roberto
pre 15 godina
Ataman -- you know there are times that i agree with you, and i certainly find your postings interesting. but this time i cannot. and i must add that if you are referring to jews in the bay area, we are of all and many minds -- but many jews here are very critical of israeli policies in general, and this attack upon gazan civilians in particular. i cannot give you exact stats, but trust me.
ok, now you did point to another phenomenon -- that of russian jews. (which i have a feeling you may be, at least partly, but that is yr business, i am not trying to "out" you.) yes, there are many russian jews (and some non-jews) living in israel. i met some of them when i was there baack in '93, and was amazed to see all of the russian language press in tel aviv, of all places! and good for them, i respect that.
and as i've mentioned, i taught ESL for at least 10 years to mainly senior citizens in SF, mostly from russia/soviet union. and typically, they are (in my words) much less critical of israeli policies than are other american jews. i can speculate the many reasons (how would you like to grow up jewish in the soviet union/rusiia?!), but anyways that was my observation. so in that sense i suppose that you (?) and i echo that division.
Personally, i was raised a very fervent zionist (in the 60s); in my united hebrew school, religion of a "moderate" bent was promoted, but Zionism was pushed, BIG-time. many of the kids came fr homes that never kept kosher (my formerly religious mom served us pork chops but never ham :-)), but i NEVER remember anyone in the school, child or adult, speaking out against israel back then. never.
now, many years later, i continue to supprt a homeland for my people. of course, how can i not? you, who come from E europe, even just reading some of these postings w their subtle and not-so-subtle anti-semitism... it is a no-brainer.
BUT, i also support the rights and the LIVES of palestinians, who are our cousins in more ways than one. i was raised to believe in respecting human rights (however that was posed) and i have continued, in my own way, to work for human rights around the world. with greater or lesser success. i am not perfect, not any saint, but i try to be consistent, try to press ahead whatever the others around me are saying. i know what has happened to israeli civilians, both in actuality and psychologically, and it is terrible. but it does NOT defend what has been happening to the palestinians, whatever i may think of some of their leaders.
mostly i am angry at our own leadership -- bush was hopeless with his bizarre (to me) evangelical view of the world-- many israelis in the Peace camp have called on the us govt (and the so-called jewish lobby here) to remain loyal to israel but in a more critical way. much more critical. does any of that make sense to you?
as for my current "bedfellows" on this site, the radicals?! the islamic leaders, certain posters here: thanks but no thanks.
thank you
roberto
planet earth
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