If Sasha is a "lion", why is he fleeing? I see video of many Ukrainian women and young children at the Polish border, unaccompanied by men. THEIR men stayed to fight. Sasha ran.
My maternal grandparents left Kishinev at the time of the Russian pogroms in the early 1900’s. [wikipedia-kishinev-pogrom] The times are not changing. Russia is still killing Jews; and the Jew is still forced to wander. [wikipedia-Wandering Jew] Note: Look at the countries in which the stories about the wandering Jew flourished- sounds like the EU and NATO of today]
To me this is kind of an odd thing that people do. war is hell, on everyone equally. why do we keep focusing in on specific ethnic groups? Everybody that’s fleeing war is dirty and hungry and having a hard time finding food. unless one group for some reason has more of a bull’s-eye on them than another and I just don’t get it. Although I suppose highlghting any individual highlights their culture. If your between a male 18-50 and a citizen of the Ukraine i’m looking at you wondering why you fled.
That being said I have always been very pro-Israel. It’s the one functional democracy in a region full of violence and tyrants. A true oasis.
My paternal great grandparents were wise enough to flee with their three sons and daughter to flee a town not far from Kiev in the 1890s because of extreme poverty, religious discrimination, forced conscript into the Czar’s army and persecution from the locals. They made their way to NYC like so many other Ashkenaz Jews who knew they could not have normal lives in what was referred to as the Pale of Settlement. It pains me to see this history happening all over again. Oddly enough, my maternal grandparents fled Kishinev, the very same city where this essay takes place in the 1880s when pogroms murdered thousands of Jews. I’m glad they fled and migrated here never looking back at what was never considered home to any of them. Sadly, they were never considered Ukrainian or Russian or Rumanian. They were always seen as outsiders. I’m glad that some and hopefully many, will find their way to Israel.
You speak of theory but you are taking action on the front lines so, much respect for putting yourself out there Cole! And giving those running shoes to that boy - beautiful!!!
A sweet, inspiring story. I’m Christian, and I know that my faith is nurtured across the ages by the devotion of my Jewish forebears. My determination to live faithfully is inspired by contemporary Jews still living amid various degrees of enmity and persecution, wherever they go. Communism can’t abide any strain of religion because fealty to anything else undermines state control. My heart bleeds for these Jews, and I love them for standing up for their religious freedom! They help me stand up for mine - not in Ukraine or Moldova now, but, remarkably, in my own country with the American state incrementally suppressing Christianity.
Mr. Aronson’s article highlights another reason to hope and pray that Ukraine will fend off Putin.
That is why we defend and support Israel irrespective of our opinion of their government. As an aside, an interesting irony. In Bialik's City of Slaughter describing the Kishinev pogrom of 1903 which influenced the direction modern Zionism would take, the poet/amateur journalist took a particular poke at the men whose wives had been violated while they hid. Among their transgressions was having to ask the Rabbi the propriety of their marriages in restoring normalcy to their household and marital relations. He was quite critical of them for letting their religion get in the way of doing the best thing. Today, amid crisis and heroism far removed from the cowards of 1903, we still see concern over the formal drinkability of the milk that the people depend upon.
“he cobbled together a living as a taxi driver, a mechanic, car refurbisher and salesman, a translator, and a tour guide. “I’m not sitting and doing nothing,” he said. “I must support everybody because I am the man in my family.””
———————————————-
So that would be the *actual* patriarchy, as opposed to the purely theoretical one.
Good to hear so many have stepped up to help. All the more necessary since we know Obama Admin Part 3 has zero interest in flying planeloads of these refugees to the United States. The percentage of refugees with western values would be WAY too high.
He didnt say the woman does nothing. He simply takes responsibility for being a husband and father. Admirable. How anyone could turn this brave man's words to something ideologically toxic is ridiculous.
Yeah you missed my point. It is admirable. The patriarchy is described as a bad thing where men receive all benefits, when for the most part it is guys working back breaking jobs to provide for their family.
Thank you for posting this beautifully, challenging, hauntingly and yet also hopefully written post. I am an evangelical Christian steeped in the Jewish as well as Christian Scriptures. I pray for Ukraine, for its refugees, and for God’s / YHWH’s intervention.
“…a jewish nation free in its land”. Wow, such hypocrisy and bullshit! Like the author, I pray three times a day as well, for a world devoid of cult ideologies driving people who have not yet learned to be critical thinkers to discriminate against others because of perceived differences. I pray self identifying religious Jews, like this author, one day wake up and begin to embrace all people with love and open arms. Zionism = racism
Though I don’t doubt this writer’s sincerity, he presents only one perspective of the situation in the Donbas. It’s clear that that ethnic Russians in that region of Ukraine have resisted the de-Russification of their ancestral homelands by the Ukrainian government. His account, though, does support the government and media narrative that is being presented in the West. Unfortunately, however, that narrative is just as biased as this writer’s account. We in the west are not being provided a balanced view of the war in Ukraine. The omission of other perspectives amounts to deception. Here are just a few examples of that deception:
Jeff - As it happens, I spoke yesterday with a man who’s visited Ukraine regularly, frequently, for 50 years doing missionary and humanitarian work. He has countless friends and contacts there. He was there just last week! I asked him about Ukrainians in the eastern sector, whether it’s true that most of them support the Russian invasion and would prefer to rejoin Russia in some form. He said it’s not true, that this narrative is Russian propaganda. Much of the population in the east has Russian roots and Russian is their first language, but most prefer living in Ukraine as currently constituted. Why? The reason is simple. They’ve gotten used to a free society in Ukraine and have no desire to live under Russian totalitarianism. Communism is officially defunct in Russia, but state power remains and these Ukrainians want no part of it despite their Russian heritage.
Thanks, Mark. I think we can agree that it’s hard to know what to believe. I’m certain of a few things though. I’m certain that there is always more than one perspective on all events, and I’m just as certain that the msm is only providing one of those perspectives. I’m just as certain that until recently the msm depicted Ukraine as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. I don’t necessarily support the perspective of the Russian separatists in Ukraine. I’m just trying to demonstrate that there are, in fact, other perspectives.
Thanks for your sensible reply. Two things can be true at once: Ukrainian politicians and corporations can be corrupt, and Ukrainians - most of whom are NOT corrupt - can deserve freedom from Russian domination.
Absolutely. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. We are all pawns to at least one degree or another in a global power struggle. And right now the Ukrainian people are pawns on one the most dangerous parts of the elite’s chessboard.
Thanks for the digging, and repeating the vital message that Government and MSM can NEVER be trusted. I know that in Substack-land this seems like an obvious point, but this is still an embryonic project, and that message needs reinforcement at every opportunity
Yes indeed! Let’s not forget who made sure pro-Russian Yanukkvych was ousted: the same lovely Nuland who last week quite hesitantly admitted after several denials) that there were US bio labs in Ukraine (Rubio did not even press for information but only offered the leading question about any bio weapons discovered would be, of course, credited to The Russians!). Said bio labs contain hemorrhagic fever research. Interestingly, the Chinese virologist who fled China and rang the alarm about Covid (I wrote her name down when I listened to her discussion but unfortunately lost it) had also urgently warned that the next bio attack would be - wait for it - hemorrhagic fever, a far more lethal virus then Covid. MSM probably won’t be running with this story either!!
Well the ladies of the View think Tulsi, Tucker and Fox News should be investigated by the DOJ for even bringing this up. It's incomprehensible that after what the whole world has just been through people like that can still pander to politics and not be scared s^%# less about it happening again.
I confess I'm at a loss to explain the popularity of The View. I can't think of people less qualified to comment on current events. Sexist, racist, and classist--truly, the Trifecta--and Progs can't get enough of it...
If Sasha is a "lion", why is he fleeing? I see video of many Ukrainian women and young children at the Polish border, unaccompanied by men. THEIR men stayed to fight. Sasha ran.
My maternal grandparents left Kishinev at the time of the Russian pogroms in the early 1900’s. [wikipedia-kishinev-pogrom] The times are not changing. Russia is still killing Jews; and the Jew is still forced to wander. [wikipedia-Wandering Jew] Note: Look at the countries in which the stories about the wandering Jew flourished- sounds like the EU and NATO of today]
Loved this piece.
Shema Israel!
To me this is kind of an odd thing that people do. war is hell, on everyone equally. why do we keep focusing in on specific ethnic groups? Everybody that’s fleeing war is dirty and hungry and having a hard time finding food. unless one group for some reason has more of a bull’s-eye on them than another and I just don’t get it. Although I suppose highlghting any individual highlights their culture. If your between a male 18-50 and a citizen of the Ukraine i’m looking at you wondering why you fled.
That being said I have always been very pro-Israel. It’s the one functional democracy in a region full of violence and tyrants. A true oasis.
My paternal great grandparents were wise enough to flee with their three sons and daughter to flee a town not far from Kiev in the 1890s because of extreme poverty, religious discrimination, forced conscript into the Czar’s army and persecution from the locals. They made their way to NYC like so many other Ashkenaz Jews who knew they could not have normal lives in what was referred to as the Pale of Settlement. It pains me to see this history happening all over again. Oddly enough, my maternal grandparents fled Kishinev, the very same city where this essay takes place in the 1880s when pogroms murdered thousands of Jews. I’m glad they fled and migrated here never looking back at what was never considered home to any of them. Sadly, they were never considered Ukrainian or Russian or Rumanian. They were always seen as outsiders. I’m glad that some and hopefully many, will find their way to Israel.
Light in the darkness
You speak of theory but you are taking action on the front lines so, much respect for putting yourself out there Cole! And giving those running shoes to that boy - beautiful!!!
A sweet, inspiring story. I’m Christian, and I know that my faith is nurtured across the ages by the devotion of my Jewish forebears. My determination to live faithfully is inspired by contemporary Jews still living amid various degrees of enmity and persecution, wherever they go. Communism can’t abide any strain of religion because fealty to anything else undermines state control. My heart bleeds for these Jews, and I love them for standing up for their religious freedom! They help me stand up for mine - not in Ukraine or Moldova now, but, remarkably, in my own country with the American state incrementally suppressing Christianity.
Mr. Aronson’s article highlights another reason to hope and pray that Ukraine will fend off Putin.
That is why we defend and support Israel irrespective of our opinion of their government. As an aside, an interesting irony. In Bialik's City of Slaughter describing the Kishinev pogrom of 1903 which influenced the direction modern Zionism would take, the poet/amateur journalist took a particular poke at the men whose wives had been violated while they hid. Among their transgressions was having to ask the Rabbi the propriety of their marriages in restoring normalcy to their household and marital relations. He was quite critical of them for letting their religion get in the way of doing the best thing. Today, amid crisis and heroism far removed from the cowards of 1903, we still see concern over the formal drinkability of the milk that the people depend upon.
“he cobbled together a living as a taxi driver, a mechanic, car refurbisher and salesman, a translator, and a tour guide. “I’m not sitting and doing nothing,” he said. “I must support everybody because I am the man in my family.””
———————————————-
So that would be the *actual* patriarchy, as opposed to the purely theoretical one.
Good to hear so many have stepped up to help. All the more necessary since we know Obama Admin Part 3 has zero interest in flying planeloads of these refugees to the United States. The percentage of refugees with western values would be WAY too high.
He didnt say the woman does nothing. He simply takes responsibility for being a husband and father. Admirable. How anyone could turn this brave man's words to something ideologically toxic is ridiculous.
Yeah you missed my point. It is admirable. The patriarchy is described as a bad thing where men receive all benefits, when for the most part it is guys working back breaking jobs to provide for their family.
B'H may you continue this wonderful work for our brethren
Thank you for posting this beautifully, challenging, hauntingly and yet also hopefully written post. I am an evangelical Christian steeped in the Jewish as well as Christian Scriptures. I pray for Ukraine, for its refugees, and for God’s / YHWH’s intervention.
Sasha sounds like he’s between 18 and 60. I guess staying and fighting to protect his father and grandmother isn’t a thing for him.
“…a jewish nation free in its land”. Wow, such hypocrisy and bullshit! Like the author, I pray three times a day as well, for a world devoid of cult ideologies driving people who have not yet learned to be critical thinkers to discriminate against others because of perceived differences. I pray self identifying religious Jews, like this author, one day wake up and begin to embrace all people with love and open arms. Zionism = racism
https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution#
"Zionism = racism"
Brian = asshole
😂 yes… not nice to say but it’s true to me. At least I’m not a racist asshole
Ahh, a Bari Weiss substack hate subscriber finally getting his opportunity to spew what drives him.
Not hate, love. I pray for religious Jews to break free of ideology and love all people, not just other Jews.
What would make you say something so absurd and uninformed?
Perhaps you should read the provided link to the HRW article so you don’t ask such absurd and uninformed questions.
Though I don’t doubt this writer’s sincerity, he presents only one perspective of the situation in the Donbas. It’s clear that that ethnic Russians in that region of Ukraine have resisted the de-Russification of their ancestral homelands by the Ukrainian government. His account, though, does support the government and media narrative that is being presented in the West. Unfortunately, however, that narrative is just as biased as this writer’s account. We in the west are not being provided a balanced view of the war in Ukraine. The omission of other perspectives amounts to deception. Here are just a few examples of that deception:
https://jeffcuttler.substack.com/p/ukrainian-war-lies?s=w
Jeff - As it happens, I spoke yesterday with a man who’s visited Ukraine regularly, frequently, for 50 years doing missionary and humanitarian work. He has countless friends and contacts there. He was there just last week! I asked him about Ukrainians in the eastern sector, whether it’s true that most of them support the Russian invasion and would prefer to rejoin Russia in some form. He said it’s not true, that this narrative is Russian propaganda. Much of the population in the east has Russian roots and Russian is their first language, but most prefer living in Ukraine as currently constituted. Why? The reason is simple. They’ve gotten used to a free society in Ukraine and have no desire to live under Russian totalitarianism. Communism is officially defunct in Russia, but state power remains and these Ukrainians want no part of it despite their Russian heritage.
Thanks, Mark. I think we can agree that it’s hard to know what to believe. I’m certain of a few things though. I’m certain that there is always more than one perspective on all events, and I’m just as certain that the msm is only providing one of those perspectives. I’m just as certain that until recently the msm depicted Ukraine as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. I don’t necessarily support the perspective of the Russian separatists in Ukraine. I’m just trying to demonstrate that there are, in fact, other perspectives.
Thanks for your sensible reply. Two things can be true at once: Ukrainian politicians and corporations can be corrupt, and Ukrainians - most of whom are NOT corrupt - can deserve freedom from Russian domination.
Absolutely. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. We are all pawns to at least one degree or another in a global power struggle. And right now the Ukrainian people are pawns on one the most dangerous parts of the elite’s chessboard.
Thanks for the digging, and repeating the vital message that Government and MSM can NEVER be trusted. I know that in Substack-land this seems like an obvious point, but this is still an embryonic project, and that message needs reinforcement at every opportunity
Yes indeed! Let’s not forget who made sure pro-Russian Yanukkvych was ousted: the same lovely Nuland who last week quite hesitantly admitted after several denials) that there were US bio labs in Ukraine (Rubio did not even press for information but only offered the leading question about any bio weapons discovered would be, of course, credited to The Russians!). Said bio labs contain hemorrhagic fever research. Interestingly, the Chinese virologist who fled China and rang the alarm about Covid (I wrote her name down when I listened to her discussion but unfortunately lost it) had also urgently warned that the next bio attack would be - wait for it - hemorrhagic fever, a far more lethal virus then Covid. MSM probably won’t be running with this story either!!
Well the ladies of the View think Tulsi, Tucker and Fox News should be investigated by the DOJ for even bringing this up. It's incomprehensible that after what the whole world has just been through people like that can still pander to politics and not be scared s^%# less about it happening again.
I saw that and it made my stomach turn. I keep thinking my level of incredulity can’t be surpassed anymore, but behold!
I confess I'm at a loss to explain the popularity of The View. I can't think of people less qualified to comment on current events. Sexist, racist, and classist--truly, the Trifecta--and Progs can't get enough of it...
Thanks for posting--the criminality is just right out in the open now, they don't even bother to hide it.
Dr. Yan is the Chinese virologist who escaped China! FYI