I know it is possible to hold room for Arabs and Jews in one's heart at the same time, because I do it every day. One can care about the safety and dignity of both Gazans and Israelis without dehumanizing either group, and without calling for the nation of Israel or the people of Gaza to be destroyed.
Mazin Qumsiyeh disagrees: for many years, he has publicly called for the abolition of Israel as a Jewish state, so that there will be no land where Jews may be free from persecution, and he employs numerous false and antisemitic claims to make his case. He has publicly praised the rape, slaughter, and kidnapping of Israeli civilians on October 7th. I have learned from these email exchanges that for a few Lincolnites, there is no room for the Jewish people in their hearts. There may never be room. It hurts to hear that, but I accept it. For the rest of you, I offer my own invitation. After George Floyd, someone said, "If you have a black friend and you don't know why police make them nervous, then you don't have a black friend. You know a black person." So I called one of my black friends and had a long conversation with him about his own experiences. It was enlightening, and I'm glad I did it. So was he. Similarly, if you have a Jewish friend and you don't know why they are afraid of the type of bigotry that people like Qumsiyeh promote, then you do not have a Jewish friend. You know a Jewish person. Here's my invitation: at 2pm tomorrow, stay home and call a Jewish friend, whether they live in Lincoln or not. Ask them about their lived experiences of antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry. Everyone's got stories, and I believe that if you reach out with friendship and care, they will share theirs with you. Here's hoping that everyone's heart can grow a little. ᐧ
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