A very beautifully written letter, Aaron, bringing me to tears. I am not Jewish,but I have close Jewish friends I no longer talk to about this, as we have not been able to agree for far too many months. It is a dead hole in our relationship. Maybe this will help. Thank you.
The example I have been thinking about is that Israelis have not yet come to see Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the West Bank as morally equivalent to the Warsaw Uprising agasinst German occupation. And I have long understood that the people saying never again have to apply it to themselves as well. Thank you. I too grew up in that post WW2 Zionist atmosphere in NYC . But studying anthropology widened my horizons on what was going on 50 years ago and I am of the one state mind. One person one vote with sepaaration of church and state written into the constitution. the older I get the more I see all religions as tools of the war machine.
Hi Greg. I was a die hard Zionist for a time, now -- I am tempted to say I am a "reluctant Zionist". Maybe. My sister has lived on the same kibbutz in Southern Israel for over 50 years. They really embraced the kibbutz ideal, and that Israel was "special." A lot of my friends and family there describe themselves as "liberal Israelis." Yet many of the best of them are in denial, themselves traumatized, and unwilling to face the awful truth. Tragic
Wow, thank you so much for writing this. It really resonated with me and what I've been feeling. Thankfully my mom is very openminded about this and even prevented me from going to Israel through birthright. I didn't understand it at the time but I do now. I've compiled an extensive spoken word piece addressing what is happening in Gaza, it's history and how Israel is connected to other atrocities around the world. We have to wake up and take a stand. https://youtu.be/TTEIbNn4GHs?si=cZRJZiI9Kkk1vu4t
Aaron, Thank you for your honesty, your insight, and your compassion. I was also raised in a pro-Zionist atmosphere at Hebrew School and at home. My parents passed away many years ago, but I know that if they were alive at this time, I would also have a very difficult time discussing Israeli policy and actions in Gaza with them. I might not have the courage that you have demonstrated, which is disheartening to me. I must disclose that as an adult I have harbored a deep resentment toward Israel for the foundational Israeli attitude toward the diaspora and toward Yiddish language and culture, the language and culture of my grandparents, a language and culture that (as with many of my generation) I was excluded from. During the Holocaust, Jews did not go like sheep to the slaughter, as Israelis seem to believe. The incredible bravery of many, many European Jews in resisting the Nazis needs to become common knowledge. Having said this, I need to also express my horror and revulsion that Jews, whose ancestors suffered heinous harm at the hands of the Nazis, have now become the perpetrators of inexcusable harm toward the people of Gaza. This is intolerable. You might be interested in knowing about an album of new Yiddish songs that was recently released. The album is called "LIDER MIT PALESTINE לידער מיט פּאַלעסטינע: New Yiddish Songs of Grief, Fury, and Love." These heartrending songs are available on Bandcamp. https://lidermitpalestine.bandcamp.com/album/lider-mit-palestine-new-yiddish-songs-of-grief-fury-and-love The proceeds from the distribution of the music will go to Gaza Birds Singing, an initiative you can read about at this link: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163876 Compassionate creativity through lyrics and melody may be the best way to break through the denial and enable dialogue, just solutions, and healing.
As a PSU alumn and a Jewish student navigating college campuses with these same difficult conversations, and feel like my thoughts are often outnumbered. Thank you for this.
Thank you for sharing your letter. I, too, have been shocked to find the Israeli government supporting a campaign of genocide against an impoverished Palestinian population whose only crime is living amongst Hamas terrorists. I cannot understand how a people whose own history is one of persecution, discrimination, and periodic diasporas. This extended war against the Palestinians is authored by a man who is avoiding jail for his own criminal conduct. I fear our current President is more than willing to engage us in a war if he feels threatened enough, and may find a pretext to declare martial law to maintain in power before the next election in 3+ years. These are troubling times for us all.
Beautifully written. Heartbreakingly clear. You speak for so many voices of conscience who fear speaking in their families and in their communities.
May your voice rise and join with others who are paying a high price just for speaking or for saying that speaking together must happen. We must stop the killing.
Clearly, the people of Gaza are paying an impossible price merely for existing— one that exceeds any price our discomfort of confrontation requires. Nonetheless, the cost of confronting our families and communities truly matters—as does your loving, kind and brave purpose in doing so. Sending my gratitude and admiration.
I appreciate Aaron's obviously heartfelt and compassionate post, and though there is nothing I really disagree with, I don't think it is the whole story.
Just as the Jewish world must pressure Israel to stop the war, as I see it the pro-Palestinian world also should pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire and return hostages, something that they have been resisting by also insisting on an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and promise to allow Hamas to stay in power (to presumably re-arm.) This Israel will not accept.
I think a lot of the blame for the suffering in Gaza has to be shared with Hamas that insists on staying in power even as they cannot protect their population. Indeed their strategy seems to sacrifice lots of Gazans to undermine Israel's standing. Those who blame only Israel for the horror may actually be encouraging Hamas to continue the war, as that's what they want to keep hearing. Peace people need to press both sides to accept a ceasefire asap and let the aid flow.
Despite repression, there is some resistance to Hamas rule in Gaza, just as there is some resistance to Netanyahu rule in Israel. Seems to me peace people should support efforts to replace both horrible governments
A friend sent me this, because I've been saying progressive Jews should confront their Zionist family members. Unfortunately, I stopped reading after I saw that you cited Olmert's words as some kind of moral authority -- Olmert, who led his own "cruel and criminal killing of civilians" in the south of Lebanon. The impulse to use Israeli sources, particularly blood-soaked high-ranking officials, is, or seems to be, at worst deeply racist and at a best your own recognition of your audience's racist biases. You can call it a strategy, but many months into a genocide, something has to change - we have a responsibility to stop reinforcing these power dynamics. I'm grateful that you are confronting your mother, and I hope you confront what you need to confront within yourself as well.
Thanks for sharing this. Context: This was written with a clear audience in mind. It's an audience that is in a severe information silo, and it's almost impossible to overstate the degree of suspicion this audience has for all negative information they receive about Israel. I have likened it -- to my mom -- to the parallel reality that Donald Trump has built for his supporters, where it is very easy for them to dismiss anything negative they hear about Trump, because they all know the media is just out to get Trump with lies. So yes, for the folks this piece is meant for, I think it is extremely important they hear from sources they can imagine trusting. I can understand why that offends you! But you're not who needs persuading on these points.
I had a falling out with my mother over the COVID vaccination program. Like you, we eventually agreed to just not talk about it. But then so much is left unsaid, motives aren't explained, and there's no resolution. It damages relationships.
My mother is very intelligent, objective, and empathetic, yet on that topic she was immovable. Her sister used to hang out on Facebook, sharing god-knows-what nonsense from the Boomer echo chamber. There's no nuance there, no reading of the data, context, or circumstance.
And that gets to my point: the availability of conflicting information on the Internet so often gives people a mistaken sense of certainty, one way or the other—older generations in particular. When you've lived 60, 70, or 80 years and believed one way, any information that contradicts that belief will be met with skepticism (or outright hostility).
And older generations also tend to ignore the younger ones (which is why our elected leaders need to be younger, not older). To our parents, we're often still ten years old; who are we to think we have a valid argument against their lifetime of experience?
I'm sure you know this quote well:
“I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.”
― Leo Tolstoy
Edit: I should also add that I grew up in apartheid South Africa. None of what Israel's regime is doing is out of character. They operate with the blessing of the people—and if they don't have it, they fabricate it to wreak their evil.
This is required reading, but for all Aaron's sincereity, it won't change anything. Israel was founded not as inclusive, but as an exclusive monotheistic state. That state should be dismantled, reconfigured, turned inside out, made all-inclusive - but that will never happen. Religion is the scourge of mankind, and the sooner we ditch it, the better off we will be. Seriously, except as a false comfort at the hour of death, what's the point of the priestly caste? Hatred based on religion will continue as long as two people are standing and breathing.
A very beautifully written letter, Aaron, bringing me to tears. I am not Jewish,but I have close Jewish friends I no longer talk to about this, as we have not been able to agree for far too many months. It is a dead hole in our relationship. Maybe this will help. Thank you.
The example I have been thinking about is that Israelis have not yet come to see Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the West Bank as morally equivalent to the Warsaw Uprising agasinst German occupation. And I have long understood that the people saying never again have to apply it to themselves as well. Thank you. I too grew up in that post WW2 Zionist atmosphere in NYC . But studying anthropology widened my horizons on what was going on 50 years ago and I am of the one state mind. One person one vote with sepaaration of church and state written into the constitution. the older I get the more I see all religions as tools of the war machine.
Well said. And brave as well. 😉
Hi Greg. I was a die hard Zionist for a time, now -- I am tempted to say I am a "reluctant Zionist". Maybe. My sister has lived on the same kibbutz in Southern Israel for over 50 years. They really embraced the kibbutz ideal, and that Israel was "special." A lot of my friends and family there describe themselves as "liberal Israelis." Yet many of the best of them are in denial, themselves traumatized, and unwilling to face the awful truth. Tragic
Victims of persecution who became the persecutors. Sad.
Aaron thank you for this. I have
recently “come out of my shell” on this in similar ways. I will share your example. We are not alone
Wow, thank you so much for writing this. It really resonated with me and what I've been feeling. Thankfully my mom is very openminded about this and even prevented me from going to Israel through birthright. I didn't understand it at the time but I do now. I've compiled an extensive spoken word piece addressing what is happening in Gaza, it's history and how Israel is connected to other atrocities around the world. We have to wake up and take a stand. https://youtu.be/TTEIbNn4GHs?si=cZRJZiI9Kkk1vu4t
Aaron, Thank you for your honesty, your insight, and your compassion. I was also raised in a pro-Zionist atmosphere at Hebrew School and at home. My parents passed away many years ago, but I know that if they were alive at this time, I would also have a very difficult time discussing Israeli policy and actions in Gaza with them. I might not have the courage that you have demonstrated, which is disheartening to me. I must disclose that as an adult I have harbored a deep resentment toward Israel for the foundational Israeli attitude toward the diaspora and toward Yiddish language and culture, the language and culture of my grandparents, a language and culture that (as with many of my generation) I was excluded from. During the Holocaust, Jews did not go like sheep to the slaughter, as Israelis seem to believe. The incredible bravery of many, many European Jews in resisting the Nazis needs to become common knowledge. Having said this, I need to also express my horror and revulsion that Jews, whose ancestors suffered heinous harm at the hands of the Nazis, have now become the perpetrators of inexcusable harm toward the people of Gaza. This is intolerable. You might be interested in knowing about an album of new Yiddish songs that was recently released. The album is called "LIDER MIT PALESTINE לידער מיט פּאַלעסטינע: New Yiddish Songs of Grief, Fury, and Love." These heartrending songs are available on Bandcamp. https://lidermitpalestine.bandcamp.com/album/lider-mit-palestine-new-yiddish-songs-of-grief-fury-and-love The proceeds from the distribution of the music will go to Gaza Birds Singing, an initiative you can read about at this link: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163876 Compassionate creativity through lyrics and melody may be the best way to break through the denial and enable dialogue, just solutions, and healing.
Good on you for taking the side of compassion and sanity.
As a PSU alumn and a Jewish student navigating college campuses with these same difficult conversations, and feel like my thoughts are often outnumbered. Thank you for this.
Milly wishing you strength. I hope you will find support, sometimes quiet, in unexpected quarters. I know I have
Thank you for sharing your letter. I, too, have been shocked to find the Israeli government supporting a campaign of genocide against an impoverished Palestinian population whose only crime is living amongst Hamas terrorists. I cannot understand how a people whose own history is one of persecution, discrimination, and periodic diasporas. This extended war against the Palestinians is authored by a man who is avoiding jail for his own criminal conduct. I fear our current President is more than willing to engage us in a war if he feels threatened enough, and may find a pretext to declare martial law to maintain in power before the next election in 3+ years. These are troubling times for us all.
Thank you for your moral clarity, Aaron.
Beautifully written. Heartbreakingly clear. You speak for so many voices of conscience who fear speaking in their families and in their communities.
May your voice rise and join with others who are paying a high price just for speaking or for saying that speaking together must happen. We must stop the killing.
Clearly, the people of Gaza are paying an impossible price merely for existing— one that exceeds any price our discomfort of confrontation requires. Nonetheless, the cost of confronting our families and communities truly matters—as does your loving, kind and brave purpose in doing so. Sending my gratitude and admiration.
Thank you, Aaron.
Thank you Suzanne!
I appreciate Aaron's obviously heartfelt and compassionate post, and though there is nothing I really disagree with, I don't think it is the whole story.
Just as the Jewish world must pressure Israel to stop the war, as I see it the pro-Palestinian world also should pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire and return hostages, something that they have been resisting by also insisting on an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and promise to allow Hamas to stay in power (to presumably re-arm.) This Israel will not accept.
I think a lot of the blame for the suffering in Gaza has to be shared with Hamas that insists on staying in power even as they cannot protect their population. Indeed their strategy seems to sacrifice lots of Gazans to undermine Israel's standing. Those who blame only Israel for the horror may actually be encouraging Hamas to continue the war, as that's what they want to keep hearing. Peace people need to press both sides to accept a ceasefire asap and let the aid flow.
Despite repression, there is some resistance to Hamas rule in Gaza, just as there is some resistance to Netanyahu rule in Israel. Seems to me peace people should support efforts to replace both horrible governments
A friend sent me this, because I've been saying progressive Jews should confront their Zionist family members. Unfortunately, I stopped reading after I saw that you cited Olmert's words as some kind of moral authority -- Olmert, who led his own "cruel and criminal killing of civilians" in the south of Lebanon. The impulse to use Israeli sources, particularly blood-soaked high-ranking officials, is, or seems to be, at worst deeply racist and at a best your own recognition of your audience's racist biases. You can call it a strategy, but many months into a genocide, something has to change - we have a responsibility to stop reinforcing these power dynamics. I'm grateful that you are confronting your mother, and I hope you confront what you need to confront within yourself as well.
Thanks for sharing this. Context: This was written with a clear audience in mind. It's an audience that is in a severe information silo, and it's almost impossible to overstate the degree of suspicion this audience has for all negative information they receive about Israel. I have likened it -- to my mom -- to the parallel reality that Donald Trump has built for his supporters, where it is very easy for them to dismiss anything negative they hear about Trump, because they all know the media is just out to get Trump with lies. So yes, for the folks this piece is meant for, I think it is extremely important they hear from sources they can imagine trusting. I can understand why that offends you! But you're not who needs persuading on these points.
Well done
I had a falling out with my mother over the COVID vaccination program. Like you, we eventually agreed to just not talk about it. But then so much is left unsaid, motives aren't explained, and there's no resolution. It damages relationships.
My mother is very intelligent, objective, and empathetic, yet on that topic she was immovable. Her sister used to hang out on Facebook, sharing god-knows-what nonsense from the Boomer echo chamber. There's no nuance there, no reading of the data, context, or circumstance.
And that gets to my point: the availability of conflicting information on the Internet so often gives people a mistaken sense of certainty, one way or the other—older generations in particular. When you've lived 60, 70, or 80 years and believed one way, any information that contradicts that belief will be met with skepticism (or outright hostility).
And older generations also tend to ignore the younger ones (which is why our elected leaders need to be younger, not older). To our parents, we're often still ten years old; who are we to think we have a valid argument against their lifetime of experience?
I'm sure you know this quote well:
“I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.”
― Leo Tolstoy
Edit: I should also add that I grew up in apartheid South Africa. None of what Israel's regime is doing is out of character. They operate with the blessing of the people—and if they don't have it, they fabricate it to wreak their evil.
This is required reading, but for all Aaron's sincereity, it won't change anything. Israel was founded not as inclusive, but as an exclusive monotheistic state. That state should be dismantled, reconfigured, turned inside out, made all-inclusive - but that will never happen. Religion is the scourge of mankind, and the sooner we ditch it, the better off we will be. Seriously, except as a false comfort at the hour of death, what's the point of the priestly caste? Hatred based on religion will continue as long as two people are standing and breathing.
Thanks for the important perspective, Aaron. Their response has only solidified the distaste I always had for the state of Israel. Terrible history.