Is there a better “good Jew” than Bernie Sanders? He has his own army of Bernie bros, he’s such a good Jew. A good socialist Jew. A good friend of Ilhan Omar type of Jew. A good critic of Israel kinda Jew. A good Jew who wouldn’t ever be seen near the Z word – Zionism.
But as good a Jew as Bernie is, he’s still not good enough. And he never will be. You know why? He’s a Jew.
Five years ago today, the massacre at the Tree Of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh took place. It was the type of antisemitism that was bi-partisan, as in whatever side of the political spectrum you were on, you could agree that a synagogue shoot-out was antisemitic and both sides could use the tragedy to score political points. It worked for everyone. It worked for Bernie. He could use it to show that he did care about Jewish protection, just as long as the perpetrators of the crime were the types he could vehemently oppose without needing to absolve himself of his associations with his Islamist antisemitic friends.
At this juncture, I have to ask what will it take for Bernie’s gloves (OK mittens) to ever come off?
I have borne witness for years to my Jewish American neighbors and many are imbibed with this same sickness as Bernie; this need to make excuses for themselves, to soften their identities, to negotiate away their idiosyncrasies and to let non-Jewish people teach them how to be Jewish. I see even now, even today, I see Jewish Americans post elongated multi-page notes on Instagram begging for understanding via long-winded explanations with caveats and premature apologies and sometimes even admissions of guilt over nothing, just to say “I’m scared. Help? (Sorry!I know your oppression supercedes mine. My bad. Felt apoplectic, will probably delete.)”
It makes me rather sad. I get it. I understand what it’s like to live in fear, to swallow the shame, to question whether or not you should love yourself. We’re all “on a journey”. But my god if a war against your entire people doesn’t inspire you to throw all that out, and locate the survivor in you; if a global pandemic of antisemitism unlike anything we have seen before does not make you cast off all your airs and graces and fight back, then something is seriously missing. Chutzpah, people! Locate it.
I look at this display at Grand Central Station in New York tonight and I see members of the non-Jewish owned but Jewish led “Jewish Voice For Peace” organization shutting down the train station to call for a ceasefire and an end to Israel’s ground invasion against Hamas. The ground invasion escalated some hours ago now.
Look at these cowardly Jews. These Jews who say “not in my name”. These Jews who think - like Bernie, like Seth Rogen, like Ilana Glazer, like every other silent Jewish band or actor or person of note - that America is somehow a safe country for them, while on every university campus north, south, east and west, there are thousands-strong crowds marching to genocide chants against the Jews. How do they not understand that this embarrassing begging will not save them from antisemitism? What is a collection of Jews doing waiting in a train station protesting AGAINST their survival? Are they willing themselves to be carted away?
It has been reported that almost 50% of Gen Z youth support Hamas in the current war between Hamas and Israel. The only group of Arabs that Gen Z and the international community show the slightest concern for are Palestinians. Why? Because the Palestinians are in a conflict with the JEWISH state. They are in a conflict with the Jews. Every single Jew has an opportunity right now not only to defend ourselves, not only to stand with our American allies against this disease of the collective mind, but to also do what’s right by the Palestinians who apparently – and ironically – have barely anyone truly advocating for them at all.
Here, the Jews of Grand Central Station wave a white flag at terrorists; here they betray their people and the people they purport to be protecting from a non-genocide; here they cower to peer pressure and mutilate themselves, believing that the antisemitic Hamas fans will remember their treason when their time comes.
But they won’t. “Shame on you”, Bernie. Shame on all of you.
To all you loud and proud antizionist Jews. To all you real quiet Jews. Your voice is a weapon. Wouldn't you rather empower yourselves? Use it? Be honest with it? Stop writing paragraphs of pleas while walking on eggshells. Rather be clear: "I'm a Jew and Israel has a right to survive. My people have a right to live. The end. Thanks for listening. Would you like one matzo ball, or two?"
I wrote this tweet three years ago. People were so upset that I had to delete it. Well I meant it. And I still mean it.
Yes, I have been mocked and hated for a long time because I support Israel. So what. It's not popular but absolute clairty tells me it is right. It won’t get me anywhere, it won’t even get me a free night in the new Kempinski hotel in Tel Aviv (believe me I’ve tried). Zionism is nothing but a call to action that has kept Jewish people alive for longer than anyone else. This war is not on Zionism. It is all on Hamas. All of it. Every single thing that happens here is on Hamas. They chose barbarism over living in peace. If you disagree, you disagree with freedom, with life. If you disagree, you don’t belong in the West at all.
Jewish people who are still making excuses for yourselves, if you hate yourselves so much and you’ve made peace with the antisemitism coming your way, then maybe think beyond yourselves. Maybe think of your neighbors and what they’ve fallen for. Speak up for them. You know, do it for the Sex Workers Union. They’re also unbelievably in solidarity with Palestine. What is this? Whores for Hamas? Speak up. It’s actually kinda cool that you as a Jew currently have a chance to save the world. Apparently from itself.
Today and tonight and until this battle over Gaza ends, the IDF will do more for the Palestinians than any Free Palestine advocate ever did. The IDF will be freeing the Gaza civilians, for instance, of a terror regime that builds its HQ on top of Gaza’s biggest hospital. But enough! Enough with the appealing to the reason that our opponents have long chosen to abandon in favor of siding with the baby-killing, corpse-burning, murderous Hamas. Our opponents would rather be pals with them than with us. They’ve even dropped Bernie! They’re done with the Jews. You know, people make choices and you need to let them make their own mistakes. Let’s see how long they last without pastrami and rye under Hamas rule.
As Israel proceeds with its ground invasion, be bold-faced. We have a right to our own state. We have a right to claim the land of our people. We have a right to defend ourselves.
This was New York City today. These guys aren’t even Jewish but they agree. I like them a lot. Shabbat shalom, friends.
(If you are a Jewish person who has been challenged to reconsider your antizionist stance, check out Ben M Freeman’s book. It’s about internalized antisemitism, and how to move towards Jewish Pride. You can buy it here)
You infuriate me Ms. Barlow. every post moves me to tears, of rage and outrage. Please don't stop.
I don’t know you, but you know me. I had no idea of your writing before the war. This captures my life long shame, frustration, and my awakened / embraced Zionism. TY so much ❤️✡️🇮🇱✊