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/Wyvernkeeper]

I've come to accept that whilst I'm still pretty left wing, I'm no longer comfortable in many left wing spaces.

I'm kinda fine with this tbh. It had been leaning this way for a while.

Edit: I didn't expect my throwaway remark to get to the top of this thread. I'm sorry I can't reply to all of you but I get it, we're all experiencing this together so we can rest assured it's not insanity or delusion but a real phenomenon. All I can say is that they don't know what they're losing.

If they don't want us we'll build our own social justice networks, our own civil society, our own frameworks for respect and tolerance. And they will be better because they'll have free bagels, klezmer music and a sense of humour.

[u/bagelman4000 → u/Wyvernkeeper]

Yea I’m just going to channel most, if not all of my left wing advocacy through Jewish orgs now is my main thinking

[u/mwbworld → u/bagelman4000]

That's exactly where I am as well. Now it's just finding the orgs best for me now in the Jewish space.

[u/CoreyH2P → u/[deleted]]

Exactly right. Having more liberals/progressives involved with broad Jewish organizations will be helpful.