'We Are Alone' Reflections on the Jewish-American Response to October 7

Key Findings:

The Jewish community is in a moment of darkness that began infamously, on the single most murderous day in Jewish history since 1945. Joshua Leifer, a contributing editor for the far-Left publication Jewish Currents, pathetically spoke of the tragedy as being “incomprehensible,” despite the massacres of October 7 aligning perfectly with Hamas’s charter and with its past terrorist attacks. 

The author notes that Jewish liberals at one point will be (or have already been) "mugged by reality" — when the truths of the Middle East confront their Western liberal idealist values and inevitably shred them. The essay suggests that Jewish progressives have now been metaphorically "massacred" by the harsh realities they face.

The post- or anti-Zionist Jewish Left has been active for about two decades, and there has been a shift from providing honest criticism of Israeli policies to supplying calumnies. Instead of building a Jewish Left that opposes policies while loving the state of Israel, this group has abandoned the state and mainstreamed anti-Zionism. The author compares this behavior to Lenin's concept of "useful idiots" who unintentionally provide moral cover for antisemitism. The lack of comprehension or acknowledgment of the violent nature of groups like Hamas is also criticized.

The author expresses doubt about whether Joshua Leifer and others on the far-left will undergo a genuine awakening or revert to their previous beliefs. A parallel is drawn to ex-Communists who publicly denounced the Soviet Union in 1949, hinting that some may choose to break away from the extreme positions of the far-left.

The broader American Jewish community, particularly those in the center-left and center-right, are suddenly fearful. There's a palpable sense of isolation and concern that despite statements of solidarity from various leaders, something is amiss. Various factors are contributing to these concerns, such as the responses of academic leaders, political figures like Donald Trump, support for Hamas on college campuses, and the fear that the Biden administration may shift from promising support to demanding restraint if Israel engages in military operations.

Underlying these fears is the doubt about the strength and stability of the Jewish state. The recent violence and turmoil have shaken the perception of the Jewish state as an "insurance policy" for Diaspora Jews. The author calls for clear thinking and urgent responses in this moment of darkness.