Reply #28: Difference Between What Jews Will Reveal to Each Other....

[vixannewigg]

I am a Reform Jew (grew up Conservative but identify as Reform). I do not think that Israel is perfect, however I am also not quick to judge Israel because I have never even visited, let alone lived there. I lived very close to the WTC on 9/11 and I know that after the attack I was extremely angry at the terrorists to the point that I felt very prejudiced toward most Arabs. I'm not proud of that, but my point is that I'm not sure I feel comfortable judging Israel when I have not experienced what the Israeli people have experienced.

When I see what's happening in our own country, as fundamentalist Christianity seems to take over, I am more and more glad that Israel exists. I am hesitant to "air dirty laundry in public" because enough people already seem to be so critical of Israel around the world.

I think you might find a difference between what Jews would say to one another regarding Israel and what they would say to non-Jews. I think many Jews would be very uncomfortable criticizing Israel to non-Jews. I also think that the older generation is much less critical than the younger generation. When you grow up Jewish, you are taught that Israel kind of is perfect and that Jews never did any wrong in the creation of the country. My grandmother gets very angry at me when I criticize Israel. I remember watching a show on the history channel about Jewish terrorists and I was completely shocked. I'd never, never heard of that.