I weep to think at the ammunition this will give the antisemites who want to equate all of Jewry with the worst excesses of the current right-wing Zionist zealots.

I assume it's a sort of diluted effect of the world-controlling conspiracy theory, but it continues to amaze me how many people casually assume it's all right to hold non-Israeli Jews responsible for Israel's policies. I used to get quizzed on the subject in grad school and I would explain every time that I had frankly no idea. Not even by people who were otherwise anti-Semitic. Just people who naturally thought I should, as a Jew existing somewhere in the world, know.

I also can't figure out how to formulate arguments for the essential survival of Israel as a state (a proposition I fervently believe) when those in control of that state are doing all they can to wipe others out.

I don't think that question differs from the question of why any state should survive when those in control of it act badly. Do you feel the need to formulate arguments for the essential survival of the United States?

Sunday I'll be joining the T'ruah rabbis in a protest at ICE offices in Burlington.

Thanks for telling me. I don't know if I can make it, but I appreciate knowing it's happening.