Loneliness

Biblical stories present the hermit, the anchorite, the stranger among their own as a person of strong will, seeking truth and light, free from the temptations of people and the vanity of the secular world.

There is the loneliness of the thinker, the philosopher, who discerns the meaning and mysteries of the universe away from the noise of the city, from empty passions and aspirations. “If one must be born in an empire, it is better to live in a remote province by the sea.” (Joseph Brodsky, “Letters to a Roman Friend.”)

There is another type of hermit-outcast, disillusioned with people and the world, who has severed ties and relationships. Byron’s Childe Harold carries “a mute pain in his heart… The tormenting power of melancholy called him to leave the place where he grew up.” A similar condition is found in Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin: “Like Childe Harold, gloomy, languid… nothing moved him.” And Chatsky from “Woe from Wit”: “I will go and look around the world … where there is a corner for an offended feeling!”

Loneliness is the central problem of existentialism. Sartre defined loneliness as “poverty of the spirit”, but, according to Nietzsche, it “improves one’s character”, “In solitude, you devour yourself; among people, you are devoured by many.”

In romantic literature, the rejected and those who reject are attractive, but in the real world, loneliness is seen as a misfortune, a painful condition, even a curse. And the Bible teaches: “It is not good that man should be alone.”

The everyday consciousness of the Western world harshly judges loneliness: losers, outcasts, the rejected. Sociologists and psychologists view loneliness as a social pathology that has become an epidemic. According to surveys, a quarter to a third of the planet’s population feels lonely, but a generalized indicator does not reveal the full picture. In traditional societies, family and community relations are strong, in Western society, these connections are much weaker.

In the United States, various surveys show that between 50 to 70% of the population experience a state of loneliness. The U.S. Surgeon General considers loneliness and isolation an epidemic that has the same impact on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Lonely people have a less developed sense of social responsibility and are more prone to deviant behavior, alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide.

America cultivates individualism, success, personal responsibility, the drive to win, and – woe to the lagging and the defeated. In the widely known monograph “The Lonely Crowd” by David Riesman, there is an analysis of the American national character and the conditions that have led to the atomization of society and the isolation of individuals. However, the authors are not concerned about this since they see in such a situation powerful stimuli for dynamic development. Ayn Rand laid the philosophical foundation – the theory of rational individualism, which opposes the irresponsibility, rigidity, and stagnation of collectivism.

Individualism is not a personal choice of worldview and behavior. In America, the entire way of life, the intensity of work, the length of the working day, competition everywhere and in everything, the fear of losing one’s job leaves no free time even for family, for parents to raise their children.

In recent years, the polarization of society, party, racial, ideological division have further exacerbated alienation not only between social groups but also in personal relationships. The emotional vacuum is filled with surrogates of real relationships: “network friends,” attachment to idols, and “personality” of television and the internet, services for quick acquaintances, and quick sex.

The problem of loneliness is sharply manifested in immigration. Difficulties with social, economic, psychological adaptation, language, norms of behavior are all obstacles to understanding new people and life conditions. And not always is there more comfort and unity in one’s own community. Sergey Dovlatov, despite the popularity of his personality and work, wrote: “Money, let’s say, disappears quickly, but loneliness never.” Misunderstanding and alienation are felt among “one’s own” even more acutely than among “strangers.”

The “Russian community,” consisting of many ethnic groups, different cultures, and religions, has never been characterized by cohesion and unanimity, and it became even more fragmented after the dissolution of the Union, the resurgence of the Cold War, and especially the wars of Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine. Even a small difference in assessments and beliefs is a reason for conflict and cessation of relationships.

In the current atmosphere, calls for tolerance, pluralism, and compromise convince few, demonstrations and rallies often show signs of mass psychosis rather than unity and collectivism; one can feel lonely even in a large crowd.

Norms and connections are disrupted, authorities are absent, and how to live, what to believe, and what to hope for is decided individually, in solitude.

Outcasts

According to dictionaries, outcasts can be not only individuals but also social groups and even states, “deprived of certain rights among their kind, persecuted or ignored strangers”. In the past, this category included lower castes, pariahs, ethnic and religious groups, deprived of civil rights from birth. In democracies, remnants of caste division persist but are condemned by law and public morality.

In recent years, with the intensification of international relations, the concept of rogue states has emerged: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Iran, North Korea. Typically, the inclusion of countries as rogues comes from Western democracies, with other countries not always agreeing with such an assessment. In the current fractured, multipolar world, it is difficult to reach a consensus on who violates rights and justice and who defends them. For the USA and the European Union, Hamas, ruling in Gaza, is a terrorist group; for many others, they are fighters for rights and freedoms.

The list of outcasts usually includes countries where there are no civil rights, independent courts and press, multiparty systems, those lagging in economic and scientific-technical development, education, and culture. But there is an exception to these rules – Israel.

In a short time, this small country, which gave refuge to millions of refugees, achieved phenomenal success in economics, technology, education, science, culture, medicine, built a democratic society and state capable of ensuring the well-being of its citizens and providing substantial assistance in development to many other countries. All this despite a hostile environment, endless wars and terrorism, large defense expenses, and adaptation of immigrants. Israel’s achievements are particularly impressive compared to the situation in neighboring countries with authoritarian regimes, suppression of rights and freedoms, and social and economic backwardness.

There are only 15 million Jews, 0.2 percent of the world’s population; about 8 million live in Israel, and although God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, it turned out to refer to the descendants of Ishmael, not Isaac. There are almost 2 billion Muslims, the majority in 35 countries, and the Islamic ummah covers more than 120 states. In many Muslim countries, civil rights are suppressed, civil wars and conflicts continue with millions of victims and refugees.

Yet, Israel receives more condemning resolutions from the UN than any other country. There is no nation, ethnic group, about which so much concern is shown, as for the Palestinians. Their co-religionists in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya, India, China, Burma, where hundreds of thousands of Muslims have died and tens of millions have become refugees, where life is an endless humanitarian catastrophe, have not received even a small fraction of the attention given to the Palestinians.

After the Second World War, the world has not known as many conflicts and contradictions as today, and with the most acute problems, it is impossible to find a common approach and overcome disagreements. But there is something common even among those who cannot agree on anything else: hostility towards Israel and all Jews, without delving into the differences in their positions and beliefs.

Every day brings new evidence of wild manifestations of anti-Semitism not only in Muslim countries. In Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia, demonstrations are held calling for the destruction of the Jewish state, the number of anti-Semitic actions has grown everywhere and they are becoming more aggressive and dangerous. Even in China and South Korea, where historically there was no “Jewish question,” there has been an explosion of anti-Semitism. The depth of the moral fall is unfathomable – posters with photos of victims of Palestinian terror are demonstratively torn down, with calls to destroy Jews written on them.

Long before the current events, human rights activist Natan Sharansky asked French philosopher Alain Finkielkraut if there was a future for Jews in Europe. The philosopher replied with a question: “Is there a future for Europe?”. Today the question needs to be expanded: “Is there a future for Western civilization?”

Current events cast doubt on the lessons of history and human morality and reason. In many countries, there are archives, museums, there is a vast literature on the history of anti-Semitism, the whole world knows about the tragedy of the Holocaust. But today, anti-Semitism has become a global phenomenon.

But the Jews have not realized their own history and fate. In my opinion, among many others, the most powerful and convincing publication on this topic is the book “The Pity of It All: A Portrait of the German-Jewish Epoch 1743-1933” by Amos Elon. Jews believed that the progress of civilization, education, and their merits, philanthropy, and loyalty to the countries of residence, which they considered their homeland, would secure them a worthy place in society. They were tragically mistaken, but at that time the world recognized the threat and was able to unite efforts in the fight against fascism. Today’s fascists and their voluntary assistants are triumphing on the streets of many countries, but the world community is not on the side of reason and conscience.

The United Nations is engaged in its usual business – condemning Israel, demanding the cessation of military actions, which will give Hamas the opportunity to survive, receive aid, and continue terrorist activities. The UN Secretary-General talks about a “suffocating occupation,” “lost hopes for a political solution,” and representatives of states condemn Israel, but they do not speak about the neighboring countries that support terrorists, but refuse to accept Palestinian refugees.

A Harsh Awakening

The explosion of hatred caught Jewish organizations, Jewish politicians, and religious figures, as well as the majority of Jews, completely unprepared for a response. Jews so often repeated the mantra “Never Again” that they came to believe it, although the writing on the wall has been clear since the sharp deterioration of international relations, civil, racial, ethnic conflicts, and mass migration to Western countries from regions where anti-Semitism is part of the public psyche. Even when criminal statistics and public opinion polls gave reasons for concern, there was a hope that these were isolated episodes, remnants of the past, which would be overcome with the increase of enlightenment and prosperity.

Liberal Jews – 70% of American Jews focused on the problems of others: people of color, gays, illegal immigrants, and were at the forefront of party struggles, considering their main task to be the overthrow of Trump. The Orthodox were more concerned with their own problems, and they do not have as much influence as the reformist liberals.

But in the hour of trial, it turned out that there were very few friends, and those who understand and sympathize are weak or prefer to stay aside. It would seem that the clear evidence of the terrorists’ crimes on October 7th is enough to dispel any doubts and illusions, to understand what is happening, and to come to unambiguous assessments. But for a huge number of people, this was a cause for rejoicing, approval, and support.

The Jews’ shock reaction was due not so much to Hamas’s barbaric action, which never hid its intentions, as to the massive support of the terrorists. “Black Lives Matter,” “Progressives” in politics, activists of the “Awakening” actively support the Palestinians and justify Hamas. Associations of cultural figures, writers, intellectuals, celebrity idols find justification for the terrorists.

The centuries-old Jewish hopes in education, enlightenment, and knowledge have come crashing down. Elite universities, students, and their educators conduct mass campaigns in support of Palestinians, insult and persecute Jewish students, and university leadership, fearing revolts, essentially supports the mass anti-Semitic psychosis.

In the internet, there are hundreds of times more pro-Palestinian propaganda than pro-Israeli, with the number of views being thousands of times greater. In pro-Palestinian demonstrations and protests, the majority of participants are not Muslims; in pro-Israeli ones, apart from those who come out of duty, only Jews participate.

In mainstream media, there are increasing demands for Israel to halt military actions, criticism for “disproportionate” retaliation, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Any country faced with a barbaric attack like that of October 7th would respond using all means available for retaliation and security. Israel has the capability to destroy dangerous neighborhoods but employs, at great sacrifice to itself, a strategy and tactics that preserve the peaceful, albeit hostile, population. It is starkly evident what would happen to all the inhabitants of Israel if the Palestinians had the means to carry out their plans.

The citadel of free thought and objective approach, “The New York Times,” publishes an article by leading columnist, Obama’s favorite, Thomas Friedman, “Israel Ready to Make a Terrible Mistake” – thus he assesses Israel’s decision to end Hamas, recognized by the American government as a terrorist organization. Nicholas Kristof wonders why we treat Palestinians as “lesser victims.” Diana Kaplow, a Jewish teacher, instructs Israel to kill only criminals but to ensure the safety of the innocent. How to do this when dealing with Hamas is a question that the author and the editorial board leave open. Pamela Paul is saddened by the cancellation of a Palestinian author’s speech, Jennifer Schuessler objects to the decision by a Jewish cultural center in Manhattan to postpone criticism of Israel to a better time.

The newspaper, which considers it a professional honor to fight fake news and double-check even celebrity gossip, published, citing Hamas propaganda, a sensational report about the death of 500 Palestinians in a Gaza hospital from an Israeli rocket, which turned out to be false. Numerous photographs daily give a clear picture of the newspaper’s position and sympathy. Taking the principle of “Giving voice to all sides” to the absurd, mainstream media invite defenders of terrorists to express their opinion. Why not give the floor to the leaders and propagandists of the Islamic Caliphate, Al-Qaeda, when America and Europe were waging war on terror on the other side of the world, with many more victims and destructions? Bret Stephens writes: “Hamas is guilty of every death in this war,” but the voice of conscience is not heard in the hysterical cacophony of lies and hatred.

Global antisemitism has openly manifested itself, leaving no room for illusions. Israel has reached its moment of truth, the Jews of Europe have missed their chance, and American Jews must determine their stance in the new world. Above all, it is necessary to discard illusions, to acknowledge that immense efforts towards enlightenment, history lessons, and the Holocaust, as well as the attempt to win sympathies through good deeds, have not yielded the expected results. Antisemitism has grown to catastrophic proportions both at the bottom and top of society, on the left and right, in democracies and authoritarian regimes, among the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, in places where Jews felt at home and where they are and have been absent.

The most dangerous aspect is the youth, who are more informed and educated, living in better conditions, and are more antisemitic than the older generations. Even before the Israeli army entered Gaza, a “Harvard/Harris poll” showed that half of Americans aged 18-34 believe Hamas’s attack was justified, and 26% want to “end Israel” and hand over the land to Hamas.

Now these numbers have grown even more. And those who hold a different opinion are not at all ready to express it openly and actively.

70% of Jews vote for Democrats, and it seems that nothing can shake their party loyalty. But in the hour of trial, the home party expressed its stance: only a third approve of Israel’s response to the terrorist attack, half are against, whereas among Republicans three-quarters approve, with only 14% against. Notably, among Black people, whom Jews have comprehensively helped in the fight for rights and well-being, only 29% supported Israel’s measures. (Quinnipiac poll.)

Making sense of reality and parting with illusions will take time. At Shabbat in the Reform Central Synagogue in New York during Kaddish (the memorial prayer), the rabbi named the number of Israeli and Palestinian dead in the same breath. The absurdity and inappropriateness of such a pairing do not even occur to the congregation’s leaders or audience. The next day, in a new Orthodox synagogue in Manhattan, three invited experts discussed what needs to be done: win in social networks (where Israel haters have a hundredfold advantage, how to defeat them remained an open question), engage more closely with Arabs using “soft power” (material aid), learn Arabic for better understanding… The ultra-Orthodox rely on prayer, tefillin (a protective ritual), and tzedakah (charity collection)… There is neither strategy nor tactics yet, but it must be said that even on religious holidays, the synagogues were not as full as on these days.

In the secular environment, discussions continue and the same practical measures are proposed: round tables, working groups, dialogues with dissenters, in-depth study of the Holocaust, educational work… None of this helped before, and nothing new has been devised.

Even though antisemites who openly express their views have appeared in the government and Congress, Jews are still actively represented in state institutions and the media. However, the eternal dilemma for successful, visible Jews in the diaspora is to not appear as if they are serving their own interests, to be more Catholic than the Pope in their patriotism. As Russian revolutionaries, Jews would say they were Bolsheviks, not Jews. And Henry Kissinger explained to Golda Meir that he was an American first, Secretary of State. Now, Antony Blinken demonstrates independence from his ancestral roots not only in politics but also in family relations. At the White House Halloween party, he dressed his son in a Zelensky uniform, his daughter in a Ukrainian costume. Ridiculous, out of place and out of time, but it will do, as he would not dare to dress his children in Jewish tradition.

Yesterday, several Jewish organizations invited Holocaust survivors, mostly immigrants from the USSR and post-Soviet states, to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The politicians and activists who spoke called things by their real names, without the usual rhetoric of recent past about people of good will and the triumph of good and truth over evil.

Today at Jewish events, the mood is grim, but I have not seen a more sorrowful sight than this gathering at the museum of memory of a monstrous disaster. Hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren, students, activists, and ordinary citizens, raised in democracy and humanism, have visited here, but on the streets and in the citadels of knowledge and culture, obscurantism and hatred triumph. Immigrants who experienced both fascism and Soviet antisemitism were convinced that the past would not repeat itself, that it was impossible in America. But it reached here too…

To count on a rapid mass enlightenment of consciousness, if the lessons of October 7th did not help, is not advisable. Democracies have mechanisms and resources to combat external aggression and internal authoritarian threats, but they are often powerless in front of a wild, riotous mob.

In America, there is still a Constitution, solid laws, police, a government that cannot allow a mob to establish its own order, not so much out of concern for the safety of Jews, but fearing the loss of control and power. The authorities and the elite understand that if participants in pogroms, supporters of terrorists, and useful idiots defending them remain unpunished and realize that this is possible, it works, they are feared, it will not stop with the Jews. The bell tolls for them, for the country and the way of life. The bell tolls for democracy and Western civilization.