Tag: Wokism

Words of Hope

Forgive the man who sinned against you

often—just when revenge would be sweet;

and in your heart don’t loathe the ugly—

in the harvest’s refuse, there’s chaff and wheat.

– from the Selected Poems of Shmuel HaNagid

As long as I am contributing to the world, something of importance, I am content in my efforts to bring awareness, positivity, and renewal with a conscience focused on the values that I uphold as a human being with the temerity to speak boldly about what is important amidst the chaos.

Recently, I had an experience while reading a book by Viktor Frankl, wherein I resonated with a passage having to do with a man who decided to reclaim his life. I felt as if it was also time for me to do so. These kinds of spiritual motivations occur in real-life situations as well. Those whom inadvertently bring us back to the roots of ourselves, may do so unknowingly; yet, these encounters have been arranged from shomayim (heaven) for the sake of our spiritual growth.

I am reminded how years ago, an activist acquaintance of mine, when I associated with Leftists, told me that I can not remain neutral regarding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. He framed his statement in a manner that connoted neutrality as a stance that was not moral. Indeed, reflecting upon this now, I concur, in light of what Simon Wiesenthal said, that to remain silent in the face of evil is to be complicit. I am paraphrasing his well-known statement. And, now, I cannot remain silent.

I am disgusted with the video footage I watched of anti-Israel and pro-Hamas supporters outside the Amtrak Union station in Washington D.C. The facsimile of the Liberty Bell was vandalized, as was the statue giving credence to the discovery of a New World by Christopher Columbus. It is here, where a year and a half ago, I spoke with someone who attempted to give me advice, pertaining to my relentless cause of raising awareness of the dangers of Woke Ideology. He seemed to think that in doing so, I was placing myself in the fray, by countering the ideology, as if I was no different than them. This has remained with me ever since, and is why I try to transcend my critiques by making clear my values, and offering a way to higher ground. So, here goes my attempt to contribute something more than reactionary feedback to the chaos that plagued D.C. today when Netanyahu spoke at Congress.

What is the angst that drives protestors? Frustration is a key element, as mentioned by Eric Hoffer, in his book, The True Believer. It is the angst that fuels the fire of activists and would be do-gooders, today’s social justice warriors who rise up against the establishment in general for the sake of so-called vague sense of freedom, with cries of “liberation,” unaware of the original meaning intended. From the Marcusian mentality, liberation is that which frees human beings from the constraints of morals, so that their impulses can reign. That is the underbelly of radicalism that energizes the Leftist rage against the machine.

The same chants twenty years ago, that I heard in Philadelphia and L.A. are being heard in Washington D.C. “The people united shall never be defeated,” and “whose streets our streets.” I would think that they must also be chanting “No Justice No Peace,” the rallying cries of the Left. Yet, the pro-Hamas activists are not the kin of the radical Left, per se; rather they are the ilk of barbarism that plagues the world. It is appalling to witness their support for a terrorist group that committed horrific atrocities on October Seventh in Israel.

I would like to be able to get along with people in my social sphere, including those who believe, think, and live differently than me, depending upon their ideological beliefs or casual attachment to their sense of Jewishness. I am guilty to of a casual attitude toward my own level of Yiddishkeit, and suffer when I deviate from the path. Yet, as conveyed in the above-mentioned poem, both the chaff and the wheat are mixed together within the congregation of the faithful and the faithless. And, outside the perimeter of my very small world, I see humanity through a blurry lens, unable to see seeds of redemption or a spark of renewal in those who condemn themselves by way of their own inhumanity.

I will not take up a sign to protest, nor counter-protest; however, I will take up the pen, figuratively speaking, while I type out these words on my keyboard: To remain silent in the face of evil is to be complicit with the worst traits of humanity as they arise in the hearts of mankind, sentenced to despair by their own unbelief in a G-d who has already promised that through following His commandments, we may transcend our base desires, hateful inclinations, and misguided intentions.

This is the message that needs to be proclaimed, in like manner that a university student paraded a Moshaich Now flag through the U.C.L.A. pro-Palestinian campus encampment, during students protests, only a month or two ago. Of course, I defer to the power of words, rather than any kind of violence, as enshrined in the scene in the Indiana Jones movie, where the historian says, “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Ultimately, what is needed is compassion toward others, who disagree with us, and forgiveness of those who tread upon our toes. Yet, this only works for certain within the framework of a mutual agreement between those in a group of people committed to the same values. Expressing radical compassion to those who are our enemies is above and beyond the call duty. Even so, at least not partaking in their own sins of hatred and intolerance is a step in the right direction. We are all called toward righteousness in accord with HaShem’s divine vision for the world. It is clear from the scriptural accounts of that eschatological view, that not everyone will agree with The Plan. There are times when we must look after our own conscience, making sure to preserve the values that we uphold, so that we may remain human, in alignment with the Divine Blueprint. This may include speaking our mind for the sake of Truth. Eventually, only G-d will sort out the wheat from the chaff.

©2024 tzvi fievel (all rights reserved)

Day One: Light & Darkness

cultural confusion in the modern world

From the beginning of the creation of the world, G-d used His discernment, to separate the light from the darkness. This separation is a phenomenon that we may observe every day at dusk and dawn. The transition at twilight into nighttime, and at sunrise into daytime.


The Targum Neofiti emphasizes that G-d separated by word between light and darkness. We take the separation of light and darkness as a natural occurrence that seems effortless on the part of what most human beings refer to as nature.

Since there was no Biblical Hebrew word for nature, modern Hebrew uses the word Teva. The point that I would like to make is that the initial separation was not effortless, nor a natural phenomenon; rather, it was a principle of separation built into the fabric of Creation.


According to Rashi, because the light was good, it was not appropriate “that light and darkness should function together in a confused manner” (commentary on Genesis 1:4, sefaria.org). A parallel can be drawn to moral sphere, wherein the same rule may apply.


This tenet would caution us against the mixture of light and dark in our thinking, and how we approach the challenges in life; it may help decrease the confusion prevalent in society today. The current chaos of the world derives from the admixture of good and evil that permeates society. It is fueled by the flames of bitterness, animosity, and hostility.


Yet, the line of good and evil runs through the heart of every human (Solzhenitysn). This must be acknowledged by all decent people with a conscience in order to maintain a balanced perspective. The designation of people groups leads to an us and them mentality, as if the moral integrity of the in-group compels them to be sinless in their own eyes.

On the contrary, we must examine ourselves, all the moreso, in order to better challenge evil. In a world where the difference between good and evil is blurred we need the discernment that is able to separate light from darkness.  “The words You inscribed give light” (Ps. 119:130, JPSN).

©2024 all rights reserved

The Cultural Revolution

Israel is H’Shem’s treasure. Those who bless Israel, will receive blessings in return. And visa versa. Who would be foolish enough to cast Israel in a negative light or praise its enemies? Yet, the social justice ideologues, who cohort with Pro-Palestinian activists are bringing naive students and others into the fold. The nature of the social justice movement oversimplifies causes, in order to build a solidarity with the so-called oppressed groups of the world. We are witnessing the rise of the New Proletariat.

The collusion of causes overlooks any evidence or information contrary to the furthering of the revolutionary aims of the ideologues. For all appearances, the social justice movement seems like something positive to many naïve individuals. After all, who isn’t for tolerance and human rights? Good meaning people are being seduced by cries of compassion for select groups, without consideration to any others, who also experience discrimination or even persecution, whether historically or currently.

The Jewish people, who are indigenous to Israel biblically, historically, and through long lines of lineage over the generations are more and more being linked with Israel as oppressors. It is ludicrous, considering some of the false claims that are being made by the Left. Yet, the ideologues, well-steeped in Palestine studies, and the claims of colonialism would care not whether their targets are also decried as being white oppressors, for the aims of the movement.

What ties all of the different oppressed identity groups together? Only a vague concept of liberation, that would actually look very different for each group, as well as individuals within those groups. The key to understanding what appears to be irrational is the following statement made by an adherent of revolution: “It’s not about the cause, it’s about the revolution.”

As such, we need to address the misinformation, especially about Israel, in order to unravel the movement’s hold on naive individuals, by challenging their perspective. To engage in discussion with those who are receptive to words spoken in truth – this is the obligation of every person with a conscience.

Truth and Lies

Wokism Exposed: Part 1 – the dialectic

Wokism is a misguided “social justice movement,” that upholds a pseudo-morality opposed to godly values. Irrespective of pointing out its ideological roots, it can clearly be explained as “cultural Marxism,” based on its overarching intent to divide groups of people into the oppressed and the oppressor – a basic Marxist strategy. Wokism’s roots go back to Hegel and Marx, whereof Hegel, perhaps, the first progressive, introduced the concept of the dialectic, wherein the thesis (status quo of society) is critiqued by the antithesis, thus forming a new society, called the synthesis; yet, this process continues to repeat itself, until theoretically, a utopia, brought about by the Spirit of Man results somewhere down the road of history. Marx rejected any idea of the spirt, and founded what he referred to as “dialectical materialism,” proffering the viewpoint that through a complete upheaval of society, a utopia can come into fruition out of society’s ashes. Neither dialectical approach to history and revolution is in accord with recognizing G-d’s hand in all human affairs; so, its end result can only be antithetical to the divine plan on earth.

G-d save us from the new totalitarianism.

© 2022 all rights reserved

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