By Julia, Hasbara Canada High School Intern
Reading Emma Gometz’s recent article in Teen Vogue truly saddened me as it gave me great pause regarding the conclusions that she seemingly made without context, nuance, or historical perspective. So many of her findings became muddled as she expressed her ideas which I can only conclude has led to its faulty reasoning. As a young, developing woman in her twenties (or anyone for that matter), she should look to explore new ideas and perspectives.
By her admission, Emma chose to walk away from her grandparents’ contrasting views instead of properly absorbing them and engaging in fruitful discourse. That is not to say she needs to agree with them. However, one cannot develop their own opinion until they have heard and fully understood both sides of an argument. Emma’s mindset did not allow her to engage in this type of inquiry, even with her family members, who, independent of their views, certainly have a unique perspective given their lived experience.
In the Middle East, Israel is roughly fifty times smaller in population than its neighbors, and its land is five hundred times smaller, yet it garners an infinite amount of hate and hostility. So, let me start by clearly stating that supporting Israel does not mean that one cannot critique its policies, but it needs to be in a context that is almost always lost in current public discussions.
I fully support and stand with the people of Palestine. In truth, I stand with all oppressed people from the citizens of Afghanistan to the Uighur Muslims and beyond. The reality is, of course, all of humanity should stand with all oppressed peoples around the world. In this case, we should all stand with the Palestinian people who strive to put food on the table, the workers who want steady jobs, the children who want to play and go to school and be children without fear of violence.
However, I do not, nor should anyone, stand with the political regimes within the Palestinian leadership that effectively hold its own people hostage. More specifically, Hamas, a group on the US terror list and supported by another terrorist regime, iran, which has signigicant ties with the Palestinian government.
Hamas’ goal is to exterminate Jews and destroy the state of Israel. Hamas persecutes and murders individuals who are LGBTQ+. They terrorize Palestinian women and treat them without equality. Should we reward this regime who supports these ideals. that pays its citizens to commit acts of terrorism within Israel? Should we reward a regime that makes its own schools and civilian neighborhoods military targets? Maybe, instead of throwing the books that her grandparents gifted her aside, Emma should have read them and others to educate herself further about the true plight of the people of the Palestinian people who are truly the targets of systematic injustce by their own government.
Unpacking her essay also brought me considerable sadness in seeing a young person rationalize the apparent tropes and propaganda that are too widespread within social media and mass media narratives. To begin, Emma mentions “systematic injustice” yet offers this without any definition, historical reference, or examples. One cannot take a side and advocate unless they back it up with precedents and further information. If Emma wants to highlight “systematic injustice,” I offer her the systematic injustice embedded in the maltreatment of LGBTQ+ persons and women/children in Palestine, or the ongoing extortion of funds aimed to support these very people.
Emma claims to love being Jewish. If this is true, I will urge her to educate herself more fully.. Judaism is a religion, a guidebook, and a place within history. At its fiber, Judaism emphasizes education through the five books within the Torah. Emma mentions anecdotal cultural tropes of horseradish and gefilte fish in her article. However, these stereotypical cultural references do not depict the true roots and core values of what Judaism offers.
Judaism is rooted in the Middle East. References to parts of Israel are weaved within the Torah repeatedly. The Western Wall and Jerusalem are just a few of many examples of places mentioned in the Torah that reside in the current land of Israel. Emma, like many, confuse the understanding of Zionism and Jews’ determination to retain their ancient land. Israel is the one, and only homeland of the Jewish people wherein any Jewish person can feel welcome. Aside from 3,500 years of history, the Jewish plight was evident during the Holocaust. Jewish people were trapped in European countries, persecuted, burned alive in concentration camps or killed in other horrific and systematic manners. These refugees had nowhere to escape. After the war, many Holocaust survivors came to Israel and made a life in the only Jewish homeland.
With all its imperfections, I tell Emma that Israel still has rich ethnic diversity in the Knesset, free elections, religious freedom, and an independent judiciary. Israel also gives its citizens the privileges of free speech and a free media, women’s rights, LBGTQ+ rights, and a social welfare net that lifts all peoples and creates the highest living standards for its citizens.
As someone who has a close relationship with a Holocaust survivor who endured seven concentration camps, I know that Israel holds profound importance for survivors and many other individuals who survived the war yet were still persecuted and displaced as they tried to find a home. Israel was there to pick up the pieces. Emma’s grandparents are not Holocaust survivors, but they were alive during the war and witnessed this awful time. They watched as Israel welcomed Jews with open arms with no questions asked. The idea of Jews turning away from Israel without appropriate education is hugely detrimental to Israelis and all Jewish people, as it would mean the delegitimization of the only Jewish homeland. I would add that personal dedication to Israel aside; its very existence is vital to the stability within the Middle East as the only democratic entity.
I urge Emma (and readers) to voice ideas and thoughts with the folks she loves and respects and to dig deeper into the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. She has missed a huge opportunity to develop her stance further and develop a relationship with her grandparents who will not be alive forever. Emma, It may feel brave to take a stance in “challenging” the majority. Still, I hope you consider the perspectives I shared today, and maybe you should reconsider and go back to the public book donation and find that book that you so quickly disregarded.
