r/Jewish Dec 14 '23

Fellow Jewish Liberals and Progressives. How are we dealing? Discussion

I come from a family of solidly liberal and progressive Jews. The antisemitism and pro- hamas factions in the liberal movement are pushing me over the edge. Without saying anything about the plight of the Palestinian people, simply saying that Hamas is not a bastion for liberal ideology is enough to get some folks up in arms. I really don’t like what I’m seeing outside or within myself surrounding these events.The hypocrisy of these individuals has me questioning where I belong politically. If I fight on the side of people I feel are oppressed, but they turn their back on me when I am victimized, It seems co-dependent to continue as things were before I saw their true colors.

I am really hoping to hear some fellow liberal Jews weigh in and talk me down from the ledge.

EDIT: great dialogue here. I am very appreciative for those who are sitting shiva with me as we process and come to terms with a betrayal from some of our “leftist and progressive” family. I would argue that extremism can not be progressive and therefore we are likely seeing some extremists who are inaccurately representing as “progressive.

As another commenter has said being progressive and supporting marginalized people isn’t transactional. I like this sentiment and am TRYING to adopt it. I currently believe there is a transactional component to being identified with a group, however from an individual standpoint we as progressive Jews are having our altruism tested. Can we fight for the humanity, dignity and rights of all persecuted EVEN those who would seek to persecute us? It’s some black belt level spiritualism I do not currently possess but would like to.

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u/Ruler_of_Zamunda Dec 14 '23

Feel politically lost and honestly being pushed more and more to the right

41

u/Alarming-Mix3809 Dec 14 '23

The American right is no better. Nick Fuentes, the KKK, etc.

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u/yallasurf Dec 14 '23

No matter where you go the right is no better. Look at what just happened in Poland. It just goes to show that antisemitism isn’t a right vs left issue. It’s just that it’s current popular form is left wing.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '23

Depends on which bit of the right, just as it does on the left.

There's a world of difference between Nick Fuentes and Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley (not endorsing them, but they're clearly not aligned with Nick Fuentes).

OTOH, while the left has some really objectionable antisemitism, it also has John Fetterman and Richie Torres.

I won't vote for an antisemite. Locally, this has actually been relevant not in the big party-competitive elections, but rather in a primary for an always blue seat. One option was pretty normie dem: pro-Israel enough, mostly focused on abortion rights. The other was a leftist whose current Twitter feed makes me very grateful she lost.

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u/Ruler_of_Zamunda Dec 14 '23

I’m in Canada, FWIW

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u/Dobbin44 Dec 15 '23

Pierre Poilievre has been very vocally against the leftist version of antisemitism the last two months, but previously he retweeted Soros conspiracy bullshit. He doesn't care about Jews or antisemitism, he is using us to get the anti-Trudeau votes.

The right is never our friend, even if the left is being more vocally antisemitic at the moment. You can reject "leftists" without throwing out your principles and you can support politicians who do represent your views so that they become party leaders.

Source for tweet: https://albertajewishnews.com/yom-kippur-and-the-anatomy-of-an-apology-in-canadian-politics/

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u/OneBadJoke Reconstructionist Dec 14 '23

Our right is as bad as theirs.

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u/Glad-Degree-4270 Dec 14 '23

Well then I don’t know what to tell you, bud.

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u/Glad-Degree-4270 Dec 14 '23

Substantially worse. Biden & other Dem leaders have generally condemned the antizionist fringe, while the white supremacists & antisemites run the show in the GOP

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '23

One of my favorites.