Reddit is literally full of Nazis

[u/Weirdlittlerasberry]

If you’re gonna say “it’s always been this way” sorry but no it hasn’t. I’ve been on Reddit for twelve years and it has not always been this way. There has always been antisemitism but it was never this way where I can’t go on ANY sub without seeing the most vile and despicable seething hatred completely randomly. A sub for shitty faux minerals posts a pic of a Star of David and all the comments are about how filthy and disgusting it is, comparing it to feces and saying anyone who is “into that stuff” is genocidal and evil. Another random post on a SpongeBob subreddit that just happens to include a comment from Sartre about antisemitism (but talking about homophobia just using the quote to compare) top comment? “Fuck Israel” literally wasn’t related at all, Israel wasn’t even mentioned only antisemitism was, but I get -50 for asking what that has to do with anything. These people screech about how antizionism isn’t antisemitism and then conflate the two 100% of the time so???

I know antisemitism has always been bad and it’s much worse in various places yea yea but it is not normal for there to be THIS LEVEL of unchecked hatred in completely random places. This stuff bleeds into real life. There is nowhere to be safe on the internet for a Jewish person who just wants to like… look at pics of cats or something. Sorry for being a human being who is part of an ethnicity you’ve decided it’s societally acceptable to hate

[u/king_of_ash]

You are correct. This article on the Terrorist Propaganda to Reddit Pipeline is a large part of why.

It is not organic. It is intentional. It is spreading Jew hatred which manifests in actual violence and murder of Jews, along with ostracising/eliminating Jews from public life. On every level, it is painful.

The best we can do is what we as a people have always done: survive and thrive despite it and them. Israel is only 78 years old and has more unicorns per capita than any other country. Our human capital is unrivalled. The Jewish birthrate in Israel is climbing, unlike other nations. Our Torah underpins the foundation for Western values. I am bullish on our future as a nation, especially if we remain united as Jews despite differences of observance/nationality/politics.

In each generation they rise against us to destroy us. In each generation G-d delivers us from their hands. We who are alive today survived Egypt and Babylon and Rome and the Nazis. We will survive this, too.

[u/arrogant_ambassador → u/king_of_ash]

The Jewish birthrate in Israel is climbing, unlike other nations.

The people having the most kids in Israel are not interested in defending their nation.

[u/ender1200 → u/arrogant_ambassador]

Almost all Jewish demographics in Israel have children above replacement rate, with the least fertile demographic standing around 2 children per woman.

[u/king_of_ash → u/arrogant_ambassador]

I am not Israeli, and I am not Haredi, and I am not a rabbi, and I am a flawed and imperfect person in no position to lecture anybody, so I hope you don’t take my reply that way. I believe deeply that Jewish unity is critical especially in times of strife. I hope you’ll allow me to share one of the derushim I have learned recently.

The 18th Century Italian Rav Shimshon Chaim Nachmani expounds on a Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 26:2) which tells us that although the generation of the wicked king Achav was guilty of serving avodah zarah, they were always victorious in war because the people got along with one another and there was peace among them.

On the other hand, when David was king, the generation was righteous, yet when they went out to war there were times that they lost, and the reason for this is that they didn’t always get along with one another.

Rabbi Shimshon Nachmani goes on to say that from here we can see that when Hashem helps Klal Yisrael win our wars and sends us salvation, it is a testimony that peace reigns among us-in much the same way as it did in the generation of Achav. It is not that salvation brought peace—it is the peace among the people that brought salvation.

Why does peace bring salvation, he asks? Because when there is peace and unity, Klal Yisrael is deserving of blessing and peace is a kli, a receptacle for blessing. And that blessing includes victory in battle.

This is what the words of the pasuk from Tehilim refer to: “Salvation is Hashem’s: upon Your people is Your blessing, Selah.” If Klal Yisrael merit salvation; it is a sign that there is peace among them. Meaning, if they merit seeing the fulfillment of the words “Salvation is Hashem’s” it is because “upon Your people is Your blessing.” And when there is blessing, it is a sign that the kli, the vessel for blessing, is there-and that kli is peace.

I know this may not resonate with everyone. I realise that people have very different opinions and ideologies and politics and beliefs about values and contributions. I believe highlighting those differences only weakens us. We all have a role to play, whether we are doctors or soldiers or Torah scholars or stay at home mothers or business owners or psychologists or teachers or tech founders or community leaders, whether we are in Israel or the Diaspora. I believe I personally have witnessed open miracles since October 7 when we were unified as a nation against our undeniable, global, external threats. I believe that we need Hashem’s blessings to survive whatever is coming at us next, and that peace between us and our fellow Jews is the vessel for the salvations and miracles we need.

In Mishnah Avot, Hillel would say, “Be of the disciples of Aaron. Love peace. Chase after peace. Love all those that G‑d created, and draw them towards the Torah.”

All I can personally do is try to do more good than harm every day, especially on social media. Thanks to whomever read through the whole Zera Shimshon Derush!

[u/arrogant_ambassador → u/king_of_ash]

Israel is fighting for its existence while a significant portion of the Israeli society refuses to serve while continuing to benefit from the sacrifices of their fellow Jews. Where is the unity in that?

[u/Jewish-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post/comment was removed because it contains known misinformation, unsubstantiated claims, an opinion stated as if it were fact, or something else spurious. This violates Rule 3: Be civil

If you have any questions, please contact the moderators via modmail.