We watched in horror as it unfolded Across social media Across our television screens My father in law had never hugged me that long His body jerked with silent crying I apologized for what had befallen his country He tried in vain to say that maybe she had fallen That it was mud not blood on her pants And me, in all my stupid knowledge flatly stated “She was raped” They gasped, knowing it was true Then the statement By the so called Democratic Socialists Not condemning the slaughter But celebration Joy Elation Then the friends Celebrating too on social media Those I had held in my arms Those I had held in my hearts My ex husband railing against Israeli money and the banks In front of that old London town hall Oblivious to that old trope Or maybe he really believed it now Not giving a damn for the damage done And they keep going Old friends, celebrating death, celebrating rape, celebrating burning people alive All in the name of the underdog All in the name of this supposed movement of justice that I’ve given my life to I share a post on Holocaust Memorial Day Immediately after a new friend unfollows We can’t talk about Jewish suffering It doesn’t count It’s propaganda to acknowledge that Israelis are human too Besides, the peacemakers on the kibbutzim deserved it right? The beacons of hope and reaching across the aisle They deserved to be gunned down and burned alive “Free Palestine!” “Fucking k*kes” “Fucking Israelis” “Colonizers!” “Baby killers!” “Fucking Zionists!” “Fucking Jews” “Scum, they deserve it” “October 7th didn’t happen anyway” Right? More new friends stopped hugging me hello When I wore the Star of David As a warning against hate As a symbol of solidarity against the wave of sickness That’s engulfed the world “What kind of genocide scholar are you?” Another asked me I’m tired So very tired When I put my hands on the Western Wall Prayed to a god I don’t believe in That I would be able to make a difference That I would find a calling This is not what I had in mind Though I must admit I am flattered That the god of the Jews Thought I was worthy To take on this juggernaut I’m crushed by its weight But I’m a stubborn son of a bitch Maybe that’s why Maybe that’s why
My friend whose grandfather survived A death march from the camps Insists I’m a Jew now Is this what is feels like To become a Yid?
