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PASSOVER and LET MY PEOPLE GO
This is a picture of a Passover Seder my Father's Family held in the 1920's in Trenton, NJ.
The whole family and it's many branches were there. This included family friends, Jewish or not, who had no other place to go. The little guy in the front row whose head is being held by his cousin Joe is my Dad, Albert Abbie Bash. In the back row, holding a Baby, is my Grandmother Annie holding my Aunt Alice. My Sephardic Jewish roots come from her. Next to her is my Grandpa Abe. My son Adam is named for him. The Bash family were leaders in their community. Collectively they started or helped to start 2 Synogogues and the YMHA as well as the Jewish Welfare Board. The little boy holding my father's head, in the picture (Joseph Bash) became a leader in the Democratic Party In NJ and Nationally. My father took leadership roles in Many Jewish Organizations as well as Veteran Organizations.
I am proud of my family and what it stood for. The values I hold dear came from them and were fought for by them so that I can do what I do now.
We as a family do support the State of Israel. We support the survival of Israel and the support of it's people.
That does not mean I support all of Israel's policies. In fact the citizens of Israel do not support it's current policies in Gaza. They are demonstrating every day against Netanyahu's policies. I supported Senator Schumer's speech calling for Netanyahu's resignation.
I never liked Netanyahu and in fact hold him responsible for the Oct. 6 invasion of Israel and the 130+ hostages still be held 7 months later!
I do not agree with the killing of Gazans as a way to root out Hamas. But I also do not support Hamas's occupation of Gaza or Hezbollah's occupation of the West Bank. Hamas's Charter calls for the destruction of Israel and ALL JEWS! I also do not support the proxy war Iran is waging using the people of Gaza as pawns so that the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel never happens!
This is what, I believe, this is all about because Iran knows if Israel and
Saudi Arabia "normalize" relations they are just another country in the Middle East and both Hamas and Hezbollah become somewhat neutralized.
I suggest to you this is not about destroying Israel but it is about opposing the policies of Netanyahu's government in Israel.
For example when I demonstrated against the Apartheid policies of South Africa I did not call for demolishing the country of South Africa, I called for the removal of Apartheid. So if you are opposing the policies of Israel with respect to Gaza but not the destruction of the Country of Israel,
you are NOT an anti-semite.
However if you call for the destruction of The State of Israel, the only Jewish Homeland, you are an anti-semite in all the horrorific behaviors that accompany that label.
That's the line that for centuries me and my family have had to deal with. It is a distinction I suggest everyone needs to examine not just for today's discriminatory behaviors but also for those that are sure to surface later.
Susan
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