"My reply: I’m sorry but what is so wrong with an ethno state? People like having an identity. People like being different. We are different. Its not a bad thing. The issue is respecting those differences."
Japan and China are ethno-states. In fact, I remember when the Japanese premier told then-president Jimmy Carter: "we don't have the same problems you have, because we are a mono-racial society".
Yeah, there are lots of "ethno-states" in the world. The issue is why pick on Israel? And Israel has quite the multicultural society. So there has to be an underlying reason.....hmmmm
Thank you for agreeing to let me reproduce our conversation from Notes. Sometimes things strike me at 3am, and I realize I always have so much more to say. 😊
Anytime. I trust you and you are most welcome to mention any interactions without my permission. Re thinking of things later, I relate to that. The writer’s mind doesn’t switch off easily!
It looks like my comment was removed. I wonder why? I wanted to explain my thoughts. But feel free to remove it again. Here it goes. I understand and appreciate the spirit behind the statement that “for the Jewish People it is not about the color of your skin or even where you come from”—especially in invoking the story of Ruth, which emphasizes belonging through commitment rather than birthright. That’s a powerful and deeply Jewish idea.
At the same time, I felt some discomfort reading that line. Perhaps it's because, while Judaism may not be based on skin color in principle, in practice Jewish identity has often been racialized—both by others and within our own communities. The experience of Jews of color, the complex dynamics between Ashkenazi and Mizrahi or Sephardi communities, and the realities of exclusion or marginalization can complicate that ideal.
So while I honor the aspirational vision of Judaism as radically inclusive, I also think we need to acknowledge how power, race, and history have shaped (and sometimes constrained) the ways Jewish belonging is experienced and recognized.
Thats all well and good. And i understand the power dynamic you discussed and understand the issues concerning ashkenazi and sephardic along with the dynamic, but that is not what the post is about. It is about weaponizing a narrative to be used to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. The discussion that Pallavi and I had initially about the concept of ethno-state.
And I also think that in todays day and age, you have less of that dynamic in Israel anyway with the mizrahi becoming the majority of the Jewish community even though you have the Ashkenazi fighting to control the levers of power (the judicial reform issue as one example) and actually see more issues concerning race here in the US. While of course there are issues, skin color is still not what makes a person Jewish or not Jewish.
because it sounded like you accused me of being a racist and I will not be insulted on my own space. Tell me what did you object to? The part where I discussed how your skin color doesn’t matter in whether you are Jewish, American or British? That it is not a defining character. The characteristics of an ethno-state having nothing to do with race, with a list of states that are considered ethno-states in the world? Or the fact that this is now used as a slur to try to destroy Israel and how it evolved from Soviet propaganda and why. Or the fact that when Britain or America were created the immutable characteristic of being white had nothing to do with how the nations evolved? Or the discussion of the oppressor - oppressed paradigm about race being racist in and of itself? Or the racism of low expectations of the people of the global south?
Why don’t you explain what you found so offensive?
I hope my explanation above clarified it for you. I am used to reading things that I disagree with, and perhaps I assumed it is Ok for me to share my view. I will be more sensitive.
Yes, thank you for the clarification. It is fine to disagree with me. I enjoy a good discussion. I like that you shared your view. It was that you just left the sentence “that after reading the term color of skin you stopped reading” with no explanation so I removed the original sentence.
I understand now how the lack of explanation might have made my comment feel abrupt or critical. That wasn’t my intention. I really appreciate your openness to dialogue and your thoughtful reflections overall.
"My reply: I’m sorry but what is so wrong with an ethno state? People like having an identity. People like being different. We are different. Its not a bad thing. The issue is respecting those differences."
Japan and China are ethno-states. In fact, I remember when the Japanese premier told then-president Jimmy Carter: "we don't have the same problems you have, because we are a mono-racial society".
Yeah, there are lots of "ethno-states" in the world. The issue is why pick on Israel? And Israel has quite the multicultural society. So there has to be an underlying reason.....hmmmm
Agreed 100%
Thank you for the mention and for the interesting and thoughtful post. I have learned so much since being on substack.
Thank you for agreeing to let me reproduce our conversation from Notes. Sometimes things strike me at 3am, and I realize I always have so much more to say. 😊
Anytime. I trust you and you are most welcome to mention any interactions without my permission. Re thinking of things later, I relate to that. The writer’s mind doesn’t switch off easily!
Always churning, and churning….
🛞 🛞 🧠 🔥
It looks like my comment was removed. I wonder why? I wanted to explain my thoughts. But feel free to remove it again. Here it goes. I understand and appreciate the spirit behind the statement that “for the Jewish People it is not about the color of your skin or even where you come from”—especially in invoking the story of Ruth, which emphasizes belonging through commitment rather than birthright. That’s a powerful and deeply Jewish idea.
At the same time, I felt some discomfort reading that line. Perhaps it's because, while Judaism may not be based on skin color in principle, in practice Jewish identity has often been racialized—both by others and within our own communities. The experience of Jews of color, the complex dynamics between Ashkenazi and Mizrahi or Sephardi communities, and the realities of exclusion or marginalization can complicate that ideal.
So while I honor the aspirational vision of Judaism as radically inclusive, I also think we need to acknowledge how power, race, and history have shaped (and sometimes constrained) the ways Jewish belonging is experienced and recognized.
Thats all well and good. And i understand the power dynamic you discussed and understand the issues concerning ashkenazi and sephardic along with the dynamic, but that is not what the post is about. It is about weaponizing a narrative to be used to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. The discussion that Pallavi and I had initially about the concept of ethno-state.
And I also think that in todays day and age, you have less of that dynamic in Israel anyway with the mizrahi becoming the majority of the Jewish community even though you have the Ashkenazi fighting to control the levers of power (the judicial reform issue as one example) and actually see more issues concerning race here in the US. While of course there are issues, skin color is still not what makes a person Jewish or not Jewish.
because it sounded like you accused me of being a racist and I will not be insulted on my own space. Tell me what did you object to? The part where I discussed how your skin color doesn’t matter in whether you are Jewish, American or British? That it is not a defining character. The characteristics of an ethno-state having nothing to do with race, with a list of states that are considered ethno-states in the world? Or the fact that this is now used as a slur to try to destroy Israel and how it evolved from Soviet propaganda and why. Or the fact that when Britain or America were created the immutable characteristic of being white had nothing to do with how the nations evolved? Or the discussion of the oppressor - oppressed paradigm about race being racist in and of itself? Or the racism of low expectations of the people of the global south?
Why don’t you explain what you found so offensive?
I hope my explanation above clarified it for you. I am used to reading things that I disagree with, and perhaps I assumed it is Ok for me to share my view. I will be more sensitive.
Yes, thank you for the clarification. It is fine to disagree with me. I enjoy a good discussion. I like that you shared your view. It was that you just left the sentence “that after reading the term color of skin you stopped reading” with no explanation so I removed the original sentence.
I understand now how the lack of explanation might have made my comment feel abrupt or critical. That wasn’t my intention. I really appreciate your openness to dialogue and your thoughtful reflections overall.
That’s up to you.