Thank you for sharing. People like your short-lived roommates have what, as a non-clinician, I think of as a mental health disorder. They have been brainwashed and lost much (all?) of their ability to reason, to see the obvious direct conflict between thinking themselves "liberal" and behaving in an obviously illiberal manner.
Sad to see such intolerance for different points of view. I fear that in a few years young jews in America will not be able or want to support Israel with all the identity politics and indoctrination going on in our educational system.
I note the date of this communiqué from the Moishe House founder and CEO (Nov 30) and the date this article dropped (Nov 28). I can't help but ask if any such misgivings and rectification by Moishe House would have been forthcoming if the author had not been given the bullhorn of Bari's Substack. It seems not since Moishe House did nothing until this article dropped.
I have no inside info, but if the statement (which as you observed was issued on the 30th) is to be believed, then most of the actions described took place in the late summer and fall. But yes, perhaps the incident and the response would have remained hush-hush.
Gabriel, I can so relate to your experience. As an American who just happens to be Black, I to run into these neanderthals who think they are enlightened. The ad hominem attacks are a daily occurrence if you are conservative and Black. I welcome the engagement from these emotional liberals because they are unable to make a solid cogent argument IMHO. Their inability to think critically or logically just astounds me. What's the saying, "if you're 20 and conservative you have no heart, but if you're 30 and older and you're still a liberal, you're an idiot". I don't suffer these fools gladly anymore. I personally don't have a problem with anyone who respectfully disagrees with my viewpoints, but I will never acquiesce to any of these knuckleheads.
I'm standing with you in this fight. Stay strong brother.
I liked and enjoyed the article by Gabriel Katz. Her values, in my opinion, are true, historic American values, held by our founders, and few patriots today. Leon Stansfield, M.Ed., M.Div.
I find intolerance among my friends and family, both liberal and conservative. I am generally afraid to speak or write my own thoughts. What disturbs me most are the levels of anger and self-righteousness, the inability or unwillingness to examine multiple points of view. Most people rely on one source of daily information. Because I have a newspaper background, I take the time to read and view multiple sources. The bias in every source is overwhelming. In what limited discussions I have with friends, it is clear that none of them are getting complete coverage of major events. It saddens me to hear of your experience at the Moishe House.
Yeah! Watch for that bunch Gabriel. They stand with BDS and other self-loathing Jews like Peter Beinart and his insane fantasy of living in harmony with a terror cult.
Gabriel, I am sorry that this happened. As Bari recently wrote, “ We are living through an epidemic of cowardice. The antidote is courage.” You are courageous for telling your story. Please know that you are not alone in your views and continue to trust your instincts. Ironically, I hope you can find a more accepting community. I know from experience it’s tough finding a community as a young, conservative Jew in the northeast (or wherever you may be). But know that we are out there and that we need leaders like you.
This essay made me sadder than I can say. Like the Hanukkah story, it raises the question for all of us: where is the line that YOU won't cross? Because that day is coming when you submit and lose everything, or stand your ground.
One (but very meaningful!) thing is missing in this discussion. The guys assembled and come up with the premise that they felt “unsafe” around Gabriel, and that his political views made them “uncomfortable.” The conclusion was: GABRIEL should leave! No even any doubt that if THEY “feel uncomfortable” with somebody, this person should leave! It is not surprising for me, though. The only difference between current “progressists” and Bolsheviks is that Bolsheviks were a way less hypocritical.
And I bet they are a lot more generous toward someone in Hamas, who would actually MAKE them unsafe, as opposed to a Jew with a different political bent who merely makes them FEEL unsafe.
And believe me, the reason is that the guys actually feel themselves in safety praising HAMAS (just because finally Gabriel with his defense-related business is protecting 'em!), and are sure that Gabriel in reality is not dangerous for 'em at all. Paradox? No, they just whish to feel themselves like "fearless fighters for peace and progress" without sticking out their butts out of the trench...
I have trouble believing this story. I'm on the left. The people he describes aren't like anyone I know. But all the names are changed so there's no way to verify its veracity.
"The people he describes aren't like anyone I know."
Ahhh, the Pauline Kael experience (though hers is more an urban legend/misquote): "I can't believe Nixon won [in 1972]. I don't know anyone who voted for him."
I didn't claim that. It just doesn't sound right to me. That's not how the people I know think. But maybe it sounds right to you because that's what you already want to believe about lefties.
Matt, here's the framing: "The pull between fundamentalism and secularism." Gabriel Katz portrays himself as a considerate and understanding individual; note, this is a one-sided opinion. Gabriel describes himself as an individual who: "...strongly believe that free markets, limited government, a strong national defense, the rule of law, and individual freedoms are the best means to ensure that everyone in a society can thrive...", In fact, Gabriel believes in a strong national defense so much, that he went to work for a defense contractor. Gabriel's description of himself makes him a fundamentalist, not a secularist. strong beliefs do not make for tolerant conversation; what it does lead to is "to argue, as the rabbis taught, for the sake of heaven." And I find that all perception is lost when you inject heaven into the conversation.
Very interesting. In the preface by Ms. Weiss is a link to an article that discusses anti-semitism from the right and the left. It's anti-semitism from the left that concerns author Dara Horn. From the right it is much more obvious she opines by noting..
"Bad guy notices that Jews are different and therefore contaminating the blood-and-soil, so he decides to get rid of them. It resembles what we now consider right-wing anti-Semitism—and it’s the kind that American Jews, descended as many of us are from survivors of Russian Empire pogroms or the Holocaust, have been taught to recognize."
So, to be clear, right wing anti-semitism is all too familiar with those who experienced its ugly fist imposed by those right winger Soviets (yes, she referenced Imperial Russia but they were toast more than 100 years ago and no one alive today has any meaningful memory of Tsarist Russia. But many do of the Soviet pogroms).
Clearly there's a bigger disconnect here than simply confusing communists (or fascists for that matter) with right wing politics. Anti-semitism, it seems, can only originate from the right even when it was clearly a product of far left politics.
I'm reminded of something Fran Lebowitz said once, about how there's no point to Jews arguing over who is and isn't Jewish, or who should be considered Jewish or not. When the goose-stepping starts, it's the Jew-haters who decide who's Jewish, and they will carry off EVERYONE in the Moishe House, so EVERYONE in that house better have one another's backs. Hopefully, Gabriel's idiot ex-roommates will figure that one out before TOO much blood is shed.
Full disclosure: I'm not a Jew, merely an admirer of many of the philosophies and practices that have come out of Judaism. But goddamn it, I know my history.
Not at all limited to judaism, I think a symptom of the larger failure of several generations to teach history to the next. Would this have caught on to the extent it has if most knew the history of these philosophies? The schools I attended did not teach the Soviet purges. China's Great Leap off a cliff. Pol Pot. The horror of the the real Che Guevara. The French revolution, what little there was, was romanticized. So many vital lessons missing.
We abdicated our responsibilities to teach that monsters really do exist and how to recognize them. And, more importantly, how not to become one.
Thank you for sharing. People like your short-lived roommates have what, as a non-clinician, I think of as a mental health disorder. They have been brainwashed and lost much (all?) of their ability to reason, to see the obvious direct conflict between thinking themselves "liberal" and behaving in an obviously illiberal manner.
Sad to see such intolerance for different points of view. I fear that in a few years young jews in America will not be able or want to support Israel with all the identity politics and indoctrination going on in our educational system.
It looks like Moishe House has addressed the situation and the violation by the residents: https://www.moishehouse.org/blog/diversity-of-thought-and-growing-together/
I note the date of this communiqué from the Moishe House founder and CEO (Nov 30) and the date this article dropped (Nov 28). I can't help but ask if any such misgivings and rectification by Moishe House would have been forthcoming if the author had not been given the bullhorn of Bari's Substack. It seems not since Moishe House did nothing until this article dropped.
I have no inside info, but if the statement (which as you observed was issued on the 30th) is to be believed, then most of the actions described took place in the late summer and fall. But yes, perhaps the incident and the response would have remained hush-hush.
So much for tolerance.
Gabriel, I can so relate to your experience. As an American who just happens to be Black, I to run into these neanderthals who think they are enlightened. The ad hominem attacks are a daily occurrence if you are conservative and Black. I welcome the engagement from these emotional liberals because they are unable to make a solid cogent argument IMHO. Their inability to think critically or logically just astounds me. What's the saying, "if you're 20 and conservative you have no heart, but if you're 30 and older and you're still a liberal, you're an idiot". I don't suffer these fools gladly anymore. I personally don't have a problem with anyone who respectfully disagrees with my viewpoints, but I will never acquiesce to any of these knuckleheads.
I'm standing with you in this fight. Stay strong brother.
Your brother from another mother,
Lawrence
Intolerance and hypocrisy stinks. Good job calling it out.
I liked and enjoyed the article by Gabriel Katz. Her values, in my opinion, are true, historic American values, held by our founders, and few patriots today. Leon Stansfield, M.Ed., M.Div.
I find intolerance among my friends and family, both liberal and conservative. I am generally afraid to speak or write my own thoughts. What disturbs me most are the levels of anger and self-righteousness, the inability or unwillingness to examine multiple points of view. Most people rely on one source of daily information. Because I have a newspaper background, I take the time to read and view multiple sources. The bias in every source is overwhelming. In what limited discussions I have with friends, it is clear that none of them are getting complete coverage of major events. It saddens me to hear of your experience at the Moishe House.
Yeah! Watch for that bunch Gabriel. They stand with BDS and other self-loathing Jews like Peter Beinart and his insane fantasy of living in harmony with a terror cult.
Gabriel, I am sorry that this happened. As Bari recently wrote, “ We are living through an epidemic of cowardice. The antidote is courage.” You are courageous for telling your story. Please know that you are not alone in your views and continue to trust your instincts. Ironically, I hope you can find a more accepting community. I know from experience it’s tough finding a community as a young, conservative Jew in the northeast (or wherever you may be). But know that we are out there and that we need leaders like you.
This essay made me sadder than I can say. Like the Hanukkah story, it raises the question for all of us: where is the line that YOU won't cross? Because that day is coming when you submit and lose everything, or stand your ground.
One (but very meaningful!) thing is missing in this discussion. The guys assembled and come up with the premise that they felt “unsafe” around Gabriel, and that his political views made them “uncomfortable.” The conclusion was: GABRIEL should leave! No even any doubt that if THEY “feel uncomfortable” with somebody, this person should leave! It is not surprising for me, though. The only difference between current “progressists” and Bolsheviks is that Bolsheviks were a way less hypocritical.
And I bet they are a lot more generous toward someone in Hamas, who would actually MAKE them unsafe, as opposed to a Jew with a different political bent who merely makes them FEEL unsafe.
And believe me, the reason is that the guys actually feel themselves in safety praising HAMAS (just because finally Gabriel with his defense-related business is protecting 'em!), and are sure that Gabriel in reality is not dangerous for 'em at all. Paradox? No, they just whish to feel themselves like "fearless fighters for peace and progress" without sticking out their butts out of the trench...
I have trouble believing this story. I'm on the left. The people he describes aren't like anyone I know. But all the names are changed so there's no way to verify its veracity.
"The people he describes aren't like anyone I know."
Ahhh, the Pauline Kael experience (though hers is more an urban legend/misquote): "I can't believe Nixon won [in 1972]. I don't know anyone who voted for him."
I work at a major museum. I know a lot of people who are very left-leaning. This sounds made-up.
AYFKM? "I work in a museum, so Gabriel is lying." Dude, you never fail to sink down to expectations.
I'm sure it is hard to be a Christian in a place like that. Christianity doesn't hold up well in the face of reason and empirical inquiry.
Believing in things for no good reason is a recipe for disaster.
I didn't claim that. It just doesn't sound right to me. That's not how the people I know think. But maybe it sounds right to you because that's what you already want to believe about lefties.
You have observations of their words and actions, but you've formed no beliefs about them? I doubt that.
Matt, here's the framing: "The pull between fundamentalism and secularism." Gabriel Katz portrays himself as a considerate and understanding individual; note, this is a one-sided opinion. Gabriel describes himself as an individual who: "...strongly believe that free markets, limited government, a strong national defense, the rule of law, and individual freedoms are the best means to ensure that everyone in a society can thrive...", In fact, Gabriel believes in a strong national defense so much, that he went to work for a defense contractor. Gabriel's description of himself makes him a fundamentalist, not a secularist. strong beliefs do not make for tolerant conversation; what it does lead to is "to argue, as the rabbis taught, for the sake of heaven." And I find that all perception is lost when you inject heaven into the conversation.
Very interesting. In the preface by Ms. Weiss is a link to an article that discusses anti-semitism from the right and the left. It's anti-semitism from the left that concerns author Dara Horn. From the right it is much more obvious she opines by noting..
"Bad guy notices that Jews are different and therefore contaminating the blood-and-soil, so he decides to get rid of them. It resembles what we now consider right-wing anti-Semitism—and it’s the kind that American Jews, descended as many of us are from survivors of Russian Empire pogroms or the Holocaust, have been taught to recognize."
So, to be clear, right wing anti-semitism is all too familiar with those who experienced its ugly fist imposed by those right winger Soviets (yes, she referenced Imperial Russia but they were toast more than 100 years ago and no one alive today has any meaningful memory of Tsarist Russia. But many do of the Soviet pogroms).
Clearly there's a bigger disconnect here than simply confusing communists (or fascists for that matter) with right wing politics. Anti-semitism, it seems, can only originate from the right even when it was clearly a product of far left politics.
I'm reminded of something Fran Lebowitz said once, about how there's no point to Jews arguing over who is and isn't Jewish, or who should be considered Jewish or not. When the goose-stepping starts, it's the Jew-haters who decide who's Jewish, and they will carry off EVERYONE in the Moishe House, so EVERYONE in that house better have one another's backs. Hopefully, Gabriel's idiot ex-roommates will figure that one out before TOO much blood is shed.
Full disclosure: I'm not a Jew, merely an admirer of many of the philosophies and practices that have come out of Judaism. But goddamn it, I know my history.
Not at all limited to judaism, I think a symptom of the larger failure of several generations to teach history to the next. Would this have caught on to the extent it has if most knew the history of these philosophies? The schools I attended did not teach the Soviet purges. China's Great Leap off a cliff. Pol Pot. The horror of the the real Che Guevara. The French revolution, what little there was, was romanticized. So many vital lessons missing.
We abdicated our responsibilities to teach that monsters really do exist and how to recognize them. And, more importantly, how not to become one.