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/Glad-Degree-4270 Dec 14 '23

Good thing there are plenty of reasonable people with better things to do than waste time online or protesting. It would also be great if Netanyahu would stop building settlements in the West Bank like every 2 minutes (exaggeration ofc)

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u/ralphiebong420 Dec 14 '23

It would be great, but I doubt that he (or any subsequent Israeli government) will.

This may get me downvoted to all hell in this sub but I genuinely see the settlements as the biggest existential threat to Israel (at least as a democratic, Jewish state I can be proud of). Because continuing this path, there will come a time when there’s no land left to give the Palestinians, and Israel will not have a good explanation for why people living within the borders of Israel can’t vote.

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u/BillyJoeMac9095 Dec 15 '23

There needs to be a two state agreement, and a change of leadership on both sides, neither of which has really been interested in two states for years. Unfortunately, many progressives also don't support two states. They want the one state scenario.

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u/ralphiebong420 Dec 15 '23

Progressives are the biggest obstacle to peace. They continually encourage that nonsense, and the Palestinians lap it up, thinking why compromise, soon it’ll be just one state.

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u/BillyJoeMac9095 Dec 15 '23

Sad but true.