Fwiw, Lander did an interview with @peterbeinart where he explained his position, and why he still calls himself a Zionist and does believe in a Jewish and Democratic state (which would make the label appropriate) fairly well. Worth listening to: https://peterbeinart.substack.com/p/bradlander2026
Well, there’s been a pretty big war going on 🙃 and if, like me, you’ve always been curious about current affairs, politics, history and military stuff then once you start looking into it everything related to Israel/Palestine and its history and politics is pretty fascinating…. I’ll probably lose interest again at some point but for now I’ll indulge it. And I listen/read very broadly across the spectrum. I also subscribe to Dan Senor, read Amit Segal, have Gadi Taubs podcast in my feed… So it’s not *just* the leftists I listen to.
Thank you for sharing some extremely important thoughts. As a Jew I live in a world of beautiful traditions and mind numbing antisemitism. The cause of Zionism has become the tipping point for those who were giving support of the Jewish perspective lip service but no true love or acceptance in their hearts. However, I am trying to look upon this as a reason to look deeper into Jewish history, beliefs and traditions because I believe true knowledge and understanding are the only way to stand up against the ignorance of hatred and intolerance. Hashem has given us the opportunity to fail in love, once more, with our Jewishness and I intend to take up the offer. Certainly knowledge doesn't soften hearts that are truly lost to hatred...but it gives one a fact based argument for discussion with people who can still be reached. And there are plenty of those left in the Democratic party.
I don’t agree - I have known brad since before he was in politics . To parse what is and who is a Zionist makes no sense in this climate - nor in the contexts of the current Israeli govt . It is also about who can build alliances based on a set of values that I share with Brad- as a Zionist -
I'm so curious about this post. What fo you mean by values and how do they relate to Zionism? I'm genuinely curious, not being snarky (tone is hard to convey in this forum!)
My Zionism is about two peoples. Israelis will be truly free in their homeland when they stop the occupation of the Palestinian people and accept the reality of two peoples in one swath of land-there has to be recognition of both nationalisms in that part of the world. Otherwise, Israel remains enslaved too. (Hegel--master/slave).
Capo.. or more accurately, judenrat capo lander has built his career on siding with anti semetic agitators. It's.where his bread.is buttered. Mabye he really believes it'll keep his.constituents safe . It.seems he's willing to sacrifice the lives of 8 million jews in Israel so he can keep on appearing.on late night with avowed islamo nazi agitators. Regular jews will have to make a.choice.. fight or.go.meekly back into the ghettos to await.deportation to zionist.castration camps.. if we.dont fight we deserve everything we get
You can accuse Israel of any sin you like and still be a Zionist — but pronouncing your own newborn out of the half of the Jewish people that lives in Israel is a mere shell with the meaning scooped out, kept because the shell is useful to Mamdani. Goldman is paying a 30-point price for meaning the word. That's the difference between a conviction and a costume.
Arabism is a racial supremacist ideology which ethnically cleansed all jews from their territories in 48 and continue to butcher Christians and yazidis to this day. Only idiots.buy your lies you pathetic nazi.
Lander strikes me as wiling to say whatever the kids want to hear in order to win. But it's also possible that he genuinely believes holds these entitled and myopic views on Israel. Not good, either way.
Is Zohran Mamdani the American reincarnation of Karl Lueger? Lueger was elected mayor of Vienna in 1897 by presenting himself as a champion of the “common people” against elites. Despite his wealth and education, he built support through populist messaging, promises of social reform, and attacks on the establishment.
As mayor, he normalized antisemitic rhetoric. He didn’t pass official anti-Jewish laws, but he promoted discrimination in practice: favoring “Christian” appointments, excluding Jews from positions of influence, and tolerating antisemitic demonstrations.
He also maintained relationships with “court Jews”, Jews who received his protection as long as they served his political or symbolic purposes. One of his infamous statements was, “I decide who is a Jew,” showing how selectively he applied his rhetoric.
Lueger’s approach was highly influential in shaping the thinking of Adolf Hitler, as it demonstrated how bigotry can cloak itself in moral language and appear ‘enlightened,’ ‘social,’ or ‘progressive', and how, when public officials adopt and amplify it, they give it an official seal of approval and remove barriers to violence. https://ww1.habsburger.net/en/chapters/i-decide-who-jew
I think Lander *is* actually more accurately identified as something like a post-Zionist 2 stater, both in belief & in practice, but refrains from identifying as such because it would be difficult to explain & likely politically fraught. That still ends up as someone that could be described as a Zionist because he does ultimately accept Israel's right to exist, especially in the left spaces that Lander has mostly occupied.
Also just generally, it would be useful if more folks on the left began using that precision, because that's some more accurate way to describe a significant number of nominal "anti-zionists".
Its not enough to elect a typical shitlib Dem machine politician there anymore as ripping off taxpayers and accomplishing very little are only part of the game in NY now. A district that is probably 20% "jewish" is now going to elect this Jon Lovitz-looking kapo extremist to show their bona fides as members of the "good ones" branch of the faith. But as long as no one throws a rock through the window of their bagel place the rich Jewish life most of these people lead will be unaffected. Consequences for the rest of us be damned.
Put aside the fact that Lander has questionable views. Dan Goldman has been an EXCELLENT congressman, very legally knowledgeable and effective. It breaks my heart to see an untested politician beat him.
I agree so much! Lander is stoking the over- emphasis on this issue to deflect attention away from Goldman's clearly superior abilities,knowledge, track record and promise. Lander is inferior on every way and we can add to that his subservience to the agendas of Mamdani and his cohort. No one is talking about Lander's hypocrisy in pivoting from his initial reaction to DSA after October 7th and boot-licking groveling. Sad
Lander’s affiliation with anti-(existence)-Israel groups is the most disappointing of his actions. The brit milah is interesting to say the least, but hey the father figure of Zionism didn’t even have his son circumcised at birth (hi Hans)!
Groups like the John Brown Gun Club and Socialist Rifle Association, Antifa cells, etc., have probably been growing at a healthy pace the past few years. Preparation for dealing with well armed groups should have begun years ago, and anyone who lives in and around NYC is particularly vulnerable.
Individually, that is correct. But neither the DNC nor any of the current leaders in the race for the White House are raising the alarm, outside of Shapiro. To the contrary, they are actively endorsing candidates who are openly anti-Israel frequently. When you bear in mind that the 64 Civil Rights Act specifically outlaws discrimination on the basis of national origin, not national origin except for Israelis, it becomes quite clear that the party has abandoned this concept as it applies to the largest Jewish community in the world. It wasn’t long ago when the Democrats would have been the first ones to scream bloody murder about this. Today, it is accepted.
Also, it’s not a question of individuals. It’s a question of organized factions. The organized faction that’s taking over the Democratic Party is the DSA.
Fetterman is terrific but he isn’t running for president and is largely shunned by much of the party. Torres was excellent until he endorsed Mamdani. Since then, he has been very quiet
Fwiw, Lander did an interview with @peterbeinart where he explained his position, and why he still calls himself a Zionist and does believe in a Jewish and Democratic state (which would make the label appropriate) fairly well. Worth listening to: https://peterbeinart.substack.com/p/bradlander2026
Why do you enjoy listening to these Jewish leftists so much? Curious what got you into this.
Well, there’s been a pretty big war going on 🙃 and if, like me, you’ve always been curious about current affairs, politics, history and military stuff then once you start looking into it everything related to Israel/Palestine and its history and politics is pretty fascinating…. I’ll probably lose interest again at some point but for now I’ll indulge it. And I listen/read very broadly across the spectrum. I also subscribe to Dan Senor, read Amit Segal, have Gadi Taubs podcast in my feed… So it’s not *just* the leftists I listen to.
Thank you for sharing some extremely important thoughts. As a Jew I live in a world of beautiful traditions and mind numbing antisemitism. The cause of Zionism has become the tipping point for those who were giving support of the Jewish perspective lip service but no true love or acceptance in their hearts. However, I am trying to look upon this as a reason to look deeper into Jewish history, beliefs and traditions because I believe true knowledge and understanding are the only way to stand up against the ignorance of hatred and intolerance. Hashem has given us the opportunity to fail in love, once more, with our Jewishness and I intend to take up the offer. Certainly knowledge doesn't soften hearts that are truly lost to hatred...but it gives one a fact based argument for discussion with people who can still be reached. And there are plenty of those left in the Democratic party.
I don’t agree - I have known brad since before he was in politics . To parse what is and who is a Zionist makes no sense in this climate - nor in the contexts of the current Israeli govt . It is also about who can build alliances based on a set of values that I share with Brad- as a Zionist -
I'm so curious about this post. What fo you mean by values and how do they relate to Zionism? I'm genuinely curious, not being snarky (tone is hard to convey in this forum!)
My Zionism is about two peoples. Israelis will be truly free in their homeland when they stop the occupation of the Palestinian people and accept the reality of two peoples in one swath of land-there has to be recognition of both nationalisms in that part of the world. Otherwise, Israel remains enslaved too. (Hegel--master/slave).
Does this mean one state with citizenship conferred on all who claim it? (Right of return?) The devil is on the details, unfortunately
sorry-i can’t keep this conversation going much longer. on several deadlines.
two states or a two-state confederation
Capo.. or more accurately, judenrat capo lander has built his career on siding with anti semetic agitators. It's.where his bread.is buttered. Mabye he really believes it'll keep his.constituents safe . It.seems he's willing to sacrifice the lives of 8 million jews in Israel so he can keep on appearing.on late night with avowed islamo nazi agitators. Regular jews will have to make a.choice.. fight or.go.meekly back into the ghettos to await.deportation to zionist.castration camps.. if we.dont fight we deserve everything we get
https://substack.com/@robertmoisescu/note/c-277956314?r=7a02yu
You can accuse Israel of any sin you like and still be a Zionist — but pronouncing your own newborn out of the half of the Jewish people that lives in Israel is a mere shell with the meaning scooped out, kept because the shell is useful to Mamdani. Goldman is paying a 30-point price for meaning the word. That's the difference between a conviction and a costume.
Zionism is a racial supremacist ideology that demands the ethnic cleansing and suppression of Palestinians
Yet another lying Irish antisemitic twit
Arabism is a racial supremacist ideology which ethnically cleansed all jews from their territories in 48 and continue to butcher Christians and yazidis to this day. Only idiots.buy your lies you pathetic nazi.
Lander strikes me as wiling to say whatever the kids want to hear in order to win. But it's also possible that he genuinely believes holds these entitled and myopic views on Israel. Not good, either way.
Is Zohran Mamdani the American reincarnation of Karl Lueger? Lueger was elected mayor of Vienna in 1897 by presenting himself as a champion of the “common people” against elites. Despite his wealth and education, he built support through populist messaging, promises of social reform, and attacks on the establishment.
As mayor, he normalized antisemitic rhetoric. He didn’t pass official anti-Jewish laws, but he promoted discrimination in practice: favoring “Christian” appointments, excluding Jews from positions of influence, and tolerating antisemitic demonstrations.
He also maintained relationships with “court Jews”, Jews who received his protection as long as they served his political or symbolic purposes. One of his infamous statements was, “I decide who is a Jew,” showing how selectively he applied his rhetoric.
Lueger’s approach was highly influential in shaping the thinking of Adolf Hitler, as it demonstrated how bigotry can cloak itself in moral language and appear ‘enlightened,’ ‘social,’ or ‘progressive', and how, when public officials adopt and amplify it, they give it an official seal of approval and remove barriers to violence. https://ww1.habsburger.net/en/chapters/i-decide-who-jew
I think Lander *is* actually more accurately identified as something like a post-Zionist 2 stater, both in belief & in practice, but refrains from identifying as such because it would be difficult to explain & likely politically fraught. That still ends up as someone that could be described as a Zionist because he does ultimately accept Israel's right to exist, especially in the left spaces that Lander has mostly occupied.
Also just generally, it would be useful if more folks on the left began using that precision, because that's some more accurate way to describe a significant number of nominal "anti-zionists".
Its not enough to elect a typical shitlib Dem machine politician there anymore as ripping off taxpayers and accomplishing very little are only part of the game in NY now. A district that is probably 20% "jewish" is now going to elect this Jon Lovitz-looking kapo extremist to show their bona fides as members of the "good ones" branch of the faith. But as long as no one throws a rock through the window of their bagel place the rich Jewish life most of these people lead will be unaffected. Consequences for the rest of us be damned.
Brad Lander resigned from the DSA the day after October 7.
He's now a front for it.
That's all we need to know.
Put aside the fact that Lander has questionable views. Dan Goldman has been an EXCELLENT congressman, very legally knowledgeable and effective. It breaks my heart to see an untested politician beat him.
I agree so much! Lander is stoking the over- emphasis on this issue to deflect attention away from Goldman's clearly superior abilities,knowledge, track record and promise. Lander is inferior on every way and we can add to that his subservience to the agendas of Mamdani and his cohort. No one is talking about Lander's hypocrisy in pivoting from his initial reaction to DSA after October 7th and boot-licking groveling. Sad
Lander’s affiliation with anti-(existence)-Israel groups is the most disappointing of his actions. The brit milah is interesting to say the least, but hey the father figure of Zionism didn’t even have his son circumcised at birth (hi Hans)!
Hating Israel has become a plank for the Democratic Party. That’s not going to change
Not true. There are plenty of Democratic friends of Israel who have won in the last year.
The DSA has essentially taken over the Democratic Party in NYC and other cities, and soon will take over the national party.
Agreed
We better be prepared. Someone just called my attention to this.
Read it. This could metastasize.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/democratic-socialists-of-america-red-rabbits
I saw this. A new generation of brownshirts
Groups like the John Brown Gun Club and Socialist Rifle Association, Antifa cells, etc., have probably been growing at a healthy pace the past few years. Preparation for dealing with well armed groups should have begun years ago, and anyone who lives in and around NYC is particularly vulnerable.
No. I look at things entirely via the lens of America history.
They’re more like the militias that infested the South before the Civil War, if you get my meaning.
Individually, that is correct. But neither the DNC nor any of the current leaders in the race for the White House are raising the alarm, outside of Shapiro. To the contrary, they are actively endorsing candidates who are openly anti-Israel frequently. When you bear in mind that the 64 Civil Rights Act specifically outlaws discrimination on the basis of national origin, not national origin except for Israelis, it becomes quite clear that the party has abandoned this concept as it applies to the largest Jewish community in the world. It wasn’t long ago when the Democrats would have been the first ones to scream bloody murder about this. Today, it is accepted.
Also, it’s not a question of individuals. It’s a question of organized factions. The organized faction that’s taking over the Democratic Party is the DSA.
The glaring outspoken exception to this rule is Jon Fetterman, and to a lesser but still powerful extent Richie Torres and Josh Gottheimer.
Fetterman is terrific but he isn’t running for president and is largely shunned by much of the party. Torres was excellent until he endorsed Mamdani. Since then, he has been very quiet
Ew, he endorsed Mamdani? Crazy.