holocaust Industry? We can't even question the "numbers" for that Nazi-Zionist project in Germany, elsewhere? Why? The six million Jews was a number published in the early 1930s, in several New York papers (good luck finding that still on the Sergey Jew Goy Hating Brin's Google.
So, we can question the official narratives of how and why WWI started, or the Pearl Harbor lies or the Oppen-Monster-Heimer death bombs on Japan. We can question all sorts of history, and get the Peoples History of the US or Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's books. Questioning JFK and USS Liberty, and we can question history of the Wild Wild West in Turtle Island, but question the death camps and concentration camps and the actual death toll?
Nah, and what about statements by academics saying the US's university system is the most Jewish system in the United States?
" Yale professor who studies fascism fleeing US to work in Canada"
Jason Stanley, who says grandmother fled Berlin with his father in 1939, says US may become ‘fascist dictatorship’
Well, where are the mainstream protestant and catholic churches? Religion itself has to take a hit here, especially if you count the fact that many muslim theocracies in the middle east have de facto allowed this genocide to proceed and have even supported the genocidaire state as it attacks its other neighbors and Palestine.
The weaponization of religion is not a new story and it serves capitalism well, just as every other sacred (or not) activity of humanity. We need to rise up and change the rules so that they serve the needs of humanity or we will all die an ignominious deaths.
The Vatican isn't committing a genocide. The Muslim world is complicit but no Muslim country is committing a genocide. I understand the impulse for whataboutism but I don't think the point is a difficult one to grasp
I don't think it is whataboutism. The Vatican could certainly be doing more to call attention or even go to Gaza. What is complicity? "the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing" is one definition.
Seems the Apostolic Catholic Church has struggled with evil since the beginning and an original giant pool of money derived from the fallen Roman Empire has been a co-traveler. Further the gnostic inversions of Satanism, Free Masonry and seditious Jesuits seem to be overwhelming the Church over the last 70 years especially. So not surprising they aren’t protesting the genocide.
Bravo. This took Guts. Unsubscribe? Hell. I'm going to share this widely. I'd include Katie Halper on your list of individual Jews who tries desperately to bring on rabbis to hammer home the point that Zionism is antithetical to the basic peaceful and help-the-downtrodden tenets of Judaism. But so what: as you say, the Jewish orgs with any power to put a halt to this only seem to puke forth the antisemitism trope. To hell with their sorry arses.
Thank you Vin
The irony is that I’m not at all religious and don’t really have any skin in the game when it comes to Judaism. But I think it’s important to show the various ways Zionism is evil and one of the examples is how it corrupts Judaism. I also highlight it to try to reach people who do practice Judaism. But the main reason I think it’s important to have groups like Jewish Voice for Peace or to highlight the Holocaust survivors who are antizionist is to make it harder to claim that antizionism is antisemitism and to kind of be Jewish human shields for Palestinians. In that, I think it’s a useful solidarity tool. Palestinians aren’t a monolith of course, but anecdotally, Palestinians have expressed appreciation for people speaking out “as Jews.” I’m making a documentary about Holocaust survivors protesting the genocide in Gaza bc that’s what Never Again really means.
This also doesn’t mean that Jewish organizations writ large aren’t complicit in the genocide and haven’t destroyed never again.
Thanks Katie. Appreciate everything you do
I commend you for your podcasts. They do make a difference. Thanks to both yourself and Aaron. I look forward to your documentary. Meanwhile, I enjoy listening to Gabor Maté, who despite his infancy when he escaped, does bring some of that perspective.
I stand with you 100%. That took immense moral courage on your part.
Thanks Steve
Nate, I'm not sure why you title your substack, Do Not Panic. This is such a powerful and appropriately panicked post. So grievously truthful. There really are no words for it. The catastrophe. The monstrous demonic energy. The dissolution of any kind of hope. A foreshadowing of the extinction rolling down on all of us.
Thank you. It was always meant to be tongue in cheek
Yeah do we need a real human extinction rebellion?
Thank you for this. I 100% agree with your very honest and heartfelt statement of fact. One which many of us have been privately thinking but have not put into words. I must say I feel there Jewish people who are in despair over Isreal’s actions - I know some have been arrested showing support for Palestine Action - but not enough sadly to make a difference. I feel many feel the same but are too scared to speak out.
To be fair, I am sure that most germans in 1944 would deny that the Holocaust was taking place, and besides, the Jews deserved it.
Until suddenly, those same germans got a whole new attitude. This began around May, 1945.
This change in heart was not the result of moral suasion and a careful weighing of available evidence. Nor was it the fruit of a moral awakening, like a religious conversion.
Rather, it was because nazi germany was on the losing side. All this chest-thumping Darwinist "The World Belongs To The Strong!" talk ain't nearly so much fun when you are on the receiving end and The Red Army is beating down your door.
Right, so much for ethnic supremacy at that point
Where are we now with “never again” on the crimes of ethnic supremacists.
It had to be said. We all needed to say this, and to say this much earlier. Thank you for your courage. We must follow your lead Xx
This was radioactive, but you took it on. Gotta respect the fortitude that took.
I will say as an Antizionist Jewish person, that I think it's important for us to build new Institutions that actually represent Antizionist Judaism. These old instituions have been ideologically captured by zionism and don't represent the millions of diaspora Jews that want a Free Palestine. Zionism will never be representative of Judaism and as Antizionist Jews we are working everyday to fight for this. I understand your frustration but please understand that the younger generation of diaspora Jews feel this as well. We are incredibly enraged that instituions that claim to represent us, try to paint us all with a broad brush and claim we are a monolith. I think it's important to talk about how Mainstream Jewish Institutions have been ideaologically captured by zionism but that is different than conflating a political ideaology with religious/cultural identity. There's a book called The Threshold Of Dissent by Marjorie Feld that's about how Jewish Institutions got captured by zionism. Thank you for reading this.
Thanks. Will check it out. And yes, which is why I repeatedly use the word mainstream.
No way is it millions in the Diaspora. Maybe one million.
I think extremist, bigot Zionists are being used by global big money players. It is all about money. Using zealots, and hiding behind them and blaming them for coups, revolutions, and genocide, for another country's personal gain, is an old war tactic used by imperialist countries, such as the United States and England, and now many others.
Totally agree Nate there is no other alternative
Over 60 years ago Hannah Arendt predicted Jews living outside of Israel would begin to distance themselves from this militaristic and exclusivist state. I agree that in ‘western’ countries like yours and mine, the main Jewish organizations and institutions are still solidly behind Israel. However I do think there are changes happening and that these institutions are starting to be out of touch with the community as a whole. In a recent poll 30% of American Jews agreed that Israel was committing genocide in Palestine. For those under 40 years of age it rose to 40%. These are minorities, but significant minorities nonetheless, and I’m willing to bet these will increase over time. Also there are traditional Jewish communities in countries like Iran, Turkiye and India who have no attachment to Israel. I agree that zionism, a racist and violent ideology created by Europeans, has hijacked Judaism. I agree with Ilan Pappe and others that we are witnessing the final days of the zionist project and its end can free Judaism, an ancient and venerable religious tradition, from Israel. Finally I hesitate to blame the current genocide in Gaza on Judaism because that too easily leads to anti-semitism. I can’t count the number of anti-semites I have had to block trying to sleaze their way into discussions on Palestine.
Also there is a difference between people and organizations. As my friend who sent me this piece texted me: “Where it’s fuzzy for me is, ok, nearly all Jewish orgs support genocide, but that doesn’t mean nearly all Jews do. Our government and my media are in almost complete lockstep with Israel, but WE’RE not. Just underscores the increasing gap between power and people.”
Nearly all Jews do support genocide. 86%.
"The holocaust of Gaza is more morally corrosive to our shared humanity than the Nazi holocaust because the perpetrators don’t hide it, our governments openly support it, we have daily videos of the most horrific violence imaginable, and still it continues. Auschwitz was done in secret. Gaza is done in public. Gleefully."
^^absolutely. i'm connected to fellow nurses & doctors in gaza; they say that almost as devastating as what's happening is the world's silence. i live online in a twitter silo where people (like you) speak up daily, but out in the rest of the world, it's all trump all the time. pure trumpertainment.
in terms of your calling out mainstream jewish organizations: 100%. it's hard not to associate zionism with judaism when the zionist state inflicting the holocaust is jewish. i have to say, though, i respect those jewish individuals like zach foster & others who've been speaking out loud & clear from day 1.
https://palestinenexus.com/articles/ethnic-cleansing-oct-7-present
You are almost there. "Of course there are hate crimes against Jews . . . . I am tried of the desecration of the Holocaust to make false and hysterical claims intended only to shield Israel and its crimes."
You are still colonized by the Jewish State of Criminality -- Holocaust Industry? We can't even question the "numbers" for that Nazi-Zionist project in Germany, elsewhere? Why? The six million Jews was a number published in the early 1930s, in several New York papers (good luck finding that still on the Sergey Jew Goy Hating Brin's Google.
So, we can question the official narratives of how and why WWI started, or the Pearl Harbor lies or the Oppen-Monster-Heimer death bombs on Japan. We can question all sorts of history, and get the Peoples History of the US or Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's books. Questioning JFK and USS Liberty, and we can question history of the Wild Wild West in Turtle Island, but question the death camps and concentration camps and the actual death toll?
Nah, and what about statements by academics saying the US's university system is the most Jewish system in the United States?
" Yale professor who studies fascism fleeing US to work in Canada"
Jason Stanley, who says grandmother fled Berlin with his father in 1939, says US may become ‘fascist dictatorship’
Oh, to be a Jew or Not to Be a Jew.
https://paulokirk.substack.com/p/ahh-what-is-whiteness-but-a-disease
Yep.
So Even the Rain Can't Stop the Jewish Project of Domination vis-a-vis U$A Chlamydia Capitalism
https://paulokirk.substack.com/p/so-even-the-rain-cant-stop-the-jewish
Well, where are the mainstream protestant and catholic churches? Religion itself has to take a hit here, especially if you count the fact that many muslim theocracies in the middle east have de facto allowed this genocide to proceed and have even supported the genocidaire state as it attacks its other neighbors and Palestine.
The weaponization of religion is not a new story and it serves capitalism well, just as every other sacred (or not) activity of humanity. We need to rise up and change the rules so that they serve the needs of humanity or we will all die an ignominious deaths.
The Vatican isn't committing a genocide. The Muslim world is complicit but no Muslim country is committing a genocide. I understand the impulse for whataboutism but I don't think the point is a difficult one to grasp
I don't think it is whataboutism. The Vatican could certainly be doing more to call attention or even go to Gaza. What is complicity? "the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing" is one definition.
Seems the Apostolic Catholic Church has struggled with evil since the beginning and an original giant pool of money derived from the fallen Roman Empire has been a co-traveler. Further the gnostic inversions of Satanism, Free Masonry and seditious Jesuits seem to be overwhelming the Church over the last 70 years especially. So not surprising they aren’t protesting the genocide.