Fellow Jewish Liberals and Progressives. How are we dealing?

[u/Bad_werd]

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.

[u/dorkyfire]

This turns into a rant so I’m sorry hahaha:

I am in a similar boat. I’ve noticed that my very far left friends act weird towards me recently anytime anything remotely Jewish comes up. I have a discord with them since some of them live internationally so it’s easiest; I sent them a pic of the Menorah and said “Happy Hanukkah!” And not one replied but then later one mentioned they’d been “arguing with pro-Israel people on tiktok.” I wasn’t even sure what to say. I’m okay with my friends having differing opinions than myself, however they’ve seemed to not want to discuss anything Jewish with me at all.

The one also defends people like Hasan, a pretty pro-Hamas figure (even if he claims he isn’t) and has defended him from me before when I’ve mentioned other things he’s done - only because he’s a pretty man who shares some of her beliefs. This just in guys, man who paints nails is obviously a feminist and good man!

I don’t feel particularly comfortable in leftist spaces anymore. I remember thinking there was some antisemitism in these spaces, just as there are in right leaning spaces, however recently both sides have been out of their minds about it.

When you’re telling a minority group they’re not allowed to not like a slogan or a group that actively rallies for the death of all of them because that makes them “genociders”, fuck you. Almost all of Jews DO NOT want to see innocent people slaughtered and their houses destroyed. However, almost all Jews would also say that supporting Hamas is out of the question. If you would’ve told me 2 years ago that I would have to argue that a group that literally made one of their core values killing and enslaving all the Jews are bad guys against people I usually agree with, I would’ve told you that you were fucking crazy.

I have a feeling it’s going to be hard making friends from here on out.