Thank you for providing the recording. I just listened to it and was so happy. I had heard other interviews of Sarah about her book, but this was a different perspective.
I don't think I've commented here before, but I just listened to the recording, and I had to thank you for this conversation. I've listened to lots of interviews with Sarah (and have a copy of the book on my nightstand), but this one was special.
What a salve it was this morning to take in (not merely listen to) this conversation. Every single person who spoke has helped provide some healing to this aching soul. And … Sarah is a blessing as the coxswain of sanity. She reminds me of a video that Israeli comedian (and deep thinker), @YonGruber put on IG called “Thoughts from the Reserves: Normal”.
Just before I got the notification that this Zoom was available to watch, I got a DM from a NYer I met online through another substack. She had commented then that blamed Netanyahu for the surge of antisemitism. We had it out. I called her out. (I know 🤦🏻♀️ but sometimes it’s also a way to expel that anger in a directional way … I invested my energy. Nu?)
She defended Mamdani. I called that out on that, too. Like a Trumper who defends his insanity with “He doesn’t mean what he says” or “He’s not that bad.” (Meanwhile neo-Nazis are gathering and saying, “He’s our guy.”) We went into DMs and, somehow, she seemed to come around.
She’s not Jewish. Is a Leftie/progressive, says she supports Israel’s right to exist and feels that saying she is “virulently anti-Nazi means her work is done. But then, this morning, she wrote to tell me that she had voted for Mamdani and repeated her libel that Netanyahu is the reason for antisemitism. She claimed he’s not an antisemite. (And did that thing where she mentioned “other Jews” … Things she would never say to a BIPOC.) I am not nearly as gracious as Sarah (nor do I have an editor to remind me that I should be) and I told her to F off. (Repeatedly.🫤) I felt an ulcer developing and I was, in the words of The [Dixie] Chicks “not ready to make nice”.
But at least this past hour has been like a tall glass of milk of magnesia (That sounds grosser than i mean it to sound). Toda, @elissawald and Debbie and everyone who brought this together. You have all made the isolation less cold and prickly. Shavuah tov. I hope @peterhimmelman will get to watch, too.
It was a fantastic & uplifting discussion. Glad you were able to record it for anyone who missed.
That zoom was amazing! I felt so uplifted and hopeful. 💙💙💙
Thank you for providing the recording. I just listened to it and was so happy. I had heard other interviews of Sarah about her book, but this was a different perspective.
This conversation is phenomenal! And the concept of the mental shtetl situated between cultish ideologies is so on point! (I definitely get into that here: https://rafaelfrumkin.substack.com/p/one-day-everyone-will-have-been-against)
I’m wondering if you’d ever take nominations for book club authors? I have a couple of wonderful folks in mind if so!
I don't think I've commented here before, but I just listened to the recording, and I had to thank you for this conversation. I've listened to lots of interviews with Sarah (and have a copy of the book on my nightstand), but this one was special.
What a salve it was this morning to take in (not merely listen to) this conversation. Every single person who spoke has helped provide some healing to this aching soul. And … Sarah is a blessing as the coxswain of sanity. She reminds me of a video that Israeli comedian (and deep thinker), @YonGruber put on IG called “Thoughts from the Reserves: Normal”.
Just before I got the notification that this Zoom was available to watch, I got a DM from a NYer I met online through another substack. She had commented then that blamed Netanyahu for the surge of antisemitism. We had it out. I called her out. (I know 🤦🏻♀️ but sometimes it’s also a way to expel that anger in a directional way … I invested my energy. Nu?)
She defended Mamdani. I called that out on that, too. Like a Trumper who defends his insanity with “He doesn’t mean what he says” or “He’s not that bad.” (Meanwhile neo-Nazis are gathering and saying, “He’s our guy.”) We went into DMs and, somehow, she seemed to come around.
She’s not Jewish. Is a Leftie/progressive, says she supports Israel’s right to exist and feels that saying she is “virulently anti-Nazi means her work is done. But then, this morning, she wrote to tell me that she had voted for Mamdani and repeated her libel that Netanyahu is the reason for antisemitism. She claimed he’s not an antisemite. (And did that thing where she mentioned “other Jews” … Things she would never say to a BIPOC.) I am not nearly as gracious as Sarah (nor do I have an editor to remind me that I should be) and I told her to F off. (Repeatedly.🫤) I felt an ulcer developing and I was, in the words of The [Dixie] Chicks “not ready to make nice”.
But at least this past hour has been like a tall glass of milk of magnesia (That sounds grosser than i mean it to sound). Toda, @elissawald and Debbie and everyone who brought this together. You have all made the isolation less cold and prickly. Shavuah tov. I hope @peterhimmelman will get to watch, too.