Just a correction Bob, I’m not sure what you were looking at but Macklemore’s ‘Hind’s Hall’ has 48 million streams on spotify. And ‘Hind’s Hall 2’ has 6 million streams.

I’m not a macklemore fan at all, but the numbers are the numbers. 

Davy Nathan
____________________________________

As a Jew that’s known Ben since high school, and was a hip hop show producer in Seattle during his raise – I feel like I am the only voice in this city that has consistently stood up to this radical a-hole. He knows me all to well, I once threw a show he headlined with 20 people at it. I have all the receipts. They’re are literally no Jews in Seattle. The ones that do live here kinda hide out. As a Jew in this city I’ve been bullied by the rich white boys (Mackelmore in a nut shill) since I was as young as I could remember. I was bullied by the hood kids too, but that was different. A little funner. I was benched from my high school (very well known, many nba legends) for being a Jew, and it has been a mess trying to raise a Jewish daughter here, Jews are shrugged off and disregarded. Because he came up here unchecked he developed a lot of bad ideas. Now the world gets to see his true colors. The guy has never found a chase he wasn’t ready to crawl onto a cross for, but hating Jews is his magnum opus. The history is clear, but there are many details only is locals who are in the industry know. It’s worse than it looks. 

Thanks for covering this. We need all th support we can get up here. We’re under fire at all times.
Josh Berman – Soul Gorilla
____________________________________

Standing up for children that are starving and being killed in huge numbers is always the right thing to do.  

Evan Rogers
____________________________________

Hi Bob,
Macklemore makes a heinous statement and then backs away. The same abhorrent behavior happens repeatedly, so his mea culpas do not feel sincere. He was dropped from the Las Vegas Music Festival, and the Seattle Mariners are no longer playing his music. Good, Macklemore’s music is copycat slop. I had not heard about the evil, hooked nose and fake beard incident, but now I cannot get it out of my mind. Really sick stuff. Rober Kraft made the correct decision.
~Jim Riley
____________________________________

Certainly a lot going on here. Kraft has always wanted power on a bigger stage. Macklemore was an easy target. He’s not the headliner. Kanye is also a known anti-Semite but no one is going after him. Yes, he’s already been marginalized.

For many, “Free Palestine” is a dog whistle for antisemitism. Many Jews are making a distinction between Netanyahu and the Israeli people. Is it okay for the rest of us to make that distinction?

Does the IDF have to send the bullets through women and children in order to hit their Hamas targets. It’s taking one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world an awful long time to root out a tattered enemy in a parcel the size of a postage stamp.

Everything you say about Israel just wanting to live in peace is absolutely true. The Arabs in that region have been fighting tribal wars amongst themselves for centuries. There has never been an organized cohesive group to hash out a real solution.

Best,
Tom Quinn
____________________________________

Great read on the situation Bob.  And always appreciate your clear-eyed take on what’s going on with the shameful wave of anti-Semitism we’re all confronting.  Shouldn’t have to be courageous to tell the truth and call balls and strikes but that’s the divisive world we’re living in.  You’re a righteous warrior.  Thank you.

Howard Handler
____________________________________

Thank you for not simplifying a complicated situation. As a Jew who could not be more appalled at the Israeli government’s actions and US $upport of them, my algorithm shows me mostly “Free Palestine.” I only wish that “Free Palestine” was not synonymous with the darkest definition of “From the river to the sea.”

Randi Swindel
____________________________________

The accusation of genocide can be debunked with common sense:

They say 70-80% of Gaza was destroyed, yet only 3% killed (and nearly half of that is the bad guys!). So what happened to the Gazans? Did they poof disappear while Israel was bombing Hamas infrastructure and looking for hostages? Or maybe it’s because Israel moved everyone out of harm’s way to avoid more death. 

When Dresden was 100% destroyed, 100% of the population died. 

Finally, the primary source for any death count is Hamas. Even sometimes CNN and BBC will print they can’t independently verify the info. So it’s basically “trust me bro.” 

It’s like me condemning black people based on information KKK gave me. (By the way read hamas’ charter and you’ll recognize both Hamas and KKK are terrorist hate groups).

Moshe Sinar, Esq.
____________________________________

The fundamental reason behind the omertà you describe (say Palestine good / Israel bad or else) is because of how difficult it is for people to correctly understand how corrosively cynical and evil Hamas is. And to have that understanding requires a very jaded perspective that most people do not have. They don’t understand how Hamas intentionally puts their military installations under schools, hospitals, and refugee camps. They don’t understand what “river to the sea” actually entails, or its etymology. Those running the show know full well what they are doing, and that those on college campuses are sitting ducks to the manipulation. They’re by and large naive, optimistic, and idealistic, and that’s the perfect platform to create a narrative. And from there, it spreads into the culture.

Macklemore has no idea what he actually said. Those who antagonize people who stand up for Israel and its people don’t know what they’re doing, either. But can you blame any of them? See, it is hard for the typical person to understand that there is nothing Hamas loves manufacturing more than human shields.

Take care,
Michael Ball?Kensington, MD
____________________________________

Thank you, Bob…thank you, thank you, jfc thank you for this deeply and eloquently put response.  I’m sure you’ll get plenty of the usual knee-jerk, uninformed, hate-filled, and (dare I say it) anti-Semitic responses, but just wanted to add my voice to yours and stand with you (and Robert Kraft) in this horrific, seemingly never-ending morass.

Roses for Panjo

PS Did I mention, thank you?
____________________________________

Man how on the wrong side could you be Bob?

You’re the one always asking where the artists are standing up HERE BOB! 

Just because its a Jewish issue doesn’t mean you get to put blinders on.   This is a first amendment issue at its core.  Silencing an artist through monopolize collusion is tantamount to cutting off a tongue.  

L take. 

Brian Martin
____________________________________

1. Honestly every time I see or hear “Free Palestine” now I roll my eyes. I’d pay someone to tell me the history of the conflict over there without googling it. They don’t know. They’re literally just regurgitating words like children. It’s been a trendy band wagon to jump onto and at the expense of Jews who have absolutely zero to do with what the Israeli government has done. 

2. Macklemore has every right to use his platform to express his opinion. And I respect that. However, he’s still employed by someone else. And if they don’t agree with his messaging, they can fire him. What’s not to understand? 

Danny “Jay” Jacobson 
Dolly Parton land 
____________________________________

Kanye West literally said “Heil Hitler” and went on Alex Jones show spouting TONS of antisemitic hate.  But he still plays NFL stadiums (and no one says anything)!  The double standard is unbearable. This is absolutely about silencing those who speak up for the Palestinian people. Period. 

Van Patton
____________________________________

Reasonable, logical, and WELL DONE!

Jon Sinton
____________________________________

F*ck off, Bob. 

Standing against genocide is NOT antisemitism, and never will be. 

Hell, the Palestinian people are actually more legitimately “Semitic” than a huge percentage of the current residents of Israel anyway. 

The ONLY one lacking courage in this story is Sheeran. He easily could have said to these a**hat Zionist billionaires “piss off, my tour will perform elsewhere… or we will just cancel”. But no. He took what the thought was the safe, easy way out… a coward’s choice… and is now suffering the consequences. 

Mike Froedge
____________________________________

Agreed re antisemitism, and October 7 was horrific.  But, do you condone what Israel has since done in Gaza?  Do you condone Israel having allowed its citizens’ land grabs beyond its original borders?  Do you think this conflict will ever resolve absent a Palestinian homeland?  Should Israel support a two- state solution?  Do you?

Gerry Spehar
____________________________________

Ben was wrong for that no doubt BUT Why do they open up every stadium and arena to crazy nazi wanna-be Kanye but then cancel Ben? Make it make sense. 

This is the most f*cked timeline ever. I’m so over the hate, the bs and stupid people in general. Cut the f*cking cord to the internet and let people go back to 3 channels, maybe that would help. 

Enough already. If only there was a way out to this idiotic world without killing yourself I’d f*cking take it. 

Let me OUT! 

termite.unrueOe
____________________________________

Thank you bob. I hesitate to voice any of my opinions of this issue to anyone, even people I feel are my best friends. It feels like everyone around me has gone insane and I’m forced to believe it’s normal. I appreciate you talking so eloquently on this. I unfortunately don’t believe anyone will be swayed, but I truly hope this mass hysteria will be a thing of the past soon…

Max Trefler
____________________________________

Siding with the Billionaires in the current climate is crazy work.

You’re right – the 1st amendment isn’t the issue. The issues are choosing sides against a government who is killing kids and billionaires using their financial power to silence voices and impose punishments for expressing viewpoints they don’t like … just like Trump’s FCC  and all his cabinet departments.

PS: The ADL forgave his 14 year old transgression and said he didn’t have bad intent and he quickly apologized. How rare is that? He took accountability. I get that the religious ties run deep but man, seeing you siding with billionaires against a guy whose message is children shouldn’t be killed is depressing.

Craig Davis
____________________________________

Great points 

Brett Wilson
____________________________________

mad respect for you Bob.  much love and admiration. 

David Elkins
____________________________________

thank you. 

David Brownstein 
____________________________________

You nailed it!  Well done Bob!

Scott Heiman
____________________________________

Thanks for giving so much depth and clarity on this one. You missed one other point, though. If I am paying $500 or more to see an artist, the last thing I want is a political lecture from the stage. Whether it is Springsteen or Macklemore, STFU on politics. I came to hear your songs and get away from all of that.
Thank you.

Kelly Breaks
____________________________________

Nailed it.  

Very disappointing that many in the industry are not standing up for Kraft.  Macklemore’s actions should have surprised no one.

But after covid, when folks attacked their family, friends, coworkers and neighbors due to the government’s fearmongering promoting a false narrative, I am not surprised at the cowardice we see today.  

We are better than this…

Thanks, 

Ed Kelly
____________________________________

Bob, thanks for the background info on Macklemore, he definitely comes across as anti-Semitic to me.
The problem for me is what the NFL owners did to Kaepernick. So you won’t here me coming to their defense on this one. Apparently they are against anti-Semitism but not racism.
Tom Moore
____________________________________

“I’ve always loved dressing up and have been doing so my entire career. The character I dressed up as on Friday had no intended cultural identity or background. I wasn’t attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one. A ‘Jewish stereotype’ never crossed my mind.”  -Macklemore, 2014

F*ck that guy.

(Thank you for your cogent analysis, Bob. Clarity and reason are hard to come by lately.)

josh nelson
____________________________________

Agree 100%. 
Republicans support the Jews. 
Yet Jews still vote exclusively for Democrats who do not. 
Makes no sense to a Gentile like me. 

Thanks,
Ernie Canadeo
____________________________________

The people of Israel deserve security and freedom from violence.

So do the people of Gaza.

Murdering children is wrong.

Are those politically loaded statements?

Robert Hamel
____________________________________

I knew I wouldn’t agree but thank you for this piece.

Robin Barris
____________________________________

Bravo

Boris Shurslep
____________________________________

Beautifully written.
Thanks.
Washington Fajardo
____________________________________

Right on, Bob!!

Too many people don’t get this. 

-Mike McCready
____________________________________

I read all these posts and enjoy your perspective. 

But theres one point you never address – do you or do you not believe the Israeli military is killing children in Gaza?  Are you denying that’s happening?

This is where the plot gets lost.  

If someone cant have the perspective that they dont want ANY children or civilians to be killed without being labeled antisemitic the shark has jumped.  Its nonsense. 

Nick Lawson
____________________________________

Thank you.

Lou Storrow
____________________________________

Couldn’t agree more! You know where I stand on this Bob – pro-Zionist now, always, and forever. I want my Jewish peeps to be safe and know they’re loved. America used to assure that. 

Be loud and proud Bob. It makes the haters easier to identify and shun. 

Stay safe man!

Edward Ryan
____________________________________

In every one of the gospels in the New Testament, the Romans killed Jesus.
Supposedly the Jews could not authorize the death penalty, but in maybe a couple of years later according to Acts, they carried out the execution of Stephen by stoning.
If you were starting a new religion in an authoritarian empire (think of Chins today), would you blame the rulers for killing your God?
Plus, Christianity started as a Jewish cult led by Jews. It was only much later that it became led by Gentiles.
So don’t blame the Jews if you are a Christian because you are worshipping a Jew (Jesus) in a religion started by Jews.

Regards,
Dave Machanick
____________________________________

No-one said, “the Jews killed Jesus”. 

Get over yourself. 

STOP THE GENOCIDE.

Amy Fritz
____________________________________

One of your best posts I’ve ever read Bob. Thank you for taking on an important and sober discussion of what’s unfolding. Never easy to do. 

Cheers,

Marc Hustvedt
____________________________________

I hate that there is no room for nuance on this issue. It’s either genocide or antisemitism. Although a huge tragedy of civilian deaths, one that I personally feel is overwhelmingly unreasonable, it’s not a genocide. As someone who served in the US Marines in Iraq in 2005, we had VERY strong rules of engagement. Rules of engagement that certainly put us under greater risk than some would want to be under. But that was a choice. Regardless of what Bibi knew about the impending attack, it was brutal and one that I would expect to illicit a strong response. There is no way of equating what a life is worth, but 1000 or 2000 on one side and 50,000 or 60,000 on the other seems a bit disproportionate to me. But hey, I can only view this from the perspective of an outsider. I do know that it’s certainly not going to bring some kind of end to this conflict of cultures though. And that is maybe the saddest part.

Stu Tenold
____________________________________

they have outsourced their brains to AI bots. It wouldn’t surprise me. But that Jews are so easily blamed for everything and the latest flavour in regards to the I-P conflict is so disappointing. Not surprising but disheartening. Facts, history, logic — none of these matter. It’s all about the feelings. Even if the feelings have melted brains. 

Andrea Bergman
Toronto
____________________________________

Thank you for saying what is true, Bob. And for reprinting Kraft’s comments. October 7 was real. People need to remember that while railing against the loss of innocent Palestinian life. 

Sending my best,

Medea Isphording Bern
____________________________________

Thank you, Bob. You are exactly right on all counts. The amount of libel going on against Israel and Jews in the name of free speech and human rights is staggering, and cruel…they trot out all the Zionist/jewish conspiracy theories, they laugh when we mention Oct 7, and answer with the most ludicrous allegation of “Hannibal Directive” as if Hamas wasn’t even there that day, as if they didn’t take the hostages the so-called Hannibal directive was meant to prevent. Then it devolves into more antagonism with the apartheid lie, and the complete delegitimization of Israel itself, as if their statehood was still up for debate. That would never happen elsewhere or to another group of people other than Israel and the Jews. 

Danny Siwek
____________________________________

I don’t even know where to begin with how narrow, biased, and pathetic that was that I just read. Wow.

Aben Eubanks
____________________________________

Totally agree, Bob.

Fran Belkin
____________________________________

Bob, I have been reading your emails for what feels like an eternity. I have always appreciated how you inform and educate your audience. Thank you for this informative perspective. 

Best wishes, 

Angelique Schierz-Crusius
____________________________________

Per the usual, you have no idea what’s going on.

Jon Poor
____________________________________

Keep writing what you’re writing, Bob. There’s a word for people who can’t simply sit down and engage in a civilized conversation, and that word is “toddler.”

And yes, I understand the response to that will be something along the lines of, “Israel deliberately kills toddlers.” But that response itself illustrates the problem. It rejects civilized conversation in favor of reflexively repeating stale, decades-old Soviet propaganda.

David Korn?Brooklyn, NY
____________________________________

Amen Bob. As often, thank you for the thoughtful piece. 

— Paul Steckler
____________________________________

Thank you for writing this, Bob.

Edward Chupack
____________________________________

Yup, I knew you would choose the wrong side. 

Jeff Hinz
____________________________________

Macklemore was always a lame sh*tty ‘rapper’. He’s an embarrassment to humans. 

David Weisz
____________________________________

I was wondering when you were going to weigh in. This is a 10/10 response.

Angel Parisi
____________________________________

Bob…tremendous article…I don’t mean to diminish the subject matter one bit, but on a personal note: in ‘80-‘81, i was in a band with Syd Straw. We called ourselves The Schmoozbusters (“The Enemies of Small Talk”). Everybody thought it weird that I added the “c” to the name, but you know why I did…zy gezunt, my friend…

Matthew Auerbach
____________________________________

Thank you!

Rachel Fox
____________________________________

Thank you!!! Thank you !! for your very clear response to this new “I stand with Ben stance” freedom of speech etc . I have de friended many in the industry over it.  You have articulated the issues so clearly and calmed my mind. You’ve also given me the opportunity to pass along your voice.  Yasher koiach!

Best 

Michelle Gold
____________________________________

Fantastic stuff Mr Lefsetz and I thank you

Facts are always nice

Peter Noone
____________________________________

Do you have any posts where you address Israel’s war crimes?

Ryan DeGama
____________________________________

If Macklemore and all his “Free Palestine from the River to the Sea “ supporters want to hold a “We hate Israel” concert, I am sure there are venues that will be happy to host.

I will not go to a concert to be lectured by the artist.  I enjoy the music.  That’s all that it should be.

Michael Borodinsky
____________________________________

Macklemore – throws antisemitic shade + supports terrorism – plain + simple.  

Promotes hatred + polarization.  

Total clown – belongs in the Circus, which isnt far from where his career trajectory is headed after this clout chasing antic.

Is this how he truly feels or is it a PR stunt due to his lack of perception in the marketplace?

Cris Harrington
____________________________________

Thank you. Well written and reasoned. These things need to be said

John Gibson
____________________________________

Bob
This is a grand slam!
Jeff Laufer
____________________________________

As a gentile I want to thank you for this letter. I found it very well reasoned and informative. 

Thank you Bob. Your words are much appreciated. 

Regards,

Peter Brentnall
____________________________________

If you support what the state of Israel is doing right now – exterminating another equally valid ethic group (maybe moreso) you’re not practicing any kind of religion driven by good.  

If you have a conscience you cannot support what this crazy government is doing. 

Don’t conflate being Jewish with being supportive of genocide. The state of Israel is undertaking genocide. However you want to frame it or mask it.  This harms all Jews. 

Can you not be both Jewish and against genocide? 

Religion is just an idea.  Almost always a very toxic one. Palestinians are real.  

Pinhey – ABLE
____________________________________

Always thoughtful, Bob. I think you’d agree with the following?

Netanyahu does not equal Israel
Palestine does not equal Hamas
And while we’re at it,
Trump does not equal America.

Jewish and non-Jewish Americans have something in common: we are paying for so many of the bombs that are used to bomb Gaza. A lot of money flows from each working American’s paycheck. And the bombs have been killing thousands of children. Perhaps the 20,000 number is debatable but in this world of false equivalency, is Netanyahu going to ever say, that’s enough?

Britt Benston
____________________________________

This the first article I’ve read that seems to be reasonable and fair. 

Thank you,
Philip Rambow
____________________________________

Very well written article. Wish everybody could articulate these issues as clearly as you. 
Patrick Hunter
____________________________________

All I want to say is

BRAVO !

This is exactly how I feel about the issue and I forwarded your article to many of my ‚Free Palestine‘ friends asking them to take their time to read it.

Thanks !

Thomas Ziegler
____________________________________

Bob Excellent newsletter.  I just wish we could all get along and there was peace on earth, but apparently the human being has a hard time getting along with others.  Thank you for opening my eyes about a few things with this newsletter.
Katie Bradford,
Portland, OR
____________________________________

Does Trump represent the values and ideology of all Americans at 32% approval? Does Netanyahu’s war crimes define all Jewish People? October 7th was heinous and barbaric, as was 9/11. An eye for an eye is a recipe for mutual destruction. I abhor anti-semitism. I abhor the killing of children, civilians, medical professionals and journalists as well. Where do we go from here?

Dennis LeBlanc
____________________________________

I knew you intentionally would refuse to read the room and cherrypick whatever fits your view, and ignore the rest. SMH

You can try to gaslight people pretending antisemitism is the same as antizionism, but it’s not working. Especially when Macklemore specifically adressed jewish people, explaining his protest wasn’t directed at them but the Israelian government. 

It took a while, but most people are indeed able to differentiate when it comes to this issue. Apparently, you’re one of the few left who refuse to or simply can’t.

It won’t change the facts.

Have a nice day,

Frank Baach
____________________________________

Macklemore aka Make No More aka Vanilla ISIS.

Etyan Kamkar
____________________________________

Not sure why protest against a government is synonymous with hating their people.  I loathe Nyetanyahu and his criminal govt but I love the people (formerly married to a jew)  just as I loathe the U.S. govt while I support the people.  Get your head screwed on correctly Bob.  This is b.s. disguised as intellectual prowess.

 Tim Hurst
____________________________________

Thank you.  When it comes to this issue, eople willingly choose to ignore facts AND history.
Hope you are well.

-Hilary Rosen
____________________________________

I’m guessing your in box is crazy full and that you’re unlikely to see this. I enjoy your newsletter and respect your world view.

And I wonder what I’m missing here. 

Israel was attacked, and that was awful. But the response seems grossly disproportionate – and I feel that is what many people are angry about. Couple that with illegal settlements and quite shocking media portrayal of that – it seems that Israeli’s are bringing that hate on themselves.

I don’t feel any anger at Jewish people at all – but I do think that the actions of Israel toward Palestine and it’s people is fundamentally wrong. Can there be separation between the actions of Israel and Jews around the world?

Surely finding Israel’s response disproportionate does not make me antisemitic? I feel like you suggest that anyone disagreeing with the response hates all Jews, which is just not true.

Best wishes, Justin Sandercoe
____________________________________

Makes me sad that a man like you has such cognitive dissonance when it comes to what’s happening to human beings . You don’t seem to take a step backward and observe 

When the perpetrator self identifies as the Jewish state , when it claims to represent all Jews, the antisemitism card is played every time there is an objection to murder of  children and stealing land. Not acceptable. 

Did you listen to Macklemore’s full speech, Bob. Can you deal with the content of that speech?

Michael Brunnock
____________________________________

This is just an outstanding piece of writing and reasoning Bob.
As a Roman Catholic I commend you for your stand up analysis and communication in this commentary.

Antisemitism bad. Bad for the antisemitic individual who utters such trash and bad for our community and country that some would like to see weakened by their verbal trash and actions. They won’t.

Thanks Bob for framing this story the way it should be.

Jerry Redmond
____________________________________

THANK YOU,  BOB!

F-Macklemore and anyone else who doesn’t support the Jewish people!

Curt Brewer
____________________________________

I always ask one question from everyone about the number of casualties in Gaza in recent years:
“How many of those people would have died if October 7 had not happened?”

I think the #2 global enemy is stupidity, right after evil.

Greetings from Budapest, Hungary, 

Zoltan Farkas
____________________________________

You lament that modern artists don’t get involved – that they can’t risk money or status or relationships with corporations to really amplify how they feel. That the 60’s spirit of protest is vacant these days. Where is our ‘Ohio’

Macklemore has doubled down on his opinion – and other artists have too.

Whether you agree or not – the times have come and their protest has begun

Bjorn Baillie
____________________________________

Roger Waters and Macklemore should do a Worms Ate Into Their Brains tour together. 

Lawrence Shore.
____________________________________

“Their” buildings? What about the two stadia that are publicly-owned? That is a free speech issue – whatever side (or center) of the divide one is on.

Peace.

Hugo Burnham
____________________________________

Right again Bob,

Leigh Goldstein
____________________________________

That you will lose any subscribers over that post is sad. It’s all true and well argued.

Michael Fremer
____________________________________

Superb.  Thanks for shedding this light.

Larry Iser
____________________________________

I grew up in the south. White people stole, enslaved, abused, and murdered Africans against their will. To this day, there are white people who still somehow continue to justify those actions and glorify that abhorrent history. 

Based on everything I hear, read, and see, there is a dying yet still breathing population of innocent, withering, and doomed women and children who seem to be paying the price – on a daily basis – for all of the world’s sins and hatred towards the Jewish population. 

When does it end? 

Bill West in Chapel Hill, NC
____________________________________

Great post. Best I’ve seen on this subject.

Larry Blumenfeld
____________________________________

Macklemore is in the right side of history. Just as Kennedy was ready to expose you NIGGER JEW scum bastards when your mafia thugs killed him. 

I want to burn your ass. If you had kids I would throw them in a gas chamber and watch their evil skins melt to hell!

Hitler was a god damn genius. 
And his spirit is back in America!!

jaaa918
____________________________________

I often forget you’re Jewish, then am reminded again. Thank goodness. We disagree on politics, but not on that region and its inhabitants.

My oldest son is a sophomore in college, and he’s pretty great overall. But he’s caught on to the anti-Israel stuff online, maybe not a ‘groyper’ or whatever, but his comments include references to Jews, conspiracy, all the nonsense.

People have no ability to remember history, let alone allow it to influence thoughts and behavior today.

I can’t believe what we are seeing, when WWII does not seem so far back. I was born in ’72, but have studied history more and more throughout my life.

It’s insane to me to think we could forget so quickly.

chrisbast
____________________________________

The whole thing gets even more absurd and complicated by the fact that one of Kraft’s billionaire sports buddies – who was publicly ready to join the boycott –  let KANYE play his FL stadium in June:

Cheers,
Toby Weiss
____________________________________

The problem with the “Rights” argument is that every one of those stadiums except Gillette were built with hundreds of milliions of dollars in taxpayer funds. All of them also receive massive tax breaks. In addition, what happened to your constant chastising of artists for not standing up and voicing opinions on issues? You advocate for them using their platform on a regular basis. I guess that must be only when they agree with you.

Tag Gross
____________________________________

Love your writing, but I respectfully beg to differ in this matter. 

You conveniently left out the fact that Kraft hired Epstein’s lawyer to make a sex offense “go away” and also has no problem with Kanye West performing in  stadiums of owners he rallied behind him (even though Kraft has publicly spoken out against him). So yes, this is a rights issue. But clearly not one of antisemitism. He didn’t ask the stadium owners to stop Kanye from performing, otherwise that guy who sold swastika shirts and praised Hitler would not have been allowed or should not be allowed to perform in said stadiums.  

Best,

P H I L  L E M B K E  /  Disc Jockey
____________________________________

I’m just a middle aged white guy living in my bubble in southern Ontario. But I’ll say this, I’ve never understood all the Jew hate and I never will. 
From my perspective and understanding, Palestine has had every opportunity for peace and they refuse. 
This whole thing is bullsh*t. 

T. Craig Toutant
____________________________________

As usual, a very well articulated and reasoned post from you, Bob. Appreciate your perspective. Gave me a lot to think about. Keep speaking your mind. I know you will. 

Sean 
MPLS
____________________________________

From time to time, I’m shocked by American antisemitism and how little the Gentile population understands Judaism.

In 3rd or 4th grade, a next-door neighbor assaulted me, and when I asked why, he said “Because you killed Jesus.” He also told me the crucifix hanging from his neck would protect him.

While I was in high school, a well-meaning neighbor brought my mom a bag full of hechshers that she had dutifully cut out from different foods she’d bought. She thought we Jews used them like S&H Green Stamps.

When I moved into our first house, a neighbor knocked on the door shortly before Christmas, wanting to know why we hadn’t yet hung Christmas decorations. When my wife told her we were Jewish, she continued, “So you’re not going to hang any lights?”

A couple of years ago, a dear friend of mine was complaining about a customer who frequently asked for discounts. “The guy tries to Jew me down every time he sees me…” She apologized, saying she had no idea that that expression is offensive.

And it goes on and on and on…

Rob Falk
____________________________________

Bob- I hear what you’re saying and your points. Especially about points/ facts people may not now and havent done their research. However, kraft didn’t just ban him from his building. he called all the other owners to do the same.  If I represented Macklemore I would have advised him to quickly file suit for interference….and won.  That aside.. it is indeed a freedom of speech issue..  Both sides have the same rights.
 
Adam Torres
____________________________________

Thanks Bob. 
You clearly have a backbone.

Tom Kornfeld
____________________________________

i’m not jewish (or palestinian) but thank you for bringing sanity to this conversation. When I first heard robert kraft’s statement, it felt reasoned and logical to me…why should they bankroll this platform?  As he wrote “I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.”  

but all of that has been lost in the kneejerk reaction that Kraft has received. 

Hope Dlugozima
____________________________________

This was one of the best Lefsetz letters ever. Thank you for having the courage to say it.

TJ Flood
____________________________________

Bob, i’m with you 100% on this.  

Jon Brooks
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You write “We Jews want just what the rest of you do, to live in peace and harmony, to be able to pursue our lives without undue interference.”

How exactly do Macklemore’s statements prevent you or me from doing that?

Nick Rosenberg
Bethesda, MD
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Well said, Bob. Without taking a side you take a stand with facts. Much like songs, and the stories they carry, you invite those reading your words to think about what is said, and come to a conclusion outside of preconceived notions.

Danny Mc Closkey – The Alternate Root
____________________________________

I just canceled my New York Times finally yesterday of course they’re asking why it would be good to have something recent like

“But Israelis still largely view themselves as the victims of Oct. 7.”

Thank you,

Laura Holland
____________________________________

Bob, thank you for stating facts.

I wish it was as hip and trendy to be anti-Hamas, as it is to be antisemitic.

Jon Pleeter
____________________________________

Bang on!

Eric Beck
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Macklemore not a has been, just a never been. 

Alan Segal
____________________________________

Great POV!

I am 1/4 Jewish. 

My parents and grandparents didn’t practice, so I am culturally/ethnically 1/4 Jewish.

I used to play it down, not our of fear of being seen as Jewish, I lived in NYC and LA, if you can’t claim there…, but for fear of claiming something that wasn’t a big part of my upbringing, afraid of being seen using it to “get in the club” w/o the right credentials.

And as the rest was Greek, I could “pass” (my Greek grandfather and my Jewish grandfather nearly identical) and my last name is Greek.

Now, given all the antisemitism, I shout that 1/4 from the rooftop, to fight back, to protect to support.

You speak facts.

We get pushback from feelings.

Thank you.

Jonathan Anastas
____________________________________

Bob – your words are 100% correct to me. I’m not Jewish, but the statement made by Kraft exactly aligns with my position on this. Macklemore is clearly in the wrong on this, and Sheeran must be either dumb, or detached and just another one to suffer from poor management. 

Disgusting. 

Adam Howell
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Bob

I knew that the media was not telling the full story of this. Thanks for filling in some of the missing pieces. 

Here’s hoping that one day we can all live in peace and harmony, without undue interference. 

Best regards,

Landry Butler
____________________________________

this is sheeran’s agent’s problem. he booked macklemore or signed off on him. vegas shut macklemore down as soon as he went on an anti us tirade. the costume 12 years ago. on and on. it was all there for agents/promoters/venues to see and know about. but they all happily booked ed sheeran and what…hoped macklemore would behave?

like chris rock said, the tiger went tiger.

how does kanye get booked in stadiums? kraft has no problem with him and doesn’t pressure other nfl owners? kanye got dropped from my playlists years ago (macklemore was never on them)

i’m not jewish but there is a societal need to stand up for decency and respect all people. we can equally dislike hamas and the israeli govt. hell add the us govt. but leave the common people out of it.

1. Macklemore’s little getup looks and feels antisemitic to me. Is it ironic when cultural appropriating weenies like this turn out to be racists or is it just baked into the model?

2. I know people will shake their heads at me when I say this but who are these artists and why are they important? Macklemore? Ed Sheeran? What year is it?  I couldn’t name any of their songs at gunpoint. I suspect that their circles of cultural influence are fairly limited.

3. Most Americans do not understand anything about Israel or Palestine beyond the headlines that pop up in their feeds or what they hear on tv – both of which are typically reductive and slanted – or worse.

4. Combine our weak understanding of world history with our general disbelief in all things governmental – and you end up with a scenario where no one can tell the good guys from the bad guys.

Vince Welsh
____________________________________

Perfect email – agree with every single word you’ve written. Thank you for always standing up for what’s right…

I just wish everyone (myself included) could see your responses to these things before taking to the echo chambers that are our social media feeds! The only info I was fed during my scroll was sympathy for Macklemore and people skewering Ed Sheeran. Had I not read your email I would’ve never seen Robert Kraft’s response, and you’re right – it made total sense. I just automatically assumed he was the bad guy because he was a rich white guy, but these are all rich white dudes! The bottom line is all human life is precious!?

I get a much better grasp of things from your newsletters than I do from all the other sources combined. Thanks for keeping us all informed! Someday I’ll bump into you in NYC and get you a beer. 

Rob DiFondi
____________________________________

Thank you for sending these and speaking out. No one has published Kraft’s statement in its entirety, what else is new? Fauda was excellent. I have Jewish family members who refer to genocide as if it’s something happening in Gaza, propaganda is a powerful tool, if only everyone cared about history and not TikTok history.
Thanks again,
____________________________________

I’ve been a subscriber since May 2007, and intend to remain so. I don’t agree with everything you said, and I don’t agree with everything Macklemore has said either.

What you did not do in your letter, though, was acknowledge what most folks are truly outraged about: that the Israeli Defence Force has killed more than 20,000 Palestinian children and injured another 44,000 since 7 October 2023. This is the hard truth at the heart of much of the outrage directed at Israel (the Israeli state), and I think if you leave that out then you’re ignoring the pivotal point.

We shouldn’t let our own hurt dismiss or minimise the hurt of others. That’s too reductive. We can hold both: the horror at October 7 and the horror of 20,000 dead children since then. We don’t have to “pick a side”, and when you set up a fake straw-man argument referring to “the agreed upon line, that Palestinians good/Israelis bad”, it’s cheap, simplistic, and divisive.

You’re smarter than that.

I think the knowledge of children dying is the key to many people’s responses to what has happened – and yes, of course it can become conflated with bad actors’ prejudices and biases, and that is plainly unhelpful and easily condemned.

But come on, you’re a good man I think, so tell me in which world is it the right response to take the lives of children, any children, let alone 20,000?

Many people don’t conflate Israel with Judaism, one and the same. We see Israel first as a modern, democratic nation, with a government, laws, and values similar to our own. So how do we justify the deaths of children through the decisions and actions of that nation’s government?

What Hamas did to Israelis on October 7 was horrific and against humanity; plainly and absolutely outrageous. They’re terrorists. It can be true that Hamas’s acts are horrific and that Israel’s killing of children, as part of its retaliation, is also horrific. The number of killed children here is orders of magnitude higher than other conflicts, it’s off the charts, beyond comprehension.

I can’t look past this killing of children, and I know a lot of people can’t. Doesn’t matter which nation it is: a modern, democratic nation’s defence force has been out there killing children, by the thousands.

At least 37 Israeli children were murdered by Hamas on October 7. That was an absolutely shocking, outrageous crime. I wept at the time, it was truly heartbreaking. I cried on the phone to my Jewish friends who were affected.

And then, as part of the response to that, Israeli forces have killed 20,000 Palestinian children. What are we to even say about such horrors? Or would it be ok if 37 Palestinian children  had been killed, and then it stopped? Should it be the case of ‘an eye for an eye’, forever and ever? Endless, revolving doors of death. That’s some future…

Or, I don’t know, what number of dead Palestinian children is ok before people are allowed to say “STOP!”? The answer must surely be zero, no matter where a child is born.

Is there some proper and acceptable way to say, “Stop killing children”? Or can we just agree it’s an unjustifiable outrage and must be condemned always and forever?

And there’s the pointy end. The Israeli Government, through its control of its defence force, has killed more than 20,000 children.

What exactly would you like the world to do with that information?

Thanks for being thought-provoking as always,

Lliam Caulfield
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Well argued!

Admittedly, I just heard the headlines and had a knee jerk reaction that Kraft was a jerk. 

Diving below the headlines, Kraft seems to be a more nuanced guy that I knew.  I still don’t think I want to have dinner with the man, but he didn’t behave badly.  I see that he has opinions, and then has a responsibility to ensure that his property isn’t used to violate his own belief systems.  Fair and not “cancel culture”. 

However. And this is where I want to tread lightly. When “we” are complaining against “Israel” it’s not ALWAYS against the Jewish state or the Jewish people.  In my case, I am against Netanyahu’s dreadful behavior. And – in my mind – he has done more to destroy “Israel’s” reputation in the world.   Just like Trump has blackened America’s reputation.  

We (Israel and the US) are well on the way to become an axis of evil. 

Did “Israel” have a (legitimate) reason to war?  Undoubtedly.  But they went from a legitimate war to something close to terrorist behavior under Netanyahu.   Just like the US has become a terrorist country when bombing small boats in open ocean, abducting a leader from a sovereign state or any number of other behaviors (not just under the Trump regime, but it has become worse). 

This is not an argument against Americans or Israelites/jews. 

I spend almost half the year outside of the US and I am forced to try to defend Americans – not America. It’s hard for foreigners to make the distinction.  Just like it is hard for non-Jews to separate “Israel”:,
the state, the people, and Israel the political entity under Bibi.  You CAN feel positive / positive/ and negative without being antisemitic. 

And that’s my attempt in the above to add “Israel” in quotes because many non-Jews see Israel to be a melange of the three very distinct aspects and we aren’t always able to use precision to indicate what we don’t like and what we support. 

I’m not saying that antisemitism hasn’t increased significantly the last few years.  It has. Even a non Jew notices that – perhaps as much as the Jewish people do because anti-Semites aren’t careful in my company…. And this isn’t a unique American phenomena. I see it in Asia as well, and not just from the us expat communities. 

You may lose subscribers, but a well crafted post like this serves your purpose.  Some of us will pause and take inventory of our own positions. And in this case, I revised my opinion of the incident and of Kraft’s positing.  I don’t think I really had much opinion (good or bad) of Macklemore.  And I still don’t.  I have no knowledge of how serious he is on his views: to me he is “just” an artist – and that’s his domain. 

Hearing about his past makes me even less interested in hearing about his opinions.  They’re unimportant to me.   And that’s perhaps my fault…

Bj.W. Larsen
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Your bias in this post is so obvious.

Macklemore = bad.

Pink= good.

Robert Kraft = good.

Ed Sheeran  = short-sighted.

Finneas and the other acts = dumb because they dont have the stature to meet your threshold of success, so they should just be grateful to be on the tour.

That’s sad to me. 

You rightfully point out Macklemore’s past incident for which he has openly apologized. However, other than that one instance, where’s this “history” of which you speak?  

The irony, or should I say hypocrisy, is that you conveniently left out that Kraft is mentioned in the Epstein files and was caught soliciting prostitution in South Florida. Yet – he’s the good guy?

?You have the ability to feel. The slain children of Gaza do not. They’ll never get to form an opinion or take a stand, or even foster peace in the region.

This is about the death of those innocent children.

You sometimes reminisce about the good ol’ days when artists stood for something (i.e., Vietnam, No Nukes), yet now, when artists stand up, forgo a healthy payday and career-enhancing crowds – What?

Should they just shut up and play? Why? Because you dont like the side they’re taking?

Tom Lewis
____________________________________

Seems like when Gentiles criticize Israel, it’s antisemitic, and when Jews like Mandy Patankin, Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, Adam Friedland, Hannah Einbeinder, Jewish Voices for Peace, et al. do so, they’re self-hating or delusional.

Is there any acceptable opinion to be had on this? Or are we getting back to just calling everything counter to the official narrative antisemitic? You had to go back a decade to find something legit antisemitic from Macklemore, and you basically used that to argue that his MetLife speech (the words of which you conveniently do not quote) is antisemitic. 

The reason why public opinion is not on Israel’s side is because of the dead kids thing. I’m sorry if that inconveniences you, but the rest of the world isn’t going to silence their conscience on your account.

Garrett Gravley
____________________________________

From one Jew to another, I don’t think you’ll ever come around to the right side of history on this until you untangle your Jewish identity from the state of Israel, as I and so many other Jews have done. To continually conflate the two, as you constantly do, brings more anti-semitism upon all of us.

Love the rest of your writing and will keep reading. You can evolve on this issue Bob. History will look much, much more favorably on those that do, than those that don’t.

And please, please stop making us out to be such victims. We are the model minority, and in seats of power across the country and globe, far beyond what any other minority has achieved. We have significant, significant power, backed by multiple nuclear armed states. It’s embarrassing.

Please allow your soul and Jewish identity to come to terms with the reality of power, of oppressors and oppressed, no matter how painful it may seem to the part of you that requires Israeli nationalism to be a part of your Jewish identity.

Wishing you well.

Ryan Darling
____________________________________

A few years ago, I was walking down a street in downtown Seattle and I past a fat, Hispanic man wearing a very worn “Jewnicorn” t-shirt. It depicted a unicorn with a large nose. My first inclination was to literally rip it off his back, but he was accompanied by a large group of family members, and I thought the better of it. Then I started to think about what kind of racial bias this gentleman likely has experienced in his own life. Pretty blind to his own people’s suffering. 

Plain and simple, Netanyahu is a war criminal.  Oct 7 was heinous, but that doesn’t give him the right to commit endless genocide in return. The U.S. is complicit because we keep fueling Israel’s trough with weaponry and bombs. The Palestinians, as you note, are also tragic victims of Hamas. Trump sends in Jarred and his big contribution is a PowerPoint presentation that could turn the area into a lucrative resort, hotels casinos, etc. Wow, beachfront property! How f-in naive and blind can this admin be?  It’s all very complicated, but Trump is just as complicit as Netanyahu in committing war crimes.  “I don’t pull the trigger, I just sell the ammo.” Disgusting. 

Stuart K. Marvin
____________________________________

Wow Bob,

Never expected to try solving the problems of the middle east in your newsletter but here we are. 

I understand your perspective but also think it has created a blind spot that shows in your missive.

Let me just drop the fact that multiple organizations have declared Israeli destruction in Gaza a genocide:

Two different arms of the united nations, UNIICI and UNSR
International Court of Justice 
B’Tselem 
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel

Does that even matter to you or is your aggreivement with October 7th still causing you to see red such that it still doesn’t matter how many Palestinians have died in the after math? 

Macklemore is not the spokesperson the Palestinians need but his statement has quaked the firmament.   Whether or not it is a rights issue, the public will perceive it as a censorship issue. 

Finally, I’m disappointed you did not address Sheeran’s public statements which do nothing to change the perception of censorship.  I think his publicity team is out of their depth on this.

Looking forward to seeing the fallout from this.

David Fink 
Portland OR 
____________________________________

Wow my friend. I really needed that information/perspective because, as someone busy with a life who’s sick of the news and the arguing and fighting over everything, I tend to let issues play in the background these days. The 10+ years of listening to everything—what one elected official said over another—hasn’t increased my net worth, happiness or PTO. I’ve lost many friends over politics since Trump showed up and I’m cool with it. I follow everything in music and spin something all day but when Ed Sheeran is upside down in the media, I just didn’t feel the strength to plug in and really understand it. It’s Ed… Life is more fun when he’s killing it for 20k in LA than this. I’m exhausted from the arguing so I’m tuned out. Bad decision maybe but mine nonetheless. 

Moons ago I moved to the Fairfax district in LA around 94ish and lived around it for a long time. My landlords were Eva and Mendle. I absolutely loved them. As a white guy from Texas I knew lots of Jewish people growing up but not like that. A friend of mine converted to Judaism, and for 2 years we sat at Barney’s B and talked about what he was learning and why. Facinating. I went to the ceremony. Life changing. 

I’ll be honest: for most of the issues over seas (not just this one) I read about them (and I do), I hear the words, and I see why one thing over another would be offensive or devastating, but I have no emotional connection anymore. It’s like waking up during a Trump presidency. “Who did we kill or screw over last night and will it stick or is it hot air?”. Like Dave Chappelle said, “I can’t mourn one thing before another one happens…” And that’s as true as it gets in today’s America. What’s next…

BUT… I live 10 blocks away from the Synogogue in West Bloomfield, MI, that was almost blown up. It scared me in a new way. Not only because it was down the street. Because I can see the hate is growing. I saw those cops jumping curbs and flying through yards to get to those kids. The cops looked scared. The grocery store down the street was a meeting place for Jewish families, and I just happened to be there. They were terrified. Holding my arm for no reason. And just looking at me like I had something to tell them. Walking like zombies, waiting for bad news to come in that children were dead. It was real fear Bob. THEY knew it was coming one day and we all just watched it unfold. It changed me. I don’t want to sit on the bench anymore but as a white guy this is difficult stuff to weigh in on. This article helped me navigate what happened and maybe it helped me navigate my change a bit too. I just wanted to say thank you. I needed this and please don’t ever stop. I’ve always wondered if you hate it when people say “keep going” when you’re cranking out more content than monkeys on crack. But please don’t. 

Thank you and peace my brotha!

David Huey
____________________________________

Netanyahu is beyond grossly negligent, if not complicit, in the October 7 attack.  End of story and beginning of same.  

Man on the run manipulating a man on the run.

Sheehan is done. That’s sad (maybe…I never heard a song, never will).  As for man with guitar, he’s no Jonathan Richman I’m certain. Just a money machine and the wheels just came off.  Who started the canceling here?   I lost track.  

Im also pretty sure Bob Kraft had an appointment conflict with the opener, regardless .  His pre game warmup is well documented.

Is it not ok to just be tired of my taxes…. plus $40 trillion (of debt!!) more….going exclusively towards bombs and grifter bank accounts while bridges fall and people starve.  Just roll with it?  Cut the forests down and take the water so your search takes you to Reddit faster? Easier for those with no children.  Vandals own the next decade.  No insurance for that or missing coastlines, the homes on which are currently subsidized by a federal flood program but ….socialism is hiding  under the bed? I digress, albeit slightly.

Free speech?  Check out the Ai sweep of Meta for comments/sites followed….that question ICE or Bibi.  Your Global Entry card just got revoked.  Can’t show your papers if they take them from you.  Strange bedfellows in the Anti Semitism offensive, for sure.

Finally …on that that grifter topic how about a few bon mots regarding Don Jr’s Putin funded mulligan nuptials to the daughter of a Team Epstein banker.  Seems worthy of a take if not a deep dive.  

And did I miss a missive  on the Canadian tariff war reboot, as we isolate ourselves under a cabal of pedophiles building bombs and bunkers for themselves with a world on fire?  

Stay healthy. I’m seeing rain in Colorado then more rain. Then Gulf Stream collapse …but maybe Ai apocalypse wins at the wire by a nose.

Good times.

Daniel Dwyer.
105 South Tower
(Jared received $2B to sit on from the perpetrators.  Remind me what we’re supposed to never forget to forget again? Everything is forgotten when the lucre is on the table.)
____________________________________

Free Speech ? Pah.

Journalists aren’t allowed into Gaza and the ones that were got killed.

This isn’t about Palestinian’s and Jews (I have a 6yr old US Muslim son who’s Persian and a 20 yr old UK son who’s Jewish) 

This is about Bibi,Smotrich and Ben Gvir

Those 3 right there sh*t on the Jewish cause and history with their blood curdling actions.

3 people in the world right now are hurtling us to Armageddon – Putin,Trump and Bibi.

All because they are demented and depraved and want to keep their arses out of jail.

I suggest you look deeper.

Macklemore is an idiot for wearing that outfit in 2014,but carpet bombing Gaza and denying aid to children in Gaza (baby formula etc) is accutely cruel and disgusting.

Do you have kids
I do 

He looks just like the one pulled out from under a collapsed building in Gaza yesterday 

Jews are truly the most gifted,intelligent and cultured people the world has had the good fortune to benefit from in history.

But Dr Miriam Adelson,Arnon Milchan et al ain’t it …

Watch the ‘BiBi Files’ directed by Alex Gibney … $35 million a month funnelled to Hamas by Bibi through Qatar adding up to a billion dollars … the call from the UAE giving him the heads up ? 

Robert Craft ? F*ck you creep… and getting a rub and tug from the local knocking shop and now pulling rank as holier than thou 

These people are Trump acolyte ghouls.

Bob ? Are you the one not always railing against artists retreating from protest positions of yore and slagging em off for being corporate shills these days?

As for Ed Sheeran ? Poor guy is Czech mated. 

Do better in your position on this 

And it seems these billionaire wankers have no problem having Kanye “ Heil Hitler “ West perform in their establishments in the foreseeable future ? 

Do me a f*cking favour mate ….

Nick Hanson
____________________________________

I know Lefsetz can be a pompous blowhard, but he’s spot on with this one.

As you know better than I, promoters always make decisions about who they want on stage. It’s a business decision, and has nothing to do with the first amendment. Macklemore has a long history of antisemitism, and the promoters were idiots for having a washed up white rapper open for Ed Sheeran – they show known this was going to happen .

If a promoter wants to headline Macklemore playing in small venues to Jew hating fans, then go for it, but Ed Sheeran fans are just looking for a fun night of music.

Jerry Samuels
____________________________________

The idea that ‘man was made by god’, is the most destructive component of every society on earth. By encouraging the worst forms of human nature, Christians, Jews and Muslims are all the same; creating a never ending destructive tribalism. That tribalism is what’s linking Netanyahu’s policies to all Jews as you yourself have done here. Most people can separate the two.

But WTF Bob, “You can advocate for Palestinians without demonizing Jews or Israel.”
That’s the stupidest and most naive thing I’ve read in months. How does this sound? 
“You can advocate for Ukraine without demonizing Russia” or 
“You can advocate for rape victims without demonizing rapists”
I can only imagine the percentage of cancelled Lefsetz subscriptions.
Anyone who advocates for Netanyahu’s policies of the last 2 years (or 20) thinking it’ll support Israel’s long term security is a fool. 
Dan Thorsen
____________________________________

Your cognitive dissonance is defeaning. 

“One civilian gets killed” ? Really? Is that what Macklemore was upset about? “One palestinian civilian being killed” ? See, I don’t have any underlying hatred or dislike or prejudice against Jewish people.  But what myself and BILLIONS of other people are noticing… is how when Jewish people in positions of visibility, like yourself – or Pink – are making a “defense” against the an artist who IS calling out 20,000 INNOCENT PALESTINIAN CHILDREN BEING KILLED – NOT “one civilian”, your response from your position of societal influene does not addess THAT FACT whatsoever.  Instead you concoct a strawman argument that its “one civilian”.  

You seriously don’t see what you did there? What you HAD to do there to ignore the FACT that the REALITY is it isn’t ONE CIVILIAN – but 20,000 INNOCENT CHILDREN!!!! 

That is EXACTLY what cognitive dissonance is!  It is the refusal from a subconscious blockage – that KNOWS AND RECOGNIZES THE TRUTH – but MUST concoct an alternative reality for your own self concept’s self preservation!

How many times do people have to say that being against the mass murder of innocent children is NOT being “anti-semetic” ?

You and Pink can call out Macklemore as a person all you want – but the reason what he is standing for – whether you believe he is authentic or not – the reason he is getting traction with it is because 20,000 INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE DEAD! AND ANY SANE HUMAN BEING KNOWS THAT NO MATTER WHOSE WAR IT IS – THAT IS NOT OKAY!!!! 

The fact you wrote all of that, and couldn’t even speak to that one FACT – A FACT international organizations and aid workers have all confirmed – should be a demonstration to YOURSELF of how deep this cognitive dissonance truly has a hold of you. 

I think one of the most startling things about this, is that the very people who suffered one of the greatest injustices and genocides in human history – seem to now be incapable of even acknowledging, naming, or admitting that the senseless murder of 20,000 innocent children is anything worth even admitting is a tragedy – let alone admitting that when it is 20,000 innocent children of ONE Nation’s innocent children, that this is NOT “the casualties of war fair”, but truly does fit the definition of GENOCIDE. 

IT DOESN’T MEAN ISRAEL DOESN’T HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF.  IT DOESN’T MEAN ANTISEMITISM ISN’T STILL A VERY REAL PROBLEM. 

IT DOES MEAN THERE IS A LARGER PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE INVOLVED WHEN YOU CAN WRITE AN EMAIL/BLOG POST THAT LONG AND YOUR BIG DEFENSE IS “ONE CIVILIAN IS KILLED AND…”

SNAP OUT OF IT BOB.

WE ALL KNOW IT WASN’T “ONE CIVILIAN”. 

Rhoda Gunn
____________________________________

He is a millennial, and like a lot of people his age, (even my own son)…. I do not believe they fully understand why a boomer like me finds that statement so offensive.

If you lived through the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War….”Free Palestine” to me translates to “Free Palestine… and Kill the Jews!”

It is indeed a very complex situation, one that involves the people of Gaza, the citizens of Israel, Hamas and the Israeli government, whose actions at times have been quite reprehensible. All of which makes it quite difficult to verbalize, so I turned to my rabbi to help me put my feelings into words. He used the allegory of the David and Goliath story.

“Like a lot of the people who grew up in the 90s and later, they grew up in a time where Israel was so firmly established that they don’t look at this as an existential threat to Israel. In the 60s, David and Goliath was reversed. Israel was David and all the Arab countries around where the Goliath trying to crush Israel. And somehow Israel stood. 

“Today, Israel is seen as the Goliath, by so many youth and the Palestinians in Gaza are the Davids. 

“The complication in this is that Hamas is the one in charge of Gaza, and Hamas is a terrorist organization bent on causing destruction and terror to Israeli lives, no matter what the cost. And Hamas is an organization that glorifies death as the highest value. The highest value is dying for the cause of their liberation. And the problem with freeing Palestine is that right now, if you just say that blanketly, then you’re essentially affirming Hamas’ commitment to not just giving their own lives for the cause, but they’re choosing to put the lives of the people that they’re supposed to be governing at risk in order for the cause, by using them as human shields.

“So when someone just blanketly says, ‘free Palestine’, it lands differently for different people. And you’re not actually showing your sense of humanity that a lot of times what you’re trying to say, when you say ‘free Palestine’, is looking at all of these innocent, suffering Palestinians who are suffering, and many of whom are innocent, or at least innocent enough to not warrant what they’re going through.”

But the challenge in ‘free Palestine’ –  just a blanket statement. It disregards the suffering on the Israeli side. It disregards the cruelty and horrors of Hamas. That shouldn’t be a way that anyone finds liberation through terror, in the way that Hamas has done.  It makes those of us who have a connection to people in Israel, those of us who have seen how fragile Israel’s existence has been and can be, to feel like you’re saying Free Palestine at the expense of Israel.

“The better thing to do is to say, ‘free Palestine from terror, from Hamas, from occupation’.”

-Steve Leventhal
____________________________________

Bob. Nailed every single word here. I have to request to be left anonymous if you share this. I see music colleagues and long-time industry friends giving a LIKE to Macklemore’s post, as well as LIKING the posts of the other artists/bands who drop out. It hurts. I was at the MetLife show. It was incredibly unsettling. I bought tix before I knew Macklemore was opening. I also didn’t realize just how bad it would be. Yep, I’m a Jew who understands there is insane nuance in this war. And when you actually take the time to understand it, you feel that what Macklemore doing isn’t just for the children who are losing their lives. A guy that dresses up as a disgusting Jewish caricature is definitely not one people should want leading the “voice of resistance” when the war involves Jews/Israel. Do that with any other race/religion and you’d be canceled indefinitely. 

Just talking with ChatGPT, its research estimates 4 in 10 Palestinians would prefer a future where Israel doesn’t exist. And it pulled up a 2025 poll that says 40% of Palestinians believe an armed struggle is the most effective means to achieve Palestinian statehood. It has been proven over and over that many Palestinians prioritize killing Jews and wanting to destroy Israel, rather than investing in a peaceful future and building a reliable infrastructure free of tunnels and weapons. How do we change that?

As for Ed, I feel bad for the guy cause I know he’s got a good heart but he also just botched all of this. Was he clueless to Macklemore’s recent years? After all, this guy didn’t have a cell phone for a decade. If he wasn’t clueless, what did he expect? Meanwhile, his most recent statement was contradictory. On one hand, he says he wants his shows to be all-inclusive and without politics. On the other hand, he said it wasn’t his choice to remove Macklemore. Huh? He’d be better off if he did take some ownership in that decision.

Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik said he won’t lecture fans about politics at concerts, arguing people from “every political stripe” can come together for the music.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/goo-goo-dolls-frontman-rejects-political-lectures-stage/

https://www.foxnews.com/media/goo-goo-dolls-john-rzeznik-draws-line-politics-concerts-not-going-lecture.amp

Why do artists have to take a stance on this war publicly? Because that’s rock n roll? OK. When I see artists screaming Free Palestine, it just feels like many are doing it cause it’s trendy. Especially when you research where genocides are happening elsewhere around the world without a single word mentioned.

I saw one artist publicly complain that his music was charting in Israel. The post got a lot of love from the Free Palestine crowd. Yeah cause every Israeli/Jew is evil? The irony of his post alienating an entire nation of people. Meanwhile, I discovered he self-released the song and he could have just removed Israel from his distributed territories in seconds. He’s just posting for the clout. If he hates trump would he complain if he charts in the USA?

Maybe other artists don’t use their stage to speak on this issue because they are well-educated and know this isn’t black and white, it’s not oppressed vs oppressor. 

Or, maybe because people are going through sh*t in their own lives, work hard to buy a ticket to your show, and just want to hear the f*cking music.

It was predictable that Ed would do damage control by donating to humanitarian aid for this war. I’d be curious where specifically Robert Kraft donated. I doubt any donation will undo anything of how they are viewed by the FP crowd going forward. It’s a mess. 

But yes, Robert Kraft basically said “this is my home. Your values are not mine. You can speak your mind in someone else’s home if they want you there, but my stadium is my home”. And of course it is now twisted to “Jewish billionaire silences Macklemore” – which then has led to the antisemitic tropes of Jews control the entertainment industry. I’ve seen it already.

And Macklemore and the Free Palestine crowd infer they’re the ones being silenced? Free Palestine is all I hear. It’s all I see.  I’m tired of being Jewish and having to stay silent. It’s exhausting. All I want is safety for my family, and to provide for my family. It should be all anyone wants. The massive rise in antisemitism is real, it’s increased significantly, and I bet THAT doesn’t show up on the Instagram algorithm of the Free Palestine crowd.

I understand innocent children have died – on both sides – and it’s f*cking tragic. It’s a heartbreaking war. But tell me, how exactly do we “Free Palestine” while guaranteeing the safety of all Israelis and Jews when history shows over and over again that peace is not the Palestinians priority? 

Again, all I keep hearing is “Free Palestine”. It makes me aware just how small our people actually are, despite their belief that we are some powerful elites. And no, we don’t hear “Free Palestine” everywhere because that is the right side of history. We hear it because there’s only 15 million Jews in the world, and it’s easy to lose a PR battle, especially when Qatar now invests a billion dollars into US schools.

BTW, my uncle told me a story I’ll never forget. He was in college back in the 70s. He became friendly with his college roommate. The roommate took him to his parents house for dinner. My uncle arrived to that house, where his roommate’s siblings started circling him and said “where are your horns?”.

It’s so easy to take a stance of “Free Palestine” when you weren’t born a Jew… if only they knew.
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Messianic-Shinto, Jesus-loving, conservative Jew here (Grandpa was a lifelong Cantor, Dad went to Yeshiva, 1st-cousin was mentored by & wrote the bio for Elie Wiesel – and I married a Catholic) … willing to dare chime in and beat up both sides of the hypocrisy.

Here’s the thing. If someone is yelling “Free Palestine” and “Free Lebanon,” without heavily acknowledging the daily hate on Jews, Israelis, denials of the Holocaust, and the absolute, unimaginable horrors of October 7 (and wearing a hook nose!!!), then yeah, you are being anti-semitic. The vitriol against people of Jewish faith is very real.

BUT ALSO, if you’re going to synagogue for Rosh or Yom, and reciting memorized prayers without at all knowing the translations, asking for forgiveness for this and that sin, while turning a blind eye to Palestinian children being eliminated en masse, refusing to eat bacon & shrimp while silently judging the queer community, disavowing members of your family for their choice of lover, refusing to consider Muslim politicians, or ignoring the existence of Asian hate crimes, the plight of undocumented immigrants or your own homeless community, then you’re not really being the perfect Jew, or Christian, either.  So many of my people could give better grace! We are not the ONLY ones oppressed.

Macklemore should have and could have also gracefully adjusted his way of saying his daily tirade – JUST LIKE YOU, BOB!  

In actuality, Kraft (and Louis, and Ed) DID censor him!
 
Macklemore DID ask peace for ALL People, including for Jews and for Israel – and also quickly apologized for the complete stupidity of his costume back in 2014.  What he wore in 2014 and what he said in 2026 were Not the same! That doesn’t mean he can’t have his word. But like you said, you can’t forget and still only see the costume. Congrats – instead of increasing the dialogue, he got silenced from the tour, and the anti-Israel rhetoric grew louder. What was accomplished here?

We often all say the same thing, yet louder and over each other, and sometimes in different languages.  

There is no denying the atrocities of October 7th, and I fully side with Israel’s right to fight back. 10-7 was some F’d~Up Sh$T right there!!! Anyone who doesn’t acknowledge that or believe that Israel has a right to LIVE and defend itself and fight back is not being fair to Humanity, not just Jews.

When a 7-year-old drops a giant flaming bowling ball on the nutsack of his sleeping older brother, he 1000% deserves to get a serious ass-kicking back. But the older brother can’t also then torch the entire neighborhood, or the much larger community will step in and quickly forgets about the flaming bowling ball.

Lord knows I have my opinions, and I talk over people. Getting louder doesn’t work, I’ve tried that too. You just can’t have Israel without a Palestine. And vice versa! You don’t get to have an AOC or a Bernie without a Tucker and a Charlie Kirk. There’s no Lefsetz without a Mailbag!!  Until acceptance and free speech flow in ALL directions, without silent judgment, it won’t flow properly at all.

If anyone thinks Ed Sheeran didn’t know what Macklemore’s political stance and live show was, end to end, 1000% when he booked it, and that Ed had no say; they are being naive. Ed Sheeran is a STADIUM headline artist, he has ALL the say. There is rising real hate against Jews, and it’s always been there, and ignoring that is both frustrating and ignorant. At the same time nothing pisses me off more than seeing Jewish friends and family go to Yom & Rosh, fast all day and apologize for this and that sin, listen to a sermon about oppression, and then go home, eat a bagel and judge other communities.

When I speak like this, most of my tribe insist I’ve lost my mind, my parents would be so disappointed some even say, yet few of them have ever even been to Israel, nor a church service, or my house, and often disrespect their own family. If only people would STFU and listen, we’re mostly saying the same thing. Sheeran blew an opportunity here, & the noise just got louder.  At the same time, he was just trying to headline a pop concert! (kinda like the kids were just doing on October 7th).

I’d love to see a Macklemore & Pink tour!!!  He could challenge her to a “Dance-Off” and she can counter with “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” – that would be a hot tour package!!!   We can “raise a glass” and the ceiling “won’t hold us”. And they can have lots of peaceful information stations positioned around Mr. Kraft’s golden statues. Mr Messina, mgr/agent friends..  I’ll take a slice of that commission when you make it happen.

Jordan Burger
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Bob,

So much to unpack here.  Here is how I found out what happened in NJ.  My kids said that Macklemore talked about free Palestine during a concert.  I said, “Macklemore?  He had two hits years ago, who cares what he babbles on about?”  I’m not really one to get into the lives of entertainers, I just care about what they create and judge the work.   I do not peruse gossip media.   It’s all about who hired which PR firm to handle branding and messaging and controlling narrative, whether it’s true at all.

Singers have been pissing people off onstage since Vietnam  (ok, likely before, but it was quite famous in the 1960’s – 1980’s, politically).  Many don’t get into anything controversial now because it can negatively impact their brand.  Most are about business first. They are singers, not reporters or scholars that have studied a subject thoroughly.  In our virtualized world, they probably read a few social media posts of dubious validity and now think they know things.  Riiiight.

Antisemitism has millennia history, as you know.  What I find ironic is that “Christians” have perpetuated that Jews killed Jesus.  Um, no.  Jesus was a Jew from the House of David, people.  Did he offend the establishment by calling for change?  Hell yeah, he did.  Jesus was executed for blasphemy against the state  [crucified along with others for their crimes that day, but that gets lost in pontificating; He was not alone hanging in that deathfield.]   Jesus said he was the son of the ONE God, which challenged the Roman Emperor’s brand that HE was a god.  It likely didn’t help that Jesus’s followers called him the King of the Jews. Pontius Pilot was the non-Jewish Roman Governor that oversaw the trial and conviction. The Roman Governor ordered the crucifixion, which was a ROMAN penalty and NOT a Jewish one.  Jesus was sentenced to death for political dissent, for ‘threatening’ the Empire with ideas.  There was a lot of military uprisings and violence in the Roman Empire, and Jesus did not participate in any of them;  His threat was challenging authority and status quo.   Does the human species ever learn?  Apparently not, since antisemitism is alive and well.

Here we are in the 21st century,- just as ignorant as past generations.  You can’t just co-exist, you have to vilify others in a mono-theistic realm in some twisted fight, because the real power is in the numbers of the flock.  Enter the current Middle East, with three versions of ‘one God’ not peacefully existing alongside each other since it became three in the 7th century..  Fourteen centuries later, we have the internet and brain-draining social media megaphone to manipulate the masses to detract for elections, entertainment, communities,  neighborhoods, etc.  With modern transportation and weaponry, this is far more dangerous than in the past. “Free speech,” is a concept never truly free with a forever life on the internet.

Moving on to Bob Kraft.  I’m not a cancel culture believer, because nobody is perfect and demanding vague perfection of flawed people by flawed groups is laughable.  Did I find a multi-billionaire buying his way out of trouble with the happy-ending scandal abhorrent?   Yes.  We know what you did, Bob.  But, I also know about his taking players and others to pilgrimages to Israel.  He and his wife Myra known for philanthropy.  He has supported civil rights, and isn’t afraid to support his black players in racial advocacy.   Oh yeah, he is also Jewish, only relevant here because someone denouncing Israel wanted to come to his house to do it.  No-brainer to say, “No you won’t.”  He offered to meet him, and help educate him.  That was a fair request.

Israel was formed after six million Jews were exterminated by Nazis.  An Arab coalition of states tried to attack them immediately.  They brought their extremism to the 1972 Olympic village, slaughtering unarmed Israeli team members in cold blood.  Hamas is a terrorist organization using Palestine as a shield.  They attacked Israel.  They mowed down almost 400 innocent concert attendees, invaded neighborhoods to kidnap and kill many.  How would you react to that happening at a concert you attended?  You ok with a terrorist group opening fire on that crowd?  Violently attacking your neighborhood and terrorizing your family and friends?  The Israeli government reacted to this atrocity by trying to find and stop Hamas.  Palestine is stuck in the middle.  Can anybody living there rise up against Hamas?  Not without dying.  Can they stand up to Israel?  Not without being mistaken for Hamas in practice or sympathy and dying.  The Palestine population is very young, and they have a generation of uneducated people stuck under Hamas controlling the messages.  And don’t forget the miles of tunnels Hamas dug to attack Israel, and where did they hide the entrances?  Under hospitals and schools, so if Israel attacked them, Israel would be the bad guys.  Even during ‘peaceful’ times, Israel had to have an advanced anti-missile structure because of all the bombs being lobbed at them from surrounding terrorist organizations.  There are no innocent governments involved here, just a lot of innocent civilians with lives at risk daily.  It isn’t as easy as bumper stickers or virtual badges showing ‘allegiance’ to one side or the other, or mouthing off on a stage of music. 

Macklemore  may believe what he says.  Whomever counterpart may believe what they say on a stage somewhere else.  Both likely haven’t looked into the history of what is playing out now.  Ed Sheeran?  He’s a musician looking to put on concerts.  Does he personally vet anybody on tour with him?  Oh, please.  He’s a singer/songwriter/performer.  He doesn’t do background checks on other acts, there are people for that.  Shame on the promoters that put a loose cannon or two on the bill.

Take care, Bob. Shana Tova and Tzom Kal

Mary Holland
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Bob,
 
You are right in your views about the appalling way Jews have been treated throughout history. But there is another question worth examining: why has antisemitism proved so extraordinarily persistent, surviving across different countries, political systems, and centuries?
 
The history is particularly puzzling because Jews have repeatedly been accused of contradictory things. They have been attacked for remaining separate from wider society and, at other times, for assimilating too successfully; accused of being both communists and capitalist financiers; portrayed as weak outsiders while simultaneously being accused of secretly controlling governments and institutions.
 
That tells us something important about antisemitism. It has rarely been a rational response to a consistent set of things Jewish people actually did. Religious, political, social, and economic anxieties have repeatedly been projected onto a conspicuous minority.
 
But I think Jewish communities should also be willing to discuss a more uncomfortable question: how much should a minority integrate with the wider society while retaining and confidently displaying its own identity?
Think about something as basic as religion. Most ordinary non-Jewish people know remarkably little about Judaism. They might recognise a Star of David, a menorah, or the word rabbi, but how many could explain what actually happens in a synagogue, what Jews believe, or what the principal Jewish festivals commemorate?
 
Compare that with Christianity and Islam. Churches have dominated European towns and villages for centuries. Their towers and spires can be seen from miles away and their bells announce their presence to the entire community. In many Muslim countries, mosques are similarly prominent, with minarets and calls to prayer making Islam a highly visible part of everyday life.
 
Synagogues are different. Many are comparatively inconspicuous. You can live in a city containing an established Jewish community and barely be aware that its synagogue exists.
 
There are powerful historical reasons for this. Jews were minorities, frequently persecuted, and at various periods were restricted in where and how they could worship. More recently, the threat of antisemitic violence has meant that some Jewish institutions require security measures that inevitably make them feel less open and accessible. None of that was created by Jews themselves.
 
But it produces an unfortunate consequence: Judaism can remain mysterious to the surrounding population.
 
The word “ghetto” became associated with the compulsory Jewish quarter established in Venice in the sixteenth century. Historically, Jews were frequently forced by governments or discrimination to live separately. That must be distinguished from the voluntary concentration of communities that occurs today.
 
There is nothing inherently wrong with Jewish people wanting to live near their synagogue, Jewish schools, kosher shops, family, and other members of their community. Every cultural and religious community does something similar.
 
But there is a balance.
 
When any minority becomes socially enclosed, outsiders have fewer opportunities to know its members or understand its culture. Ignorance creates distance; distance makes stereotypes easier to believe.
 
My question therefore isn’t, “Why don’t Jews stop being Jewish?” It is almost exactly the opposite.
 
Why not be more visibly Jewish?
 
Why shouldn’t a synagogue be as recognisable and welcoming a feature of a neighbourhood as a church? Why shouldn’t non-Jewish neighbours be invited inside and taught what Judaism actually is? Why shouldn’t Jewish festivals, history, music, food, beliefs, and traditions be much more familiar to the wider population?
 
People are considerably less mysterious once you have eaten with them, visited their place of worship, met their families, and understood what they believe.
 
That brings me to something particularly relevant to you because you are part of the entertainment world.
 
The Jewish contribution to Hollywood and American entertainment has been extraordinary. Jewish immigrants and their descendants played a disproportionately important role in building the American film industry and subsequently became prominent throughout film, television, theatre, publishing, and music. That is an achievement to celebrate, not something to apologise for.
 
But that success has also been distorted into one of antisemitism’s persistent conspiracy theories: that “Jews control Hollywood”. There is an enormous difference between Jewish people being exceptionally successful and influential within an industry and Jews collectively controlling it.
Yet influence matters.
 
Hollywood demonstrated during the Second World War how powerfully entertainment could shape public attitudes, strengthen morale, and tell a country’s story. Film, television, and music remain among the most powerful means ever invented for changing how human beings perceive one another.
 
So, I find myself asking you: with so many extraordinarily talented and influential Jewish people in entertainment, why has the Jewish and Israeli story been communicated so poorly?
 
After centuries in which Jews were persecuted, expelled, and ultimately subjected to industrialised mass murder in Europe, Israel was established and developed into a prosperous, technologically advanced democracy. Jew or not, there is much in that achievement that deserves admiration. Bravo.
But admiration for Israel’s achievements does not require unquestioning support for every Israeli government.
 
Nor can Palestinians simply be treated as a single body motivated by hatred of Jews. Palestinian organisations have committed appalling acts of terrorism against Israelis, and Palestinian political leadership has repeatedly failed its own people. Opportunities for political settlement have been lost. 
 
But millions of Palestinians cannot reasonably be held collectively responsible for Hamas, Fatah, terrorism, or failed negotiations, any more than Jews throughout the world should be held responsible for decisions made by an Israeli government.
 
That distinction is crucial.
 
Israel has never been governed by a single party with an outright parliamentary majority. For nearly eighty years it has depended upon coalitions. That is not inherently a democratic failure; it is a consequence of Israel’s electoral system. But it does mean that relatively small parties can acquire considerable influence over government policy.
Today I think Israel has a profound problem. Its policies towards Palestinians, the continuing occupation of the West Bank, settlement expansion, and the conduct of recent wars have changed how millions of people around the world perceive Israel.
 
Whatever Israel’s legitimate security concerns, perception matters.
When Israeli actions appear to outsiders to punish an entire population for the crimes of terrorists, Israel risks resembling the very sort of indiscriminate enemy it asks the world to condemn. Whether that perception is fair in every instance is almost beside the point: if millions of people believe it, Israel has a political problem that military strength cannot solve.
 
This is where I think Israel, and many of its defenders, repeatedly make the same mistake.
 
Battles are won with weapons. Wars ultimately have to be won politically.
An army can destroy a missile launcher, kill a terrorist, or occupy territory. It cannot make another population accept you. It cannot extinguish an idea. And it cannot force the rest of the world to see you as being in the right.
That requires persuasion.
 
Israel therefore has to ask not merely, “Can we defeat our enemies?” but also, “What will Palestinians, Arabs, Europeans, Americans, and future generations believe about us when this is over?”
 
Jewish people should never have to hide their identity, minimise their religion, or apologise for their success in order to avoid antisemitism. The responsibility for antisemitism belongs to the antisemite.
But there is still a legitimate question about engagement. With the extraordinary Jewish contribution to culture, entertainment, science, business, and public life comes an extraordinary opportunity to communicate.
 
You, of all people, understand the power of culture.
 
So why isn’t that power being used more successfully to explain Judaism, explain Jewish history, challenge prejudice, explain Israel while acknowledging Palestinian suffering, and demonstrate that Jewish security and Palestinian dignity do not have to be opposing objectives?
 
After nearly eighty years, Israel has demonstrated beyond doubt that it can survive.
 
Perhaps its greatest challenge now is not proving that it is strong enough to defeat its enemies. It is demonstrating what it intends to do with that strength, and persuading others to believe in the future it wants to create.
 
Riza Pacalioglu
Southampton, UK
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Wright or Wong you jumped right straight ahead to the viewpoint of the owner..

the Landlord..

the Billionaire stadium maven..

the guy at the top where all

the money flows up towards

even if he’s a sick strip mall

pervert all over the Epstein

files still needs to get his rocks
off on the cheap so as not to

spend his bankroll down too
far

Mark Balletto
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You’ve lost it man. Unfollowed.

Jamie Kuse
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15 years a fan and finally had to unsubscribe from @Lefsetz

@oahspearman

—

Likewise

@KamiRayne
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Hi Bob,

Just thought it might help to know you *gained* a subscriber from your cogent, clear, rational post about this whole insanity. 

I feel totally unable to talk about this online in any meaningful way because the discourse is so unbelievably stupid. I was talking to a friend about it and he forwarded me your email.

Syd Sidney