By Karma Feinstein Cohen
5780 was full of horrible events for Jews, including, but not limited to, COVID 19, riots in American cities, and increased physical violence against Jews worldwide. Still, I cannot forget the public tragedy of a confused and obviously, Jewishly uneducated Jew.
I have had my fill of self-hating Jews, anti-Semites, anti-Zionists (same, same), and other lovely creatures, but this guy is seriously in a category all of his own.
It took me a few short minutes to get the gist of what the hour-plus rant was about as Marc and Seth man-splained their Jewish “problem.”
Many of my Facebook friends were far more gracious than I and tried to find the good in the few “so-called” positive things that Seth sees in Judaism (like sitting shiva — insert facepalming emoji here!).
At first, I was really angry … like really, really angry. After that, all I could feel for Rogen was a lot of pity.
I honestly feel sorry for a guy who is so ashamed of his “near 100% Jewish DNA” and he calls religion “silly.” It takes incredible ignorance to reduce the Jewish People to a mere “religion.” And as much as I hate it when my mother says that I just don’t “get it”… Mr. Seth Rogen just doesn’t “get it.”
Rogen’s self-hatred has made him oblivious to basic facts. Including: if Israel had been established before the Holocaust, Jews could have come home and escaped sure death.
He is ashamed of “tough Jews” – because clearly pasty frightened Jews are much more likable and have a much higher survival rate.
Needless to say, his podcast must have given much pleasure to our enemies!
Regardless of what was said, as an American Jew, who was privileged enough to make aliyah and to serve for three years in the IDF: I am here for you and all other Jews, no matter how disconnected you may be.
We’re here, even if you’re absolutely certain that you cannot get along with us. And we will take you in because you, (yes, you) are part of the nation, which is indigenous to the Land of Israel and you, (whether you like it or not), are a member of the tribe.
AND … Israel is your homeland, no matter how you feel about it.
“For better or worse, simple or difficult, cheap or dear, this is my Land,” said Zionism’s great pre-World War Two leader Ze’ ev Jabotinsky.
Truer words have rarely been spoken.
In the aftermath of L’affaire Rogen, one Jerusalem Post writer opined: “Seth Rogen is not alone. There is a clear, present, and potentially irreversible inter-generational divide within Diaspora Jewry’s largest community residing in North America – particularly in the United States – concerning Israel. Young, secular, liberal Jews, especially in the U.S., have become increasingly vociferous in their criticism of Israel’s actions and, at times, in opposition to its very existence.”
And this failure can be fixed. It is far from too late.
We focus too much energy trying to justify Zionism and defend Israel.
