Before reading this the final installment of the series, I encourage readers to read the comments in the previous post. Many of the contentions of this series are amply demonstrated by some of the commenters – exemplars of extremism.
Of particular note is a comment by “Michael.” He neglects to provide his full name; however, he [...]
Displaying posts written by
Alex Fein
who has written 124 posts for The Sensible Jew.
Mar
10
2010
10
2010
Part 3: Conclusion to the Common Characteristics shared byAnti-Zionists and The Israel-Right-or-Wrong Crowd
Mar
9
2010
9
2010
Part 2: Anti-Zionists and The Israel-Right-or-Wrong Crowd Have Much In Common
This is the second installment in this series. Click here to read part 1.
So, what else do the Israel-Right-or-Wrong and anti-Zionists groups in Australia have in common?
Fury at dissent within own ranks:
For our non-Jewish readers, let me tell you about a communal treasure.
He’s a tireless letter-to-the-editor writer, and apparently an avid mass emailer about matters [...]
Mar
7
2010
7
2010
Series – Anti-Zionists and The Israel-Right-or-Wrong Crowd Have Much In Common: Part 1
What do the Israel-Right-or-Wrong crowd and anti-Zionists groups in Australia have in common?
Surprisingly, they share a number of traits and tendencies that leave sensible folk – Jews and non-Jews alike – bemused, furious, or very, very bored.
This post begins a series examining the the similarities in these two groups:
Mar
4
2010
4
2010
Mar
3
2010
3
2010
DeaRAbbey’s First Post: Religion, Reality, and Bizarre Questions
by Yaron Gottlieb
Since leaving school, I’ve spent a good chunk of my life learning in Israeli Yeshivot (Jewish religious seminaries). This was interspersed with studying for tertiary degrees in Australia, and I always seemed to survive the culture shock between the places.
But returning to Australia, a newly ordained rabbi, after spending last year in a [...]
Feb
28
2010
28
2010
Mossad and Our Passports
In the current debate surrounding the Australian passports used in the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai, there are two equally unsound positions.
Firstly, there’s the shrill (if exultant) Anti-Zionist response, that often tips over into outright racism. (see readers comments at the end of the stories)
On the other side, Jewish Australian leadership still hasn’t managed [...]
Dec
17
2009
17
2009
Dec
15
2009
15
2009
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People 2: Tackling anti-Semitism in the Short Term
We have a tendency to cast the spectre of anti-Semitism as a vast, amorphous thing that can never be quantified.
This means not distinguishing between an unpleasant letter to the editor, a school-yard taunt, an ill-conceived play; and expulsions, pogroms, and gas chambers. These are all conflated.
for some, they might exist on a continuum, but most [...]
Dec
13
2009
13
2009
How to Stop Losing Friends and Alienating People – Part One
As many of you know, I have a pretty high threshold for what might constitute anti-Semitism in the arts and media.
Please keep this in mind when I write that yesterday, while watching a play, I witnessed a truly vile depiction of Jews that initially made me want to launch myself from the back row of [...]
Dec
11
2009
11
2009
Our Leaders/Institutions Decide Jews are not Disliked Enough – Action Taken
After reading the articles, read the comments below.
Robert Goot’s latest crusade
Albert Dadon’s piece in The Age
Dvir in his most recent spray
See also page 3 of this week’s Australian Jewish News
***
Now ask yourself whether the horrendous comments in response to these pieces are perhaps worse than the original infraction being complained about….
Along with the usual missives [...]
More Than Three Opinions: A Map of The Jewish Australian Blogosphere
“Two Jews, three opinions,” is a cliché. It’s also a gross understatement.
The ease with which a blog can be set up combined with my people’s natural tendency to debate anything, means that there is now a cornucopia of Jewish Australian opinion available online.
Left and right, centre and periphery, religious and secular, Zionist and anti-Zionist – [...]