Although, this piece is initially devoted to the review of another's work, and that alone is a compelling read; the entire article is the classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.
Your historical and psychological analysis of the unseen forces that result in anti-semitism is one of the best treatments of this subject that I have ever seen. You have given me much to think about, and I will ruminate about those things, and comment again later.
Steve's decision to add you to the list of folks who submit columns for this relatively new site, was genius. Bravo to both of you!
Douglas Murray is brilliant and a gifted writer and communicator who actually spent an extended time on the ground in Israel over the last 18 months. He is a ‘danger’ because he is fully armed with facts and experience and knows how to use it effectively. His frequent interviews and podcasts are ‘must watch’ TV, radio, and other media. His book is definitely on my upcoming reading list, he is respected and admired, especially speaking out and writing as he does.
Sadly, evil has thrived for millenniums and Jews have been a constant target. Interestingly, for Christians, the first was Jesus. The reasons continue to confound me. I understand the hatred is often implanted from a very early age but Is the original source some inherent hatred, envy, or merely projection of their own misery?
The collaborators, who are propagandists and prevaricators in the media, along with the savages, must be denounced, defeated, and brought to justice. The truth must ultimately prevail. It seems the Islamists and the godless are a continuous source of the evil that now includes the slaughter of Christians. One of the goals is the complete destruction of Western Civilization. Even with that, they would find no satisfaction. They, along with the nihilists, have no meaningful purpose in their destructive lives. Instead, they seek power and to destroy the happiness and purpose of others.
Max, Thanks for the great article, and thanks for calling to my attention another brave man standing up to speak the truth. I will read and recommend Douglas Murray’s books because of this review; without your work, I might never have found his.
I have read your works already, as you know. Jody and I consider them - fiction and commentary alike - as important efforts to defend the culture of the Western world, the culture of life and peace and strength and freedom.
It seems odd that the culture of life needs defending, but certainly it does. It is almost incomprehensible that peace needs defending, for without peace there can be no life. And it is tragic that strength and manhood are under attack, for clearly without strength there can be neither peace nor freedom. The lessons have been repeated for millennia, but it seems they need teaching yet again.
Murray’s works, like your own, are calls for strength and courage in the face of unspeakable evil. Thank you for being here for us.
I’m a Douglas Murray junkie, so I was already planning to read his book.
But never mind Mr Murray and his book - YOU have so cogently and magnificently expressed what is happening today and what we all as Jews are feeling. Thank you so much for this.
I'm still waiting for "moderate" muslims to repudiate violent jihad. Until they do, we all need guns and the will to use them. Israel knows this, and I stand with them even though I am not Jewish.
Once again, Max presents an excellent, evocative, even challenging series of thoughts. As usual, I agree completely with the comment by TonyP. He always says it much better than I am able.
Who am I to even think of adding to anything from the great Douglas Murray? However Max’s quote of Murray saying “Because there is nothing wrong in loving life so much. It is the basis on which civilization can win.” caused me to think there is nothing wrong in loving life so much - it is what makes civilization!
Up until fairly recently I thought places like Sobibor, Ravensbruck, Auschwitz, had taught us a lesson. That Antisemitism and wanting to Kill Jews was a very Very VERY bad thing, and we're not gonna Do That anymore. By Oct. 8 2023 I realized I...Was...Wrong.
"Sometimes these peddlers of lies are jihadis themselves. Sometimes they are communists or other totalitarians. Sometimes they are proud members of an intelligentsia stupefied into dolthood by fraudulent intellectual pseudo-sophistication."
The Problem I have with these types of people is they have NOT really done their Due Diligence. They speak in Bumper Sticker. They don't really know about This War, or actually War in general.
What so many don't Get is Oct 7 2023, was not an aberration, but throughout history That is what you did. What is Very Different (an aberration) is How The IDF/Israel responded. IF Israel really was engaging in genocide, by Christmas day 2023 there would not be many people left alive in the Gaza Strip.
I never share but I did this time. I sent it to someone who loved it and thought it was very thoughtful. She was also surprised by the depth of knowledge shown by you and commenters.
The 800 are a personal and family tragedy of horrific, heart-breaking proportions. But, doing the math on how many new Jews would have come from those murdered 800, is staggering and makes real the civilizational tragedy Max has described.
Almost every time I read about a survivor, I also get to read about his or her many descendants. This is a thrill. The word "mishpacha" is a perfect name for this website.
Max, that was simply brilliant.
Although, this piece is initially devoted to the review of another's work, and that alone is a compelling read; the entire article is the classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.
Your historical and psychological analysis of the unseen forces that result in anti-semitism is one of the best treatments of this subject that I have ever seen. You have given me much to think about, and I will ruminate about those things, and comment again later.
Steve's decision to add you to the list of folks who submit columns for this relatively new site, was genius. Bravo to both of you!
Thanks, Tony,
For insights into the experience of German Jews subjected to the Nazi slander campaign, you may be interested in this:
https://xenonpictures.com/wp/about-face/
Douglas Murray is brilliant and a gifted writer and communicator who actually spent an extended time on the ground in Israel over the last 18 months. He is a ‘danger’ because he is fully armed with facts and experience and knows how to use it effectively. His frequent interviews and podcasts are ‘must watch’ TV, radio, and other media. His book is definitely on my upcoming reading list, he is respected and admired, especially speaking out and writing as he does.
Sadly, evil has thrived for millenniums and Jews have been a constant target. Interestingly, for Christians, the first was Jesus. The reasons continue to confound me. I understand the hatred is often implanted from a very early age but Is the original source some inherent hatred, envy, or merely projection of their own misery?
The collaborators, who are propagandists and prevaricators in the media, along with the savages, must be denounced, defeated, and brought to justice. The truth must ultimately prevail. It seems the Islamists and the godless are a continuous source of the evil that now includes the slaughter of Christians. One of the goals is the complete destruction of Western Civilization. Even with that, they would find no satisfaction. They, along with the nihilists, have no meaningful purpose in their destructive lives. Instead, they seek power and to destroy the happiness and purpose of others.
I wonder how many faculty at Harvard will put Murray's book on their required-reading lists.
Max, Thanks for the great article, and thanks for calling to my attention another brave man standing up to speak the truth. I will read and recommend Douglas Murray’s books because of this review; without your work, I might never have found his.
I have read your works already, as you know. Jody and I consider them - fiction and commentary alike - as important efforts to defend the culture of the Western world, the culture of life and peace and strength and freedom.
It seems odd that the culture of life needs defending, but certainly it does. It is almost incomprehensible that peace needs defending, for without peace there can be no life. And it is tragic that strength and manhood are under attack, for clearly without strength there can be neither peace nor freedom. The lessons have been repeated for millennia, but it seems they need teaching yet again.
Murray’s works, like your own, are calls for strength and courage in the face of unspeakable evil. Thank you for being here for us.
WOW!! BRAVO!!!
I’m a Douglas Murray junkie, so I was already planning to read his book.
But never mind Mr Murray and his book - YOU have so cogently and magnificently expressed what is happening today and what we all as Jews are feeling. Thank you so much for this.
Thank you for this. Your eloquent takedown of the intelligentsia and the media soothes my soul.
I'm puzzled by your description of "witness." By that definition it would be quite difficult to find two witnesses to a crime.
Yes, exactly, which would make the death penalty nearly impossible to enforce.
Well said.
I'm still waiting for "moderate" muslims to repudiate violent jihad. Until they do, we all need guns and the will to use them. Israel knows this, and I stand with them even though I am not Jewish.
The Islamic ‘reform’ movement has been awaited for more than a millennium. You would think a start might be stopping the beheading of nonbelievers.
Once again, Max presents an excellent, evocative, even challenging series of thoughts. As usual, I agree completely with the comment by TonyP. He always says it much better than I am able.
Who am I to even think of adding to anything from the great Douglas Murray? However Max’s quote of Murray saying “Because there is nothing wrong in loving life so much. It is the basis on which civilization can win.” caused me to think there is nothing wrong in loving life so much - it is what makes civilization!
Thank you, again, Max for your diligent work.
Up until fairly recently I thought places like Sobibor, Ravensbruck, Auschwitz, had taught us a lesson. That Antisemitism and wanting to Kill Jews was a very Very VERY bad thing, and we're not gonna Do That anymore. By Oct. 8 2023 I realized I...Was...Wrong.
"Sometimes these peddlers of lies are jihadis themselves. Sometimes they are communists or other totalitarians. Sometimes they are proud members of an intelligentsia stupefied into dolthood by fraudulent intellectual pseudo-sophistication."
The Problem I have with these types of people is they have NOT really done their Due Diligence. They speak in Bumper Sticker. They don't really know about This War, or actually War in general.
What so many don't Get is Oct 7 2023, was not an aberration, but throughout history That is what you did. What is Very Different (an aberration) is How The IDF/Israel responded. IF Israel really was engaging in genocide, by Christmas day 2023 there would not be many people left alive in the Gaza Strip.
I heard Mr. Murray being interviewed by the head of the Manhattan Institute at a recent MI event. Powerful and brilliant.
Just one word, Wow.
I never share but I did this time. I sent it to someone who loved it and thought it was very thoughtful. She was also surprised by the depth of knowledge shown by you and commenters.
1, My cousin compiled a list of some 800 known extended family members murdered in the Shoah/Holocaust.
2. Heroism of the late Klausenburger Rebbe:
https://mishpacha.com/reconstructed-on-a-dream/
The 800 are a personal and family tragedy of horrific, heart-breaking proportions. But, doing the math on how many new Jews would have come from those murdered 800, is staggering and makes real the civilizational tragedy Max has described.
Almost every time I read about a survivor, I also get to read about his or her many descendants. This is a thrill. The word "mishpacha" is a perfect name for this website.
In this case, it's the name of a family magazine that posts some of its articles.
Superb and absolutely true analysis and description of our reality.