Bess, thank you for writing what so many of us are thinking and trying to express. I know this takes no small amount of courage and I know your DMs are going to be filled with hateful comments; I’ve received them too. I always have to remind myself that no matter how many times I’m called a “self hating Jew” or some other nonsense, I am doing exactly what I’d have wanted more people to do during the Holocaust for Jews. Never again, for anyone.
OK, I didn't vote for Mandami, because of what I heard regarding his antisemitic beliefs. I found this very reassuring. Thank you for posting this and sorting the wheat from the chaff.
I just want to say thank you for writing this and for having the courage to put it out there in this environment. A friend sent it to me when I was feeling despondent —not by Mamdani’s win, but by all the fear and confusion in the Jewish response around me. Lately, I’ve felt like this must be what it’s like for Christians who truly believe in the compassionate, love-your-neighbor teachings of Jesus—to watch their religion drift toward nationalism and punitive power. I’ve been looking around and wondering what the point even is if we abandon the very principles I was raised to believe Judaism stood for and that I was proud of —justice, compassion, the courage to question power. Your words bring clarity to confusion. I subscribed right away- really grateful for this.
Gotta love a sane and thoughtful Jew in this moment. (Im allowed to say this since I’m also Jew who aspires to stay calm and make sense). I appreciate you Bess.
Thank you. I'm so tired of hearing how terrible of a Jew I am for simply continuing the legacy of my Jewish family of pushing for a society that accepts and works for those who are in most need.
As always, your writing about this subject is thoughtful and smart and heart-wrenching and beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. How about running for deputy mayor?
Bess, I still feel uncomfortable with the progressive left’s attitude toward Israel and Jews (and the far right attitude, too). But your post has moved my window of understanding, so thank you.
As a Jewish grandmother and mother, I’m so grateful for you. You’ve distilled the firehose of social media posts into a well-reasoned, logical take on the issue and I thank you on behalf of my daughters and grandsons.
Bess, thank you for writing what so many of us are thinking and trying to express. I know this takes no small amount of courage and I know your DMs are going to be filled with hateful comments; I’ve received them too. I always have to remind myself that no matter how many times I’m called a “self hating Jew” or some other nonsense, I am doing exactly what I’d have wanted more people to do during the Holocaust for Jews. Never again, for anyone.
Yes, you took the words from my brain. The most hurtful comments come from right-leaning Jews.
Thank you for this. As a non-New Yorker (and non-Jewish person), I want him to be the hope that he appears to be. You need this. We all need this.
OK, I didn't vote for Mandami, because of what I heard regarding his antisemitic beliefs. I found this very reassuring. Thank you for posting this and sorting the wheat from the chaff.
This is a brave, honest, glad-making response. May we all be so willing
I just want to say thank you for writing this and for having the courage to put it out there in this environment. A friend sent it to me when I was feeling despondent —not by Mamdani’s win, but by all the fear and confusion in the Jewish response around me. Lately, I’ve felt like this must be what it’s like for Christians who truly believe in the compassionate, love-your-neighbor teachings of Jesus—to watch their religion drift toward nationalism and punitive power. I’ve been looking around and wondering what the point even is if we abandon the very principles I was raised to believe Judaism stood for and that I was proud of —justice, compassion, the courage to question power. Your words bring clarity to confusion. I subscribed right away- really grateful for this.
This is BRILLIANT. Better than any mush-op-ed. It's nuanced and a direct response to hysteria and partisan hatred. Thank you.
Gotta love a sane and thoughtful Jew in this moment. (Im allowed to say this since I’m also Jew who aspires to stay calm and make sense). I appreciate you Bess.
Bless you, Bess Kalb (sincerely, a Jew)
All day I’ve been sending my parents and my sisters POVs like this. Thank you. Sending this one too obv
Thank you. I'm so tired of hearing how terrible of a Jew I am for simply continuing the legacy of my Jewish family of pushing for a society that accepts and works for those who are in most need.
Bless you x2, Bess Kalb (sincerely, a Jew) - Succinct words stolen from the poster below me :)
As always, your writing about this subject is thoughtful and smart and heart-wrenching and beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. How about running for deputy mayor?
Thank you! It’s like you wrote what’s in my head but so, so much better.
Your words are a balm, Bess. Thank you.
Bess, I still feel uncomfortable with the progressive left’s attitude toward Israel and Jews (and the far right attitude, too). But your post has moved my window of understanding, so thank you.
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As a Jewish grandmother and mother, I’m so grateful for you. You’ve distilled the firehose of social media posts into a well-reasoned, logical take on the issue and I thank you on behalf of my daughters and grandsons.
You said it like it needed to be said. Thank you. 💙🙏🦋