r/Judaism • u/justjust000 • Jan 20 '26

We're what's left 😄

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Link to original Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQJ3AkViofr

1.7k Upvotes

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u/Swimming_Care7889 Jan 21 '26

I think this pretty much accurately captures a big split between American Jews and Israeli Jews. American Jews decided that the way to go forward was liberalism and cultural pluralism. For most of the 20th century in the United States this worked out well for us even if the strategy is hitting a lot of snags in the early 21st century. Israeli Jews are the ones that decided on a strategy of militant stubborn behavior regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. This is why many American Jews believe that we can educate the anti-Semites out of their anti-Semitism, especially if they aren't from the White Right, and are willing to even accept a burden shift onto ourselves while Israeli Jews tend to just give anti-Semites the finger and demand that they bend not us. I am an American Jew but think the Israeli strategy for dealing with anti-Semitism is better. The problem is that many American Jews do not want to take the firm stance.

4

u/Inner-Brief-5205 Jan 24 '26

Because we are a major minority. Israeli Jews are majority in Israel and will not be harassed for wearing this shirt in public. If a US Jew wore this shirt in public its just asking to be harassed or assaulted just for identifying as Jewish, imo

1

u/Capital-Football796 Feb 21 '26

The American way doesn't work if the Israeli way is making the news. It's forcing Americans to adapt.

1

u/Swimming_Care7889 Feb 21 '26

The American way isn't working even without the Israeli way making the news or is at least it is running out of steam in the 21st century. The White Right doesn't see the Jews as white but the DEI-Intersectional Left sees Jews as very white and don't really feel a need to include Jews in their coalition even if they want our money or our support.

2

u/Capital-Football796 Feb 22 '26

It's a generational difference and has been growing in this direction for no small amount of time. The online era past 2010 has been an upward curve, if not slope. Jews have lost the PR battle with the next generations. Anyone born after the year 2000 is more likely to side against Jews.

The propaganda war is insurmountable. I spend no small amount of time talking to antisemitic people. The most powerful weapon you have is treating them with dignity to such an extent that, when they find out you are Jewish, it's too late for them to change their opinions of you.

2

u/Swimming_Care7889 Feb 22 '26

I think this is correct. People born before 2000 are old enough to remember the Second Intifada and also where Israel was the plucky underdog for a good part of the conflict. The other part is that Jews and Jewish institutions basically ignored the PR campaign and the online world for too long. Many did not realize or did not want to realize what was happening despite sounding the alarm bell. We are basically fighting a rearguard action.