The mainstream press can’t handle anti-Zionism– Rosengarten

Anyone looking for an end of year gift should consider Lillian Rosengarten’s wrenching memoir, Survival and Conscience: From the Shadows of Nazi Germany to the Jewish Boat to Gaza.

Here’s an interview I did a few days ago with the author. She says there’s a political element to the blackout of her book by the mainstream press. “I’m a strong anti-Zionist. My message is one that is not easily picked up.”

I think that Zionism in the way as it’s perceived now or as I understand it, to make a Jewish state only in Israel, is not the answer. I think the answer is to stop the occupation and for the United States not to support Zionism… The support for Israel is also what’s feeding into the terrorism in the world. I don’t mean– Israel, to not support it, but not support the occupation.

The strength of Rosengarten’s message derives from several sources: She’s a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, and was voiceless for many many years, till she went to Israel and saw the occupation for herself and was shocked and threw herself into witnessing it.

Here is a poem Rosengarten sent me, titled, “Despair of a Jew.”

Israel! Once a beloved dream is not a Jewish country
Not a nation state but occupier.
Racist Israel, what former incarnation of Zionism
Twists into your nationalist dream?
You have gone mad fed by your violent history?
Victim! Paranoid nightmare for Jews only.
Have you forgotten the final solution?
Palestinians, Semite brothers suffer your destruction.
Victims uprooted, remain locked in ghettos of despair.
Supporters! You! Eat the myth and drink the victim’s blood.
Naked victims, besieged by a collective stench
Oozing boils that smell of rot.
Untangle the crazed twisted shroud of deception!
Who amongst you walks in the land of false morality?
Joy, poetry and love gone. Orange trees tainted
With Palestinian blood spilled by criminal nightmares.
I am that Jew who weeps despair.

Rosengarten’s publisher is Just World Books (one of our advertisers, and friends). Those seeking to reach Rosengarten can do so at truthpoem55@gmail.com.

Here’s Rosengarten at the booklaunch we did on the Lower East Side, discussing her German tour of last summer, and the publication of the book.

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Survival and Conscience, Exile and the Prophetic,… Esoteric Jews escaping reality through lofty dual titles.
Me, as a non-esoteric and committed Zionist, I would rather go for (all dedicated to the State of Israel):
Transcendence and Jubilation, Glory and End of Times, Elevation and Triumph, Conquest and Destiny,…

.
Israel! Once a beloved dream is not a Jewish country
Not a nation state but occupier.
Racist Israel, what former incarnation of Zionism Twists into your nationalist dream?
You have gone mad fed by your violent history? Victim! Paranoid nightmare for Jews only. Have you forgotten the final solution?
Palestinians, Semite brothers suffer your destruction.
Victims uprooted, remain locked in ghettos of despair.
Supporters! You! Eat the myth and drink the victim’s blood.
Naked victims, besieged by a collective stench Oozing boils that smell of rot.
Untangle the crazed twisted shroud of deception!
Who amongst you walks in the land of false morality?
Joy, poetry and love gone.
Orange trees tainted With Palestinian blood spilled by criminal nightmares.
I am that Jew who weeps despair. –
See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2015/12/mainstream-zionism-rosengarten#respond
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can’t say it any better
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G-d Bless
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A lot of true facts and feelings artfully packed into the imagery of this poem.

“Mainstream press can’t handle anti-zionism.” Yes, also mainstream politicians. Even people who should know better equate anti-zionism with anti-semitism (and, conversely, equate Zionism with Judaism). In some cases they do so out of fear of the consequences if they don’t; in other cases they do so because they are true believers. For example:

http://www.salon.com/2015/12/17/adam_sandler_launches_into_profanity_laden_tirade_against_pink_floyd_front_man_roger_waters_for_criticizing_israel/

This is an important story. Just about any Jewish Holocaust survivor can publicize her tale these days, especially in the U.S. market. But clearly some sorts of narratives, some kinds of Jewish experience, are simply not expressible in mainstream media. I believe we can change that. But we need to know how things are. Lillian Rosengarten has some powerful things to say, and it’s very revealing that her message isn’t heard in popular media. Anyway, I applaud her efforts.