Readers help a ‘left-wing Zionist’ find their political tribe
From expressing solidarity to questioning their political views, Forward readers had plenty of advice for a lonesome, left-wing Jew.
Illustration by Mira Fox/Samuel Eli Shepherd/Canva
By Samuel Eli Shepherd December 3, 2024
“This is pretty relatable I think for most American Jews, young ones especially,” Instagram user Max Fine said.
“I think this person is confused,” countered another user named Amira. “The only de-humanizing stances I see come from the conservatives.”
These comments were both in response to a recent Bintel Brief, an advice column that has lined the Forward’s pages since the early 20th century. In the column, originally answered by Forward reporter Mira Fox, an anonymous advice-seeker pseudonymously named “Lonesome Leftist” describes feeling increasingly detached from progressive spaces over the last few years because of the left’s insistence on moral “purity,” especially as it relates to the Israel-Hamas war.
“I refuse to see Jewish safety and Palestinian rights as mutually exclusive,” Lonesome wrote in their original plea. “We should not have to choose between caring about the hostages and Palestinian civilians, yet too many people still conceive of this conflict in binary terms.”
When the Forward posted Lonesome’s call for advice on our Instagram page this morning — as an extended text message bubble rather than a letter — the comment section started buzzing. Instagram users across the political spectrum became e-Bintels and weighed in on Lonesome’s political isolation. Here are some highlights of their words of advice, edited for length and clarity.
Several users emphasize, ‘You are not alone!’
I hear you!
— Lisa Resnikoff
@lsres
A lot of this is relatable to many Jews on the left, Zionists and non-/post-/anti-Zionists alike. One thing I think is always important is to make sure your values don’t change. Don’t let people you disagree with or don’t want to associate with change your commitment to human rights, democracy, equality, etc.
— Niv Likwornik
@nivlikw
This has been an ongoing tension between Labor Zionists and Revisionist Zionists. You are not alone.
— @f1r3hydr4nt.v2
Other users advise to find your tribe
Maybe we need to create a new party for liberal Zionists?
— Nina Jean
@nishabenjicat
I think having friends who support you helps. And a political home that works for you and aligns with your values. Also, managing your social media feed so that you don’t use it to just constantly be annoyed. Having productive conversations only with people who are open-minded and are willing to listen to your lived experience.
— Stav Keshet
@stavkeshet
Some commenters ask, What does it mean to be progressive and Zionist?
‘Left-wing Zionist’ isn’t going to get you far today. There’s no such thing as a political home that holds every one of our values and opinions. OP [original poster] is right that we shouldn’t focus on purity politics; the answer is coalition.
— Misha Holleb
@mishaholleb
Revisionist Zionists took the lead decades ago and ruined any possibility of Goyim seeing Zionism as anything other than fascism, particularly after Oct 7, which it patently isn’t. Being a post-Zionist, I have been nothing but hatred for even bringing up the word within the context of self-criticism of Israel, even though in years before while being in Habonim Dror, we engaged in earnest and legitimate criticism of Zionism.
— @f1r3hydr4nt.v2
“The ‘left’ has been asking for a ceasefire, which would have returned the hostages and provided safety for the Palestinians. The conservatives advocate for ‘total victory,’ which so far has meant the death of the hostages and of about 50,000 Palestinians.”
— Amira
@amiraphu
Several users say they feel the brunt of progressive antisemitism
Leftists in NYC also tore down hostage posters, chanted ‘they’re not coming home’ at ceasefire rallies, and stood shoulder to shoulder with folks who brought swastikas and other anti-Jewish signs to those rallies. I am a leftist and I have seen complete disregard for Jewish and Israeli humanity from people who I used to believe stood for the protection of all. It’s really hard, and it’s not as simple as saying that the left supports a ceasefire and therefore by extension Jewish/Israeli safety.
— Shannon Gonyou
@shannonleegonyou
The left needs help. They have adopted intolerance, single-sided narratives driven by ethnic groups that constitute global super-majorities, but framed it in the lens of white/black oppression, all to ultimately abandon the Jewish minority who trail-blazed many of the most foundational progressive causes in U.S. history. It’s a shonda.
— Daniel Myers
@dandroid96
The Insta-Bintels share resources to help
Shamelessly plugging Standing Together. Also the Nexus Project is a great resource on these kinds of issues.
— Stav Keshet
@stav.keshet
She seems unaware of fellow Jewish lefties who share her values and concerns. I’d suggest she follow accounts like @alanalindsay, @politicaljew and Israeli accounts like Women Wage Peace and Unxeptable. And there are also “non-prominent” regular American voices on social media who have their profiles set to public and semi-regularly post information with commentary to their stories in a way that fairly addresses the conflict and its mishandling by political powers that be.
— Alyssa
@alyszuran
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