We can think of ourselves as human beings first, but what if the world doesn’t let you?
There is no reason to let anyone else define us, and all attempts to do so are to be resisted. By any means necessary. Its past time to use words they understand.
Though, by and large, I am very far from reading these types of essays, my interactions with Elise provoked my interest in her writing. I agree with most of the people’s comments, including their encouragement to write a book - there will certainly be an audience for your work, Elise! Maybe I will continue breaking my pattern of reading different types of writing! You might become my inspiration! Thanks for your openness and transparency!
Beautiful reveal of your wonderful life. The world is a better place with you in it. Come to LA and I’ll take you on a fun bike ride and coffee by the LA River. I have always been Jew first. I love your work.
Thank you for the compliment. I am happy you like what I write. I have to say I have not been to LA since my son was 18 months old (over 3 decades now) and have no desire to go back. Cali is simply not on my bucket list.
I always identify now first as a Jew, have been doing so ever since I got back into the Hebrew Bible and did a one man show on the first half of the book of Genesis. Like you, I have other parts as well, but the Jew one easily comes to my lips as the one that takes precedence, long before the current explosion of antisemitism. I guess it informs the rest, even the part of me that is not handy when the toilet doesn't work. I too have a partner who is not only nice but an excellent plumber in an emergency, a quality never to be underrated. And as a former friend once told me, nice is highly underrated these days. Which brings me to your handle as an unimportant woman. How right you are, because ever since modernity really got going we have all become unimportant people, even with all the fascination with glamour and stardom. That's one of the things most people do not get about modern society. All those academic lefties think they are the inheritors of the aristocracy, even if they have substituted their mastery of words and images and musical chords for the blue blood of society's previous rulers. They may not ride to hounds, but they still like to think they are somehow responsible for society; they even dare to think they have mastered it: where it came from, what it is, where it is going, like Hegel with his dialectic telling us about the end of history. Which makes them feel very important and very virtuous, especially when compared to the aristocracy of a class stratified society. Think of Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir at Les Deux Magots setting the proper tone which then exploded into the universities. But what they missed was that modern society is not some form of ongoing class system dressed up in gender and race, but a truly differentiated society whence flows so much of our freedom. The much decried individualism as egotism is their way of refusing to recognize that in a modern society we are all individuals, not much different from each other, with talents and handicaps fairly evenly distributed over a bell curve, united only in our disappointment with ourselves as we face life's vicissitudes. In short, we are all unimportant, especially when viewed from the commanding heights of any of the different social systems that organize our lives. Yet this is quite an historical achievement. For the first time in human history all the unimportant people have lives worthy of being lived and celebrated, as you so wonderfully show us in your musings. We marvel at our successes and worry about our failings and wonder about our children when we are gone. And some of us unimportant people like to think of ourselves as Jews first. Always a pleasure to read you.
Thank you for writing and sharing your openness Elise. Your presence, your work and sharing it brightens up the minds and hearts of a lot of readers here. We know we're not alone with women like you around.
I wish for you to become a happy retired grandma and creative writer, you have so much experiences to share.
Elise, I may be older than you and respectfully disagree with your rabbi: I now identify first as a Jew because that makes me humanistic. And you’re so right, it’s because the world now sees me first as a Jew, not a person. So I now, for the first time in my life, embrace this and have never felt more myself, free and happy! (Well, happy in my inheritance, not current events.) Kudos for your introspective essay. Well said.
<we should think of ourselves firstly as human beings and then as Jews> But of course. We're all Homo Sapiens, who can argue with that? Let's build a worldview around that idea and call it "humanism" (sounds nice, right?). We don't need an angry vengeful G-d, we're the center of the universe and we're all innately good and full of Love. We'll march with raised fists and chant in unison for end of oppression, equity and right to happiness (not to pursuit but to actual right), while a rock band will sing "Imagine." We'll build a wonderful new world (we may have to break a few eggs along the way but what a tasty omelet it's going to be).
And yet it seems like pretty much every "humanistic" movement turns antisemitic (to be fair, they eventually go after Christians as well). We've been watching the latest iteration unfold right before our eyes. Perhaps it's because at the heart of every "humanistic" movement is erasure of one's identity? How do you reconcile this with an ancient tribe that stubbornly holds on to an idea of a demanding G-d? Or with their small state that refuses to let in millions of people that hate them when all they have to do is be kind and those haters will remember their innate goodness, put down their weapons and join together in singing kumbaya? No, you can't reconcile with them, they just have to be the first broken eggs.
I'm not arguing that I'm not human. I'm a human and I'm a Jew and that's an intrinsic part of my identity. And we should not give it up in order to belong. Pledging to be a "human first" is not going to help, it sounds nice but means nothing.
Pleeeease write a book! I just love everything you write, and I look forward to reading your posts (often more than once) each time a new one pops up.
You write with such charm and elegance, I feel like I can almost hear your voice. I love your effortless mastery of weaving humour into every serious idea.
And, again my unsolicited 2 cents, just write a book… pretty please.
Thank you so very much. In truth I have been meaning to write a book since my early childhood. Never really got too far. I have ideas in my head but beyond what I write here its not very flushed out as yet. My substack is basically my book of essays. Not even sure if I could write a novel. Of course, unless I try I will never know.😉
We can think of ourselves as human beings first, but what if the world doesn’t let you?
There is no reason to let anyone else define us, and all attempts to do so are to be resisted. By any means necessary. Its past time to use words they understand.
Though, by and large, I am very far from reading these types of essays, my interactions with Elise provoked my interest in her writing. I agree with most of the people’s comments, including their encouragement to write a book - there will certainly be an audience for your work, Elise! Maybe I will continue breaking my pattern of reading different types of writing! You might become my inspiration! Thanks for your openness and transparency!
Thank you so much for reading my essay and taking the time to comment. 💖
Beautiful reveal of your wonderful life. The world is a better place with you in it. Come to LA and I’ll take you on a fun bike ride and coffee by the LA River. I have always been Jew first. I love your work.
Thank you for the compliment. I am happy you like what I write. I have to say I have not been to LA since my son was 18 months old (over 3 decades now) and have no desire to go back. Cali is simply not on my bucket list.
Then come to MIchigan, coffee and local microbrews.. And the Great Lakes are waaaaay better than the LA river :)
I spent quite a number of formative years in Flint, so unfortunately Michigan doesn’t have a pull for me.
Fair enough.
I always identify now first as a Jew, have been doing so ever since I got back into the Hebrew Bible and did a one man show on the first half of the book of Genesis. Like you, I have other parts as well, but the Jew one easily comes to my lips as the one that takes precedence, long before the current explosion of antisemitism. I guess it informs the rest, even the part of me that is not handy when the toilet doesn't work. I too have a partner who is not only nice but an excellent plumber in an emergency, a quality never to be underrated. And as a former friend once told me, nice is highly underrated these days. Which brings me to your handle as an unimportant woman. How right you are, because ever since modernity really got going we have all become unimportant people, even with all the fascination with glamour and stardom. That's one of the things most people do not get about modern society. All those academic lefties think they are the inheritors of the aristocracy, even if they have substituted their mastery of words and images and musical chords for the blue blood of society's previous rulers. They may not ride to hounds, but they still like to think they are somehow responsible for society; they even dare to think they have mastered it: where it came from, what it is, where it is going, like Hegel with his dialectic telling us about the end of history. Which makes them feel very important and very virtuous, especially when compared to the aristocracy of a class stratified society. Think of Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir at Les Deux Magots setting the proper tone which then exploded into the universities. But what they missed was that modern society is not some form of ongoing class system dressed up in gender and race, but a truly differentiated society whence flows so much of our freedom. The much decried individualism as egotism is their way of refusing to recognize that in a modern society we are all individuals, not much different from each other, with talents and handicaps fairly evenly distributed over a bell curve, united only in our disappointment with ourselves as we face life's vicissitudes. In short, we are all unimportant, especially when viewed from the commanding heights of any of the different social systems that organize our lives. Yet this is quite an historical achievement. For the first time in human history all the unimportant people have lives worthy of being lived and celebrated, as you so wonderfully show us in your musings. We marvel at our successes and worry about our failings and wonder about our children when we are gone. And some of us unimportant people like to think of ourselves as Jews first. Always a pleasure to read you.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. Thank you for reading my musings.
Thank you for writing and sharing your openness Elise. Your presence, your work and sharing it brightens up the minds and hearts of a lot of readers here. We know we're not alone with women like you around.
I wish for you to become a happy retired grandma and creative writer, you have so much experiences to share.
Thank you Elise, much respect and affection 🙏🏽
Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am glad you enjoy reading what I write.
Elise, I may be older than you and respectfully disagree with your rabbi: I now identify first as a Jew because that makes me humanistic. And you’re so right, it’s because the world now sees me first as a Jew, not a person. So I now, for the first time in my life, embrace this and have never felt more myself, free and happy! (Well, happy in my inheritance, not current events.) Kudos for your introspective essay. Well said.
Thank you for your kind words.
<we should think of ourselves firstly as human beings and then as Jews> But of course. We're all Homo Sapiens, who can argue with that? Let's build a worldview around that idea and call it "humanism" (sounds nice, right?). We don't need an angry vengeful G-d, we're the center of the universe and we're all innately good and full of Love. We'll march with raised fists and chant in unison for end of oppression, equity and right to happiness (not to pursuit but to actual right), while a rock band will sing "Imagine." We'll build a wonderful new world (we may have to break a few eggs along the way but what a tasty omelet it's going to be).
And yet it seems like pretty much every "humanistic" movement turns antisemitic (to be fair, they eventually go after Christians as well). We've been watching the latest iteration unfold right before our eyes. Perhaps it's because at the heart of every "humanistic" movement is erasure of one's identity? How do you reconcile this with an ancient tribe that stubbornly holds on to an idea of a demanding G-d? Or with their small state that refuses to let in millions of people that hate them when all they have to do is be kind and those haters will remember their innate goodness, put down their weapons and join together in singing kumbaya? No, you can't reconcile with them, they just have to be the first broken eggs.
I'm not arguing that I'm not human. I'm a human and I'm a Jew and that's an intrinsic part of my identity. And we should not give it up in order to belong. Pledging to be a "human first" is not going to help, it sounds nice but means nothing.
Thank you for your comment. I agree.
Good points Dmitry. Well spoken 🙏🏽
Pleeeease write a book! I just love everything you write, and I look forward to reading your posts (often more than once) each time a new one pops up.
You write with such charm and elegance, I feel like I can almost hear your voice. I love your effortless mastery of weaving humour into every serious idea.
And, again my unsolicited 2 cents, just write a book… pretty please.
Thank you so very much. In truth I have been meaning to write a book since my early childhood. Never really got too far. I have ideas in my head but beyond what I write here its not very flushed out as yet. My substack is basically my book of essays. Not even sure if I could write a novel. Of course, unless I try I will never know.😉
My vote is to just do it - ‘try not, just do’ (I think I just quoted Yoda here but you get the drift).
I even think a delightful anthology of essays or short stories? I am telling you it would be very well received.
Thank you. Beautiful words and a window to you.
From one fashionista to another - though my colour palette is greens, yellows, creams etc 🤩
Thank you so much. I like your palette, too.
❤️