Worried for my friends in New York...

But Tablet Magazine knows my name!

The only reason why Tablet Magazine knows my name is that I just bought a paid subscription and created an account, but I got really excited when the login screen said, “Shalom, April!” I know this is parasocial ridiculousness at its silliness, but I love Tablet and the Scroll so much that having the sense that it loves me back can just melt all the sadness I sometimes feel away.

[Also, if I am ever unconscious or on a ventilator and sedated or something, please play Gadi’s Hebrew podcast for me all the time. That will make me either a) wake up and instantly be fine or b) find the will to live no matter what and wake up speaking fluent Hebrew!]

Tablet was at the beginning of the journey that led me to my worldwide family. I quoted it in my first article on Israel and antisemitism in late October 2023. Here’s the quote:

“Meanwhile, I’m one of the people that this article in Tablet magazine described, “They’re rabidly consuming the headlines, they’re liking people’s ‘Stand With Israel’ stories, they’re privately texting their Jewish friends to ask how they’re doing.” I’ve wanted to do more, but am afraid.”

But I wasn’t so afraid that I didn’t write, and now I have all of you! I read Tablet and the Scroll every time they come out, and as we know, my life is a running advertisement for Israel Update. I would like to extend a special thanks to those of you who have patiently listened to me recite every funny thing Mike and Gadi said in the most recent episodes. Hey, at least it’s not Game of Thrones quotes!

I spend as little money as I can, so $25 a month is significant, but I can’t be without Tablet, and I want to contribute.

Tablet changed so much of how I think about things. Or rather, made me aware of so much I didn’t know. Even though I comment on The Free Press and have made quite a few friends over there, I feel like a part of the Tablet family. And I’m not even Jewish! I think they have a gift for making non-Jews who support the Jewish people and Israel feel included. I never feel like I’m not supposed to be there, even if I don’t understand the context that a person who grew up Jewish might. There are so many different ways of being Jewish and I tend to be both more religious and more to the right politically than my in person Jewish friends, so maybe I fit in best with Tablet. Or maybe that just happened over time.

Quite a few of my friends think I read too much of the “right wing Jewish press.” I’m always telling people to send me articles and I will read them. I am working my way through a book on liberal Zionism that a friend sent me. I have never locked anyone in a room and forced them to watch Israel Update with me. The only being who is regularly stuck with Gadi and Mike and me is my cat, who seems to find their voices pleasing to sleep to.

But onto the title, and the concerning news of the day.

What is up with New York?

I get that Cuomo was not the ideal candidate. But a socialist who says that “globalize the intifada” is just fine and refuses to state that Israel has a right to exist? (The only country on earth whose right to exist anyone questions.)

I’ve heard from quite a few Jewish friends of all ages and professions in New York and surrounding area that they are very, very concerned, some to the point of being scared. I’d be scared. Open invitation: Move to Pennsylvania where our Governor is a proud and practicing Jew! (And he’s good looking too!)

I wonder if Mamdani wins the general election if people will actually leave the city. I know a lot of New Yorkers very well, and even though some have left by choice and are happy they have, it’s really hard to take a lifelong New Yorker out of New York. And why should Jews ONCE AGAIN FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME IN HISTORY be afraid to stay in a place where they grew up, have families, jobs, etc.?

Leaving aside his truly wacko policy proposals, how can you feel safe when a person running for the highest office in your city is cool with “globalize the Intifada” and wants to get rid of the police? That’s way scarier than the alligators in Florida, whom I’m told don’t get too close to you if you don’t get too close to them.

What is perhaps even more upsetting is how many friends of my friends and former friends of mine voted for the guy, even volunteered for the guy, unbothered by his blatant antisemitism. It’s like when it comes to Jews, non-Jews often just can’t be troubled to care. Not news to my worldwide family, and you’d think I’d be getting used to it by now. But I’m not. I get really upset when people I know simply don’t care about the safety of Jewish people, in Israel or here.

I worry most about my friends with kids. It just seems like this gives a green light to those who would set fire to a synagogue or Jewish day school. The increased acceptance and even glorification of political violence sets the stage for more truly horrible events. Certainly Jews on college campuses are having a hard time already.

It must be so hard to have the talk you never thought until October of 2023 that you’d have to have with your kids. I’m glad my daughter is a cat. “How to talk to your cat about antisemitism: a short manual.”

Meanwhile, it remains wonderful, even with the ups and downs and the constant fear for my friends in Israel, to have my worldwide family to be in touch with. Even when we don’t agree completely (which is always - the only being with whom I completely agree is, once again, Loviefluffy!) we are still there for each other. Just being able to pick up the phone and send a quick text and know that it’s not a bother, it’s solidarity, is so great.

So to my friends and worldwide family in and around New York or from New York - sending you love, prayers and solidarity too. I have tons so it’s no problem to pray for Israel and New York at the same time. I’m sure I’m far from the only one.

That reminds me… I have to go check up on some more New York friends.