say point “4” – concrete experience: I said it before but most befitting here, that I come from a long line of ultra Orthodox Rabbis and a very short line of communists. Within my wonderful parents’ circle of well sellected friends cum comrades, I witnessed the convoluted transitions of Jews from Orthodox background into ultra left, communist, activism, including underground illegal membership, to Zionist sympathies as alloed by the Party, turning, as political events commanded, to vigurous anti Zionism. As the left abandoned its Jewish contingent on nationalistic vectors, large numbers of disheartened left dedicated Jews suddenly returned to the Jewish “comforts”. This is proof that Jewish identity is not disolved into a distinct ethos. It acts , however, in manners determined by circumstances and it could be as varried as one would, for instance, compare an Arthur Koestler with a Noam Chomsky. The other syndromme I call the ” Moishe Weiss ” syndromme. A real name, a real case. Moishe Weiss born in Transylvaia in an ultra Orhodox family. Becomes a communist at 19-20, suffers anti Semitic fascist persecution, his entire family perishes in the Shoah, After the war is incorporated in the Romanian communist infrastructure. By 1960 the Romanian communists turn into radical nationalists and “epurate” the Party admin. of most highly placed Jews, including one Comrade Waldmann, my incredible Father. By the Six Day War I was a history student at Bucharest Univ. and a mad Zionist. Legions of Jewsih communist intellectuals from my family circle, including Moishe Weiss – who , actually had changed his name into a Romanian sounding one anyway – tried, prior to the actual war, to convince me that I was terribly misguided. Seven days after the war started Moishe Weiss came to me radiating with excitement almost screaming ” Did you see what OUR boys have done !!!”.
Moishe passed away long time ago and I miss him imensly. His daughter married in Israel and still lives happily in Jerusalem three times a Grand Mother. Comarade Waldmann Pal’s Grandson, Felix, mentioned with passionate affection my Father at his Bar Mitzva at the Sephardi Schule and he keeps a kosher life these days, proud of his herritage.

They are not ashamed Jews, as they clearly stated on the ABC-Late Night Live program. They just have a different opinion about Israeli politics. Confront them, argue with them, don’t be a gatekeeper don’t lock them out.

In view of the age of many in this category, I sometimes wonder if it could be “hormonal” …