A fellow Jew called me a Nazi at ‘unity’ march
As a proud Jew and person of conscience, I attended the March 3 “unity” march against antisemitism in San Francisco (“Thousands in S.F. join unity march against antisemitism,” March 8). This event was billed as a march “to champion the values of inclusion, respect, belonging and democracy — standing united against antisemitism.” Guided by my Jewish value of “pikuach nefesh,” the sanctity of all life, I arrived to the march with other community members walking behind a banner that urged us to “Fight antisemitism and genocide: cease-fire now” and proudly held a sign declaring my commitment as one of many “Jews for Palestinian freedom.” We sang “Oseh Shalom,” a Hebrew prayer for peace.
As soon as we entered the march, we were swarmed by fellow Jews wrapped in Israeli flags who yelled and cursed at us, calling us “Nazis” and telling us: “Return to the ghetto and die.” Those wrapped in Israeli flags chanted “shame” in unison until our group was guided away from the route by police for our safety. We were not allowed to enter the rally area and were instead cordoned off across the street and labeled by the San Francisco Chronicle as “counter-protesters.” Jewish counter-protesters at a “unity” march against antisemitism?
As a proud Jew for Palestinian freedom and Palestinian humanity, to be barred entry from and be verbally attacked at a march against antisemitism was deeply painful. The right to criticize the nation-state of Israel for its actions is at the heart of a democratic society and not an antisemitic act. This false conflation between antisemitism and anti-Zionism cheapens real acts of antisemitism that harm us all.
Laura Einhorn | San Leandro
On history repeating itself
After having read news reports (“‘I’m screaming for help’: Jewish students face violence at UC Berkeley Israel talk,” Feb. 27) about the riot incited at UC Berkeley by Bears for Palestine, I opened my Feb. 23 print edition of J., which had recently arrived in the mail. The J. archives column was headlined “When university campuses were openly antisemitic” and included the phrase: “Jewish students at the universities across Europe were getting barred from class, ostracized, and even attacked.”
As Mark Twain was credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”
Michael Harris | Bodega Bay
UC has two options for dealing with violent mobs
The mob violence that occurred at UC Berkeley against students wishing to hear a talk by Ran Bar-Yoshafat, an Israeli attorney and a reserve combat officer in the Israel Defense Forces, was an ominous but also clarifying moment.
When a mob rampages against a speaker, threatens violence and causes property damage, the mob has, by its conduct, already rejected the option of nonviolent negotiation. This leaves two options open to the UC authorities.
Either they can give in to the mob, or they can impose law and order on the mob, using as much force as is necessary. Those who are willing to be intimidated would choose the first option. Those who want to coexist in a free society must pursue the second or permanently abandon any hope of that goal.
In this situation, one cannot be a spectator because by watching and doing nothing, one also becomes the victim. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly.
Desmond Tuck | San Mateo
Waking up to reality
I deeply appreciate Elizabeth Rosner’s recommendation that people who are triggered by words like “genocide,” “apartheid” and “colonialism” should look within themselves to explore why these words frighten them (“How words like ‘genocide’ trigger a fear response,” Feb. 23). Still, these words have legitimate meanings, and many people who use them are well aware of their meanings. They (we) do not use them “to stir up reactions” but to awaken people to reality.
I recently attended a meeting where a man claimed the Oct. 7 attack on Israel was genocide but what is continuing to happen in Gaza is not. While I understand that the Oct. 7 attack was horrendous, I also know that it does not fit the internationally recognized definition of genocide. If the man had looked up the definition, rather than simply reacted without knowledge, he would never have made this claim. At least one would hope he would not have.
Human beings have the capacity to recognize the difference between what is real in their lives and what they might have learned when they were children. This is part of what makes us human. It isn’t easy, but it is doable. And the truth shall set you free.
Lois Pearlman | Guerneville
Jews are being dehumanized and devalued
Your article with photos of graffiti around Lake Merritt expressing support for Hamas were extremely disturbing (“Pro-Hamas graffiti scrawled along Lake Merritt,” Feb. 23). At UC Berkeley’s Sather Gate, a sign placed by protesters states, “Glory to the resistance.”
Public spaces in the Bay Area have increasingly become sites of hateful expressions that are distressing to Jews and dehumanizing and devaluing of Jewish people and of those individuals raped, tortured and murdered in the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre and subsequent attacks.
The frequent appearance and increasing pervasiveness of these hateful expressions — and the indifference with which they are often met — threaten our welfare and our right to live freely without intimidation and without fear of becoming targets of bigotry and violence.
Noam Schimmel | Berkeley
Which normal life?
Guest contributor Emma Pearlman (“Gazans deserve normal lives, just like you and I do,” Feb. 23) has good intentions. She spent her summer in Rafah, and evidently enjoyed it, in 2003, well before Hamas took over the Gaza Strip. I doubt that she would have enjoyed such a visit after Israel withdrew from the territory and Hamas took over. She cites the “brutality of the occupation,” whereas it has been 15 years since Israel has withdrawn. Yes, every human being should have a normal life, including Gazans, but Israel must first be sure that another Oct. 7 will not be committed by Hamas.
Adele Gershater | Palo Alto
We cannot let Oct. 7 desensitize us
Thank you for publishing Emma Pearlman’s description of her time spent with a Gazan family, and her call to recognize the humanity of Palestinians in Gaza. The trauma of the Oct. 7 massacre cannot desensitize us to the horrific conditions in today’s Gaza and the killing of 30,000 Palestinians.
As long as Palestinians have no hope for living in a state of their own, Hamas will not be defeated through military means. Besides the inhumanity of what is being perpetrated in Gaza, I fear for the safety of my brother’s family and many cousins in Israel — and all Israelis and Palestinians — as long as Netanyahu and his gang continue on this murderous path.
Richard Weiner | Oakland
Hamas propaganda
I was astonished to see Hamas propaganda presented as fact in Emma Pearlman’s opinion piece. Hamas’ propaganda arm has provided casualty figures for the war in Gaza that began with the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7. There has been no independent verification of these numbers.
The “Gaza health ministry” that Ms. Pearlman cites as the source of her information is a branch of Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for nearly 20 years following Israel’s withdrawal. Please, when you present such propaganda, clearly identify it as such, even if it is in an opinion piece.
Sue Kayton | Menlo Park
Israel must be allowed to finish the job
The rumblings are getting louder that the United States will soon propose a measure to halt the ongoing military operations in Israel. Unless you’ve been holed up in the space station, you’re aware that Israel is now at the point of eradicating many of the remaining Hamas terrorists who have moved south, rearmed and who continue to fire rockets from southern Gaza. This imposition from Washington, D.C., 6,000 safe miles away, is in direct conflict with Israel’s stated objective of “total victory,” defined as the total eradication of Hamas.
It would be one thing if the U.S. attempts to coerce Israel’s hand were based on a demonstrable winning track record in war. But the U.S. history of walkaways, abandonments and forfeitures has too much factual support to ignore. The U.S. is in no position to dictate another country’s exit strategy or timeline. Think Afghanistan.
The current U.S. decision to browbeat Israel into submission isn’t based on morality, caring, paternal protection, mutual interests or even, oddly, America’s geopolitical interests. Rather, the pressure tactics stem from the administration’s own desire to prevail in an election nine months from now and at a time when most credible polls reveal that it is trailing.
Should Israel bend to a foreign administration whose first priority is its own political survival? Should Israelis sacrifice their own houses to safeguard and secure the White House? Should Israel be left counting more bodies while this administration counts ballots?
Israel must be allowed to finish the job that it did not start nor invite. Its fight is just, right, noble and godly.
Ian Zimmerman | San Rafael