Comment by qntmfred
do you have any suggestions for those who want to understand what this conflict feels for a regular Israeli just trying to live
or Israelis 40 years ago today
or 75 years ago
or Palestinian Jews 100 years ago
etc
do you have any suggestions for those who want to understand what this conflict feels for a regular Israeli just trying to live
or Israelis 40 years ago today
or 75 years ago
or Palestinian Jews 100 years ago
etc
A lot of Israelis who reference “God’s chosen people” aren’t claiming superiority in the way it’s often interpreted abroad. In Jewish tradition, “chosen” historically means chosen for responsibility, not privilege. The phrase “light unto the nations” captures this: it’s about modeling ethical behavior, justice, and compassion, not dominating or controlling others.
Understanding this helps separate the original ethical meaning of “chosen” from the way it’s sometimes misinterpreted in political discourse: it’s meant to be a call to moral responsibility, not a claim of inherent superiority.
Read diaries of anyone heteronormative living in a collapsing empire.
The Israeli experience is swayed heavily by decades of supremacist propaganda which is unfortunately becoming baked into the religion. I've had a surprising number of conversations with Israelis about politics that at some point involved them mentioning Israelis being "god's chosen people."
Even Israeli progressives have to couch opposition to war in desire to get the hostages back, or they'll face incredible social blowback. Not to mention those with religious oppositions to serving in the military are propagandized as "not contributing to Israeli society," since the only valid way to do that is commit violence on behalf of the State.