Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mark-mothersbaugh/id1316200737?i=1000741822727

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/d93ab284-6127-40bf-97b7-501450b03140/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-mark-mothersbaugh

I was trying to figure out what was going on here.

The Europeans know how to party, they make American après-ski look like a joke. In America you might get tanked at a bar, there might be some dancing to a band playing classic rock, but at Ischgl especially…sure, there’s skiing, but people go there to cut loose, to dance…you watch the videos and are amazed, they’re aliens having such a good time, you want to experience it.

And ski resorts in America have been trying to replicate these extravaganzas, but so far to no avail… Maybe it’s just that Americans take their skiing more seriously, whereas in Europe…skiing might be secondary to lunch and what happens after the lifts close.

So Vail books name acts a few weekends through the year, to try and draw patrons if nothing else, and last weekend it was Sofi Tukker.

But usually it’s just one big show. On Saturday, they had Sofi Tukker play at the top of the mountain, a la Europe. And another deejay played at the bottom starting before the lifts shut down. And then at 8 P.M., the main show took place, at Ford Park. Outside, during the winter. Hell, they have winter shows at Red Rocks!

So I didn’t catch the afternoon performance at Eagle’s Nest. But as far as the deejay at the bottom…I’ve never seen the area so crowded.

And at 7:20, I put on my down jacket and started walking to Ford Park.

I was wearing my New Balances. It didn’t occur to me to wear boots with tread, after all it hadn’t snowed in a week. But it was slippery and…

I was wearing a down coat, but the lined leather gloves I had just didn’t cut it, next time I bring ski gloves, I’ve got an ancient pair I keep in my boot bag that are perfect for these conditions, I broke them out in Aspen.

As for my hat… It said “Blue Man Group,” and the guy manning the medical tent commented on it. Which completely surprised me. I’ve worn this hat for twenty years and no one has ever said a word.

And that’s where I was standing, in back, by the big red cross, waiting for Don, to give me a wristband, which I never used…all the action was in front of the stage, not behind…and I don’t know how you’d make your way to the back if you wanted to.

So, the show begins promptly, and it is a show!

Giant screens. Pots emitting fire. It’s an extravaganza. I think it was Sophie Hawley-Weld standing atop the risers playing the guitar…but there was no live video feed and I wasn’t that close and I was not familiar enough with the band. But one thing I heard was the big thump.

This was what is now called, has been called for nearly two decades, EDM.

Now if you’re a classic rocker, you probably don’t get it. You may even be categorically against it! A deejay spinning records, which are really files, the whole show can be contained on a thumb drive.

And that’s what this show was. The guitar didn’t last. Sophie danced and sang and Tucker Halpern was responsible for the beat, the music, the sound. And everybody in the audience was…

Dancing. Not wildly, like this was the end of the world. And not spinning like people do at Dead shows, but hypnotically, locked into the beat.

Were they on drugs?

This was not a young crowd. And it cost a hundred bucks to get in. I worked my way forward, to the degree I could, I checked the attendees out, and most looked like they were of working age, mid-twenties at the youngest, into their thirties. Sure, there were some ski town oldsters, but really, this show was for a younger generation.

And I can get into the beat. It does make you move. But I was wondering, what exactly was the attraction?

And the first thing that occurred to me was escapism. Now back in the nineties, raves were the other. But we’ve even had hit EDM singles this century. It’s not an unknown sound. But…despite Alden telling me it was about the lyrics and Sophie’s voice… They didn’t seem that special to me.

And the funny thing is Sophie Tukker has been around, since 2014, the acts of yore didn’t have such a long heyday. Then again, are they still potent, or is this the kind of act that plays out in the hinterlands?

Now when I lived in the hinterlands, if you got major talent even twice a year that was a big thing. But today, in Vail and Summit County…it’s a veritable cornucopia of talent laying down their sound on a regular basis.

Now some of these acts play Goldberg’s Belly Up in Aspen, but Aspen is a different headspace. Aspen is four hours from Denver, Vail is under two (assuming there is no traffic, which is a big assumption). And the Belly Up is a smaller room which tends to book elite talent, but…

You see there’s a long stretch of highway between Denver and Salt Lake City. And the communities want culture. So at the Vilar and in Vail the shows are often underwritten. And there’s an amphitheatre in Dillon and…

There are a ton of shows. You don’t have to live in the metropolis to see high level entertainment anymore. But in the old days, it was all happening in the city. Now it still happens more in the city, but…most Americans don’t live in New York or L.A. And when you see a show in those markets you can feel the pulse, this is where acts make their bones, these are the shows that count, the press weighs in. But those hundreds of millions across the nation need entertainment and these shows… This is not MTV, playing to all, this is positively local. It’s a business for the touring acts, it’s their livelihood…the shows are totally off the national radar screen, but is that the business today?

I’m not being completely clear here, but what I will say is it used to be when you were in the boonies, it felt like it. But it did not feel like it at Saturday night’s show.

Now you could say the stars of the evening were Sofi and Tukker and their dancers, but really, the audience was the star.

This is not how it used to be. Back in the classic era, there was a clear line of demarcation between those on stage and those off. Those on stage were kings, and those in the audience were serfs paying fealty. But Sofi Tukker was doing it for the audience, to energize them, whereas it used to be those on stage were Gods who appeared not to care about the listeners.

So the audience… It’s twenty-odd degrees and they’re drinking and dancing (as for drugging, except in extreme cases, that doesn’t show)… What exactly was the appeal?

We didn’t have this kind of music, this kind of show in the days of yore. Sure, there was music you danced to, but it had singers and changes, songs you heard on the radio. Whereas these numbers…sounded like they came from outer space.

We wanted our music to have meaning.

Sofi Tukker is not about meaning, it’s about experience.

Does everybody just want to leave the real world behind? Is it just too daunting, too overwhelming? Do people just want to be set free to be in a zone that has no intersection with the rest of the world?

Now like I said, in the nineties there were raves, which were veritable secrets, you had to be in the know and they took place out in fields and…

But Sofi Tukker…these EDM shows are big business.

So do we pooh-pooh this sound, this experience, laugh at it, or…

It’s an anthropological investigation. There is something happening here, but it certainly isn’t exactly clear.

But this was big time entertainment. The production was equivalent to that you find in an arena, this was not done on the cheap. You don’t find Sofi Tukker in the Spotify Top 50, then again…

The Spotify Top 50 is now the other. People begging for fame, recognition…. Whereas acts like Sofi Tukker seem to hang in the ether, they’re part of an overall culture, and if you don’t get it, they shrug their shoulders, they don’t care.

Now investigating further, going deeper into Sofi Tukker’s story, I read about the “hits,” the songs they were famous for, and I started to play them.

One is entitled “Drinkee.”

Now the lyrics are in Portuguese so…if you think the track had traction because of the lyrics, you’re sorely mistaken. As for the English translation, there’s nothing special here.

But the music!

You listen for mere seconds and your head starts to nod and if you go as far as two minutes in, you can’t get the hook out of your head… And I’m listening on the chairlift and I start to ask myself…is this radically different from “Sunshine of Your Love”? Even “Smoke on the Water”?

Now much of today’s rock is hard, and it’s fast and noisy and in your face, that’s today’s metal scene. But that’s not what this is. “Drinkee penetrates a much wider net of people, and you come to it, it does not overpower you.

So, are the basics of “Drinkee” that different from the songs of yore, those based on legendary riffs? “Smoke on the Water” told a story, but “Sunshine of Your Love”…had both ethereal and simplistic love lyrics. Are these numbers all of a piece, or can you put the classic rockers high above “Drinkee”?

And I think “Purple Hat” is okay, good, but when “Batsh*t” started playing in my ears… Once again, I was hooked, in the groove.

So was everybody in attendance at the Ford batsh*t crazy, or did they just want to party like it’s 1999 or…

I’m still trying to figure it out.

It takes three or four episodes to get completely hooked, but then…

We watched this show because the “New York Times” said it was one of the best foreign series of the year. And at first I didn’t get it, it seemed too light, too surface, but then…

What we’ve got here is Amanda, who works with her mother and sister, who hasn’t had a boyfriend for ten years and decides to dip her toe into the dating world.

But it never works out. Ergo, “Diary of a Ditched Girl.”

Now it’s hard to avoid politics these days, everything seems to hang in the balance, but the truth is most people are just trying to live their lives, like Amanda in this series. She’s not setting the world on fire career-wise, she doesn’t dream of being an influencer, she just wants the basics, work and someone to come home to, someone to talk to, someone to relate to, someone to have sex with.

And there’s a lot of sex in this show. You’ll be shocked that Amanda is frequently topless, but the Swedes don’t have the same puritan values as Americans.

So… Amanda has friends. But except for her friend who is a doctor, they all seem to be much more fluent in relationships than she is. As for her sister Adina…she’s got a boyfriend, Filip, who is nice, and they include Amanda in their lives, but to be the older single sister…at times that’s wrenching.

And that’s what makes this series so great, the emotions Amanda goes through.

How do you play the text game… Do you even call?

We’ve all been there… What does it mean if they don’t respond… What does it mean if they don’t respond quickly… Are they just not into you or are you too neurotic and should just roll with the changes.

Amanda is thirty one, and if you’re older you’re done with this phase, unless you too are now single… Then again, so many single Boomers and Gen-X’ers have taken themselves off the market, they just don’t want to get hurt again, they can’t handle it.

But Amanda is in the throes of it. How does she play it? Coy? Or does she go for it? She’s trying out different strategies and getting different reactions. It all doesn’t seem to make sense. Do these men want to see her again? Should she go along with their sexual shenanigans, should she insist on orgasming herself? She’s lying in bed, right next to him, feeling far away…then again, how does he feel?

Carla Sehn as Amanda is incredible. The facial expressions, the way she displays emotions. She can be thrilled and smiling and then pensive and then destroyed, just like you and me. Her moods resonate. This is the most accurate depiction of the ups and downs of the dating world I’ve ever seen. But it’s not only the interactions between two people, but Amanda’s inner dialogue.

And her mother is involved with a man who is unavailable and her father is demanding and never there for her, he’s invested in his second family. At times it’s torturous… Just going through the days, existing, hanging on…

And, once again, do you get aggressive or do you hang back and wait for the world to come to you? And how come it seems so much simpler for other people, how come it never works out for you?

“Diary of a Ditched Girl” is only seven half hour episodes.

It’s funny, before this we watched the new “Knives Out” movie, the only one I’ve seen… It’s the opposite of “Diary of a Ditched Girl,” it’s flat. There are twists and turns in the plot, but you’re watching and never involved, you don’t feel it.

That’s the advantage of series, the characters are more fully developed, the story slows down, not everything needs to be resolved in ninety minutes or two hours.

I was disappointed “Diary of a Ditched Girl” ended… I was invested in Amanda, I wanted to know more.

And I think you will too if you watch this series.

I’m not sure it’s for everybody, but I’m stunned there’s no buzz on it.

Once again, Carla Sehn rings so true as Amanda…it’s the best portrait I’ve seen of a young woman this year, fully three-dimensional, she doesn’t seem to be playing the role, she is the role.

I just want to hip you to her and the series.

Thx for sharing these responses Bob. Very insightful to see all of the naive idealistic viewpoints of people who seem to live in a dystopian universe and would get their heads blown off in Gaza in no time. What is their answer? Let Hamas a terrorist group continue to lead?? Could you imagine if what happened at the music festival in Israel happened at a major festival here. The US would make what Israel has done Gaza seem like child’s play. The only difference is unlike bush after 9/11 Israel actually responded by going after the right target.

Jarred Arfa

______________________________________

Keep writing, Bob.

I’m the grandson of an Auschwitz surviving grandmother, and also a grandfather who was involved in the stories depicted in the film, “Defiance.”  I learned from them how Jews will always have our backs against the wall, and how serious and bloody the fight has always been.

I can’t stand Netanyahu, and I wholeheartedly disagree with so many of his tactics, from settlements in and around the West Bank to his blatantly corrupt seizure of the Israeli government.  But I applaud his actions in this war against Gaza because he understands the one thing that most people don’t:  people are always going to hate and blame the Jews.  And he’s made the decision to have them hate us while living in Israel instead of hate us while dancing on our graves.

Remember that Israel has only one life to lose – and if they lose, it’s all over.

It’s more complex than that, of course, but this has always been an existential question for Jews.  I can’t expect those who have never had to hide their religion for fear of violence or mistreatment to understand; after all, it’s easy to throw stones from a house without glass.  But to just forget completely that Israel has won their land through the same struggle of war that every other nation in the world used to obtain their own land is a double-standard that only works against a group whose entire population is smaller in total than that of the New York tri-state area.  And it’s easy to be a bully when you have the numbers.

So to your point: people who protest “against Israel” at Jewish events are cowards and CLEAR anti-semites.  Why don’t you ever see people protesting Arab-Israelis, of which there are millions?  It’s because they’re not Jews.  Plain and simple.

And for all the people not old enough to remember the suicide bombs of the 20th century – the people who don’t understand the fear and chaos created by the murders of innocent people in peaceful public spaces (sound familiar?) – please take note; this is why Israel has to have a piece of control over the West Bank and Gaza.  The Palestinians have never valued their own people and the creation of their own country more than they value the death of Jews and the eradication of Israel.  As Golda Meir so brilliantly put it: “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

So, I’ll leave you, and anyone else reading, with Bill Clinton’s famous reminder of exactly this, when he explains how Palestinian representation turned down a lucrative offer for statehood and instead began the Second Intifada.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/bill-clinton-young-americans-shocked-to-learn-arafat-turned-down-palestinian-state/

Cheers, and Happy Holidays,

Danny Segelin

Brooklyn, NY

______________________________________

The Bondi massacre just proves what Bob and other Jews have been saying all along – anti-zionism is antisemitism. If it were only about Israel’s administration and its policies, then what do Jews in Australia, thousands of miles away from the Zionist state, have anything to do with Israel’s actions?

Because it was about Jew hatred all along, just masked in the language of human rights.

Here is why you anti-israel crowd are antisemitic – you only believe X amount of people were killed in Gaza and that Y amount of them were women and children because Hamas told you so. There is no independent journalism in Gaza, just like there isn’t in any other authoritarian country – if I was a journalist interviewing the Director of the North Korean Health Ministry would I believe anything I was told? Of course not! Hamas is the sister organization of Al Qaeda, it’s the same people with the same mission.

It would be like me believing the KKK if they told me that 49 white women were raped by black men last month alone and I, based on that information, started condeming black people and reveling in their deaths. You would call me a racist.

Just as much death and destruction was caused in the war against Isis. Many more died in Saudia Arabia’s war against Houthis in Yemen, including a blockade and restriction on aid. These wars weren’t called genocides.

Hamas, in in its own state media, boasts of using child soldiers and using women and children as human shields. Every legal system around the world recognizes some version of the felony murder rule such that in a situation where a bank robber grabs a hostage and starts firing but police fire back, killing the hostage – the bank robber is criminally liable for murder. Hamas is responsible for the deaths just like Hitler was responsible for 2 million German deaths, not the Allies.

Finally, Israel never stole anyone’s land any more than Pakistan stole India, or Hashemites in Jordan stole the Mandatory Palestine, or Iraqis stole Mesopotemia.

Moshe Sinar, Esq.

______________________________________

Wow. The first bunch of responses in this email, in essence, are saying that, because of the Israeli governments actions (whether the writer is accurate or not), it’s ok to slaughter innocent people that have absolutely nothing to to with the Israeli government or the army. Basically, kill any Jew, anywhere, because of what the writers believe the government of Israel is doing.

By that logic anyone should be able to murder anyone anywhere. Pick a nation or people. Russians: kill them cuz of Ukraine. The US: kill white people cuz of slavery. Armenians: kill Turks cuz of what they did. Doesn’t matter if facts are true or not. If you don’t like what some group of doing to another group – just kill them, anywhere in the world, even if they have nothing to do with anything. It’s ok. But NO ONE will say that about any other people, nation or group – except when it’s Jews!

So Bondi Beach is ok because even they see that ALL Jews are the same, no matter what they believe, where they are from, what they support, whether they ever stepped foot in Israel, whether they’re religious or not. Doesn’t matter. If you see Jews feel free to kill with impunity – because, you know, Gaza.

Uch.

The interesting fact that these morons can’t wrap their heads around is that they’re not the first that have wanted to wipe out the Jewish people. Countless nations before them, more powerful, smarter with much greater numbers, have also tried to destroy the Jewish people. Somehow, even with our incredibly low numbers, by comparison, we’re still here (and those nations are not) Not only here but thriving! Amidst all the insanity, the Jewish people, even in their low population numbers, STILL remain a beacon of light, hope and success in a dark world.

We will mourn the dead in Australia, we will keep moving forward, looking ahead and continue to live. Am Yisroel Chai!

Etan G

______________________________________

You were correct about the blowback to your comments. Non- Jews simply don’t and cannot understand. I like to think I am open minded and respectful of others’ opinions but on the Gaza issue and anti-Semitism in general I am a brick wall. I agree completely with your comments. I converted to Judaism over 30 years ago. I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve but when someone somehow becomes aware that I am Jewish I can see the subtle changes in their demeanor. My attitude now is f$ck ’em.

Joseph Barbarotta

______________________________________

Thanks for your column which you knew would bring a sh*tstorm from the From The River to the Sea crowd. Anti-Zionism has not morphed into anti-Semitism? Were those Hannukah celebrants on the beach the IDF? The naïveté and ignorance of the left never ceases to amaze.

Mitch Tenzer

______________________________________

I live in western Sydney Bob , and around the corner of the Shooters home. I am a child of Italian descent , first generation of immigrants. My parents came to Australia for a “better” life ! We became educated and went from “poverty” to upper middle class . ( Some family members are multi-millionaires)….. We appreciated the country that gave us a home , we worked hard and we were still able to practice our culture and religion. Australia is a very welcoming country , despite reports of us being racist. Not true , but we do not like being told that we should be sorry for our way of life. I know Muslims , Aussie born who do get embarrassed of those that carry on with all this BS from overseas , they are running business growing their families and contributing to society. But that’s the point, we are trying to all get along , growing our families , respecting every one. There is a bit of economic disadvantage among us , contributing to the ill minds among us , like the world over, its not the fault of Jews or western culture, just the economic times we live in . However, I don’t think that Islam fits our western democratic system overall , and those that are venerable build up the courage to commit these despicable acts in the name of whatever suits their agenda !

It is getting worse, our current government is the opposite of yours at the moment (very left ) our Prime Minister a former young Pro Palestinian (anti Zionist) , he cannot shake that image , and now in times like this cannot lead our nation !

They have allowed all the protests the last 2 years, our Iconic Harbour Bridge being over run with anti Israel protests , pictures of Iran leaders and ISIS flags, incredible scenes really , that frankly aussies are sick to death to witness , and now we have the tragedy of the events of Bondi !

I don’t know where we go from here , I know its seems normal for America, its never been normal , not for America , not for the UK and especially not for Sydney Australia.

Thanks for your insights.

Joe Mirarch
______________________________________

Thank you for speaking up. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote and I wish people would wake up, read a history book, and stop with the anti-semitism. I know you don’t listen to all these ignorant comments against you and their threats to unsubscribe. I just wanted to make sure you know some of us agree with you too. You are in a unique position to reach people across a broad spectrum and I’m grateful you use your voice and opinion to speak up for the Jews.

Jed Garfunkel

______________________________________

If the U.S. was located in a region where it was surrounded by hostile countries – with some of those countries calling for our complete annihilation – and a terrorist group like Hamas came over from one of these neighboring countries and committed an October 7th on American soil, damn right we’d light ‘em up.

Vince Welsh

______________________________________

I’m not Jewish, I am an Agnostic/Canadian and, like you, am a very intelligent member of the human-race. That is why I find it so refreshing to read your letters. (The truth is an endangered species in this day and age) If only one of these protestors used the power of conscious-thought instead of blindly following the other kids. I’m sure they must have history books or programs at their education institutions but that would be an uncomfortable truth that doesn’t fit their hate-mongering narrative! The media is awash in a torrent of Islamist Nazi propaganda. It’s been lapped-up by ignorant, racist students at universities who are not bright enough to see what hypocrites they are as they condemn racism while calling for the massacre of an entire race. That, my friend, is a SPECIAL kind of stupid. (Not to mention how EVIL it is) You could agree with these ignorant dullards but then you’d both be wrong! Keep speaking the facts and the truth!!!

Scott Barratt

______________________________________

My god. The sh*t that sprays back is all the colors of the rainbow. I will say, there are a lot of people saying one way or another, “this is to be expected after Israel went to war with Gaza”. Yet if you simply propose that what happened in Gaza was to be expected after Oct 11, these same people would get defensive, start arguing about a history they don’t fully know or understand, and write you off as uncaring/a genocider/warmonger/etc.

Look, at the end of the day, if you pick a side, you’re either pro western civilization or pro Islamic fundamentalism. Both sides have issues, but let’s not make false equivalencies.

I know what side I’m on. And in the spirit of Hannukah, let me say, it is the light that is the antidote to darkness.

Dylan Charbeneau

______________________________________

I’d like to thank you deeply for conveying the frustrations, fear, and sadness that this industry is woefully ignorant to.

The responses you’ve published thus far are frightening, as people are justifying a massacre and diminishing the value of human life.

If you lost readers because of this, they aren’t the type of readers you want in the first place. Those who can think critically, and live with curiosity & empathy do not react the way that some of those submitters did. They live in anger, plain and simple. They have a place to channel that anger.. repeating history before our eyes.

It’s easy to look at one side and blame the other. It’s hard to apply yourself. And even harder to admit when you’re wrong. Rationale only fuels their hatred because they can’t meet others at the table and contribute meaningfully. A scary, steep echo chamber.

Your email conveyed true emotion and rationale – and for that, thank you.

Best,

Ben Klein

______________________________________

I didn’t respond and don’t have anything snarky to day  like those you published. I’m with you Bob. The part not being spoken about is the decorum and slight antisemitism at the fringes. I’m a minority Jew living in your old town of Fairfield CT and have been quietly observant over the last few years. I don’t look Jewish, my mom is Italian but in drunken conversations, I can’t tell you how many abhorrent comments I’ve heard re Jews. When I tell people I’m Jewish they backtrack but I can sense the uncomfortable feeling they have.

Mark Burrell

______________________________________

Appreciate your work. Tough world out there.

Meditesh Rock_N_OM

______________________________________

I read these comments and, although not surprised, was definitely disheartened.

I also will not get into defending Netanyahu; however, there is no question that there is a combination of ignorance and antisemitism in the responses.

What many of the Palestinian sympathizers do not want to see and are unwilling to admit to is that although Palestinian civilians have suffered enormously, their leadership — particularly Hamas — has consistently chosen violence over coexistence, with devastating consequences for their own people.

The history that they are either not aware of or not willing to acknowledge is that it is the Jews that have historically been persecuted and forced into Diaspora by Romans, Muslims and Christians alike.  They have been subjected to pogroms and the Holocaust.  They are the true victims throughout history.

In response to the Holocaust, Israel was created in 1948 following a UN partition plan that was accepted by Jewish leadership and rejected by Arab leadership, leading to a regional war initiated by surrounding Arab states. To this day, the vast majority of Arab and Muslim nations do not acknowledge the right of Israel to exist and have been committed to its destruction.  They have been continuously attacked, most recently the Oct. 7 massacre.

In spite of this, Israel has evolved into an advanced liberal democracy and contributed an outsized amount to the technological advancement of our civilization relative to its size.

The Palestinian sympathizers will also not acknowledge is that militant Islamist movements like Hamas and Islamic Jihad explicitly reject Israel’s existence and justify violence through selective religious interpretation.  They continue to war amongst themselves throughout the region. To my knowledge of the Koran, there is very little written about peace and kindness, and Islamic Jihadism is based on the teachings of the Koran.  Their civilization is generally not liberal, treats women as 3rd class citizens (their animals are treated better), and is intolerant of any ideas outside of their own.  Their reaction is always violence first.

Those that do not see any of this are either poorly educated or have antisemitic tendencies or both.  It is possible to feel genuine compassion for Palestinian civilians while recognizing that Israel faces an adversary that openly seeks its destruction and embeds itself among civilians. But as the old saying goes:  “If the Palestinians laid down their arms there would be peace.  If the Israelis laid down their arms their would be no more Israel”.

I fear there is no hope. I’m deeply concerned by the growing tolerance within parts of the Democratic coalition for rhetoric that crosses from legitimate criticism of Israeli policy into denial of Israel’s right to exist.  Not all criticism of Israel is antisemitic. But when Israel alone is denied the right to exist, held to standards no other nation is, or portrayed through conspiratorial narratives, it’s reasonable to ask whether latent antisemitism is at work.

As someone who is horrified by Trump and the Maggats that have overtaken the Republican party, but as someone who is pro-Israel, I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place.

Keep at it Bob, no matter what the haters have to say!

Andrew Mehlman

______________________________________

So infuriating to read the comments from Jews demonizing Israel. How uninformed can they be about their own history? It’s as if they are in the back of the lines going into the Holocaust gas chambers and shoving those in front forward and yelling” hurry up we don’t deserve to exist”.

Alan Segal

______________________________________

Thanks for this…and boy are you gonna get sh*t for expressing what every Jewish person above the age of 40 knows and feels.  We are always held to a higher standard, always, and when you poke us one time too many, like Hamas did on October 7th, you risk the full throttle pent up wrath  based on  thousands of years of feeling “ I have had enough…f*ck you for real this time!”

While I am disgusted by the Netanyahu government ( definitively NOT rising to a higher standard) and would applaud the West Bank settlers being prosecuted to the highest degree of the law, and feel sick over the tragedy of the innocent Palestinians who are tortured, murdered and starved by their own “government” Hamas,  I am now completely feed up with  the uninformed, “progressive” bullsh*t position spouted every day that the Jews are somehow at fault here.  F*ck off…or  understand the nuanced history of the situation.

We have a president who uses Jews in a transactional way allowing anti-semitism to seep into all aspects of American society while masquerading as someone who is a “friend” to Jewish America…to that I also say. F*ck off…you are simply using us and allowing your true hatred to grow.

Never thought I would have to be dealing with this in my lifetime…and for the last several years I tried to ignore it or look at both sides, listen, ponder, reacquaint myself with the history of Israel and Palestine, re-evaluate everything I was taught and raised to believe, think more critically about the lessons taught by my grandparents who fled and believed that all people should be free,  feel sick about the tragedy of the Palestinians, argue with my 20 something deeply Jewish but deeply skeptical and progressive children… and after all that thinking and searching I STILL come to the conclusion that if we do not protect ourselves and our culture no one, and I mean no one, will.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Susan L. Dodes

______________________________________

We disagree on some things but we agree on the important ones. Like how The Who were an awesome band.

We mostly disagree on politics since I’m further right than you. That said, I read what you write and appreciate your viewpoints. What’s funny is we both acknowledge the same problems (affordability, etc), but our reasons for the problems, and therefore the solutions, differ. That’s life.

On this Bondi and greater recent antisemitism issue, though, I agree with you. I know the below is a sampling of emails you received, but it’s disheartening to read so many people who think the Jews and Israel are the sole reason for this problem. Please know that I support you and hope you keep sharing your side of the issue. Even if it doesn’t win converts, it’s important that people know there are smart people who hold this view.

By the way, what a rough weekend. This Bondi massacre, Brown, and then the Rob Reiner news? As John Fogerty said, “I see a bad moon a-risin’.”

James Stockdale

______________________________________

Long time subscriber, first time emailer, new(ish) parent to a Jewish child and fully concerned about the world.

What you said about assimilated Jews rings especially true. I’m the first generation American in my family, first to be born in the States to Soviet immigrants who made sure to stomp the different traits out of me. I was never taught the language, can’t read and write, wasn’t really fed the food. After all, it’s exhausting to have to explain why my last name is the way it is, and yes my family is from Kiev but no we speak Russian, not Ukrainian, but no, we’re none of those things because when my family left, their passports said “Jew.”

My parents met here, as college kids, already deep into Brooklyn culture of the ’80s. They love America. And despite it all, it didn’t really matter, because no matter how hard we all tried to assimilate, our accents were always a touch off, and the food was always a little different, and the grandparents still held onto the wacky little superstitions and fashion and patterns from the old country. And most importantly, we were still Jews, still the Other. I can have all the friends in the world, and be open minded to their cultures, and be married to a non-Jew. And still, and but, and and and.

We’ll always be the Other.

I am angry, and I am disappointed, and I am so fed up with the Other being treated the way we are. I have no answers.

I am little Matilda. Her parents named her the most Australian name they could think of, just proud to give her a life and an opportunity to exist and be free and live as a happy human. That was taken from her and her family. May all of the victims’ memories be a blessing.

-Michelle Yampolsky-Gomez

______________________________________

None of these pro-Hamas river to the sea bullsh*t commentators have LinkedIn presences.  Easy to hide behind fake names or X handles.  Put your livelihood on the line if you’re so fired up or else go back to your hole.

Best mailbox ones were cementing the tunnels and the empathetic one about what if this happened to the US.  We’d scrape the Earth and be right about it.

I’m an athiest, so f*ck all religious wars while I’m at it.  Biggest fraud in human history is the afterlife, what a crutch, and just about always a weapon.  Hamas leaders brainwashing the notion of getting to heaven as a martyr warrior in madrasas where the only book is the Quran is an abomination both ways – to innocent people who otherwise wouldn’t pick up a gun as well as those they kill.

Writing in because of your last part about dinner with Jews.  A Texas cowboy knowing no one in a different state walks into law school with a majority Jewish population.

He walks out with some of the best friends for life.  Never thought about it, just friends getting together.  I wrote this to my friends yesterday:

“Hey – I don’t ever bring this up with y’all, but I wanted to sit down and write something.

I don’t know what it’s like to be Jewish.

But I do know how I’ve been treated by Jews as a complete stranger in a completely new environment for three years.

And they are nothing but the kindest, most respectful people I’ve ever come across.

They care for each other and open their doors to their fellow man.

They stand for morals that are intrinsic to any functioning society of human beings, whether you’re religious or an atheist like me.

They earn my respect by their work ethic and for their family bonds.

And after that three years in a new environment, they became some of my lifelong best friends who I care very deeply for.”

I think it’s proper to say “shalom” at this moment.

Just wanted to let you know we’re here, Bob.  Keep telling it straight.

Dustin Thompson

______________________________________

Thanks Bob for saying what needed to be said!!!

And for all those who have swallowed the Muslim Brotherhood, Iranian government and Qatari propoganda of a repressed people in order to decimate western governments and society,  I urge you to research real history and ignore what you see on social media.

You will discover a people ( jewish who have had a presence in Judeah, their ancestral homeland for over 3000 years ) and their struggle to exist despite historical anti-semitism in the middle east and worldwide.

You will see an arab people ( now called Palestinians ) who have resisted a jewish presence as the arabs think that it is all theirs and even their supreme leader, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, enlisted the help of Hitler ( before Israel declared independence ) in the 1930’s to rid ” their land ” of jews!

In spite of this Israel has made overtures over the years to make peace with these jihadist loving people of Gaza and even totally vacated Gaza of every jew in 2005 only to be bombarded almost daily by a wanton barage of rockets culminating on Oct 7 in a hate fueled pogrom by Hamas ( which was streamed by Hamas to showed how delighted they were to gang rape young concert goers, incinerate, torture and kidnap mostly innocent Israeli kibbutz members ).  Read Hamas’s charter and learn of their Islamic death cult depravity.

Golda Meir ( a former Israeli leader ) said it best ” We will have peace when the Palestinians love their children more than they hate us “!

This was true then and today!  My heart goes out to the Palestinians who do not support Hamas but must keep their head down or they will be killed just like the gay and trans people of Gaza have been.   The lucky gay community who sought refuge in Israel can now breath free and join the close to 2 million arabs who live in Israel and enjoy full rights to vote in arab members of the knesset, become doctors or lawyers and even join the armed forces which many do!

I am not jewish but consider myself a zionist!

Don Elliott

Canada

______________________________________

Bob, I’m a business lawyer (small market M&A, contracts, etc.) and I just closed a nice small deal for a Seller—a husband and wife (let’s call them Jon and Jane for storytelling purposes).

Not to humblebrag, but I ran point for the deal, taking on responsibilities left and right that other parties and their lawyers said they would handle. My clients wrote me a lovely email after the deal closed thanking me for my dedication, work ethic, professionalism, and general service.

I’m on the phone with them yesterday afternoon to tidy up some post-closing items. We’ve been negotiating with the Buyer and other relevant parties throughout the deal over the past couple of months, and yesterday we were discussing negotiations with one of these relevant parties that’s not the Buyer–let’s refer to this party as R.

To make a long story short, R did not disclose a material fact with Seller, and now we’re dealing with R’s payment. So I go through with Seller the merits of their arguments, the available remedies if they prevail, likelihood of outcomes, etc. I propose a few ways to proceed, one of which is contacting R and negotiating. Jon casually tells me he “doesn’t want to Jew R down” for small amounts.

I thought about saying something right then and there, but I didn’t. I’m still thinking about it to be honest. But here I am working my ass off for a good client—great relationship for both sides—and now my Jewish people are catching strays. For protecting my client’s interests no less!

Antisemitism of all stripes is back en vogue Bob. I’m not comparing my situation with Bondi Beach by any stretch, but folks are totally comfortable with casual antisemitism again. The horseshoe of American politics is a dangerous setup for Jews right now. GOP anti-wokism has given the Right the confidence to spout off about anything and everything, and the Left has its head so far up its own ass that you have LGBTQ and civil rights supporters supporting Hamas and repressive regimes.

______________________________________

I deeply appreciate your printing the counterresponses to your anti-semitism piece. I grew up in a Cleveland suburb where antisemitism was everyday. The guys I knew from the Temple changed me. Now, as a Christian Pastor of the progressive Presbyterian Church (USA), I work to bring people together to talk and listen to differing views. I don’t agree with some of your pieces, but I keep learning. Thanks for writing.

 

Sincerely,

Jim Monnett

______________________________________

Bob, F all these people, the haters, wow shows how deluded people are over this issue. I loved the last article, you were on the pulse and are not afraid to speak ‘objective’ truth.

Cheers,

Julien Jorgensen

______________________________________

Thank you for continuing to tackle the difficult truths in this world. I cherish reading your words every week.

-Jordan Kleeman

______________________________________

This breaks my heart man. I don’t know what else to say. Thanks for sharing.

Landry Butler

______________________________________

What’s striking about so many of these comments is that they draw a false equivalence between Jews in Australia and Israel, as if Israel’s actions in Gaza somehow justify killing innocent people in Bondi Beach.

Jeff Damens

______________________________________

Wow, it looks like you have a bunch of brainwashed liberals subscribing to your email list.  It’s unbelievable how many white liberals have sided with the antisemitism and the “Palestinian cause.” These people are upset over what you wrote about this horrific attack on Jews in Australia, but they’re not upset about the attack, they’re upset about the fact that you’re calling out antisemitism. These dumb liberals quickly forgot about the horrific October 7 attack, which is what led Israel to “commit genocide” (LOL) in Gaza for almost 2 years to begin with.  It’s not like Israel wanted to do that, but they had to eliminate the threat that was in their backyard. Liberalism has poisoned the minds of many Americans and people around the world, most of them being white liberal virtue signalers who just jump on the latest cause.  In just the last few years, liberals have been brainwashed to side with criminals, rioters, antisemites, terrorists, drug smugglers, assassins (the guy who killed Charlie Kirk, and Louis Mangione), etc. And, they violently opposed DOGE’s efforts to cut wasteful spending by firebombing Tesla dealerships and vandalizing Teslas that were ironically mostly owned by other liberals. They’re also violently attacking ICE agents for enforcing immigration law. But, they ignored the mass illegal immigration crisis of over 8 million people coming to the US in 4 years, which ironically led to Trump being reelected and embarking on mass deportations, which he didn’t do in his first term. Liberalism is going down a dark path.  Hopefully it reverses course at some point.

Tony Ferrara

______________________________________

Thank you for writing this! Dare I say but you are a mensch! F*ck everybody! We know who we are and aren’t! It is sad but most of the world is stupid and just plain hate Jews! They hate us because they ain’t us! I never understood Germans talking bad about Jews and then just replacing them ie taking their houses and valuables! People who say Israel commits genocide don’t know or refuse to accept reality! All of these so called stars are stupid, stupid idiots! So they are successful at singing or acting it doesn’t make them an authority on moral issues but just gives them a soapbox to preach off of and for their acolytes to soak it up! Stupidity is truly alive and well and rampant! Keep writing and telling how it is! Why aren’t the stars screaming about all the dead Jews! It only matter when it’s the peaceful Arabs! Stupid people and f*ck them! Long live Israel!

Jac Berman

______________________________________

Bizarre. All these blood thirsty demons who dont give a f*ck how many people get killed, bombed, starved, or opressed in Gaza for almost a century that we can see through intense and through documenation. What does Israel expect? Have they ever heard of the word karma? Consequences? To hear some of these people say that the world is ‘out to get them’ is mind-blowing.

Thank you for sharing their thoughts and comments. It’s a bit easier now to see where the source of insanity stems from.

If two gunmen shot and killed innocent palestinains in Gaza today, nobody would give a f*ck.

Oh wait – that happens every single day.

The rest of the world has watched Israel treat the Palestinians like dogs for many decades. Did Israel think that they would get away with all of this without repercussion? Am i on another planet right now? My head is spinning.

Dear Jesus – the insanity!!!!!

Bill West

______________________________________

PLEASE please please keep being a voice of moral clarity in this sea of misinformed, uneducated, history-re-writing haters.

Happy Chanukah
– Drew Muroff

______________________________________

I’m sorry you’re getting these crazy responses

American Jews are lost

They never experienced the holocaust or it’s aftermath.

Please keep up your writing we need it more than ever

Happy hannukah

John Lieberberg

______________________________________

And of course Hitler happened because Israel was coming shortly thereafter and the Nazis got ahead of it.

Michael Fremer