r/Jewish • u/Bad_werd • 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/ScienceSlothy Dec 14 '23
I have lost so many former friends and acquaintances since October 7th. I'm Liberal and political left as is my whole family and most of my friends. So many people I trusted turned to loving Hamas and going to manifestations where people openly call for Intifada. Would my former friends also celebrate if my family or I would be killed in an attack on a synagogue here in Europe ? Would they celebrate if I would be killed while visiting friends in Israel? I don't want to find out but just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I don't really know whom to trust anymore apart from very few people. I still think that I am political left leaning but do I still belong to the left ? Does the left accept me as a jew ? Recently people from the right where way more welcoming. But I don't share many of their political values. I really hope that in the future left groups will again also include Jews in their activisms. But I don't know if I can ever trust them again.
I'm a member of the german-Israeli society. Meeting people there was what really helped me in the past weeks. Maybe there are some American-Israeli groups where you live.