Hi,

Thanks for reading and for condemning the attacks on innocent people.

You're right that my PS is a bit of a non-sequitur. But I think your reply shows why it might be helpful to some readers.

I was baffled to see that you think that my saying I'm proud to be Jewish is a preview of what I might say about Israel and Palestine. This seems like an antisemitic blind spot (again, I say this with respect. I have blind spots too).

There are proud Jews who think Israel shouldn't exist. There are proud Jews who are Zionists but deplore Israeli policy. There are proud Jews who reluctantly support Israeli policy. There are proud Jews who are absolutely despicable racists. There are deeply religious Jews who oppose Zionism for *religious reasons.*

Furthermore, when you say "I was already persuaded had he been a secular Jew altogether indifferent to either the religion of Judaism or the state of Israel," you imply that there are only two types of Jew: religious, pro-Israel Jews and secular Jews who are not pro-Israel. As I mentioned above, this is very false.

With respect,

Boaz