As someone more decidedly non-Zionist than yourself though sharing basically the same mixed view of Rabbi Jacobs and her milieu, THIS, RIGHT HERE, is why you need to lead and be the face/branding of the Third Way normie alternative to both Jewish Currents and Tablet.
There really are - even if some of us are mere lurkers! Couldn’t ask for two people more aligned with my thoughts on Jewish subjects/issues/what-have-you.
This was excellent. I just want to add my own little “as a…” remark: as a certified Jew of Color, Jacobs’ pitch was the most patronizing, nonsensical thing imaginable. I’ll speak on behalf of the Sephardic (or “Syrian”) community in Brooklyn, but based on both anecdotes and the data available I feel comfortable generalizing this to all the other “diverse” groups of Jews she tries to make Jew salad of:
1) no one wears “traditional Syrian Jewish dress”. Literally no one. The rabbis don’t, the people don’t, even the communal leaders at ceremonial functions don’t. Back when R. Shaul Kassin was regarded as a sort of putative chief communal rabbi, he would get dressed up in the flowy Ovadia Yosef robe gear, but he’s passed away and that’s it. So Jacobs’ invoking “diverse” Jewish dress (and she specified Syrian) as a way to market this to grantmakers - uh I mean rank and file NYC Jews - just demonstrates her ignorance, and makes it hard to escape the conclusion that we’re props for her.
2) the Syrian Jewish community is fanatically Zionist. Frankly, to a fault. By and large, they’re awfully comfortable with “blowing them up”, whoever “they” are, and they are the last people I can imagine having a problem with the appearance of far-right Israeli politicians at their parade. This may sound like me casting aspersions on them, but I’m a happy member of the community even if I don’t share these views. Did she bother to ask any of them before making this proposal? Did she bother to ask anyone outside of her own milieu?
3) no longer “as a certified Jew of color”: your point about participation deserves some elaboration. Leave aside the question of class, and leave aside the question of raw numbers: the people who invest in Jewish cultural events and Jewish community in general, in NYC as much as elsewhere, skew heavily Zionist. They don’t skew heavily Smotrich, but the Venn diagram between NY Jews who feel comfortable with an Israel parade and Jews who actively create and participate in and put energy into public Judaism in NY is approximately a circle. So leaving aside the class question, who exactly would this even be for?
Yes yes yes, to each item! The traditional-garb aspect was what first jumped out at me in the illustration. My father was Ashkenazi but grew up in Gravesend, Brooklyn, but I think I just knew this because I've spent enough time in various parts of NYC to know it is not Rehovot. That, and who are the white-looking Jews dressed in traditional Eastern European folk outfits? It's clearly from where my own ancestors are from, geographically, but has zilch to do with my own cultural traditions. Outside Hasidic Jews, if we're talking NYC, there is no special Jewish garb, not in meaningful amounts at any rate.
And yes, as I tried to convey but you've spelled out, that a Jewish community is 'of color' by some definitions (and these vary; remember the people accusing Man Repeller of white privilege!!!) does not mean it is politically on the left, and often, the opposite is true.
And yes, extremely yes, "the Venn diagram between NY Jews who feel comfortable with an Israel parade and Jews who actively create and participate in and put energy into public Judaism in NY is approximately a circle."
Oh, that's a whole 'nother thing here: if this image was even remotely close to the demographic reality of NYC, there would be more Hasidim than all the other "non-white" groups here combined, right?
Well the estimates I’ve seen are about ~200k+ hasidim in NYC, and the Sephardic community in Brooklyn that I’m referring to are already 100k. So it might be close. (Though, if you’re generalizing ultra-orthodox Jews, that might juice you back up to 300k+). In any case, a) yes if this is meant to be representative of… anything, there should be tons of black suits and white shirts in this picture; and b) they would refuse to participate in this proposed parade for ideological reasons - similar to why anti-Zionists refuse to show up to the Israel Day Parade. So even this attempt to be inclusive is going to fail (and probably wind up excluding more ultra orthodox than it includes antizionists or anyone else.)
It’s really bothersome that so many American Jews, nevermind elite discourse American Jews, don’t already intuitively get at least half of what you’re saying here.
Getting on my own “as a Jew of Color” stump here, I find the notion that being nonwhite = being politically on the left and also antizionist incredibly presumptive. The illustration on the JTA article looks like a DEI fantasy of performative Jewish diversity, not like actual Jews.
Very much agreed. I do think The Big Nosh is that platonic ideal of a Jewish event (Israeli+Diaspora+No Political Leaders+Centers Culture, I went last year and it was wonderful). The Jewish Book Council also does this well in their content and programming. Given the ire and angry open letters both have faced, I’m extremely skeptical of how much the loudest naysayers actually want (and would actually show up for) the thing they’re claiming to want
This was the danger of speaking of NYC and Toronto in one swoop like that. There are big differences. Like in Toronto I don't think anyone's expecting (Canadian) politicians to attend. And far more people attend in Toronto relative to its Jewish or general population. But also, as you say, I don't think Toronto feels special-in-a-Jewish-way to Jews in the way NYC often does. Montreal does, Toronto does not.
I did see people on X complaining that Chow wasn't at the event. But I don't actually think she would have been welcome. My personal view (similar to yours, I think) is that the things Jews decide to celebrate, the events they do organize and want to attend, are going to be criticized no matter what, so maybe we should just ignore the whingers? (An event explicitly abjuring any connection to Israel whatsoever might be acceptable to the critics but then, as you say, who's going to attend?) Another thing is that the Toronto event is called "Walk With Israel," so my assumption (I didn't attend), is that those walking explicitly *want* to show their support for Israel.
Yeah I don’t blame her, she’s been booed heavily at every pro-Israel event she’s been at since Oct 7th; she and the audience both know anything said wouldn’t bridge anything; so like what would be the point.
a) No one works this hard - or at all - to “de-couple” St. Patricks Day from Ireland or Italians celebrating Italian heritage events from Italy …
b) She forgot to list the booths of Jews who are atheist or atheist agnostic. Or are they not welcome.
Frankly, I’m really good with celebrating/centring Israel as the “equalizing” and common thread between all Jews everywhere because Israel has always been about our roots (our “Turtle Island” if you will) from which all other things ebb and flow; things like Torah, genealogical and archeological history, language(s), culture, heritage, identities (and in the singular, Identity), the spectrum of religious involvement/adherence (though the most ultra-orthodox rarely attend), sharing of Jewish successes and contributions upon which to build and celebrate, memory of who was lost and who survived in order for those of us here today to be here, and yes, the most beige of foods to the most flavourful ones … and why it is we have such a diverse palette among our People. And yes, as we have come to reconnect with each other at Home, there have been learning curves.
We look after each other. Even the ones among us we don’t like or approve of. Sometimes a parade is just a parade - especially if we make it so. Let the others with too little to do and too much hate in their hearts to overthink what we mean by it. They will anyway … they always do. I wouldn’t overthink things from a “class perspective” … but maybe that is my “privilege” speaking (you might be surprised how, throughout my life, I have embodied a paradox of both a profound lack of “privilege” and fortunate privilege … but that can be for another time). I’m also unsure what single image could ever fully capture who we are. (And this is where I start thinking about Jon Berger and Susan Sontag and the relationship between the image, the artist, the audience, the intentions, the insights, the knowledge of both and the impact that all have on who is gazing and why)
I Invite you to spend time with people like those at B’nai Brith Canada in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg (staff and volunteers) who “do” Jewish everyday through acts of extraordinary generosity of time, food, companionship, housing, clothing, furniture, mezzuzot (especially when they are stolen or destroyed), senior companionship and, yes, even cash for Jews in need, as well as the broader communities in which we live. Such organization are not only about legal and political advocacy for Jews and others (though, admittedly, they’ve been preoccupied, yet again, with fighting for our tiny community); it’s about “living and doing Jewish”. I am confident it is the same everywhere there are organized Jewish communities of every size all over the world, including the homeland. And hey, wrapping a bunch of flags around us that speak though symbolic truth and meaning to how we have made it, I’m all for that.
A fair point. I will however point out that I am on staff at a Canadian Jewish nonprofit. I have manned (womanned?) The CJN's booth at the event in question! I have not swooped in from another planet to opine on these matters, and do not need to be invited into that world, as it were. Also, as I would like to think was clear from column and post alike, I agree with Rabbi Jacobs on some of what she argues but she and I are two different people and I also disagree in a bunch of areas that I spell out pretty clearly.
I like the Jewish-not-Israel parade idea for two reasons:
1. There is so much to Judaism beyond Israel, especially in a city like New York, where Jews have had our own distinct culture and impact that long predates modern Israel and even modern Zionism. For some in the current crop of Israel parade attendees (which I have been in the past), this may even be preferable and may draw a wider swath of families, organizational co-sponsors, etc. It also may not, but it could be more fun and interesting.
2. Yes, events like The Great Nosh have drawn criticism from lunatics, but a lot of normies understand that they’re lunatics.
There are plenty of normal people who are disenchanted with Israel who look at American Jews marching with Israel flags and get the ick (whether that’s warranted or not is a different story), but who would look at protestors at a Jewish parade and think “look at those racist fools.”
Also, in NYC, the community was up in arms about Mamdani not attending (which never made sense to me - who wants him there? And why did they think he would consider attending?). I don’t think he would be so quick to not attend a Jewish heritage parade, even if it had some Israel floats. He just attended the Truah dinner, which Jill Jacobs is the head of. So clearly not all Zionist Jews are beyond the pale for him.
I'm with you on much of this. But I think you overstate how fringe it is to criticize something like The Great Nosh, or (as I get into in the next paragraph) any synagogue or JCC that doesn't renounce Israel. It is extremely of-the-moment to say 'well they flew Israeli flags/fundraised for Israel, so' whenever such an institution is criticized or attacked. So the ick-getters, as you (aptly) put it, will still be getting an ick at a Jewish parade that has those elements, even one with Israel decentered. Mamdani isn't really an avatar for this viewpoint because, while it does seem to be where he's coming from politically, he is also *the mayor of NYC,* a city with rather a lot of Jews! Most people snarking on JCCs are not that.
And I think we're again back on this issue of, even if another such event would be preferable, who's organizing it, and who's going, and more to the point, who's preventing the Israel event from still existing as well and still being THE big event, which it is not because some nefarious entity is demanding this, but because this is what tens of thousands of Jews-and-allies wish to attend? Realistically, if there were an alternative event posited as such, it would not be a mere decentering of Israel, but an anti-Israel event, would immediately register as such, and this umbrella vision where Israeli flags and Bund flags (which is definitely a real thing that someone might fly in 2026) would be side by side is simply not happening.
“Disenchanted” with Israel-Jews are sanctimonious. One can express their dis ethical etc against particular leaders/policies/actions, but to express this contemptuous, holier-than-though “ick” against not only an entire country but its population and their connection to that population, is the height of obtuse privilege. Let them eat pepto-bismal if it upsets their tummies so much. Orrrrr, they could join in the parade and promote the need for a more accountable and democratic leadership while also taking pride in that is Israeli/Jewish history and culture.
I agree that the current mayor of NYC would not have bene welcome, but that is his own fault. There were a lot of things he could have said/done between where he stands/has stood and what the parade stands for to remove the bridge of hate he walks on and replace it with a bridge of genuine good faith. To him I would say: “When you promote jihadist ideologies and blood libel against Jews, and you ignore the genocides and mass murders taking place in Sudan, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen and elsewhere and you refuse to name the main sources, funders and ideologies feeding all those atrocities as well as antisemitism in NYC and against Jews around the world (including in our ancestral indigenous homeland of Israel) you make it hard to trust you. We are not your photo op. But feel free to raise the Israeli flag at Gracie Mansion to show your support.”
I TRULY do not mean to be snarky but I think it is a problem that the "not only Israel" example of Jewish culture that comes up organically has to do with food.
The reason Israel works as an organizing principle for Jewish identity even here in the United States is that it manifests a diverse range of religious and secular aspects of Jewish identity at scale. It helps a lot that Israel is in fact very diverse in its Jewishness.
I would truly welcome non-Zionist Jewish spaces as someone here put it. But I wonder if there are structural reasons that the Jewish world has not been able to create them.
The elites of the current iteration of Western civilization (university educated etc) generally despise Jews unless they can be used as tools in whatever power game is being played. Understandably, this is very uncomfortable for Western Jews embedded in, and identifying with that elite society. I don't understand why our institutional society hates Jews, but it's pretty clear after October 7th 2023 that this is the case. Where does our society go from here? No clue, but human nature has not changed over millennia, so history might be relevant.
The illustration reminds me most of the 1976 "Peoples of the Soviet Union" National Geographic - worth poking around Google to see in all its glory, including a dignified grandfatherly figure for "Jew".
Independently of all this, wow that JTA piece has the single most hideous AI slop image I have ever seen. The fella in the northwest holding the pride flag has no mouth and he must scream!!
There was some touching up I assume (e.g. to put the three arrows + Hebrew on some of the flags) but this is 1000000000% AI, and not even one of the better models. Look at people on the rooftop at larger than thumbnail size and it's a cavalcade of nightmares:
When you write that non/anti/post-Zionist Jews are "snootily (and maybe even racist-ly) rejecting one’s embarrassing relations," are you not doing the same when you lament the parade being a "showcasing moment for the worst that modern-day Israel has to offer, namely its right-wing political leaders"? It seems like you're just drawing the line in a different place.
Was the Israel Day Parade *celebrating* Smotrich? Or Eliyahu? Smotrich didn't even lead the Israel delegation--that was Knesset speaker Ohana, joined by a dozen MKs. The parade itself was led by Jessica Tisch at the front. I don't see any evidence that it was celebrating Smotrich in particular. The parade celebrated Actually Existing Israel, which understandably makes liberal Zionists very uncomfortable.
If, nowadays, one makes a Jewish-Israel event, it would be impossible to decentre it from its political class. And that will happen for a while because the left-wing opponent to Netanyahu thinks he's not radical ENOUGH in his actions. But, setting that aside, if the organisation invites Gvir or Smotrich, then their intentions are clear.
As someone more decidedly non-Zionist than yourself though sharing basically the same mixed view of Rabbi Jacobs and her milieu, THIS, RIGHT HERE, is why you need to lead and be the face/branding of the Third Way normie alternative to both Jewish Currents and Tablet.
Sign me up!
There are dozens of us!
There really are - even if some of us are mere lurkers! Couldn’t ask for two people more aligned with my thoughts on Jewish subjects/issues/what-have-you.
You might be at the right-most edge of such a project, if you’re cool with that.
You lost me there lol
This was excellent. I just want to add my own little “as a…” remark: as a certified Jew of Color, Jacobs’ pitch was the most patronizing, nonsensical thing imaginable. I’ll speak on behalf of the Sephardic (or “Syrian”) community in Brooklyn, but based on both anecdotes and the data available I feel comfortable generalizing this to all the other “diverse” groups of Jews she tries to make Jew salad of:
1) no one wears “traditional Syrian Jewish dress”. Literally no one. The rabbis don’t, the people don’t, even the communal leaders at ceremonial functions don’t. Back when R. Shaul Kassin was regarded as a sort of putative chief communal rabbi, he would get dressed up in the flowy Ovadia Yosef robe gear, but he’s passed away and that’s it. So Jacobs’ invoking “diverse” Jewish dress (and she specified Syrian) as a way to market this to grantmakers - uh I mean rank and file NYC Jews - just demonstrates her ignorance, and makes it hard to escape the conclusion that we’re props for her.
2) the Syrian Jewish community is fanatically Zionist. Frankly, to a fault. By and large, they’re awfully comfortable with “blowing them up”, whoever “they” are, and they are the last people I can imagine having a problem with the appearance of far-right Israeli politicians at their parade. This may sound like me casting aspersions on them, but I’m a happy member of the community even if I don’t share these views. Did she bother to ask any of them before making this proposal? Did she bother to ask anyone outside of her own milieu?
3) no longer “as a certified Jew of color”: your point about participation deserves some elaboration. Leave aside the question of class, and leave aside the question of raw numbers: the people who invest in Jewish cultural events and Jewish community in general, in NYC as much as elsewhere, skew heavily Zionist. They don’t skew heavily Smotrich, but the Venn diagram between NY Jews who feel comfortable with an Israel parade and Jews who actively create and participate in and put energy into public Judaism in NY is approximately a circle. So leaving aside the class question, who exactly would this even be for?
Yes yes yes, to each item! The traditional-garb aspect was what first jumped out at me in the illustration. My father was Ashkenazi but grew up in Gravesend, Brooklyn, but I think I just knew this because I've spent enough time in various parts of NYC to know it is not Rehovot. That, and who are the white-looking Jews dressed in traditional Eastern European folk outfits? It's clearly from where my own ancestors are from, geographically, but has zilch to do with my own cultural traditions. Outside Hasidic Jews, if we're talking NYC, there is no special Jewish garb, not in meaningful amounts at any rate.
And yes, as I tried to convey but you've spelled out, that a Jewish community is 'of color' by some definitions (and these vary; remember the people accusing Man Repeller of white privilege!!!) does not mean it is politically on the left, and often, the opposite is true.
And yes, extremely yes, "the Venn diagram between NY Jews who feel comfortable with an Israel parade and Jews who actively create and participate in and put energy into public Judaism in NY is approximately a circle."
Oh, that's a whole 'nother thing here: if this image was even remotely close to the demographic reality of NYC, there would be more Hasidim than all the other "non-white" groups here combined, right?
Well the estimates I’ve seen are about ~200k+ hasidim in NYC, and the Sephardic community in Brooklyn that I’m referring to are already 100k. So it might be close. (Though, if you’re generalizing ultra-orthodox Jews, that might juice you back up to 300k+). In any case, a) yes if this is meant to be representative of… anything, there should be tons of black suits and white shirts in this picture; and b) they would refuse to participate in this proposed parade for ideological reasons - similar to why anti-Zionists refuse to show up to the Israel Day Parade. So even this attempt to be inclusive is going to fail (and probably wind up excluding more ultra orthodox than it includes antizionists or anyone else.)
Yep! Of course, I don't think I'm being cynical by saying that excluding the ultra-Orthodox community is the not-so-secret objective, here.
I think the answer to 3) is, it’s for non-Jews, many of whom will then say, “I’m antizionist but I’m not antisemitic because I like to eat malawach.”
It’s really bothersome that so many American Jews, nevermind elite discourse American Jews, don’t already intuitively get at least half of what you’re saying here.
Getting on my own “as a Jew of Color” stump here, I find the notion that being nonwhite = being politically on the left and also antizionist incredibly presumptive. The illustration on the JTA article looks like a DEI fantasy of performative Jewish diversity, not like actual Jews.
Very much agreed. I do think The Big Nosh is that platonic ideal of a Jewish event (Israeli+Diaspora+No Political Leaders+Centers Culture, I went last year and it was wonderful). The Jewish Book Council also does this well in their content and programming. Given the ire and angry open letters both have faced, I’m extremely skeptical of how much the loudest naysayers actually want (and would actually show up for) the thing they’re claiming to want
I don't know about Toronto but the concept of a promised land that isn't New York must unsettle New Yorkers on a primal level, so...
This was the danger of speaking of NYC and Toronto in one swoop like that. There are big differences. Like in Toronto I don't think anyone's expecting (Canadian) politicians to attend. And far more people attend in Toronto relative to its Jewish or general population. But also, as you say, I don't think Toronto feels special-in-a-Jewish-way to Jews in the way NYC often does. Montreal does, Toronto does not.
I did see people on X complaining that Chow wasn't at the event. But I don't actually think she would have been welcome. My personal view (similar to yours, I think) is that the things Jews decide to celebrate, the events they do organize and want to attend, are going to be criticized no matter what, so maybe we should just ignore the whingers? (An event explicitly abjuring any connection to Israel whatsoever might be acceptable to the critics but then, as you say, who's going to attend?) Another thing is that the Toronto event is called "Walk With Israel," so my assumption (I didn't attend), is that those walking explicitly *want* to show their support for Israel.
Yeah I don’t blame her, she’s been booed heavily at every pro-Israel event she’s been at since Oct 7th; she and the audience both know anything said wouldn’t bridge anything; so like what would be the point.
True.
Someone can remind the lovely Rabbi that
a) No one works this hard - or at all - to “de-couple” St. Patricks Day from Ireland or Italians celebrating Italian heritage events from Italy …
b) She forgot to list the booths of Jews who are atheist or atheist agnostic. Or are they not welcome.
Frankly, I’m really good with celebrating/centring Israel as the “equalizing” and common thread between all Jews everywhere because Israel has always been about our roots (our “Turtle Island” if you will) from which all other things ebb and flow; things like Torah, genealogical and archeological history, language(s), culture, heritage, identities (and in the singular, Identity), the spectrum of religious involvement/adherence (though the most ultra-orthodox rarely attend), sharing of Jewish successes and contributions upon which to build and celebrate, memory of who was lost and who survived in order for those of us here today to be here, and yes, the most beige of foods to the most flavourful ones … and why it is we have such a diverse palette among our People. And yes, as we have come to reconnect with each other at Home, there have been learning curves.
We look after each other. Even the ones among us we don’t like or approve of. Sometimes a parade is just a parade - especially if we make it so. Let the others with too little to do and too much hate in their hearts to overthink what we mean by it. They will anyway … they always do. I wouldn’t overthink things from a “class perspective” … but maybe that is my “privilege” speaking (you might be surprised how, throughout my life, I have embodied a paradox of both a profound lack of “privilege” and fortunate privilege … but that can be for another time). I’m also unsure what single image could ever fully capture who we are. (And this is where I start thinking about Jon Berger and Susan Sontag and the relationship between the image, the artist, the audience, the intentions, the insights, the knowledge of both and the impact that all have on who is gazing and why)
I Invite you to spend time with people like those at B’nai Brith Canada in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg (staff and volunteers) who “do” Jewish everyday through acts of extraordinary generosity of time, food, companionship, housing, clothing, furniture, mezzuzot (especially when they are stolen or destroyed), senior companionship and, yes, even cash for Jews in need, as well as the broader communities in which we live. Such organization are not only about legal and political advocacy for Jews and others (though, admittedly, they’ve been preoccupied, yet again, with fighting for our tiny community); it’s about “living and doing Jewish”. I am confident it is the same everywhere there are organized Jewish communities of every size all over the world, including the homeland. And hey, wrapping a bunch of flags around us that speak though symbolic truth and meaning to how we have made it, I’m all for that.
A fair point. I will however point out that I am on staff at a Canadian Jewish nonprofit. I have manned (womanned?) The CJN's booth at the event in question! I have not swooped in from another planet to opine on these matters, and do not need to be invited into that world, as it were. Also, as I would like to think was clear from column and post alike, I agree with Rabbi Jacobs on some of what she argues but she and I are two different people and I also disagree in a bunch of areas that I spell out pretty clearly.
Am well aware of (and a regular reader of) CJN and was not accusing you of anything. Am sorry I came across that way.
No worries! I just wasn't clear where you were addressing Rabbi Jacobs and where you were addressing me! (She is almost certainly not reading this.)
Eh, what else is she reading? Not like she's Taylor Swift, there are only so many people writing about her.
LOL fair enough. I mean, she may be reading in the lurking sense but a reply to my blog post is likeliest to go to me.
I like the Jewish-not-Israel parade idea for two reasons:
1. There is so much to Judaism beyond Israel, especially in a city like New York, where Jews have had our own distinct culture and impact that long predates modern Israel and even modern Zionism. For some in the current crop of Israel parade attendees (which I have been in the past), this may even be preferable and may draw a wider swath of families, organizational co-sponsors, etc. It also may not, but it could be more fun and interesting.
2. Yes, events like The Great Nosh have drawn criticism from lunatics, but a lot of normies understand that they’re lunatics.
There are plenty of normal people who are disenchanted with Israel who look at American Jews marching with Israel flags and get the ick (whether that’s warranted or not is a different story), but who would look at protestors at a Jewish parade and think “look at those racist fools.”
Also, in NYC, the community was up in arms about Mamdani not attending (which never made sense to me - who wants him there? And why did they think he would consider attending?). I don’t think he would be so quick to not attend a Jewish heritage parade, even if it had some Israel floats. He just attended the Truah dinner, which Jill Jacobs is the head of. So clearly not all Zionist Jews are beyond the pale for him.
I'm with you on much of this. But I think you overstate how fringe it is to criticize something like The Great Nosh, or (as I get into in the next paragraph) any synagogue or JCC that doesn't renounce Israel. It is extremely of-the-moment to say 'well they flew Israeli flags/fundraised for Israel, so' whenever such an institution is criticized or attacked. So the ick-getters, as you (aptly) put it, will still be getting an ick at a Jewish parade that has those elements, even one with Israel decentered. Mamdani isn't really an avatar for this viewpoint because, while it does seem to be where he's coming from politically, he is also *the mayor of NYC,* a city with rather a lot of Jews! Most people snarking on JCCs are not that.
And I think we're again back on this issue of, even if another such event would be preferable, who's organizing it, and who's going, and more to the point, who's preventing the Israel event from still existing as well and still being THE big event, which it is not because some nefarious entity is demanding this, but because this is what tens of thousands of Jews-and-allies wish to attend? Realistically, if there were an alternative event posited as such, it would not be a mere decentering of Israel, but an anti-Israel event, would immediately register as such, and this umbrella vision where Israeli flags and Bund flags (which is definitely a real thing that someone might fly in 2026) would be side by side is simply not happening.
“Disenchanted” with Israel-Jews are sanctimonious. One can express their dis ethical etc against particular leaders/policies/actions, but to express this contemptuous, holier-than-though “ick” against not only an entire country but its population and their connection to that population, is the height of obtuse privilege. Let them eat pepto-bismal if it upsets their tummies so much. Orrrrr, they could join in the parade and promote the need for a more accountable and democratic leadership while also taking pride in that is Israeli/Jewish history and culture.
I agree that the current mayor of NYC would not have bene welcome, but that is his own fault. There were a lot of things he could have said/done between where he stands/has stood and what the parade stands for to remove the bridge of hate he walks on and replace it with a bridge of genuine good faith. To him I would say: “When you promote jihadist ideologies and blood libel against Jews, and you ignore the genocides and mass murders taking place in Sudan, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen and elsewhere and you refuse to name the main sources, funders and ideologies feeding all those atrocities as well as antisemitism in NYC and against Jews around the world (including in our ancestral indigenous homeland of Israel) you make it hard to trust you. We are not your photo op. But feel free to raise the Israeli flag at Gracie Mansion to show your support.”
I TRULY do not mean to be snarky but I think it is a problem that the "not only Israel" example of Jewish culture that comes up organically has to do with food.
The reason Israel works as an organizing principle for Jewish identity even here in the United States is that it manifests a diverse range of religious and secular aspects of Jewish identity at scale. It helps a lot that Israel is in fact very diverse in its Jewishness.
I would truly welcome non-Zionist Jewish spaces as someone here put it. But I wonder if there are structural reasons that the Jewish world has not been able to create them.
The elites of the current iteration of Western civilization (university educated etc) generally despise Jews unless they can be used as tools in whatever power game is being played. Understandably, this is very uncomfortable for Western Jews embedded in, and identifying with that elite society. I don't understand why our institutional society hates Jews, but it's pretty clear after October 7th 2023 that this is the case. Where does our society go from here? No clue, but human nature has not changed over millennia, so history might be relevant.
The illustration reminds me most of the 1976 "Peoples of the Soviet Union" National Geographic - worth poking around Google to see in all its glory, including a dignified grandfatherly figure for "Jew".
Independently of all this, wow that JTA piece has the single most hideous AI slop image I have ever seen. The fella in the northwest holding the pride flag has no mouth and he must scream!!
I'm not expert in these matters but it seems to be coming from an actual art director and might not be AI!
There was some touching up I assume (e.g. to put the three arrows + Hebrew on some of the flags) but this is 1000000000% AI, and not even one of the better models. Look at people on the rooftop at larger than thumbnail size and it's a cavalcade of nightmares:
https://www.jta.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/israel-parade-2048x1138.jpg
When you write that non/anti/post-Zionist Jews are "snootily (and maybe even racist-ly) rejecting one’s embarrassing relations," are you not doing the same when you lament the parade being a "showcasing moment for the worst that modern-day Israel has to offer, namely its right-wing political leaders"? It seems like you're just drawing the line in a different place.
I don't think so because, again, a July 4 parade need not celebrate Trump, and is not being snooty for not doing so.
Was the Israel Day Parade *celebrating* Smotrich? Or Eliyahu? Smotrich didn't even lead the Israel delegation--that was Knesset speaker Ohana, joined by a dozen MKs. The parade itself was led by Jessica Tisch at the front. I don't see any evidence that it was celebrating Smotrich in particular. The parade celebrated Actually Existing Israel, which understandably makes liberal Zionists very uncomfortable.
If, nowadays, one makes a Jewish-Israel event, it would be impossible to decentre it from its political class. And that will happen for a while because the left-wing opponent to Netanyahu thinks he's not radical ENOUGH in his actions. But, setting that aside, if the organisation invites Gvir or Smotrich, then their intentions are clear.