In 2008, a fascinating, little-known study asked 500 Israeli Jews about Israel’s behavior throughout the history of the conflict. The study was conducted by Rafi Nets-Zehngut, at the Teachers College of Columbia University and Daniel Bar-Tal of Tel Aviv University’s School of Education. Bar-Tal is an internationally regarded expert in political psychology. Some of the findings were striking: • More than six-in-ten said that prior to the arrival of the “Jewish pioneers” in the late 19th century, Palestinians were a majority in the region (“majority,” “vast majority,” or “exclusive inhabitants”). • A majority, albeit very slim (50.2 percent), said that Jews and Arabs share the blame equally (46 percent) or primarily Jews (4.2 percent) are to blame for the outbreak and continuation of the Israeli-Arab conflict, while 43 percent blamed primarily Palestinians and Arabs. • Most important for Nakba Day, when asked who was responsible for the “departure” of Palestinian refugees during the 1948 War of Independence, 41 percent chose the traditional Zionist narrative that they left due to fear and exhortations of Arab leaders; but 39 percent chose a response that cited fear and calls of Arab leaders, but also due to expulsion by Jews. Another eight percent cited only expulsion by Jews. That means that nearly half – a 47 percent plurality – accepted the Jewish role in creating Palestinian refugees. The Palestinian Nakba: Are Israelis starting to get it? | 972 Magazine (via unitedpigeonsoflowermanhattan)

(via navajomoose)

The Shiksa debate & conversion

goynif:

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I’ve contributed to this conversation before, so I hope it’s okay that I chime in again.

In my community, shiksa is definitely used as a misogynistic slur. It doesn’t just mean a non-Jewish woman - it means a sexualized bimbo, stupid and silly and bouncy and submissive and blonde and perfect for Jewish men to experiment with. It stands in contrast to the Jewish woman who is stereotyped as unsexy, domineering, dark and unappetizing to men. It paints both types of women in lights dependent on how sexually appealing men find them.

The women in my Jewish community never use the word, recognizing it as sexist and definitely a slur against women.

Shaygetz is not often used in my community. We usually just use goy.

yafilasteen:

articles like these make me sad
http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/05/17/3761661.htm

A very powerful article. And yes, sad and shameful.

asker

blog-anglophonic asked: Just want to say that I truly enjoy your blog, and while I do not always agree with some of the people who comment on your posts I've decided to put it in the "news" folder in my bookmarks. You really hit the hammer on many topics which I often feel I am the only person concerned about. For example, subjects like the ever cynical "Christian Zionism" (which drives me insane) and Christians fetishizing us as a people. You are a blessing, and you have my sincere thinks.

Oh my goodness, thank you so much! This blog has been very important for me and it’s helped me think out a lot of even my own political and religious opinions. It’s immensely flattering to hear that other people find it useful as well.

batmansrobyn:

zaatarwitholives:

judeo-christiantalk:

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man.’  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” -Genesis 2:22-24

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” -Proverbs 18:22

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” -Proverbs 19:4

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” -Hebrews 13:4

 

There’s nothing “Judeo” about quoting the New Testament - which is what Hebrews is. In fact, whenever I come across the term “Judeo-Christian,” there never seems to be anything “Judeo” about it. If you wanted Christians and Jews to have a rich shared cultural and religious tradition, you’re two thousand years too late. And appropriating Jewish texts and religious traditions to legitimize a Christian message is never going to be a shared culture.

Can I rant about the Pauline Epistles, please? I have a really great rant about the Pauline epistles, and how they’re all totally lifted from ancient Greek philosophy and actually have nothing to do with Judaism even a little bit.

Go for it!

Thanks for the follow, 2goldensnitches! I hope you enjoy the blog!

rknjl:

thearcanetheory:

People just love to tokenize Jews.

They tokenize the Neturei Karta when they want to prove their anti-Zionism is never anti-Semitic, or that they’re just not anti-Semitic.

They tokenize their one Jewish friend for the same reason. Bonus points if they are white-passing and/or Ashkenazi if they’re out to prove they “don’t hate white Jews” or something.

They tokenize Mizrahim for much the same reason. Except when Jews do that to support Israel; both are GROSS.

And they tokenize Black Jews and Beta Israel to support some sort of twisted narrative about “white Jews” and/or Zionism. Or sometimes they get to be “your one black friend,” because dealing with anti-Blackness AND anti-Semitism must be one hell of a ride.

Don’t you get it? Tokenizing any group of Jews is anti-Semitic. None of us are here to be your token Jew. Period.

Let’s not even begin to talk about how they tokenize supernationalist Jews for their apocalyptic Christian game of Risk.

judeo-christiantalk:

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man.’  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” -Genesis 2:22-24

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” -Proverbs 18:22

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” -Proverbs 19:4

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” -Hebrews 13:4

 

There’s nothing “Judeo” about quoting the New Testament - which is what Hebrews is. In fact, whenever I come across the term “Judeo-Christian,” there never seems to be anything “Judeo” about it. If you wanted Christians and Jews to have a rich shared cultural and religious tradition, you’re two thousand years too late. And appropriating Jewish texts and religious traditions to legitimize a Christian message is never going to be a shared culture.