As Cooks we really do so much to keep this world from spiraling out of control. Cooking is love. And it’s that constant application of love that keeps the worst of what we can be at bay.
After things have spiraled, Cooks lead the way to heal the hurt and soothe wounded souls. Day after day the humanity you share has the power to heal those who have been left broken by the inhumanity that is war.
Yet for all we do to prevent war, and all we do to heal in its aftermath, when the cries for war grow loud enough, our voices somehow get lost. I see good things in changing this. With all Cooks do, this, too, should be our time. War destroys what cooking creates. Kindness can’t sit down simply because anger has stood up. Never is this more true than in the times of war.
So you start with war and end with peace. But how do we make that road as short as possible? I’m thinking a lot of it is working to identify those moments where progress is breaking through and praising those moments and trying our best to keep them from slipping away. And I think we are in our best moment of progress yet.
To listen to Fox News, or the Putin-friendly branch of the Republican party, or anybody else who doesn’t want peace in Gaza and the Mideast, these protests on college campuses across the country are antisemitism of the very worst, most horrific kind. They aren’t.
Sure, absolutely within the thousands and thousands involved in these protests now going on across the country there will be someone accidentally or deliberately saying or doing something completely unacceptable. America does have a real problem with antisemitism. But that’s not what’s at the heart of these events or why these young people are putting their education at risk.
Saturday there was an honestly wonderful editorial written by Yale student Ian Berlin. In it there were many good and valuable words, but I was especially moved by this line: Indeed, Yale Jews for Ceasefire exists because of — not in spite of — our Jewish values.
Yes, yes, and yes. It’s not just that denying people food isn’t Jewish, it is the exact opposite of the humanity at the heart of Judaism. I know from a fair amount of experience that if you are inside the right-wing communication bubble nothing I’m going to say will pop that bubble today. But enough voices over enough time can and will get through. And right now it seems more and more of those voices are finally starting to be heard.
This really isn’t an easy time to be Jewish in America, especially if you have kids and are worried about their safety. If Fox News, or the Republicans, or Prime Minister Netanyahu were telling the truth when they claim these protests are pure old-school antisemitism these would be horrific times, but they are not telling the truth, they are simply doing more lying.
This week there was also a good moment of progress in Senator Bernie Sanders’s response to Israel’s Prime Minister attempting to label the US college protests antisemitic. The Senator made it clear there is nothing antisemitic about objecting to what Israel has been doing to the Palestinian people. He summed it up with telling Mr. Netanyahu: “It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable.”
And I know from the other side there will be those very reasonably pointing out, where was Bernie Sanders on the ceasefire? And why haven’t more people spoken out sooner? With ever more needless, tragic, deaths every week the urgency is immense. But 10.7 was truly horrific and all about starting a war. Wars are not easy to stop.
We invaded Iraq March 20, 2003 in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks (Iraq wasn’t involved in 9.11) and that war lasted until 2011. It isn’t perfect that it’s taken seven months to reach a point where a ceasefire is once again possible, but it is what we have a chance at. There are even signs that a ceasefire now could be built upon to become something more. I say let’s make more signs.
And Hope. I think there’s real hope for both Gaza and Israel in more people coming to the realization that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people is just plain wrong and there’s nothing antisemitic in admitting that it’s wrong. The road ahead won’t be easy. There is so much deep mistrust. But the journey will be worth it.
As always it starts with speaking out for justice. As a Cook, as someone who gives of yourself to help others, your voice is respected. This is no time to sit down. Progress is in the air. Let’s build upon it.
And also as always if you know of anyone who is Jewish, or has ties to Israel, or of anyone who is Muslim or has ties to Gaza, please just love them. Nobody you know was behind 10.7 and nobody you know is a part of Netanyahu’s cabinet. You are a Cook. You are gifted at making people feel welcome. Now is the time to use your gifts. Thanks.
And Hope Pins and Love Mugs are automatic. If you are looking for good spice deals, those are coming Friday, but I just wanted to get this message out in this moment where things are possible.
Thanks for reading, thanks for being our customer, thanks for wishing/working for peace.
You are who this time needs more of,
Bill
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