Eli - I want to make sure you have shared this with Bari Weiss at The Free Press. This essay is timeless, profound and important. I would love to see it spread across all media for everyone to ponder. Thank you for all that you do.
Hoffer can be depended upon to get to the heart of the matter . I think I am going to reread him.
I remember an insight of his that revolutions do not occur when things are at their worst, but instead occur when things are improving. He always makes you think.
Oct 21, 2023·edited Nov 3, 2023Liked by Man of Steele
Hoffer's thought experiment has the ring of truth, because it's based on actual events, and past events are the best predictor of future events. But what a pessimistic view of the future it is. That's not a criticism, just an observation.
Something's missing from this essay -- but it would be miraculous if it were not missing -- and that's the WHY. Why are we Jews destined to wander eternally in the desert? How many philosophy and biology books do I need to read in order to place this question in context? I try to think metaphorically. Human beings are tribal. Tribalism requires scapegoats to reinforce the tribe. Even chimpanzees do it. We are, after all, primates.
None of that helps.
Anti-Semites say we don't have a right to exist. I disagree. Therefore, I have to save the question of WHY for another day, and simply agree with Hoffer. We must do whatever we can, in the company of those who care about us, to continue to exist. Hoffer describes Jews as the lynchpin of humanity. Pull out that pin, and the whole collapses. It's "peculiar," as he puts it, but it has the ring of truth.
Whoa. Had not read your self-identification as loyal Jew. From what you'd written I thought you might be a Jew-baiter. Very confusing. The 2000-year reference (to the New Testament) might have tipped me off. For me as Catholic the Hebrew Bible is God's word and from it I pray daily, as via the Psalms. Being a chosen people dates from Abraham in Genesis and not from Paul's letters to Romans et al. Sorry to hear it's fairy tales. It certainly isn't for me.
Eli - I want to make sure you have shared this with Bari Weiss at The Free Press. This essay is timeless, profound and important. I would love to see it spread across all media for everyone to ponder. Thank you for all that you do.
Hoffer can be depended upon to get to the heart of the matter . I think I am going to reread him.
I remember an insight of his that revolutions do not occur when things are at their worst, but instead occur when things are improving. He always makes you think.
Wow! Nothing changes.
Hoffer's thought experiment has the ring of truth, because it's based on actual events, and past events are the best predictor of future events. But what a pessimistic view of the future it is. That's not a criticism, just an observation.
Something's missing from this essay -- but it would be miraculous if it were not missing -- and that's the WHY. Why are we Jews destined to wander eternally in the desert? How many philosophy and biology books do I need to read in order to place this question in context? I try to think metaphorically. Human beings are tribal. Tribalism requires scapegoats to reinforce the tribe. Even chimpanzees do it. We are, after all, primates.
None of that helps.
Anti-Semites say we don't have a right to exist. I disagree. Therefore, I have to save the question of WHY for another day, and simply agree with Hoffer. We must do whatever we can, in the company of those who care about us, to continue to exist. Hoffer describes Jews as the lynchpin of humanity. Pull out that pin, and the whole collapses. It's "peculiar," as he puts it, but it has the ring of truth.
Well said. Pull the lynchpin and the world would have to reinvent the Jew. Maybe that's the sad truth about us humans.
Great article. Hoffer is the blue collar philosopher. Quite enjoyable.
It's as if the Jewish question is inbred. Or so Hoffer argues. Amazing analysis. A (the) chosen people.
C.J., I'm afraid you lost me.
Sorry you feel that way, or think that way, I should say. But for one thing, it's much older than 2000 years. For another . . . later, OK?
Whoa. Had not read your self-identification as loyal Jew. From what you'd written I thought you might be a Jew-baiter. Very confusing. The 2000-year reference (to the New Testament) might have tipped me off. For me as Catholic the Hebrew Bible is God's word and from it I pray daily, as via the Psalms. Being a chosen people dates from Abraham in Genesis and not from Paul's letters to Romans et al. Sorry to hear it's fairy tales. It certainly isn't for me.
I read this and just sighed out loud; with the true implications of what he said.
I am 71 today, and since I was married to an historian who could school me in the many years of history, I was very blessed.
Now, since his death, I have to read a lot to find answers.
Hi, Here is a short documentary which provides a concise history of the origins of the state of Israel.
Highly educational.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOJqLTc6RkU