Its perfectly valid to embrace judaism and be against illegal Israeli settlements in Gaza and West Bank and Israeli occupation of Gaza and the ethnic clensing happening in Gaza. Comparing this with converting to catholicism is kinda wild. Israel is a secular nation state, not a theocracy. It is possible to be a Jew and disagree with Israeli policies when it comes to the events in Gaza and West Bank.
Thank you. And as a historian that knows the Palestinians are from the same ancestors and those who were exiled two thousand years ago. He knows not all Jews at that time were exiled, and those folks assimilated into nearby communities and converted. I will never understand why accepting the basic premise that Palestinians are humans.
This is not the point of the video, its not even mentioned and certainly not compared to converting to catholicism? What video did you watch? You either didnt understand or youre being dishonest.
I'm not Jewish & I find these protests disturbing on so many levels. I could never understand how the holocaust happened, but I'm now beginning to realize the true power of propaganda & it is frightening. Much love & support for the Jewish people & Israel.
The catholic church, aka Rome, taught in all the schools of catholic countries that the jews killed christ. This was because of classic roman mafia minded passing the buck thinking by pointing the finger of blame onto an involved party. It was the romans who killed him, for they strung him up. Not the jews. The protestant schools taught that the jews were the chosen. That is why the treatment of jews in protestant countries was kinder than the rest of europe. This dogma continued in catholic schools until 1965.
@@CatouMilou This propalestine protest industry is nothing more than pancorporate organised propaganda financed by the Muslim Brotherhood, Soros, and a host of other fundraising charities. They feed off the young student who is the most voracious rectangle user. Hitler always focused on the young, they are easier to influence.
I agree. Without Israel, Jews who are persecuted have nowhere to go. Israel is not just a country, it is a homeland and a sanctuary. It should be defended.
@Andrew-ep4kw God's people are supposed to be HOLY and worship Elohim. Isaiah 14:1 The ANCIENT ISRAELITES was to allow the STRANGERS to live among them. The people in Israel want the land just for themselves, but yet, they want to also be able to be accepted in other lands.
@@CarollemMen-cl8nz 18% of Israeli citizens are Muslim Arab, so the current Israel meets the standards of the original Israel and Isaiah 14.1. Nice try.
Not 75 years: the governments of Israel were favorable to Palestinian sovereignty over the land acquired by Israel from Egypt and Jordan in the 1967 and 1973 wars, it was the growth in power and authority of the revisionist parties, beginning with the first government of Begin and continuing to the present date that has made this impossible. Jabotinsky, not Hamas was the first to say Israel should extend “from the river to the sea”; this continues to be the prevailing belief of his political descendants and it is they that should be criticized for the actions that has led to the indiscriminate deaths of Gazans. Not all Israelis believe as they do, fortunately, but it is a sad reality that enough of them voted to perpetuate this ideology by keeping these ideas in the majority of the MK’s. Until their ideology returns to a substantial minority in the Knesset we have to expect what we have sadly seen since October 8th. We all pray for the safe return of the hostages, both those taken on 10/7 and those taken long before them, as well as the return of a more humanitarian ideology to those who will lead Israel in the future.
@@laurenbethis Biden your daddy. How did that work out with Iran. You ever hear the story of the spider( hamas) and the frog (isreal ). The spider asked the frog for a ride over the creek. The frog said you will bite me. Spider said think about it, if do I would die too. Half why across the spider bites the frog. Frog goes why, spider said " it's my nature"
@@laurenbethArafat’s PLO was established in 1964, 3 years before the 6 Day War, with the aim of weakening the morale of the Jewish state through ongoing acts of terror both internally and externally. It can be said that they embodied the popular current slogan “globalize the intifada.” In turn, they were simply carrying on the same desire to eradicate the Jews espoused by the Grand Mufti before them. It had and continues to have nothing to do with who’s in power in the Knesset.
@@JacintaPalerm I doubt he's lying, just misinformed. He is justifiably concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism that has accompanied the most recent Israeli genocide. But, as a scholar, he ought to know hoe to do his due diligence, which is lacking in this case.
@@pirbird14 Israel is defending itself from genocide. Hamas says very plainly that they want to kill all the Jews in the world. The Arabs would commit genocide if given the capability. Israel has the capability, but doesn't do it. The war would have been over immediately if the hostages were returned and the perpetrators were turned over. By putting pressure on Israel instead of Hamas, the protestors are prolonging of the war and causing the deaths of more Gazans. Israel has already offered to stop the war if the hostages are returned, but Hamas refuses.
To be honest it is complicated and the current Israeli government isn't making it easy. The Palestinian narrative, with its selective history and outright lies, can be convincing to people who are not educated about history. Which is most people. There is also a well funded PR machine behind it including university funding, social media etc. It's ok to come out against the Israeli government but it's not ok to stand with fascists while doing that.
And some are free thinkers who do not take everything learned for granted. I am relatively new to Judaism. Raised Catholic, but DNA says Ashkenazi. As a NATO media consultant, exit strategy is a possibility. Not my choice, but a possibility. Ask Bibi who wrote the underlying thesis to the Abraham Accords.>>>--->
Choose not to understand? Please inform me what I am missing. I support Israel and the people of Israel. I support the people of Gaza, and don't like the treatment that they are receiving. If Egypt opened the border to allow the Northern Cana'anites to enter Southern Cana'an. Two states. Sainai and Israel.
Question for Mr. Abramson. Is it WRONG to protest Netanyahu's approach to the Palestinians? He's not very focused on freeing the hostages as opposed to killing Palestinians. You can support Israel AND oppose his mass slaughter of innocent Palestinians. If you say yes to my question, then I cannot trust you as a human being.
I think he's talking more about the current trend of protest going on throughout campuses. Most of these are not the kind Jews may want to be associated with. Besides the anti Semitic chants and flags they are calling for more than an end to the killing. I don't think he would have much issue if Jews protested Netanyahu's tactic specifically.
What innocent Palestinians? Over 70 percent voted in Hamas and many Gazans participated in the killing, raping, looting, and kidnapping of Israeli civilians.
I am not Jewish, but this was so well and calmly explained by the Rabbi. If this message does not hit home for the intended audience, I am not sure what will. As a Christian New Zealander, I support Israel. 🙏
Colossians 3:11 New International Version 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Please remember that it was the government of Hamas that failed the people of Gaza, in a similar way that the Nazi government failed the German people. Neither government could get along with their neighbors (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, etc, with Hamas - all of Europe with the Nazis), but rather both governments wanted war, instead of pursuing peace in a way that benefited their people. Pursuing peaceful relationships with their neighbors that improved the quality of life for their peoples, like most governments do. It took a war to liberate the German people from the Nazi government and it's taking a war to liberate the people of Gaza from Hamas, unfortunately. "War is hell" is what General Sherman described and he is right. But sometimes we have to do it.
You missed Jorge’s point entirely. It’s not about the background of the war. It’s about the ideology behind both Germans and Gazans, irregardless of the war.
@@jrutt2675 Actually it was Germany (and Italy) who declared war on the US just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their axis agreement (Japan, Germany, and Italy) lead both of those nations to do so. Overall the US was preparing for war though. It was coming. FDR and other American leaders saw that. But I have to disagree that we "wanted it". The war came to America. We didn't go to the war.
Having empathy for others and putting oneself in their shoes is such an important and difficult thing to do. When Jews take an anti-Zionist stance, they're not helping Palestinians. They're just burning their own shoes.
@mebarsonebymaria4038 my point is that yes, we should put ourselves in Palestinians' shoes. Their suffering is real, and their aspirations for self-determination are valid. But that doesn't negate the validity of our own need for self-determination and security. These things are not mutually exclusive. Most of the protesters act as if they are.
@@Balagoola self-determination of the Palestinians is obstructed by the Israeli governments and the settlements. They make it mutually exclusive on purpose.
205…Thank you dear professor, for your continued stand for our people. My heart breaks for this tragedy and the continued vilification of our people. Yet, you handled this exceptionally difficult subject with grace and true wisdom as always. Be blessed… shalom.
You're much too respectful to those Jewish students and professors who side with those who seek our destruction. That said, you're a decent man for your composure
Thanks for stating what I feel every time an interview with a Jewish student participant makes front page news. Wisdom should be guided by the heart but still it must come from the brain. (There’s apparently no option for $18!)
They simply want to stop the slaughter. It is not an anti-jewish stance. They are not saying that Palistinians should exterminate Is rael. How could that even happen. Israel has overwhelming military power. I is in Israels interest to stop the slaughter.
One of my young airmen in the USAF a number of years ago was a Palestinian. Born in Gaza but his family got to the USA and he eventually enlisted in the military. He really could not understand his relatives in Gaza who hated Jews.
They do not hate Jews, they hate the State of Israel. And if you can't fathom or understand why they would hate Israel then it's you who needs to be educated.
Thank you only he says it better, we know who he’s talking about. My grandmother used to tell me about the JEWISH Kapos in the camps. She was never in a concentration camp. She was up in the mountains with the partisans and the communists in northern Greece, but she knew about them from some of her friends. How could they have mistreated their own brethren? The answer to that is that they felt that they have something to gain I don’t know, what to sell more books? To be more popular? It is not worth it. I think it is more because they are confused and have conflicting feelings.
The Golden Rule so important to both Jew and Christian holds here in the division of the Palestinian Territory in 1948. There was gross unfairness there and NO maneuvering of the facts will change that. God Bless the young people of ALL faiths who see the truth of history and the distortion of the facts that has led to these travesties.
Thank you for posting this. I am heartsick when I hear Jews condemning Israel, some of whom are within my own extended family. They can’t possibly really understand Jewish history.
Remember...four-fiths of the Jews died during Egypt's plague of darkness because they did not choose to follow Moshe's instructions from G-D. So, thousands of years later and here we are with Jews still not understanding their history or their purpose. Nothing new under the sun.
Dr Abramson, I hold a pretty centrist position on this situation but will all due respect, I don’t think there’s any level of qualification that gives someone the right to opine publicly about who is and is not a “good Jew”.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Indeed I did, I’m just not sure how else the Donin example is expected to be understood other than as an impugning by implication. What is the relevance of that example? Protestor participation is analogous to that?
@@HenryAbramsonPhDAlso the survey you show at the end which is supposedly evidence that Zionism is core to the Jewish identity and anyone outside of that is marginal or something. this notion that “a good Jew must to some degree identify with modern Zionism” is intuitively contemptible to me.
I want to be very clear about something. I'm almost 40 and haven't been attending any protests and certainly can't speak for the young people attending. However, the assumption that they are doing this because of peer pressure and not because they are legitimately upset about the mass casualties in Gaza is pretty insulting.
You miss the point. Everyone with human heart is upset about the casualties in Gaza. But I would argue that supporting pro-Hamas protests is not the way to change the situation.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD I loved your video and I loved your reply. If pro Palestinian didn't also mean pro Hamas, and it does, maybe the video would have been a little different. I am a convert to Judaism, almost 25 years ago, my converting Rabbi told me that if I wanted to be Jewish I had to be ready to take the bad with the good. This October 7 massacre has actually made me feel more Jewish and actually afraid for my Jewish children. We do not have a Jewish last name, but we live our lives as openly Jewish.
They're upset about all the suffering caused by terrorists & even though they're siding with the aggressors in chants for the anihilation of Israel. Btw, the same bad guys who hide themselves among Palestinian civilians with Israeli civilian held hostages & who refuses to take them back. Well, it says a lot about the reasoning behind the protests & the knowledge of the protesters about the conflict.
I wish my Jewish and Israeli friends would call Capo what they are. I'm not Jewish but my Grandfather was a Jew in Nazi Germany. What we are seeing is Weimar Drunks, WW2 Reloaded. What these people are doing is treacherous. Thank you for your respectful sensible, fact-filled approach, I am unable to be polite with these people. My prayers go out to all Jewish people and especially those in Israel where one friend lost so many at Kibbutz Be'eri. Never Again is Now.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Professor, I admin international geopolitics groups. For going on 4 years I noticed a sharp uptick in antisemitic comments on social media. Facebook does not censor them at all. They put me on a 60 day strike for "hate speech and breaching community standards" for sharing the image of Al Hussaini and Hitler along with the Time article. On my own time and dime, I started meticulously keeping records with screenshots of the most unbelievably horrific, sadistic, genocidal rhetoric imaginable. I was so concerned that about 2 years ago, I contacted Mossad with a batch of the screenshots and said "if you don't do something about this, people are going to die". I knocked on every door, all to no avail. I have a nest of straight up Nazis that are so easy to track because they are all connected on social media. I cannot believe no one ever was interested and no one ever reined it in. After October 7 (one friend's daughter narrowly escaped Nova, another was connected to Kibbutz Be'eri), these groups turned into absolute chaos with the most extreme antisemitism. Every time I tried to present a rational account (I saw the footage Hamas posted themselves on October 7 on Telegram, I am not confused), I was subjected to the most disgusting and vile attacks, death threats in my inbox, on and on. I reported posts where people were openly fundraising for Hamas and the Houthis. NOTHING. My Jewish friends fall into 2 categories: those you address here, and those who stay silent, afraid to make waves, afraid of the backlash. I personally engaged and what I have is a pattern of how their arguments go. It sounds very much like they all got identical material from very similar sites because people not linked, over the world, all parroting the same blood libel is not a coincidence. I hope one day social media terrorism, which is what this is, will be punished as a war crime After October 7, "friends" people I know started trolling Israeli friend's memorials to their dead and attacked me for, I quote "trying to show Israelis as humans". I took screenshots, dumped them into albums with hashtags so they can easily be retrieved assuming my account isn't shut, because Nazis don't get censored, people who speak out against them do. It's so bad that Facebook removed a photo I posted of Sophie Scholl together with an article from Wikipedia (to be as bland as possible) as breaching "community standards". If you ever want access to any of my research or to communicate, I'm at your disposal.Anyone who wants to connect with me on social media is welcome, even though I'm shadow banned to hell. The worst, most damaging propaganda is coming from Team Finkelstein, Pappe, Mate - every right wing and left wing lunatic in the West idolises them. Apparently the tagline "Holocaust survivor" and pathological hatred of Jews is all they need. I have no Jewish source to refer to to refute them, the damage they have done is incalculable. I implemented rules that posts involving them are not geopolitics and will be deleted from group discussions but it's endless and daily. Alongside the sneering Galloway and a few others, it's lethal. People swallow everything they say hook, line and sinker. My prayers and love to Jewish people everywhere. Stay strong and let us hope these people of the lie will be brought to justice. I will not shut up. As a child I was prone to visions (as opposed to delusions) and Nazism rising again was one. I used to pray that if it happened, I wouldn't betray myself by staying silent because of what other people thought or said. Am Yisrael Chai Best Ora You may not be aware that Qatar is funding all the universities with the biggest protests. I have links and information regarding that.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD I think it's unfair to call some of these people Kapos, because many Kapos were in an impossible, unimaginable situation. Many of them also helped other inmates. They remind me more of the Yevsektsiya.
This issue is far more simple than you make it out to be. Good people of any religion or culture oppose the injustice of violent occupation, apartheid, and genocide. You should be proud that young Jewish people are emerging as leaders in a global movement for peace, justice, and freedom. This is Israel's moment to embrace change, and it is right that Jewish people of conscience should lead them to it.
Dr Abramson, first let me commend you for reaching out to your fellow Jews with a different opinion about the war. I know that is so hard to do. I am neither Jewish nor Muslim. I am a Christian and a follower of the abrahamic tradition. I am also just human. My heart is heavy with what is happening in the holy land. But I will share a few thoughts with you and other Jewish elders. Please be patient with these young people. There are lot of professional manipulators out there who are taking advantage of these young people naïveté and spirit. Second, try your hardest to remember being their age. At that age, they all want to make a difference and make their own path in the world. They still believe their single act can change the world. And they want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Lastly trust you have sowed the seeds of goodness in their hearts. I know the Jewish tradition is so rich in love and caring for their children. Trust they will chose the right. And the right is not Judaism, Christianity, Islam or any other defined religion. The right is learning to love one another as the creator loves his creation. It is loving, learning and respecting all of gods creation. Sending my thoughts and prayers to you, your people, and the holy land.
Do you agree collective punishment of civilians is wrong? Yes or no. Do you agree destruction of hospitals and schools is wrong? Yes or no. Do you agree mass graves are wrong? Yes or no. These are the reasons for the protests. If you are making apologies for atrocities you have lost the plot and the moral path.
Do you believe that actions have consequences? Does the approved leadership of Gazans make them accountable as well? Does Hamas use women and children as human shields, just as they used them as suicide bombers in the second Intifada? If Hamas chooses to place combatants in hospitals and schools, is Israel pervented from seeking them out? Wouldn't that make the practice of terrorist action, then hide in public spaces to prevent retaliation, a policy which prevented any government from defending its people? Look worldwide. There are exactly zero open, tolerant liberal democracies in Muslim majority countries. 57 countries, and not one of them has a thriving democracy that protects individual and minority rights. LGBTQ+ are subject to the death penalty in many Islamic countries. Religious minorities are disappearing in each and every one of those nations. And as a kicker, Arabs have a longer life expectancy in Israel than in any Arab led country. It is your right to continue believing your ill-informed narrative, but that doesn't make you correct. Hamas makes every effort to maximize casualties among Gazan citizens in a scurrilous public relations appeal to the west. The protesters should call out, "Hamas, release the hostages! And don't hide behind innocent civilians!"
Charles Edward’s is me Aryehleib . I am so impressed by how you first validate and then you are so gentle. The only possible way of convincing anyone but most of us forget this in the moment. Really gold standard advocacy here.
1. Where is the condemnation of Hamas? Of course what Hamas did is horrendous and inexcusable, but to act like protesting Israel means you support Hamas is absurd. In addition, where is the condemnation of the Nakba, or the condemnation of the Israelites killing every man woman and child in Jericho? 2. Why not call for peace with Israel? Ask Netanyahu that question! He has strongly opposed a two state solution for decades and actively fought against it. He was happy that Hamas won the election in Gaza because it created a division between the governing entities of Palestinians. That is why he facilitated the funding of Hamas to the order of millions of dollars over the years. 3. Get educated on the history of Israel: The most accurate data suggests that over 400,000 Muslims lived in the area that is now Israel when the Zionist movement first started. Those people's lives were massively disrupted by the influx of immigrants to the holy land. Considering that Palestinians and Israelis are genetically identical suggests that they were both decedents from the Canaanites and therefor the Palestinians are as native to that land as the Israelis. In fact many of them are the descendants of Jews who were forced to convert to Islam. Does forced conversion mean you no longer have a claim to the land where you live? 4. Most Jews who strongly support Israel seem to have a herd mentality that refuses to acknowledge the totality of history and chooses instead to cherry-pick a narrative that ignores the fundamental moral flaws of the zionist agenda. The reality is you cannot win against Hamas by bombing mostly women and children. You cannot win by systematically targeting journalists and aid workers. Those things only serve to strengthen Hamas. If Israel was wise they would have taken advantage of the massive world sympathy after Oct 7th and used it to create a coalition that took a nuanced approach that would work to offer a better ideology to Palestinians (not reinforce Hamas's ideology). They could have also used the international outpouring of support to invest in improved security and make countless meaningful deals with Arab countries. They could have won HUGE, but instead they took an approach that disproved all claims of moral superiority and the outcome has been unfolding as expected. Our tax dollars should not go towards such a reckless and counterproductive campaign of collective punishment and war crimes. If Israel wants the support of Jews let them earn it through wise policymaking, not through blind allegiance.
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for God, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear God; indeed, God is fully Aware of what you do.”
Thank you, once again, Dr. Abramson, for being a voice of reason on UA-cam and within public discourse. As a secular gentile, I remain aghast at the level of irrational ignorance, bigotry, and animus, toward Jewish people. I believe the study (and understanding) of History, is by far more valuable than theology or politics - History explains most, if not - all. History also can help us to not make the same mistakes over and over, for which there are clear historical corollaries and lessons to be learned, if only we'd recognize those corollaries and heed those all-important lessons. Side question: What is the significance of the peice of masking tape with a number on it, affixed to your lapel? Thank you~
Thank you for the kind words. The number on the masking tape is at the request of the mother of a kidnapped child, marking the number of days he has been in captivity.
What about the Palestinians imprisoned since years ago? Your shirt wouldn’t have place for the numbers of days they have been away from their families. Children as old as 12 years old being tortured, women being raped? Palestinians want justice, they were and still are being deprived of their houses of their children of their husbands. The police uproots their olive trees, the settlers attack them and that has been going on since 1930 . But I’m sure you know about that.
A voice of bias is more like it. Netanyahu has abandoned the hostages in order to kill random innocent Palestinian civilians with reckless abandon. And yet people say that if you criticize the Israeli government that you're anti-Semitic. Go figure.
Mr. Abramson, please forgive me if I make an inaccurate description of history and I apologize in advance for the long post. It is my view that people do not understand history or at least know ancient history. It is also my experience that people tend to place blame on other people and other "things" where it is not warranted. These students, whether they be Jewish, Christian or secular believe Israel is oppressing the Palestinians. They ignore the Torah, the Old Testament. While many stories in the Bible are most likely embellished (in my opinion) there are some historical truth's. Israelite's have inhabited the land for 4 millennia. Where were the Palestinians 4,000 years ago? Israelites are mentioned but no mention of Palestinians. They ignore or do not know the facts surrounding the 1948 war for Israeli independence nor do they understand or know that "Palestinian" only became a reference to a people in 1964. Prior they were Arabs. With that said, Israel has attempted many times to allow for/enact a two-state solution. Yasser Arafat and the PLO have rejected it. People ignore, do not know, or fail to realize that Gaza was governed by Hamas - they were voted into power. Additionally, there are no Jews in Gazza as they were forced to move by the Israeli's. People seem to think this is the result of pent up hatred for Israel treating Palestinians badly over the years. However, the Palestinians had self-governance in Gaza and it was their governing body, Hamas, that started this conflict. If the Palestinians in Gaza were suffering it was not due to the Israeli's but to Hamas and Hamas leadership who use the Palestinians as human shields and abuse them. I do not care if some or most Palestinians hate Israeli's or Jews. So be it. People ignore or do not ask "why" other Muslim countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia do not allow Palestinian refugees into their countries. Why is it not hateful when Egypt has sent their troops and erected a wall on the Sinai with southern Gaza to keep the Palestinians from entering Egypt? No one asks this question. In the short answer is that all blame should be placed on Hamas. There would not be a reason for this war if Israel was not attacked on October 7th. While there has been collateral damage and civilians have been killed I cannot and do not take the word of a terrorist organization who are the one's providing these numbers to the press. I firmly believe that Israel does everything in their power to minimize civilian casualties. However, there would never have been civilian casualties if Hamas had not attacked October 7. I believe Israel wishes to live in peace with their neighbors and the rest of the world for that matter. It is also my belief that these people do not understand that Iran is backing Hamas and attacked Israel with the blessing of Iranian leadership. I believe Iran did this because they wish to stir trouble in the region and are not happy with Israel in peaceful negotiations with her neighbors such as Saudi Arabia.
TWO POINTS. FIRST, A SMALL POINT, THE STORY OF ABRAHAM AND THE JEWS STARTS IN THE BRONZE AGE NEAR EAST ABOUT 1200-1400 YEARS AGO, NOT 4000 YEARS AGO. MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU STATE "People ignore or do not ask "why" other Muslim countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia do not allow Palestinian refugees into their countries." A BETTER QUESTION THAT YOU AND OTHERS IGNORE IS WHY THE ISRAEL DIDN'T LET THE ARABS WHO FLED OR WERE FORCED TO FLEE GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES AFTER THE FIGHTING IN 1948.
@@palepride7530 Jews are so called because their country was Judea. Philistines were Agean people and Herodotus was a Greek author writing about his people.
See today's Tom Nash Report. Qatar has been pouring money into universities for over two decades. I first noticed in 2004 when Francisco Gil-White, history prof, not Jewish & proIsrael, got fired from Penn U staff & replaced by Islamicists. You can Google him. The FBI has admitted that Islamicists have been pouring cash into universities in the West. The Tom Nash Report gets into it.
@e.t.ethics1771 Be careful about gobbling up all the propaganda and asking for more. Gluttony for propaganda has consequences. Alienation would be one of those.
@e.t.ethics1771 no. See, you can not understand one simple thing - the IDF is not just an army. IDF is all of us. Our children are IDF. We are all IDF and we know from the first hand that we don't do it. How can you know? Check Israeli education program. Check our values, check how we raise our kids. Then you will understand the IDF. Then check the same in Gaza. That's how you make your opinion. Good luck.
Netanyahu has abandoned the hostages in order to kill random innocent Palestinian civilians with reckless abandon. And yet people say that if you criticize the Israeli government that you're anti-Semitic. Go figure.
Let's just pray for peace. Too many people died on both sides since the 7th of october. Too many parents lost their childs and loved ones. The suffering is so immense the pain unbelievable. I can understand the confusion of young people who are trying to make sence out of this and maybe support the protests. With whole my heart I wish there will be peace.
Thank you, Rabbi. In the USA we’re closing this year’s Chag Seder with heavy hearts. Israel is in our prayers 💔 May we all have a much happier Shavuot🙏🏼
As you are not Semite according to your DNA. Your can not say you are a Part of the 12 tribes. This means you have a false identitity. But I have nothing against your religion
Thank you for your perspective in this difficult time 🙏🏼 Chag sameach and may we בע"ה see the world increase in knowledge and love speedily in our days! 🙌🏼🙏🏼💙🇮🇱
You began your narrative with October 7. I think the narrative can start in 1896 when Herzl wrote that Zionism would be an outpost of European civilization against Asian barbarism (not exact quote but very close)
You should acknowledge that this was not the only view of the Zionist movement. Herzl himself alienated himself from the rest of the Zionists with his publishing of “Altneuland”.
Unfortunately, the mainstream narrative of the entire conflict uses language such as „apartheid“, „genocide“, „war crimes, „open air prison“, „colonialism“ and even „holocaust“ to accuse Israel, whilst Palestinians are labelled as refugees and victims. The massacre of Oct 7 gets mentioned minimally, and the current opinion is quick to say „but you need to see what Israel did to the Gazans before Oct 7“. This means that, unless one does a bit of digging and thinking, the perspective of Israel as the horrible and powerful invader seems inevitable, even to Jews who will say that being Jewish does not mean that they have to justify all these terrible crimes that Israel is increasingly being accused of on a global, as well as social media level.
I think what’s missing is that children are dying and that should be the main focus. We are not talking about a handful but two thirds of all death have been women and children. When you know that dropping that bomb will result in so many death of children for a possible Hamas, will you drop that bomb? Is that worth the trade off. Are Palestinian child worth less than a Jewish child? I think arguing based upon tribal affinity is a big part of the problem. If everyone just looks from that perspective, when will there ever be peace. What divides us is far smaller than what unite us. Bernie Sanders condemns antisemitism but also condemns what Netanyahu is doing. Surely we need to go beyond tribalism. Especially given so much of history is about wars because of tribalism. Regardless there are idiots on both sides. Just look at Ben Gvir of Netanyahu government. Such extremists don’t speak for everybody and we should never allow them to determine the narrative and divide us as they so much desire. They want us to see the false dichotomy of tribalism. Someday I may see a child forever maimed because of Netanyahu’s bomb. And I would hate to think that I could have given my small voice even if it is not heard.
@@quintrankid8045 Not with such level of collective punishment. It's beneath a nation's dignity to exercise such level of punishment. Tell Netanyahu and AIPAC, don't inflict such level of harm in our name.
Dr. Abramson, thank you. I'm not J but have been attending all of your lessons of history. I am grateful, I learned the whole story of the world , Israel has been all along, from their land, to empires, to art, to religion etc etc etc. I hope many of all the peoples of the world (J or not),learn from you. After all, there is, and there will still be only One. Hope all days come soon
Thank you so much for all your videos. They have been a source of comfort. I have really been struggling with understanding the perspective of the protestors, not in solidarity with Gazans who are suffering, but with their allegiance to anti zionism (I find it frighteningly ahistorical to want to undo a country that already exists.)Today I listened to an interview with Noah Feldman on the Haaretz podcast. His explanation of this phenomenon really helped me feel some empathy with the kids who are protesting. I don’t agree with them, but it helps to understand their perspective. You might like it. I look forward to your next video.
You are a real Mensch. Thank you for this video and the work you do. Sadly, those that truly NEED to hear your words (and truth) just won't hear them. Take care and keep doing the good work. Shalom, shalom. 🙏🌻
I live in Northern Europe. There was a naturalised Arab at my part-time job that, a couple of weeks ago, said: "Hitler was king, because what he did to the Jews is what it said in our book that you should do to them." I never thought I'd live to heard that from a citizen of a European country. But I did. May Israel live forever, and may the Jewish people survive this Pharaoh and this Egypt. I will continue to learn about Jewish history. Am Yisrael Chai.
I respect your view Mr Abramson. However, this conflict has its context pre-October 7, 2023. Without condoning the actions of this unfaithful day, Palestinians have been living under heavy oppression and disenfranchised of their human liberties. As a South African who lived through the horrible Apartheid regime I know from first hand experience of how it is to be treated as a second class citizen or worse yet being classified and refereed to as a human animal. Besides this, the Israeli response, by any acceptable standard, has taken a disproportionate measure especially to the detriment of the innocent and the most vulnerable i.e. women, children, health care workers, sick, the elderly, etc. This past weekend South Africa celebrated it freedom day. I have never been to Palestine but I can tell you something, regardless of the mismanagement we may have in our country 🇿🇦, we by far cherish our freedom rather than the place we were 30 years ago. I can tell you now, if for one single day you were clothed in “Palestinian skin” you will in no doubt know that freedom, respect, right to dignity, etc is the sole desire of any oppressed community. If the Israeli government had wise leadership, they would know that you can’t kill an idea by killing the messenger, perhaps this is what they should wake up to.
Words of wisdom, indeed. And I have begun to weep with the last words. Those who love peace seek to free the captives, to provide aid to the orphans and those who lost children. To anyone on any side that speaks of escalating violence, I think of how many more innocents would be destroyed on such a path. Let us not ask for the destruction of anything. Let us ask for rebuilding, restoration, healing, and for our hearts to be softened. Thank you again, Professor Abramson, you have taught me an important lesson.
Regardless of what you imagine the history of Israel has been or who has a right to it, defending Israels genocide of the Palestinian people forfeits any reasonable expectation of others to treat you like a person, and it puts the Jewish people in a peril that history has never known. This isn't us versus them. It's humanity against evil.
Ridiculous, and sloppy thinking. Being anti-Hamas, calling for the release of hostages, does not make one “pro-genocide.” Also presumes that the assault on Gaza constitutes genocide at all.
Many thanks Dr. Abramson! As a gentile who received a solid education in history, it appears that those attending these "universities" as students were never taught 20th Century history!
When Qatar has paid off the universities for over a decade, there's no such thing as a "free lunch", they obviously wanted a quid pro quo and here we are.
Thank you for your message Professor Abramson. I do believe Israel is losing the global information/media and ‘propaganda’ war sadly. But I do take courage that the prophets and God Himself did not leave us without hope. There is an end to these current events, and the future, uncertain as it may now look comes out very favourable for Israel. We are not alone.
He is right. This movement started when Arafat started the “general union of Palestinian students” at San Francisco state university. Most of them are rabid antisemites. It’s just that simple. These riots and squatters now have an outlet into directing their hatred at Jews whom they did not have a platform to discriminate against til now. Riots and squatting on some else’s properties is not protected speech and are not “protests”. The USA let in many people over the decades who do not respect or cherish our values codified in the Bill of Rights. They came here for better economic opportunity. And now we are reaping what was sowed. This has been going on campuses for almost 40 years. Anyone who claims otherwise is at minimum misinformed
Entire Jewish orthodox communities are getting brutalized by Israeli police right now in protest of Netanyahu's genocidal war-mongering, but Mr. Abramson wants to scold American Jews on college campuses for doing the same. I wonder why one form of Jewish protest is highlighted and another is not. Also, referring to these anti-war Jews as "tokens" is anything but respectful.
my 80-year-old grandmother stopped going to the conservative synagogue she's been attending for many years, only zooms services now, and expressed support for the politics of the local JVP rabbi. despite the fact that she's been to israel many times (i haven't been once) and even volunteering in the IDF kitchens, she told me at our seder that she probably won't ever go to israel again. i'm thinking about joining the synagogue she left to see for myself whether there are people advocating for "killing all the palestinians" like she said there are
I missed the part where jvp was defined and what does it mean? A social justice leftist leading good people downward? Except for the Orthodox here in the twin cities they are all infested with leftists and the agenda of questioning anything Israel says to try to fit in further with the lefties
I can attest from personal experience with the conservative community that this is definitely not the case for all conservatives. There is definitely a big hard right zionist sector in the sect (as there is surely in most jewish communities) but also many many liberal and progressive conservative jews.
The founding Charta of Hamas not just rejects the two state solution and calls for the destruction of Israel but also demands all formerly muslim ruled countrys back all of them not just in the middle east
The Jews have never been the aggressors. They always have to defend themselves. They want peace! I don’t understand why people can’t see that. I’m not a Jew but I stand with all the Jews and Israel. They are the only ones who are intelligent and want the world to be a better place. We should all be Jews and live in peace. Am Yisrael Chai! Love from Sydney Australia ❤️❤️❤️🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🙏🙏🙏
I am not Jewish I’m completely secular, but I’m fascinated by Jewish history and I was thinking how people over history were forced to deny their Jewishness to survive, most notably Maimonides. Now they join these protests for possibly same reasons? I don’t know but it’s something I have pondered.
An interesting question would be, if you go back to Oct. 6, could you say that the State of Israel was acting in good faith r.e. achieving peace with the Palestinians? One example might be the settlement movement, which you perhaps call "from Jerusalem to the river," and suggest no intention of a meaningful two state solution, if that's even what the country wants. Zionism 1.0 was the creation of a Jewish state, but 2.0 feels a little like, "We want all of it." Careful with "My country," right or wrong, but my country.
You should be proud of the students in the anti genocide protests. Would you support German students who were protesting against the Holocaust or would you make a patronizing utube video talking down to them
If Israel was perpetrating a genocide I would feel your analogy was better. My question, having read the Hamas charter, is, why aren't more Palestinians protesting against Hamas?
Beautifully expressed, thank you 🌬️ My heart resonates with your description of the events we're living through. May your words dissipate the dross being stirred up.
Dr. Abramson, I have tremendous respect for you for putting out this video. I have been perplexed, even disgusted by the participation of fellow Jews participating in the hate fest while "proudly" displaying their Jewishness. It is the realm of psychologists to explain this bizarre behaviour. I am humbled by your video-you speak eloquently with compassion, understanding and even love for your fellow Jew. My hope is that you will succeed in reaching those who are still willing to hear.
THANK YOU RABBI. I am a christian and praying for young Jews who watch your truly wise video. Reminds me of the story Jesus told of the prodigal son. We love you because Jesus loved you, HIS family, and for all that HE has done to include us , WELCOME US, into the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD. HE INCLUDED US....who did not deserve to be included......tears say we are FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE CROSS !❤
With all due respect Dr Abramson, you do not understand the perspective of the vast majority of young American Jews even a little bit. You claim a connection between jewish participants in the protests and jews in the past who openly rejected their judaism in an attempt of assimilation--- whereas the vast majority of Jews at these protests (including myself) participate exactly because of the jewish values they were raised with. It's true that jewish history, particularly in Europe, is filled with oppression, otherization, pogroms and genocide, and I've learned more about some of my own Ashkenazi history through content on your channel, which I appreciate. What is going on in this moment is not simply a rise in antisemetism (which I don't deny), but is the conflagration of the contradictions arising out of Jewish Power. The reason our own communities cannot grapple with the contradictions between jewish and zionist values is that we are precisely stuck in this mode of thinking in which every story of the jews must be a story of the oppression of the jews. What we cannot, as a community, fully comprehend is: how can we ourselves become Pharaoh. While most American Jews are probably still zionist, I guarantee you (not sure if this data is available yet) that a majority of young Jewish Americans are not by now. Quite simply, the young generation has been lost when it comes to the zionist consensus, aside from some communities still enmeshed in zionist propaganda as I was in Modern Orthodoxy growing up. I'm trying to say this as nicely as I can, since I do legitimately believe that at this point zionism as it exists in the world is a fascist ideology. It hurts immensely to see all major jewish institutions stand with Israel in this moment playing the role, at best, as fascist enablers and, at worst, full on fascists. I know you don't believe this ideology in your core but it is a rot within Jewry that must be unlearned. I sincerely hope you are able to listen to more of us young jews who have a legitimate perspective based in both our jewish and liberatory values. Unfortunately as honest of an attempt as I think this is, it still doesn't understand where we come from nor does it treat our logic as legitimate within the long and beautiful history of jewish thought.
"It is a rot within Jewry that must be unlearned." In every century Jew-Haters say exactly this, in one way or another. You know what happens after that. Going along with them will not save you in the end. You'll always be a Jew. If you really want to help Palestinians, as a Jew, go to Israel and volunteer for one the pro-Palestinian Israeli NGOs; then you could truly make a positive difference in the world.
The heartbreak in your eyes and the graciousness with which you broach the subject of Jewish students joining the pro Palestinian protests is so so painful to see but also inspiring. May the Lord have mercy on them and turn their hearts away from clear and immanent evil.
Even though this video is not for me, I can’t help but share that it was a big let down... yes, I did pick up on the cues in your other videos but nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed your content and I appreciate the effort you put into your presentations. The way you foster dialogue between nations is commendable…. this is how dialogue between nations should at least start.... …then this video, proves that many of our elders (no matter how smart) on both sides, fail to see what we see, We are no longer isolated, the world is much smaller and the bogyman is not that scary anymore, we see each other, when we see something wrong, we are not scared to call it out….. this is why ‘I reject Hamas’, and why ‘these kids are protesting’..... You know Doc, Gaslighting, just doesn't suit you. It doesn’t and it’s intellectually just horrific for someone of your caliber. Do you think, these protesters have not, or do not, condemn what Hamas did? I thought you said you understand? ...and like you said this did not start on Oct 7th... and what you just about the IOF is just horrifying, are you a proponent of collective punishment? What did the kids in incubators have to do with anything, or the little girls and babies… come on… there were a million and one others ways to get make Hamas pay and suffer but this is what the Israeli government chose, to exterminate Palestinians… did you not watch their statements on TV, did you not see the dehumanization of Palestinians, or what's going on in the West Bank? Wow.... what a letdown.... but then again that's on me, you have your motives... but as your neighbor who believes in peace, hearing you go from being in pain for the hostages (rightly so) but then to zero emotions for the mascaraed Palestinians, some who were killed for fun and videos their murder shared on social media and the daily hostages taken illegally by the IOF and placed in confinement without trial.... man.... what am I still doing here....
This is one of the purest forms of Mussar Ive ever heard. Henry, your ability to give mussar creates a responsibility that many dont have, because of inability.😊
I'm not a Jew. I couldn't claim to know all the nuances of the issues in the Middle East. I was horrified by the attack Hammas perpetrated on Israel. Horrified and deeply saddened. I am also horrified and deeply saddened by the utter destruction and death in Gaza by IDF attacks and bombings. I understand the necessity of getting Israeli hostages back, but does it justify thousands of dead and wounded? Orphaned and starving? Where does it end? I have always supported Israel, but I do worry that Israel has become the monster they have so valiantly fought against.
War has horrific consequences. If you don't want those it is better not to start one. AFAICT Israel is trying to minimize civilian casualties, but as I said, it's a war.
Thank God that Christianity does not give preference to Jews or any other nationalities or races. As holy apostle put it in the book of Colossians 3:11, " Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."
Its perfectly valid to embrace judaism and be against illegal Israeli settlements in Gaza and West Bank and Israeli occupation of Gaza and the ethnic clensing happening in Gaza. Comparing this with converting to catholicism is kinda wild. Israel is a secular nation state, not a theocracy. It is possible to be a Jew and disagree with Israeli policies when it comes to the events in Gaza and West Bank.
Thank you. And as a historian that knows the Palestinians are from the same ancestors and those who were exiled two thousand years ago. He knows not all Jews at that time were exiled, and those folks assimilated into nearby communities and converted. I will never understand why accepting the basic premise that Palestinians are humans.
This is not the point of the video, its not even mentioned and certainly not compared to converting to catholicism? What video did you watch? You either didnt understand or youre being dishonest.
I'm not Jewish & I find these protests disturbing on so many levels. I could never understand how the holocaust happened, but I'm now beginning to realize the true power of propaganda & it is frightening. Much love & support for the Jewish people & Israel.
You are so right about propagands. We are being hammered with it every moment of our lives.
What's disturbing about it?
The catholic church, aka Rome, taught in all the schools of catholic countries that the jews killed christ. This was because of classic roman mafia minded passing the buck thinking by pointing the finger of blame onto an involved party. It was the romans who killed him, for they strung him up. Not the jews. The protestant schools taught that the jews were the chosen. That is why the treatment of jews in protestant countries was kinder than the rest of europe.
This dogma continued in catholic schools until 1965.
@@CatouMilou This propalestine protest industry is nothing more than pancorporate organised propaganda financed by the Muslim Brotherhood, Soros, and a host of other fundraising charities. They feed off the young student who is the most voracious rectangle user. Hitler always focused on the young, they are easier to influence.
The holocaust happened and is happening now, but you still don’t understand…
You are such a wise person who is reaching out full heartedly to your fellow Jews. I wish you and your people peace, peace, peace. ☮️
Amen and thank you.
Going against Israel as a Jew is not a safety net, as those protesting may think. The wolves will inevitably turn on them.
Pure ignorance on their part
I agree. Without Israel, Jews who are persecuted have nowhere to go. Israel is not just a country, it is a homeland and a sanctuary. It should be defended.
@Andrew-ep4kw
God's people are supposed to be HOLY and worship Elohim.
Isaiah 14:1
The ANCIENT ISRAELITES was to allow the STRANGERS to live among them. The people in Israel want the land just for themselves, but yet, they want to also be able to be accepted in other lands.
@@CarollemMen-cl8nz 18% of Israel's population is Muslim, so I think the current Israel meets the standard of the original Israel.
@@CarollemMen-cl8nz 18% of Israeli citizens are Muslim Arab, so the current Israel meets the standards of the original Israel and Isaiah 14.1. Nice try.
Anyone who still thinks that a two state solution is possible hasn't been paying attention for the past 75 years.
Not 75 years: the governments of Israel were favorable to Palestinian sovereignty over the land acquired by Israel from Egypt and Jordan in the 1967 and 1973 wars, it was the growth in power and authority of the revisionist parties, beginning with the first government of Begin and continuing to the present date that has made this impossible. Jabotinsky, not Hamas was the first to say Israel should extend “from the river to the sea”; this continues to be the prevailing belief of his political descendants and it is they that should be criticized for the actions that has led to the indiscriminate deaths of Gazans. Not all Israelis believe as they do, fortunately, but it is a sad reality that enough of them voted to perpetuate this ideology by keeping these ideas in the majority of the MK’s. Until their ideology returns to a substantial minority in the Knesset we have to expect what we have sadly seen since October 8th. We all pray for the safe return of the hostages, both those taken on 10/7 and those taken long before them, as well as the return of a more humanitarian ideology to those who will lead Israel in the future.
@@laurenbethblah blah blah
Hamas is against the two state solution
@@laurenbethis Biden your daddy. How did that work out with Iran.
You ever hear the story of the spider( hamas) and the frog (isreal ). The spider asked the frog for a ride over the creek. The frog said you will bite me. Spider said think about it, if do I would die too. Half why across the spider bites the frog. Frog goes why, spider said " it's my nature"
@@laurenbethArafat’s PLO was established in 1964, 3 years before the 6 Day War, with the aim of weakening the morale of the Jewish state through ongoing acts of terror both internally and externally. It can be said that they embodied the popular current slogan “globalize the intifada.” In turn, they were simply carrying on the same desire to eradicate the Jews espoused by the Grand Mufti before them. It had and continues to have nothing to do with who’s in power in the Knesset.
I’m not Jewish, I follow your channel to learn more about Jewish history. Nevertheless, I appreciate your comments on this issue.
Thank you
Good people protest against genocide and apartheid, no matter who does it. @@HenryAbramsonPhD
@@stizzlehizzle I never thought I'd see the day when you have to be pro genocide in order to be considered not anti-Semitic.
@@JacintaPalerm I doubt he's lying, just misinformed. He is justifiably concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism that has accompanied the most recent Israeli genocide. But, as a scholar, he ought to know hoe to do his due diligence, which is lacking in this case.
@@pirbird14 Israel is defending itself from genocide. Hamas says very plainly that they want to kill all the Jews in the world. The Arabs would commit genocide if given the capability. Israel has the capability, but doesn't do it. The war would have been over immediately if the hostages were returned and the perpetrators were turned over. By putting pressure on Israel instead of Hamas, the protestors are prolonging of the war and causing the deaths of more Gazans. Israel has already offered to stop the war if the hostages are returned, but Hamas refuses.
Some people just choose to not understand.
Some. Others are perhaps just misguided.
I wish Hannah Arendt were alive today. She would be standing against Netanjahu and all "revisionist" Zionists.
To be honest it is complicated and the current Israeli government isn't making it easy. The Palestinian narrative, with its selective history and outright lies, can be convincing to people who are not educated about history. Which is most people. There is also a well funded PR machine behind it including university funding, social media etc. It's ok to come out against the Israeli government but it's not ok to stand with fascists while doing that.
And some are free thinkers who do not take everything learned for granted. I am relatively new to Judaism. Raised Catholic, but DNA says Ashkenazi. As a NATO media consultant, exit strategy is a possibility. Not my choice, but a possibility. Ask Bibi who wrote the underlying thesis to the Abraham Accords.>>>--->
Choose not to understand? Please inform me what I am missing. I support Israel and the people of Israel. I support the people of Gaza, and don't like the treatment that they are receiving. If Egypt opened the border to allow the Northern Cana'anites to enter Southern Cana'an. Two states. Sainai and Israel.
Question for Mr. Abramson.
Is it WRONG to protest Netanyahu's approach to the Palestinians? He's not very focused on freeing the hostages as opposed to killing Palestinians. You can support Israel AND oppose his mass slaughter of innocent Palestinians.
If you say yes to my question, then I cannot trust you as a human being.
I think he's talking more about the current trend of protest going on throughout campuses. Most of these are not the kind Jews may want to be associated with. Besides the anti Semitic chants and flags they are calling for more than an end to the killing. I don't think he would have much issue if Jews protested Netanyahu's tactic specifically.
What innocent Palestinians?
Over 70 percent voted in Hamas and many Gazans participated in the killing, raping, looting, and kidnapping of Israeli civilians.
Mass slaughter of Palestinians? I think Israel is trying to minimize civilian casualties.
I am not Jewish, but this was so well and calmly explained by the Rabbi. If this message does not hit home for the intended audience, I am not sure what will. As a Christian New Zealander, I support Israel. 🙏
Thanks for the supportive comment. Not a Rabbi, though.
Thank you.
Colossians 3:11
New International Version
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
I stand shoulder-to-shoulder ❤🇮🇱
Please remember that it was the government of Hamas that failed the people of Gaza, in a similar way that the Nazi government failed the German people. Neither government could get along with their neighbors (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, etc, with Hamas - all of Europe with the Nazis), but rather both governments wanted war, instead of pursuing peace in a way that benefited their people. Pursuing peaceful relationships with their neighbors that improved the quality of life for their peoples, like most governments do. It took a war to liberate the German people from the Nazi government and it's taking a war to liberate the people of Gaza from Hamas, unfortunately. "War is hell" is what General Sherman described and he is right. But sometimes we have to do it.
An interesting comparison.
Actually Britan and the U.S. wanted WW2, not Germany contrary to popular belief.
You missed Jorge’s point entirely. It’s not about the background of the war. It’s about the ideology behind both Germans and Gazans, irregardless of the war.
@@jrutt2675 Actually it was Germany (and Italy) who declared war on the US just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their axis agreement (Japan, Germany, and Italy) lead both of those nations to do so.
Overall the US was preparing for war though. It was coming. FDR and other American leaders saw that. But I have to disagree that we "wanted it". The war came to America. We didn't go to the war.
Well said!
Having empathy for others and putting oneself in their shoes is such an important and difficult thing to do. When Jews take an anti-Zionist stance, they're not helping Palestinians. They're just burning their own shoes.
An apt metaphor.
How about putting themselves in the Palestinians shoes?
@mebarsonebymaria4038 my point is that yes, we should put ourselves in Palestinians' shoes. Their suffering is real, and their aspirations for self-determination are valid. But that doesn't negate the validity of our own need for self-determination and security. These things are not mutually exclusive. Most of the protesters act as if they are.
@@Balagoola self-determination of the Palestinians is obstructed by the Israeli governments and the settlements. They make it mutually exclusive on purpose.
205…Thank you dear professor, for your continued stand for our people. My heart breaks for this tragedy and the continued vilification of our people. Yet, you handled this exceptionally difficult subject with grace and true wisdom as always. Be blessed… shalom.
You're much too respectful to those Jewish students and professors who side with those who seek our destruction. That said, you're a decent man for your composure
Thank you.
I agree Steven and said so just now independently
In my view the responsibility for this antisemitic chaos lies{sic) with the adults--i.e. the professors and administrators who hired them.
@@annalink4351 Exactly! I was so shocked and appalled to see actual professors joining and encouraging this garbage behavior.
Composure? So be violent.
A voice of clarity and reason, yet again. Thank you Dr. Abramson for the continuity of your work.
Thanks for stating what I feel every time an interview with a Jewish student participant makes front page news. Wisdom should be guided by the heart but still it must come from the brain. (There’s apparently no option for $18!)
Thanks for supporting the research. Your supportive comments are also very much appreciated.
I am an indigenous Greek "pagan". I stand with the state of Israel, my ancient neighbor.
Ων παίδες ευλογείται
Αμήν και ευχαριστώ
@@HenryAbramsonPhD αμήν my brother. thank you very much. Stay powerful.
The word synagogue is ancient Greek! Thank YOU!
@@ajarnwordsmith628 synagogue means the people gathering. We need you, we love you. Stay Powerful
Thank you for speaking out on this subject..!! And the way you’re doing it! It’s So important!! And healing.
Thank you for the supportive comment.
They simply want to stop the slaughter. It is not an anti-jewish stance. They are not saying that Palistinians should exterminate Is rael. How could that even happen. Israel has overwhelming military power. I is in Israels interest to stop the slaughter.
Exactly. This man shows no empathy for the suffering and death of Palestinians. Every day is the 7th of October for them. Every single day.
@@AfroAsiaticLanguages watch the full video.
@@commenceun I did, thanks.
Well done Sir, speaking the truth in love. Your pain comes thru as does your calm wisdom.
Thank you kindly
One of my young airmen in the USAF a number of years ago was a Palestinian. Born in Gaza but his family got to the USA and he eventually enlisted in the military. He really could not understand his relatives in Gaza who hated Jews.
There is sadly quite a bit of propaganda in their educational system.
He was lucky, very lucky actually, to have good parents.
They do not hate Jews, they hate the State of Israel. And if you can't fathom or understand why they would hate Israel then it's you who needs to be educated.
While I agree with Henry, it's also about a lived experience, something he could never understand.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD but surely there's no racist propaganda in the Israeli education or media systems, right?
Yes, Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, and Avi Shlaim: we're talking about you.
Edited to add: George Soros. How could I have left him out.
Thank you only he says it better, we know who he’s talking about. My grandmother used to tell me about the JEWISH Kapos in the camps. She was never in a concentration camp. She was up in the mountains with the partisans and the communists in northern Greece, but she knew about them from some of her friends. How could they have mistreated their own brethren? The answer to that is that they felt that they have something to gain I don’t know, what to sell more books? To be more popular? It is not worth it. I think it is more because they are confused and have conflicting feelings.
Add to the list Gabor mate and his entitled son.
Why do you bring George soros in this when every negative thing about him is created by anti semites spreading hate about the Jews?
My hackles rise hearing those names, as I posted in response to Professor Abramson under his response to my original comment. I agree.
and his Son, Alexander...million$ from him to the pro Islamist "If Not Now"
The Golden Rule so important to both Jew and Christian holds here in the division of the Palestinian Territory in 1948. There was gross unfairness there and NO maneuvering of the facts will change that. God Bless the young people of ALL faiths who see the truth of history and the distortion of the facts that has led to these travesties.
Respect from China and solidarity with Israel.
Thank you
Thank you for posting this. I am heartsick when I hear Jews condemning Israel, some of whom are within my own extended family. They can’t possibly really understand Jewish history.
I am heartsick as well.
they've always done this, even in Germany 1930's.
These are people who believe they’ll be spared by the Jew-haters. They won’t.
@@song4night It is not especially Jewish. Every population has such a fringe.
Remember...four-fiths of the Jews died during Egypt's plague of darkness because they did not choose to follow Moshe's instructions from G-D. So, thousands of years later and here we are with Jews still not understanding their history or their purpose. Nothing new under the sun.
Dr Abramson, I hold a pretty centrist position on this situation but will all due respect, I don’t think there’s any level of qualification that gives someone the right to opine publicly about who is and is not a “good Jew”.
I didn’t say anything about that. Did you even watch h the video?
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Indeed I did, I’m just not sure how else the Donin example is expected to be understood other than as an impugning by implication. What is the relevance of that example? Protestor participation is analogous to that?
@@HenryAbramsonPhDAlso the survey you show at the end which is supposedly evidence that Zionism is core to the Jewish identity and anyone outside of that is marginal or something. this notion that “a good Jew must to some degree identify with modern Zionism” is intuitively contemptible to me.
Fallacious logic and intentionally misleading propaganda are central features of Zionism.
Jews participating is protests where there is implicit support for Hamas are obviously bad Jews
I want to be very clear about something. I'm almost 40 and haven't been attending any protests and certainly can't speak for the young people attending. However, the assumption that they are doing this because of peer pressure and not because they are legitimately upset about the mass casualties in Gaza is pretty insulting.
You miss the point. Everyone with human heart is upset about the casualties in Gaza. But I would argue that supporting pro-Hamas protests is not the way to change the situation.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD I loved your video and I loved your reply. If pro Palestinian didn't also mean pro Hamas, and it does, maybe the video would have been a little different. I am a convert to Judaism, almost 25 years ago, my converting Rabbi told me that if I wanted to be Jewish I had to be ready to take the bad with the good. This October 7 massacre has actually made me feel more Jewish and actually afraid for my Jewish children. We do not have a Jewish last name, but we live our lives as openly Jewish.
They're upset about all the suffering caused by terrorists & even though they're siding with the aggressors in chants for the anihilation of Israel.
Btw, the same bad guys who hide themselves among Palestinian civilians with Israeli civilian held hostages & who refuses to take them back.
Well, it says a lot about the reasoning behind the protests & the knowledge of the protesters about the conflict.
Thank you for making this important video. Am Yisrael Chai and Bring Them Home Now.
Glad it was helpful
I wish my Jewish and Israeli friends would call Capo what they are. I'm not Jewish but my Grandfather was a Jew in Nazi Germany. What we are seeing is Weimar Drunks, WW2 Reloaded. What these people are doing is treacherous. Thank you for your respectful sensible, fact-filled approach, I am unable to be polite with these people. My prayers go out to all Jewish people and especially those in Israel where one friend lost so many at Kibbutz Be'eri. Never Again is Now.
Capo is a very harsh term indeed.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Professor, I admin international geopolitics groups. For going on 4 years I noticed a sharp uptick in antisemitic comments on social media. Facebook does not censor them at all. They put me on a 60 day strike for "hate speech and breaching community standards" for sharing the image of Al Hussaini and Hitler along with the Time article.
On my own time and dime, I started meticulously keeping records with screenshots of the most unbelievably horrific, sadistic, genocidal rhetoric imaginable. I was so concerned that about 2 years ago, I contacted Mossad with a batch of the screenshots and said "if you don't do something about this, people are going to die".
I knocked on every door, all to no avail. I have a nest of straight up Nazis that are so easy to track because they are all connected on social media. I cannot believe no one ever was interested and no one ever reined it in.
After October 7 (one friend's daughter narrowly escaped Nova, another was connected to Kibbutz Be'eri), these groups turned into absolute chaos with the most extreme antisemitism. Every time I tried to present a rational account (I saw the footage Hamas posted themselves on October 7 on Telegram, I am not confused), I was subjected to the most disgusting and vile attacks, death threats in my inbox, on and on. I reported posts where people were openly fundraising for Hamas and the Houthis. NOTHING.
My Jewish friends fall into 2 categories: those you address here, and those who stay silent, afraid to make waves, afraid of the backlash.
I personally engaged and what I have is a pattern of how their arguments go. It sounds very much like they all got identical material from very similar sites because people not linked, over the world, all parroting the same blood libel is not a coincidence. I hope one day social media terrorism, which is what this is, will be punished as a war crime
After October 7, "friends" people I know started trolling Israeli friend's memorials to their dead and attacked me for, I quote "trying to show Israelis as humans". I took screenshots, dumped them into albums with hashtags so they can easily be retrieved assuming my account isn't shut, because Nazis don't get censored, people who speak out against them do. It's so bad that Facebook removed a photo I posted of Sophie Scholl together with an article from Wikipedia (to be as bland as possible) as breaching "community standards".
If you ever want access to any of my research or to communicate, I'm at your disposal.Anyone who wants to connect with me on social media is welcome, even though I'm shadow banned to hell.
The worst, most damaging propaganda is coming from Team Finkelstein, Pappe, Mate - every right wing and left wing lunatic in the West idolises them. Apparently the tagline "Holocaust survivor" and pathological hatred of Jews is all they need. I have no Jewish source to refer to to refute them, the damage they have done is incalculable. I implemented rules that posts involving them are not geopolitics and will be deleted from group discussions but it's endless and daily. Alongside the sneering Galloway and a few others, it's lethal. People swallow everything they say hook, line and sinker.
My prayers and love to Jewish people everywhere. Stay strong and let us hope these people of the lie will be brought to justice. I will not shut up. As a child I was prone to visions (as opposed to delusions) and Nazism rising again was one. I used to pray that if it happened, I wouldn't betray myself by staying silent because of what other people thought or said.
Am Yisrael Chai
Best
Ora
You may not be aware that Qatar is funding all the universities with the biggest protests. I have links and information regarding that.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD I think it's unfair to call some of these people Kapos, because many Kapos were in an impossible, unimaginable situation. Many of them also helped other inmates.
They remind me more of the Yevsektsiya.
as an Israeli Jew I actually agree with your approach a whole lot more than with this never-ending "respectful" blah blah blah
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Yes, capo is a hard term and is used very properly in this case.
This issue is far more simple than you make it out to be. Good people of any religion or culture oppose the injustice of violent occupation, apartheid, and genocide. You should be proud that young Jewish people are emerging as leaders in a global movement for peace, justice, and freedom. This is Israel's moment to embrace change, and it is right that Jewish people of conscience should lead them to it.
Dr Abramson, first let me commend you for reaching out to your fellow Jews with a different opinion about the war. I know that is so hard to do. I am neither Jewish nor Muslim. I am a Christian and a follower of the abrahamic tradition. I am also just human. My heart is heavy with what is happening in the holy land. But I will share a few thoughts with you and other Jewish elders. Please be patient with these young people. There are lot of professional manipulators out there who are taking advantage of these young people naïveté and spirit. Second, try your hardest to remember being their age. At that age, they all want to make a difference and make their own path in the world. They still believe their single act can change the world. And they want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Lastly trust you have sowed the seeds of goodness in their hearts. I know the Jewish tradition is so rich in love and caring for their children. Trust they will chose the right. And the right is not Judaism, Christianity, Islam or any other defined religion. The right is learning to love one another as the creator loves his creation. It is loving, learning and respecting all of gods creation. Sending my thoughts and prayers to you, your people, and the holy land.
Thank you for these kind and thoughtful words.
Amen. Thank you for your profound comment.
I hope that this finds its way to the people who really need to hear this
Me too
Thank G-D, I don't know the people that are being addressed, but if you know anti-Israel protesters you can spread the message by sending it.
@@user-pd7il3xz5j How anyone can support Israel under Netanyahu and his psychopathic government is beyond me
"Don't rely on your Instagram feed" is truly wisdom. Thank you.
Thank you.
Amen to that 😉
Do you agree collective punishment of civilians is wrong? Yes or no.
Do you agree destruction of hospitals and schools is wrong? Yes or no.
Do you agree mass graves are wrong? Yes or no.
These are the reasons for the protests. If you are making apologies for atrocities you have lost the plot and the moral path.
Do you believe that actions have consequences? Does the approved leadership of Gazans make them accountable as well? Does Hamas use women and children as human shields, just as they used them as suicide bombers in the second Intifada?
If Hamas chooses to place combatants in hospitals and schools, is Israel pervented from seeking them out? Wouldn't that make the practice of terrorist action, then hide in public spaces to prevent retaliation, a policy which prevented any government from defending its people?
Look worldwide. There are exactly zero open, tolerant liberal democracies in Muslim majority countries. 57 countries, and not one of them has a thriving democracy that protects individual and minority rights. LGBTQ+ are subject to the death penalty in many Islamic countries. Religious minorities are disappearing in each and every one of those nations. And as a kicker, Arabs have a longer life expectancy in Israel than in any Arab led country.
It is your right to continue believing your ill-informed narrative, but that doesn't make you correct. Hamas makes every effort to maximize casualties among Gazan citizens in a scurrilous public relations appeal to the west. The protesters should call out,
"Hamas, release the hostages! And don't hide behind innocent civilians!"
Amen!
Charles Edward’s is me Aryehleib . I am so impressed by how you first validate and then you are so gentle. The only possible way of convincing anyone but most of us forget this in the moment. Really gold standard advocacy here.
Well, thank you.
Well you teach a course in this o think. But we always knew kain ayin hara you are a polymath. And you still won’t cop to what languages you know.
is this deliberate . One day I’ll tell my grandchildren where I was in May 2024. That might be true.
1. Where is the condemnation of Hamas? Of course what Hamas did is horrendous and inexcusable, but to act like protesting Israel means you support Hamas is absurd. In addition, where is the condemnation of the Nakba, or the condemnation of the Israelites killing every man woman and child in Jericho?
2. Why not call for peace with Israel? Ask Netanyahu that question! He has strongly opposed a two state solution for decades and actively fought against it. He was happy that Hamas won the election in Gaza because it created a division between the governing entities of Palestinians. That is why he facilitated the funding of Hamas to the order of millions of dollars over the years.
3. Get educated on the history of Israel: The most accurate data suggests that over 400,000 Muslims lived in the area that is now Israel when the Zionist movement first started. Those people's lives were massively disrupted by the influx of immigrants to the holy land. Considering that Palestinians and Israelis are genetically identical suggests that they were both decedents from the Canaanites and therefor the Palestinians are as native to that land as the Israelis. In fact many of them are the descendants of Jews who were forced to convert to Islam. Does forced conversion mean you no longer have a claim to the land where you live?
4. Most Jews who strongly support Israel seem to have a herd mentality that refuses to acknowledge the totality of history and chooses instead to cherry-pick a narrative that ignores the fundamental moral flaws of the zionist agenda.
The reality is you cannot win against Hamas by bombing mostly women and children. You cannot win by systematically targeting journalists and aid workers. Those things only serve to strengthen Hamas. If Israel was wise they would have taken advantage of the massive world sympathy after Oct 7th and used it to create a coalition that took a nuanced approach that would work to offer a better ideology to Palestinians (not reinforce Hamas's ideology). They could have also used the international outpouring of support to invest in improved security and make countless meaningful deals with Arab countries. They could have won HUGE, but instead they took an approach that disproved all claims of moral superiority and the outcome has been unfolding as expected. Our tax dollars should not go towards such a reckless and counterproductive campaign of collective punishment and war crimes. If Israel wants the support of Jews let them earn it through wise policymaking, not through blind allegiance.
💯!
@HenryAbramsonPhD any thoughts?
‼️‼️‼️
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for God, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear God; indeed, God is fully Aware of what you do.”
Thank you, once again, Dr. Abramson, for being a voice of reason on UA-cam and within public discourse.
As a secular gentile, I remain aghast at the level of irrational ignorance, bigotry, and animus, toward Jewish people.
I believe the study (and understanding) of History, is by far more valuable than theology or politics - History explains most, if not - all. History also can help us to not make the same mistakes over and over, for which there are clear historical corollaries and lessons to be learned, if only we'd recognize those corollaries and heed those all-important lessons.
Side question: What is the significance of the peice of masking tape with a number on it, affixed to your lapel?
Thank you~
Thank you for the kind words. The number on the masking tape is at the request of the mother of a kidnapped child, marking the number of days he has been in captivity.
What about the Palestinians imprisoned since years ago? Your shirt wouldn’t have place for the numbers of days they have been away from their families. Children as old as 12 years old being tortured, women being raped? Palestinians want justice, they were and still are being deprived of their houses of their children of their husbands. The police uproots their olive trees, the settlers attack them and that has been going on since 1930 . But I’m sure you know about that.
A voice of bias is more like it.
Netanyahu has abandoned the hostages in order to kill random innocent Palestinian civilians with reckless abandon. And yet people say that if you criticize the Israeli government that you're anti-Semitic. Go figure.
@@briancontreras9317 What is your evidence of the accusation you made?
@@briancontreras9317 😂 you are a garden variety anti- semite so it makes us with no sense why you're watching this channel but go figure😂
Let me make this clear. There was a few Jews who helped in the protest of Blacks for civil rights.
Not many at all. We thank the few who did.
Mr. Abramson, please forgive me if I make an inaccurate description of history and I apologize in advance for the long post. It is my view that people do not understand history or at least know ancient history. It is also my experience that people tend to place blame on other people and other "things" where it is not warranted. These students, whether they be Jewish, Christian or secular believe Israel is oppressing the Palestinians. They ignore the Torah, the Old Testament. While many stories in the Bible are most likely embellished (in my opinion) there are some historical truth's. Israelite's have inhabited the land for 4 millennia. Where were the Palestinians 4,000 years ago? Israelites are mentioned but no mention of Palestinians. They ignore or do not know the facts surrounding the 1948 war for Israeli independence nor do they understand or know that "Palestinian" only became a reference to a people in 1964. Prior they were Arabs. With that said, Israel has attempted many times to allow for/enact a two-state solution. Yasser Arafat and the PLO have rejected it. People ignore, do not know, or fail to realize that Gaza was governed by Hamas - they were voted into power. Additionally, there are no Jews in Gazza as they were forced to move by the Israeli's. People seem to think this is the result of pent up hatred for Israel treating Palestinians badly over the years. However, the Palestinians had self-governance in Gaza and it was their governing body, Hamas, that started this conflict. If the Palestinians in Gaza were suffering it was not due to the Israeli's but to Hamas and Hamas leadership who use the Palestinians as human shields and abuse them. I do not care if some or most Palestinians hate Israeli's or Jews. So be it. People ignore or do not ask "why" other Muslim countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia do not allow Palestinian refugees into their countries. Why is it not hateful when Egypt has sent their troops and erected a wall on the Sinai with southern Gaza to keep the Palestinians from entering Egypt? No one asks this question. In the short answer is that all blame should be placed on Hamas. There would not be a reason for this war if Israel was not attacked on October 7th. While there has been collateral damage and civilians have been killed I cannot and do not take the word of a terrorist organization who are the one's providing these numbers to the press. I firmly believe that Israel does everything in their power to minimize civilian casualties. However, there would never have been civilian casualties if Hamas had not attacked October 7. I believe Israel wishes to live in peace with their neighbors and the rest of the world for that matter. It is also my belief that these people do not understand that Iran is backing Hamas and attacked Israel with the blessing of Iranian leadership. I believe Iran did this because they wish to stir trouble in the region and are not happy with Israel in peaceful negotiations with her neighbors such as Saudi Arabia.
TWO POINTS. FIRST, A SMALL POINT, THE STORY OF ABRAHAM AND THE JEWS STARTS IN THE BRONZE AGE NEAR EAST ABOUT 1200-1400 YEARS AGO, NOT 4000 YEARS AGO. MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU STATE "People ignore or do not ask "why" other Muslim countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia do not allow Palestinian refugees into their countries." A BETTER QUESTION THAT YOU AND OTHERS IGNORE IS WHY THE ISRAEL DIDN'T LET THE ARABS WHO FLED OR WERE FORCED TO FLEE GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES AFTER THE FIGHTING IN 1948.
Read Herodotus.
He wrote of “Palestine”
@@palepride7530he wrote of philistine.
@@dorandacolbert5973 yeah same thing. Like Hebrews to Jews
@@palepride7530 Jews are so called because their country was Judea. Philistines were Agean people and Herodotus was a Greek author writing about his people.
Well said. I'm not Jewish, but I do wonder about those who join the protests.
Thank you. Me too.
See today's Tom Nash Report. Qatar has been pouring money into universities for over two decades. I first noticed in 2004 when Francisco Gil-White, history prof, not Jewish & proIsrael, got fired from Penn U staff & replaced by Islamicists. You can Google him. The FBI has admitted that Islamicists have been pouring cash into universities in the West. The Tom Nash Report gets into it.
@e.t.ethics1771 Be careful about gobbling up all the propaganda and asking for more. Gluttony for propaganda has consequences. Alienation would be one of those.
@e.t.ethics1771 no. See, you can not understand one simple thing - the IDF is not just an army. IDF is all of us. Our children are IDF. We are all IDF and we know from the first hand that we don't do it. How can you know? Check Israeli education program. Check our values, check how we raise our kids. Then you will understand the IDF. Then check the same in Gaza. That's how you make your opinion. Good luck.
Netanyahu has abandoned the hostages in order to kill random innocent Palestinian civilians with reckless abandon. And yet people say that if you criticize the Israeli government that you're anti-Semitic. Go figure.
Well said Professor. Unlikely to change many minds but if your 'open letter' reaches and effects a few than its a success!
Thank you.
In agreement from Australia 🙏🏾
Let's just pray for peace. Too many people died on both sides since the 7th of october. Too many parents lost their childs and loved ones. The suffering is so immense the pain unbelievable. I can understand the confusion of young people who are trying to make sence out of this and maybe support the protests. With whole my heart I wish there will be peace.
Me too
Thank you, Rabbi. In the USA we’re closing this year’s Chag Seder with heavy hearts. Israel is in our prayers 💔 May we all have a much happier Shavuot🙏🏼
Amen. Not a Rabbi, just a regular guy.
@HenryAbramsonPhD Perhaps a rabbi, not a Rabbi. Doesn't rabbi mean teacher? I think you are a superb teacher, rabbi!
As you are not Semite according to your DNA. Your can not say you are a Part of the 12 tribes. This means you have a false identitity. But I have nothing against your religion
@@borisalexanderspecker8127 Dude, have you asked your family physician to adjust your meds? It’s time.
@@cropcirclerbut why is that not true
Thank you. You're knowledge, compassion and clear thinking is a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for your perspective in this difficult time 🙏🏼
Chag sameach and may we בע"ה see the world increase in knowledge and love speedily in our days! 🙌🏼🙏🏼💙🇮🇱
Amen
Thank you DR for the wise advice, I hope these words will reach out to the Jews protesting against their own family.
You began your narrative with October 7. I think the narrative can start in 1896 when Herzl wrote that Zionism would be an outpost of European civilization against Asian barbarism (not exact quote but very close)
See earlier videos
You should acknowledge that this was not the only view of the Zionist movement. Herzl himself alienated himself from the rest of the Zionists with his publishing of “Altneuland”.
Thank you for saying that with such calmness. I admit to feeling overwhelmed and having trouble understanding them.
Unfortunately, the mainstream narrative of the entire conflict uses language such as „apartheid“, „genocide“, „war crimes, „open air prison“, „colonialism“ and even „holocaust“ to accuse Israel, whilst Palestinians are labelled as refugees and victims. The massacre of Oct 7 gets mentioned minimally, and the current opinion is quick to say „but you need to see what Israel did to the Gazans before Oct 7“.
This means that, unless one does a bit of digging and thinking, the perspective of Israel as the horrible and powerful invader seems inevitable, even to Jews who will say that being Jewish does not mean that they have to justify all these terrible crimes that Israel is increasingly being accused of on a global, as well as social media level.
Well done Dr. Abramson - powerful /insightful words and timely, none of us could have said it better. Todah Rabah.
I think what’s missing is that children are dying and that should be the main focus. We are not talking about a handful but two thirds of all death have been women and children.
When you know that dropping that bomb will result in so many death of children for a possible Hamas, will you drop that bomb? Is that worth the trade off. Are Palestinian child worth less than a Jewish child?
I think arguing based upon tribal affinity is a big part of the problem. If everyone just looks from that perspective, when will there ever be peace. What divides us is far smaller than what unite us.
Bernie Sanders condemns antisemitism but also condemns what Netanyahu is doing. Surely we need to go beyond tribalism. Especially given so much of history is about wars because of tribalism.
Regardless there are idiots on both sides. Just look at Ben Gvir of Netanyahu government. Such extremists don’t speak for everybody and we should never allow them to determine the narrative and divide us as they so much desire. They want us to see the false dichotomy of tribalism.
Someday I may see a child forever maimed because of Netanyahu’s bomb. And I would hate to think that I could have given my small voice even if it is not heard.
Exactly.
How do you think Israel should have reacted to Oct 7th?
@@quintrankid8045 Not with such level of collective punishment. It's beneath a nation's dignity to exercise such level of punishment. Tell Netanyahu and AIPAC, don't inflict such level of harm in our name.
Dr. Abramson, thank you. I'm not J but have been attending all of your lessons of history. I am grateful, I learned the whole story of the world , Israel has been all along, from their land, to empires, to art, to religion etc etc etc. I hope many of all the peoples of the world (J or not),learn from you. After all, there is, and there will still be only One. Hope all days come soon
Thanks for the kind words.
Your videos are excellent - please consider adding closed captioning - many truly need them.
Thank you. You should be able to access the captions with the settings control
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Usually that's the case - but it says closed captions are unavailable.
Toda Raba For Speaking Out Right Now!!! Am Yisrael Chai my brother
Am Yisrael chai.
Like “trustees” in a prison. To the enemy, there’s a perverse multiplier in this treason. Like having a family member betray their own.
Thank you so much for all your videos. They have been a source of comfort. I have really been struggling with understanding the perspective of the protestors, not in solidarity with Gazans who are suffering, but with their allegiance to anti zionism (I find it frighteningly ahistorical to want to undo a country that already exists.)Today I listened to an interview with Noah Feldman on the Haaretz podcast. His explanation of this phenomenon really helped me feel some empathy with the kids who are protesting. I don’t agree with them, but it helps to understand their perspective. You might like it. I look forward to your next video.
Thank you for your empathetic comment.
You are a real Mensch. Thank you for this video and the work you do. Sadly, those that truly NEED to hear your words (and truth) just won't hear them.
Take care and keep doing the good work. Shalom, shalom. 🙏🌻
I live in Northern Europe. There was a naturalised Arab at my part-time job that, a couple of weeks ago, said: "Hitler was king, because what he did to the Jews is what it said in our book that you should do to them." I never thought I'd live to heard that from a citizen of a European country. But I did.
May Israel live forever, and may the Jewish people survive this Pharaoh and this Egypt. I will continue to learn about Jewish history.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Did you ask him about how Hitler ended himself?
So, because one guy said that, you support the ongoing systematic genocide of an entire race of people?
I want to express my admiration for the reasonableness and the humanity of Henry Abramson in this video. Respect.
Thank you for this kind word.
I respect your view Mr Abramson. However, this conflict has its context pre-October 7, 2023. Without condoning the actions of this unfaithful day, Palestinians have been living under heavy oppression and disenfranchised of their human liberties. As a South African who lived through the horrible Apartheid regime I know from first hand experience of how it is to be treated as a second class citizen or worse yet being classified and refereed to as a human animal.
Besides this, the Israeli response, by any acceptable standard, has taken a disproportionate measure especially to the detriment of the innocent and the most vulnerable i.e. women, children, health care workers, sick, the elderly, etc.
This past weekend South Africa celebrated it freedom day. I have never been to Palestine but I can tell you something, regardless of the mismanagement we may have in our country 🇿🇦, we by far cherish our freedom rather than the place we were 30 years ago.
I can tell you now, if for one single day you were clothed in “Palestinian skin” you will in no doubt know that freedom, respect, right to dignity, etc is the sole desire of any oppressed community. If the Israeli government had wise leadership, they would know that you can’t kill an idea by killing the messenger, perhaps this is what they should wake up to.
Totally false. Hamas is not for freedom, in its charter its stated purpose is genocide of Jews. Do you have a problem with the truth?
3. Educate yourself.
Words of wisdom, indeed. And I have begun to weep with the last words. Those who love peace seek to free the captives, to provide aid to the orphans and those who lost children. To anyone on any side that speaks of escalating violence, I think of how many more innocents would be destroyed on such a path. Let us not ask for the destruction of anything. Let us ask for rebuilding, restoration, healing, and for our hearts to be softened.
Thank you again, Professor Abramson, you have taught me an important lesson.
Very moving discussion about a very difficult issue. Thank you for your caring and your passion to help Israel and the Jewish people
Regardless of what you imagine the history of Israel has been or who has a right to it, defending Israels genocide of the Palestinian people forfeits any reasonable expectation of others to treat you like a person, and it puts the Jewish people in a peril that history has never known. This isn't us versus them. It's humanity against evil.
Ridiculous, and sloppy thinking. Being anti-Hamas, calling for the release of hostages, does not make one “pro-genocide.” Also presumes that the assault on Gaza constitutes genocide at all.
Many thanks Dr. Abramson!
As a gentile who received a solid education in history, it appears that those attending these "universities" as students were never taught 20th Century history!
When Qatar has paid off the universities for over a decade, there's no such thing as a "free lunch", they obviously wanted a quid pro quo and here we are.
What exactly makes you say that?
You provide a calm and fundamental appeal to peace through knowledge. Thank you!
Thank you for your message Professor Abramson.
I do believe Israel is losing the global information/media and ‘propaganda’ war sadly.
But I do take courage that the prophets and God Himself did not leave us without hope.
There is an end to these current events, and the future, uncertain as it may now look comes out very favourable for Israel.
We are not alone.
He is right. This movement started when Arafat started the “general union of Palestinian students” at San Francisco state university. Most of them are rabid antisemites. It’s just that simple. These riots and squatters now have an outlet into directing their hatred at Jews whom they did not have a platform to discriminate against til now. Riots and squatting on some else’s properties is not protected speech and are not “protests”. The USA let in many people over the decades who do not respect or cherish our values codified in the Bill of Rights. They came here for better economic opportunity. And now we are reaping what was sowed. This has been going on campuses for almost 40 years. Anyone who claims otherwise is at minimum misinformed
So glad you posted this. Utter and complete naivety and lack of perspective by these well-meaning but shortsighted people
Thank you
Indeed it is the historian who possesses such critical insight to current events.
Your words are felt and so important.
עם חסד זו הדרך שלנו 💙
Am Yisrael Chai!!! It's very difficult to find intelligent people but I have joined a temple and found some, thankfully.
Entire Jewish orthodox communities are getting brutalized by Israeli police right now in protest of Netanyahu's genocidal war-mongering, but Mr. Abramson wants to scold American Jews on college campuses for doing the same. I wonder why one form of Jewish protest is highlighted and another is not. Also, referring to these anti-war Jews as "tokens" is anything but respectful.
my 80-year-old grandmother stopped going to the conservative synagogue she's been attending for many years, only zooms services now, and expressed support for the politics of the local JVP rabbi. despite the fact that she's been to israel many times (i haven't been once) and even volunteering in the IDF kitchens, she told me at our seder that she probably won't ever go to israel again. i'm thinking about joining the synagogue she left to see for myself whether there are people advocating for "killing all the palestinians" like she said there are
I would encourage you to visit Israel.
I missed the part where jvp was defined and what does it mean? A social justice leftist leading good people downward?
Except for the Orthodox here in the twin cities they are all infested with leftists and the agenda of questioning anything Israel says to try to fit in further with the lefties
I can attest from personal experience with the conservative community that this is definitely not the case for all conservatives. There is definitely a big hard right zionist sector in the sect (as there is surely in most jewish communities) but also many many liberal and progressive conservative jews.
@@alfalfas2849 Most Conservative (capital C) Jews are liberal/progressive.
Your grandmother sounds awesome!!
The founding Charta of Hamas not just rejects the two state solution
and calls for the destruction of Israel
but also demands all formerly muslim ruled countrys back
all of them not just in the middle east
These youth are leading the way. Perhaps you all should learn from them and follow their lead.
Thank you Dr. Abramson, wise words ❤
This video is a model for how to make historical arguments within a Jewish framework. I appreciated the tasteful usage of the Haggadah at the end.
Thank you
The Jews have never been the aggressors. They always have to defend themselves. They want peace! I don’t understand why people can’t see that. I’m not a Jew but I stand with all the Jews and Israel. They are the only ones who are intelligent and want the world to be a better place. We should all be Jews and live in peace. Am Yisrael Chai! Love from Sydney Australia ❤️❤️❤️🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🙏🙏🙏
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not covet.
All the things that the “protestors” are advocating
Nowhere does it say you cant defend yourself or others.
I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for your dedication, time, and effort towards emet.
Thank you very much
I am not Jewish I’m completely secular, but I’m fascinated by Jewish history and I was thinking how people over history were forced to deny their Jewishness to survive, most notably Maimonides. Now they join these protests for possibly same reasons? I don’t know but it’s something I have pondered.
Samw
An interesting question would be, if you go back to Oct. 6, could you say that the State of Israel was acting in good faith r.e. achieving peace with the Palestinians? One example might be the settlement movement, which you perhaps call "from Jerusalem to the river," and suggest no intention of a meaningful two state solution, if that's even what the country wants. Zionism 1.0 was the creation of a Jewish state, but 2.0 feels a little like, "We want all of it." Careful with "My country," right or wrong, but my country.
You should be proud of the students in the anti genocide protests. Would you support German students who were protesting against the Holocaust or would you make a patronizing utube video talking down to them
Great analogy. But clearly he lacks self awareness due to his own form of ideological brainwashing.
If Israel was perpetrating a genocide I would feel your analogy was better. My question, having read the Hamas charter, is, why aren't more Palestinians protesting against Hamas?
You have a phone. It's on your phone. Thousands of children being slaughtered by one of the most well funded militaries on the planet. It's disgusting
@@quintrankid8045because their overlords created hamas to manage them
Beautifully expressed, thank you 🌬️
My heart resonates with your description of the events we're living through. May your words dissipate the dross being stirred up.
Thank you …. This has needed to be said …
Thank you professor! Please put links to the books you recommend in your notes when you can.
Dr. Abramson, I have tremendous respect for you for putting out this video. I have been perplexed, even disgusted by the participation of fellow Jews participating in the hate fest while "proudly" displaying their Jewishness. It is the realm of psychologists to explain this bizarre behaviour. I am humbled by your video-you speak eloquently with compassion, understanding and even love for your fellow Jew. My hope is that you will succeed in reaching those who are still willing to hear.
I hear the sadness in your voice! I listened to your podcasts during covid.
Thank you Dr Abramson for you wise perspective.
THANK YOU RABBI. I am a christian and praying for young Jews who watch your truly wise video. Reminds me of the story Jesus told of the prodigal son. We love you because Jesus loved you, HIS family, and for all that HE has done to include us , WELCOME US, into the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD. HE INCLUDED US....who did not deserve to be included......tears say we are FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE CROSS !❤
Great message, i hope it gets to the right people
Thank you, me too.
Thank you so much for this Rabbi. We need a lot more of these videos. Todays kids are so ignorant its unbelievable to me.
Let's hope we can spread more education.
With all due respect Dr Abramson, you do not understand the perspective of the vast majority of young American Jews even a little bit. You claim a connection between jewish participants in the protests and jews in the past who openly rejected their judaism in an attempt of assimilation--- whereas the vast majority of Jews at these protests (including myself) participate exactly because of the jewish values they were raised with. It's true that jewish history, particularly in Europe, is filled with oppression, otherization, pogroms and genocide, and I've learned more about some of my own Ashkenazi history through content on your channel, which I appreciate. What is going on in this moment is not simply a rise in antisemetism (which I don't deny), but is the conflagration of the contradictions arising out of Jewish Power. The reason our own communities cannot grapple with the contradictions between jewish and zionist values is that we are precisely stuck in this mode of thinking in which every story of the jews must be a story of the oppression of the jews. What we cannot, as a community, fully comprehend is: how can we ourselves become Pharaoh.
While most American Jews are probably still zionist, I guarantee you (not sure if this data is available yet) that a majority of young Jewish Americans are not by now. Quite simply, the young generation has been lost when it comes to the zionist consensus, aside from some communities still enmeshed in zionist propaganda as I was in Modern Orthodoxy growing up.
I'm trying to say this as nicely as I can, since I do legitimately believe that at this point zionism as it exists in the world is a fascist ideology. It hurts immensely to see all major jewish institutions stand with Israel in this moment playing the role, at best, as fascist enablers and, at worst, full on fascists. I know you don't believe this ideology in your core but it is a rot within Jewry that must be unlearned. I sincerely hope you are able to listen to more of us young jews who have a legitimate perspective based in both our jewish and liberatory values. Unfortunately as honest of an attempt as I think this is, it still doesn't understand where we come from nor does it treat our logic as legitimate within the long and beautiful history of jewish thought.
"It is a rot within Jewry that must be unlearned." In every century Jew-Haters say exactly this, in one way or another. You know what happens after that. Going along with them will not save you in the end. You'll always be a Jew.
If you really want to help Palestinians, as a Jew, go to Israel and volunteer for one the pro-Palestinian Israeli NGOs; then you could truly make a positive difference in the world.
The heartbreak in your eyes and the graciousness with which you broach the subject of Jewish students joining the pro Palestinian protests is so so painful to see but also inspiring. May the Lord have mercy on them and turn their hearts away from clear and immanent evil.
Amen
No one wants to talk about the unspeakable torture that the hostages are going through.
Many do
Even though this video is not for me, I can’t help but share that it was a big let down... yes, I did pick up on the cues in your other videos but nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed your content and I appreciate the effort you put into your presentations. The way you foster dialogue between nations is commendable…. this is how dialogue between nations should at least start....
…then this video, proves that many of our elders (no matter how smart) on both sides, fail to see what we see, We are no longer isolated, the world is much smaller and the bogyman is not that scary anymore, we see each other, when we see something wrong, we are not scared to call it out….. this is why ‘I reject Hamas’, and why ‘these kids are protesting’.....
You know Doc, Gaslighting, just doesn't suit you. It doesn’t and it’s intellectually just horrific for someone of your caliber.
Do you think, these protesters have not, or do not, condemn what Hamas did? I thought you said you understand? ...and like you said this did not start on Oct 7th... and what you just about the IOF is just horrifying, are you a proponent of collective punishment? What did the kids in incubators have to do with anything, or the little girls and babies… come on…
there were a million and one others ways to get make Hamas pay and suffer but this is what the Israeli government chose, to exterminate Palestinians… did you not watch their statements on TV, did you not see the dehumanization of Palestinians, or what's going on in the West Bank?
Wow.... what a letdown.... but then again that's on me, you have your motives... but as your neighbor who believes in peace, hearing you go from being in pain for the hostages (rightly so) but then to zero emotions for the mascaraed Palestinians, some who were killed for fun and videos their murder shared on social media and the daily hostages taken illegally by the IOF and placed in confinement without trial.... man.... what am I still doing here....
Great points and commentary. I hope he actually reads some of these comments and reflects on them seriously.
Thank you, Rabbi, for this helpful and caring message.
You are so welcome. Not a Rabbi, just a regular guy.
This is one of the purest forms of Mussar Ive ever heard. Henry, your ability to give mussar creates a responsibility that many dont have, because of inability.😊
Thank you. Doesn't always work so well, but I appreciate the kind words.
Thank you for this lesson I pray that people will learn from this message.
I'm not a Jew. I couldn't claim to know all the nuances of the issues in the Middle East. I was horrified by the attack Hammas perpetrated on Israel. Horrified and deeply saddened. I am also horrified and deeply saddened by the utter destruction and death in Gaza by IDF attacks and bombings. I understand the necessity of getting Israeli hostages back, but does it justify thousands of dead and wounded? Orphaned and starving? Where does it end? I have always supported Israel, but I do worry that Israel has become the monster they have so valiantly fought against.
War has horrific consequences. If you don't want those it is better not to start one. AFAICT Israel is trying to minimize civilian casualties, but as I said, it's a war.
Thank God that Christianity does not give preference to Jews or any other nationalities or races. As holy apostle put it in the book of Colossians 3:11, " Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."