Would the anons leaving hate mail in my inbox just fuck off already? I'm not answering most of them.
Newsflash: I'm Jewish by choice. I chose to become Jewish, and nothing you say is going to make me waver in that decision. But Judaism is my faith, not my politics.
I support the two state solution. I condemn the extreme actions of both the Israeli government and Hamas. I'm sick of the bloodshed. It's a waste of human life on both sides. But I also understand the people of Gaza and of Israel aren't responsible for the actions their governments take, and I don't blame either side's innocents.
My cousin worked for years trying to make the two state solution happen and fostered hundreds of hours of interfaith dialogue to help make it happen, only for all his efforts to crumble. I had friends at the music festival Hamas attacked, and I have friends in the IDF. One of my pen pals, dating as far back as 2016, served in the IDF until he was killed. The man I formerly courted and thought I would one day marry is in Israel at rabbinical school, and although we eventually went separate ways, I still worry about him.
I have cried countless tears since October and have prayed for peace ever since my cousin moved to Israel over a decade ago. I have lost friends, research opportunities, and even my ability to feel safe because of my faith since October 7th. I will always speak out against antisemitism, but I will also be the first to condemn both sides in this conflict.
I want this whole nightmare to be over just as much as the next person. But don't you dare use my loss, my pain, and the loss and pain of both Israel and Gaza to justify your antisemitic beliefs. You were antisemitic to begin with, and the only person you're fooling is yourself.
