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I participated in a concert last week, in London. It was a powerful evening, with masterful performances, and a strong sense of solidarity in the face of hatred. (it was poorly recorded here, and reviewed here. The most fun piece is this one).
I was struck by the contrast. So-called “Pro Palestinian rallies” are collections of bile and anger, descending, if any Jews happen to be handy, into outright pogroms. There is no culture, no appeals to any positive attributes of the human soul whatsoever. Instead, there is the reflexive mob mentality of assaulting the outsider. Righteous indignation, armed with torches and pitchforks, can justify any crime under the sun.
Jews all over the world have engaged in rallies. These events have been unfailingly polite, thoughtful, nuanced. They have included calls for moderation and human rights, an awareness that nobody should seek the death of innocents, that war is the last resort, and should never be undertaken unless absolutely necessary for survival. There is an undercurrent of deep grief in all the Jewish/Israeli rallies, and indeed, in Jewish music itself. If you listen to the link given at the top, consider the words of Shostakovich (who was not Jewish): “The distinguishing feature of Jewish music is the ability to build a jolly melody on sad intonations. Why does a man strike up a jolly song? Because he is sad at heart.” No Jew/Israeli I know desires to take another's life. To have to do so is a tragedy.
I am deeply heartened by the support received from so many non-Jews who truly appreciate that this war we are in is a war for the soul of the future. Woke/Green/Death-cult/antisemitism/Might-Makes-Right are all bound together in one ideology, an ideology that has declared morality and goodness and kindness and holiness to be sworn enemies, to be hunted down and destroyed.
We fight this war because we must. Because to do otherwise would be to betray everything and everyone we hold dear. Now is a time of choosing: what do we do with the time that is given us?
Either we stand, together, or we fall, apart.
Discussion (40)
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The position on my side of the Irish Sea is better in that the rallies have not been violent, apart from calls for “Intifada” and some chants in favour of Houthis. However, Jewish organisations and people have been advised to keep a low profile. Recently, the Israeli women’s basketball team were told that their safety could not be guaranteed, if they played in Ireland. A Jewish comedian was cancelled from a venue in Dublin this weekend. The wonderful Israeli ambassador, Dana Erlich faces constant calls for her expulsion and is subjected to unrestrained abuse on social media.
However, at the media/political level, the situation is horrific! Media coverage is utterly biased against Israel, and largely gives Hamas a free pass. Leaders and senior figures in our supposedly Centre/left government have thrown around words and phrases like. “rogue state”, “monster” and “genocide” with abandon. Ireland has joined Spain in seeking EU sanctions against Israel. It has talked about joining South Africa’s case before the ICJ, and it participated in another anti-Israel hearing there last week.
In my observation, there is reasonable support for Israel in the UK, and both sides of the argument are presented.
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Charles, I always appreciate your perspective from "across the pond." Even if the news is disappointing.
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One of my kids--my daughter-the-veterinarian :)--was in Ireland on September 11, 2001. The day after the attack, she called home, in tears, to say that although the Irish--and in particular her new friends at the lab and in the home in which she was staying--felt sorry for the people who died that day, they said the United States deserved it. She was devastated.
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I would say it is a war for the soul of the present.
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