"There is now a #Jewish debate about fighting #antisemitism. And we need to consider what exactly we are arguing about when we argue about it.

[Brett] #Stephens’s thesis might seem provocative now, but it wouldn’t shock medieval #Jews. #AvrahamGrossman points out that #Rashi often depicts the nations of the world as “lying in wait to attack and devour the #Jewish people.” #Grossman writes that this is not surprising, considering that the renowned medieval commentator’s community was massacred during the #FirstCrusade, and endured multiple #antiJewish edicts.

In his commentary on the #Torah, Rashi quotes the phrase from the #Midrash saying that “it is a rule that #Esau hates #Jacob.” This means that antisemitism is a metaphysical reality; the spiritual heirs of Esau will always hate the descendants of Jacob. Antisemitism will never end.

Rashi’s attitude to antisemitism remains influential today."

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887432

Just finished reading, one of the top 3 novels ever read in my life:

"Life and destiny" - Жизнь и судьба

by Vassily #Grossman, completed in 1960. The author died thinking his manuscript was lost forever, because KGB confiscated all copies (but one!) as its was deemed to be anti-sovietic. It appeared in europe only 20 years later .

In its 800 pages, this is a black hole containing humanity, life, epics, history, poetry, pure beauty, pure horror, it's incredible.

#literature

L’ #écrivain #israélien David #Grossman qualifie désormais la situation à #Gaza de “ #génocide” , un terme qu’il avait jusqu’à présent refusé d’utiliser : sa réflexion avait évolué en lisant les journaux et en écoutant les #témoignages de ceux qui revenaient de #Gaza.

“J’étudie les #génocides ; je sais en reconnaître un quand j’en vois un.”

https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/gaza-david-grossman-qualifie-desormais-la-situation-a-gaza-de-genocide_233664

#Grossman nella sua intervista a #Repubblica di oggi ha il coraggio di pronunciare la parola "Genocidio". Ma non trae la logica conclusione: gli israeliani sono diventati i nazisti del 21° secolo, e quello che stanno facendo a #Gaza, sparando su donne e bambini inermi, non è diverso da quello che hanno dovuto subire i loro nonni e bisnonni 80 anni fa. Un abominio allora, un abominio oggi.
#GenocidioGaza

https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2025/07/31/news/grossman_intervista_scrittore_israeliano_gaza_guerra-424764877/

It’s the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe — VE Day. I’ve just finished Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate, an epic novel commonly described as the twentieth century’s War and Peace...

https://proletarianperspective.substack.com/p/review-life-and-fate-by-vasily-grossman

#Grossman #amreading #reading #bookreview #review #VEDay #WW2

I've been reading slowly but as the book's pace picks up so has mine.
The latest scene is all about the Chancellor and his rise to power.
It's chilling how similar National Socialism and the GOP are. The playbook is so clear.

I'm sure we don't have to experience worldwide devastation this time to turn the tide. We're too aware, I hope, of the evil which comes from the unwholesome alliance of hate and might.

We can't go back but we can go forward.

#reading #grossman #stalingrad