Introspection Is Not A Sin… not even for Jewish People

When one finds oneself in conflict with others, it’s wise to consider the possibility that the conflict is one’s own fault.

There’s even a name for this process of inquiry. It’s called:

Introspection.

From Latin: intro = inside… and spect = to look.

To “look within.”

And it’s a universal virtue. Everyone should be able to introspect, regardless of their culture.

And all cultures should be able to introspect collectively – especially if they find themselves in conflicts chronically.

If “People A” finds itself in one conflict after another – with Peoples B, C, D, E, and all the way down the alphabet…

…then it should ask itself, “are we causing this?”

This applies to all peoples, and the Jewish People are no exception. We’re not exempt, guys.

We need to introspect too.

Collectively.

It is not a sin to do this – and it’s not a sin to suggest doing it.

In fact, it’s crucial to Jewish survival, to start doing this.

If you’re Jewish, and if you care about your people’s relationship to other peoples, then start asking yourself: “How have we, the Jewish People, contributed to our conflicts?”

“What role have we played in generating the hatred against us?”

And once you ask it, actually look for an answer.

And if you really, truly want an answer – if you’re genuine about this process – then ask the question to someone who actually hates Jews.

That’s right. You’ll get the most detailed answer on “why do people hate Jews” if you ask a person who hates Jews.

That’s such obvious logic, and yet it escapes most of us. We want to ask it to some academic, some wise person, who is on our side – who doesn’t hate us. Yup. We’ll ask a person who doesn’t hate us why people hate us.

And isn’t that silly?

Come on guys! Don’t ask a person who loves you why some people hate you.

Ask a person who hates you why they hate you.

Again, this is not something we should expect solely of Jewish people. It’s something we should expect of everyone. All peoples.

And the only seemingly “revolutionary” idea being presented here… is the idea that Jewish people shouldn’t be exempt from it.

Not that Jews should be singled out for it –

but that Jews should not be singled out as exempt from it.

Some people might find this whole idea offensive to Jews, but all that’s being requested is for Jewish people to hold ourselves to the same standard as everyone else is held to.

What’s being asked here is for Jewish people to be treated the same way as everybody else.

But if someone is accustomed to privilege, equality often seems offensive. And the Jewish People are accustomed to the privilege of being exempt from the process of introspection, because many of us have been conditioned to be offended by the very idea of considering that we play a role in generating the hatred against us.

And we’ve been able to use our influence over the institutions of society – especially the media – to suppress this idea and prevent the necessary dialogue from taking place. We shield ourselves from any suggestion of introspection… by shouting “antisemite” at whoever suggested it.

But guys, we gotta get over this.

All other peoples are expected to introspect.

So we should too.

I am not an “antisemite”, or a “self-hater”, or a “kapo”, for suggesting this. In fact, if anyone is an antisemite, it’s the person who wants to suppress this dialogue. Because that person is impeding the Jewish People from engaging in a crucial process of growth and evolution – preventing our attainment of a self-awareness that is becoming increasingly necessary for our safety and survival.

20 million of us.

9 billion of them.

If they turn on us, no amount of censorship or hate speech laws or AIPAC money or Epstein blackmail or IDF bombs or throwing “antisemite” at all of our critics is going to protect us.

We need to start introspecting.

Now.

And this website is a great place to start, if you want to be part of this work.

Welcome!