A few years ago, a friend of mine (who is Black) told me that, for her mental health, she would no longer discuss race with white people. I’m taking a page from her book and stepping back from discussing Israel with gentiles and antizionist Jews.

Antisemites have been weaponizing the language of humanitarian concern for millennia. This includes: - Allegations that we killed Jesus. - Claims that we consume the blood of non-Jewish babies. - Disproportionate censure of Israel, the “global Jew,” for human rights abuses.

Every time I see a white person in a keffiyeh, I put an Iron Front Zionist sticker up in the vicinity. The three downward arrows signify opposition to tyranny and extremism across the political spectrum, which is exactly how we must approach our support for Israel.

This is the kind of wholesome Jewish content I want to see more of.

A few years ago, I shared a cup of tea with a Palestinian man who spoke of childhood afternoons in his Sitti’s olive grove - trees he could see from his apartment in Gaza before he came here. He spoke of his wish to see his grandchildren play there. How can I as a human being not want that for him?

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you are actually commanded to protect your peace and well being. (Sh’mirat haguf.)

My biological mother - who was abusive and is no longer in my life - sent me a bunch of my old stuff. One box contained an apology letter from me to her for snapping at her. Her response was stapled to the letter. In it, she said that I was so demanding that there was no point in her even trying.

A podcast that won’t put you to sleep! Coming January 2025 🔥 Follow us for updates

As a kid, I remember wondering why my biological mother was so different when we were alone together versus when there were other people around. As an adult, I know it was because she knew the way she treated me in private was wrong. People know *exactly* what they’re doing.

RFK Jr. & Trump pose a severe threat to the health & safety of our children, our families, our communities. Senate Democrats must not allow RFK Jr to head HHS. #StopRFK

Another REASON to contact your 3 members of Congress. For me and my disability community, Telehealth has been a LIFESAVER, improved quality of life, saving me time & energy from traveling to/from doctors appointment for follow-up results and other non-essential visits. www.forbes.com/sites/judyst...

Today’s installment of “antisemites proving why Israel is necessary:” While walking home from a doctor appointment this afternoon, I was accosted by a man who clocked the Hebrew on my sweatshirt and started following me and screaming about genocide. I had to pull a knife to get him to back off.

As a working songwriter and nascent producer, two of my favorite playlists are my "Great Production" and "Great Songwriting" list. (Links here and next post.) What do you think I should add?

Normalize disclosing class privilege. I’ve never had to worry about money in an existential way. I graduated from a small private liberal arts college with enough money in my trust fund to buy real estate before I was 30. Ending class warfare means talking about class.

Good information to know. There’s likely to be more need for this health insurance hack beginning at noon on January 20, 2025 #USDemocracy #Resist

Do not take the healthcare we have today that was passed on to you thanks the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) for granted. It got rid of pre-existing conditions which were often used to deny coverage. Dump and Repugnants are coming for our healthcare. Are you ready to fight?

🔥Senator Tim Kaine is 100% correct. EVERY STATE THAT HAS VOTING MACHINES SHOULD DO AN AUDIT to ensure there is a match between paper ballot totals and the voting machine results. Thanks, Virginia & Senator Kaine.

I want BlueSky to be a space where I get a healthy mix of progressive action items, breaking news (particularly about Zionism, Jewish identity,-and Israel) and artists/ creators (especially musicians) whose work can transport and engage me beyond the political sphere. Who should I follow?

If you are Jewish, please let me know: (1) Are you also on 🧵? (2) How does Jewish community and conversation compare on the two apps. Jews only please.

The expression “two wrongs don’t make a right” seems to apply - but that implies an intact social contract. One *could* argue that denying healthcare to millions for profit is an act of war that negates those obligations. I’m honestly not sure where I stand, but I don’t condemn it outright.

I’m not generally fond of cops, but if there’s one exception, it’s the Capitol Police. These folks don’t stop and frisk Black teenagers or plant drugs at traffic stops. They protect the people who make our laws and the place where they work. They deserve our support, not this garbage.

These days, that seems to extend to CEOs of problematic industries.

Let’s talk about the difference between Islam and Islamism. The vast majority of the world’s Muslims just want to live their lives. They may harbor biases or resentments just like any other group of people - but by and large, they’re just focused on their spouses and kids and jobs. 1/🪡

One day, all the IRI proxies focused on ending Israel’s existence - including those who have infiltrated the Western left - will learn this lesson the hard way.

Damascus has been seized. Assad — if he’s even still alive — has fled Syria. The Prime Minister is calling for free and fair elections. Putin is jealous of a successful special military operation.

Assad statues are being toppled. People are dancing in the streets.

Assad was a genuinely evil human being. So was his father. The people who insisted he wasn't because anti-imperialism or something lied to you, they knew they were lying to you, and they will lie to you again.

Those of us who want a future for Israel need to categorically condemn this and do everything in our power to see that these smug, maximalist, entitled shitheads face the full brunt of justice at every level. Just despicable.

Regimes seem solid until they are not. Every resistance act matters because often regimes are crumbling from within from corruption and yet good at hiding that fact. cc: Russia

In 2016 and 2020, I knew where I belonged: the big intersectional coalition where I thought I was fully welcome. Now, as a Jew and an open Zionist, I am alienated from that community. I will not throw my beautiful Jewish self away to be with people who will never make me fully welcome.

How many of you keep insisting your anti-Zionism≠ antisemitic? Do anti-Zionist views include burning synagogues? You don't get to define the terms for us. 90+% of Zionists are Jewish. In the 🇺🇸 alone, 10k+ antisemitic attacks have occurred since 10/7 We can't do this alone #StandUpToJewishHate

Biden needs to pardon the 50% of the population who are criminalized for daring to be born either trans or with a uterus. Virginia ratified the ERA in 2020. Biden can direct the archivist to publish it as the 28th amendment TODAY. #ERANow Tell him to get his rear in gear. 👇🏼

In my view, the number one thing American Jews can do to manage the extremists in our tiny global community is get our Israeli citizenship. Marching and yelling about arms sales isn’t going to save lives. Understanding Israel and participating in Israeli democracy will.

When I say I’m a Zionist, this is what I mean. I believe that: - Jews are indigenous to the land between the Eastern Med and the Jordan. - So are Arab Palestinians. (Their foremothers were Caananites.) - We are each entitled to a sovereign country where we are the ethnic majority.

Did you know that Elon and Trump want to start using the same AI claim denial process used by United Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs? Just thought you might want to know.

Please take action and repost! This MUST happen.

I don't love everything Einat Wilf has to say, but I think she's worth listening to - if for no other reason than to understand a current, mainstream Israeli POV. Crucially, we have to abide by the intersectional litmus test that directly impacted people are the experts on their own condition.

If you’re a Zionist like me and you’re struggling to have compassion for Palestinians - this has been me at times too - let this be a reminder to take a step back and breathe. They are our cousins. They deserve nice things and better leaders. The second we lose sight of that is the second we lose.

I *highly* recommend this half hour video about the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict. There is no such thing as an unbiased account, but I like this one because it plainly presents facts about where and when things happened. Crucially, nobody comes out smelling of roses.

🤷🏻‍♂️ For roughly half the population, publishing the #ERANow is theoretical legal territory. 🤰🏽🫄🏻🫃🏼🏳️‍⚧️ For the other half, it is a dire emergency worthy of a Hail Mary pass. Cis men need to stop acting like this is anything other than do or die. ✨Take action. Now. Today. 46 days left

Long ago, I remember being bewildered by the anger of a Black woman on Twitter who was (rightly) miffed that I asked her to educate me about racism. Listening to ppl on here demand that I spoon feed them the reality of Jewish indigeneity, I find myself wishing anew that I could apologize to her.

The Equal Rights Amendment - which will permanently, Constitutionally prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex - has been ratified. Top lawyers say Biden can direct the archivist to publish it as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution *right now.* Action steps at the link below.

Going forward, my posts about Israel and combatting antisemitism will restrict replies to people I follow. If you'd like me to follow you so you can participate, please reply to this post, tell me about yourself, and demonstrate that you're going to educate yourself and operate in good faith.

I just attended a call about getting the ERA ratified and the only issue-specific signs in speakers’ backgrounds not related to the ERA were fucking watermelons. Do progressives even care that we’re alienating the vast majority of Jews with this myopic approach to a complex international issue?

Omer. 😞 🕯️

Learning to draw has been a balm for my mental health and a new avenue for my creativity. Here’s my rendering of Anne and Diana from Anne of Green Gables. (Pencil and wax pastel on paper.)

Let’s talk about intersectionality and Zionism. I became aware of intersectionality in 2013 and it completely changed my life. For the first time, I had clarity about my privilege (economic, skin) and the ways in which I have been marginalized (ethnicities, gender, sexuality, disability.) 1/🪡

Anyone working on an antisemite block list?