Trying to share Hersh’s mom’s words (above) everywhere I can, AND I wrote this list back in October 14, 2015. I think I had written and said different versions of this list many times over the course of many years. Here it is on my blog now.

I can’t believe I have to say this, but here we go:

Not all Arabs are Muslim.

Not all Muslims are Arab.

Not all Americans are Christian.

Not all Israelis are Jewish.

Not all Israelis agree with every policy of the Israeli government or the Israeli police force. [See some coverage of recent Israeli protests here: https://www.972mag.com/israel-hostage-protest-movement-government/]

I can support Israel, call myself a Zionist, and still disagree with things that happen in Israel.

I can love Israel and fear for Israelis’ safety, and still think critically about how they protect themselves from terrorism.

I can love Israel and my Israeli friends and family and simultaneously care about Palestinian people and people who live in Gaza and anyone who HAMAS victimizes anywhere. NB: the fierce women of Iraq: https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-765306!

If you are reading this post and you are surprised, please go read more about the situation. Maybe try +972 Magazine or ALBI. Our buddies at NPR and the New York Times don’t always present all sides of the story – partially because the story is 2,000 years old and because there are not only two sides to this story.

If you are surprised that I am posting this, please know that I don’t want to have to, but every once in a while, I am surprised and disappointed by how ignorant/naive/hateful some smart people are. (Sorry for the run-on sentence.)

FYI: If you are inspired to write a comment about how terrible I am or how I’ve “learned the wrong lesson from October 7, 2023,” please save your time/energy. I’m not going to read it. Here’s a quarter. Call someone who wants to hear from you.