The resurgence of the Jewish left is a great opportunity to shed the antisemitism of the broader left, but only if it such antisemitism isn’t imposed from within.
Totally-Not-Antisemitic Pseudolinguistics, Part 1: Modern Hebrew
It is a view commonly held among amateur linguists, among whom I count myself, that Modern Hebrew is a constructed language “invented” by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda. The official Tumblr of the Language Creation Society recently alluded to this, sparking a discussion on the LCS list which introduced a number of equally ridiculous claims, such as that Modern Hebrew was a “reconstructed language” in the same sense as Proto-Indo-European. I have edited my own remarks and am presenting them here, along with other things I subsequently learned.
On Drawing Moral Equivalence Between Nazis and Soviets
“BUT IF THERE WERE TWO HOLOCAUSTS at that time, there was no Holocaust at all. By its nature, the idea (and the word) Holocaust (or Shoah) denotes a single phenomenon rather than a generic category into which an open (and inherently accruing) number of events can be placed during that time and in that place….
No, The Merchant Of Venice Was Not A Pro-Jewish Play
When you try to make Shakespeare perfect, you eliminate the idea that someone could be extremely popular, loved, an unquestionably good author, and also extremely antisemitic. You’re relegating antisemitism to the realm of the grotesque and marginal when it is also found in the things and people that are widely viewed as beautiful and good.
Jewishness and the Book of Ruth
There are many people who argue that Jews are nothing more than a religion; that the Jews may have been a people in ancient times, but are not anymore. This demonstrates either ignorance or omission of the opinions of actual ancient Jews as transmitted through stories such as that of Ruth.
Resources on Antisemitism for Leftists
This list of resources on antisemitism was compiled when a German comrade asked me for resources to help them distinguish antisemitism from anti-Zionism.
Israel and the West
Israel is a tool of the global ruling class for accomplishing its own interests, not to be confused with the global ruling class itself.
Jews Are Proof Internationalism Is More Enduring Than Nationalism
Jews have existed as a nation for thousands of years, and most of that time we have been without a state of our own. This is no accident.
In Every Street (Fuck Twelve)
On every street in every town
You hear those words a-buzzing
Little kids and grown-ups too
To strike they are demanding
The Marginalization of Jewish Secularism
Secular Jews like me live on the margins of Jewishness, without organized community, without institutions, without even recognition of our existence and legitimacy by most Jews and non-Jews outside of the reactionary bastion of the State of Israel.