For generations, my family denied our Jewishness. Now that I’m trying to come to terms with it, the question is: How? Sometimes, the answer is staring you right in the face.
Appreciate this Tina! In recent book talks, I've been theorizing that perhaps cultures which have a more active relationship to grief, loss and death suffer less from it. Who knows, but it just rings true....
Seth, I deeply appreciate witnessing your transformation, vulnerability and thoughtful questions you pose. I have also been grappling over the last year with my Jewish identity. I wrote about it earlier this year on this platform.
And I suspect we are in the same generation although I visited Israel in 1985 at the age of 15.
I also wondered where the assumption or maybe fact that Jews were not in the region during the British Mandate came from. Perhaps it’s my ultra sensitive nature now that hones jn on this and I mean no disrespect for your journey. Jews have been there all along and in all the neighboring countries for centuries but through persecution they have been cast out just like Christians have been.
I do believe that the collective grief and trauma for all the peoples in the region perpetuates this cycle again and again. How do we all heal together to witness this trauma so we can realize we are all connected and we all belong? A life long question that continues to break my heart.
Appreciate this a great deal, Shelley. And I see your point about the Jewish population during the Mandate--though for whatever reason that's not what's most important to me. (My understanding is that Jews were always there, but began arriving in serious numbers in the '30s, a process that accelerated post-war.)
Here's the thing: I do think historic residency should have a place here, but I'm more interested in what people DO with this understanding, and how far a claim to a particular piece of land drives us (I'm speaking here as a human, not merely a Jew) to acts that are ultimately destructive and counterproductive. Is this the way things had to play out? On one level yes, because they did. On another, I'm not so sure, and probably never will be. Thank you again for the reflection--and for the close reading!
Ugh I typed a comment and then I mistakenly swiped losing it! Let me try again.
This is a beautiful aching piece and resonates so much with me. I feel like all the this side, and that side is besides the point. Our nations need to heal. We must. So then I ask myself how do you get nations to heal?
And the inevitable answer is half dissapointing half freeing : we don't. We heal ourself.
I come from a wildly different jewish background - living in an orthodox jewish community, yet also a grandchild of holocaust survivors and since October 7 these questions these thoughts these feelings have haunted me. What is this all about? How can people wake up?
Yesterday I sang in song together with a whole bunch of Jewish women led by the "Women of vision" they are comprised of 2 Israeli women and 2 Muslim women who go around and try to hold each other's heartbreak through song and movement. As one of them put it "it's the only language we can speak now." Talking is impossible. So we sing. And maybe that contributes to the healing we all so desperately need.
Appreciate this so much, Chaya, on every level. It's also a gift--to me--to hear all these disparate stories making their way back to me. Makes me feel not quite as alone! Thanks for sharing....
🙏sorry I have a terrible typo habit I see now there were some typos in my comment. I sent this article to a guy named Eli Nash, he talks a lot about psychedelics and the jewish community specifically the orthodox community. You might like to check out his podcast called in search of more.
unmetabolized grief is a perfect way to describe it. it's inherited trauma. what would have happened/could happen if we learn to metabolize the grief?
Appreciate this Tina! In recent book talks, I've been theorizing that perhaps cultures which have a more active relationship to grief, loss and death suffer less from it. Who knows, but it just rings true....
Seth, I deeply appreciate witnessing your transformation, vulnerability and thoughtful questions you pose. I have also been grappling over the last year with my Jewish identity. I wrote about it earlier this year on this platform.
And I suspect we are in the same generation although I visited Israel in 1985 at the age of 15.
I also wondered where the assumption or maybe fact that Jews were not in the region during the British Mandate came from. Perhaps it’s my ultra sensitive nature now that hones jn on this and I mean no disrespect for your journey. Jews have been there all along and in all the neighboring countries for centuries but through persecution they have been cast out just like Christians have been.
I do believe that the collective grief and trauma for all the peoples in the region perpetuates this cycle again and again. How do we all heal together to witness this trauma so we can realize we are all connected and we all belong? A life long question that continues to break my heart.
Appreciate this a great deal, Shelley. And I see your point about the Jewish population during the Mandate--though for whatever reason that's not what's most important to me. (My understanding is that Jews were always there, but began arriving in serious numbers in the '30s, a process that accelerated post-war.)
Here's the thing: I do think historic residency should have a place here, but I'm more interested in what people DO with this understanding, and how far a claim to a particular piece of land drives us (I'm speaking here as a human, not merely a Jew) to acts that are ultimately destructive and counterproductive. Is this the way things had to play out? On one level yes, because they did. On another, I'm not so sure, and probably never will be. Thank you again for the reflection--and for the close reading!
https://youtu.be/SuvUo3Ub1aY?si=x33uV-R4osT2STR0&t=4110
I think this Q+A section from a lecture by Ilan Pape is relevant to this thread. Hope you find insight in it.
Thank you so much Yasmin, I’ll check it out!….
Ugh I typed a comment and then I mistakenly swiped losing it! Let me try again.
This is a beautiful aching piece and resonates so much with me. I feel like all the this side, and that side is besides the point. Our nations need to heal. We must. So then I ask myself how do you get nations to heal?
And the inevitable answer is half dissapointing half freeing : we don't. We heal ourself.
I come from a wildly different jewish background - living in an orthodox jewish community, yet also a grandchild of holocaust survivors and since October 7 these questions these thoughts these feelings have haunted me. What is this all about? How can people wake up?
Yesterday I sang in song together with a whole bunch of Jewish women led by the "Women of vision" they are comprised of 2 Israeli women and 2 Muslim women who go around and try to hold each other's heartbreak through song and movement. As one of them put it "it's the only language we can speak now." Talking is impossible. So we sing. And maybe that contributes to the healing we all so desperately need.
Appreciate this so much, Chaya, on every level. It's also a gift--to me--to hear all these disparate stories making their way back to me. Makes me feel not quite as alone! Thanks for sharing....
🙏sorry I have a terrible typo habit I see now there were some typos in my comment. I sent this article to a guy named Eli Nash, he talks a lot about psychedelics and the jewish community specifically the orthodox community. You might like to check out his podcast called in search of more.
Ah thanks, appreciate that! Will check it out….
Refreshing, honest, and nuanced. This is a really great essay Seth. Thank you.
Ah thank you Sarah, appreciate the hell out of that!
Wow, great piece Seth.
Thank you friend, appreciate that!
Spot on.
Thank you David, nice to be spotted!
great read.
Hey thank you Alex, appreciate your saying so!....