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In reply to the discussion: anti-genocide is not anti-Semitism [View all]PufPuf23
(8,949 posts)and DU is the first place have ever been called antisemitic. Much of what I see at DU is counter to my experience in that both families were liberal, anti-war families that were revolted by Begin and Kahane. That experience formed my outlook on life as will explain.
Age 5 (1958) my parents separated (but did not say so) and bought a house in SF East Bay. I became best friends with a kid up the street whose father was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore, a Cal Professor of Physics, and had worked on Manhattan Project in WWII. My fragmented family had no religious connection at the time and often had neither parent for supervision (babysitters). Had two Jewish Cub Scout Den Mothers, occasionally went to synagogue, and went to Seders. Close to half the people in our neighborhood were Jewish professional class people (MDs, Dentists, Engineers, Scientists, etc.). Have not anything to do with own family since 1996.
My father was an alcoholic right-wing bigot who had no formal education past 8th grade and ran heavy equipment in rural Humboldt County. The Bay Area house went away when the 1964 Christmas Flood destroyed everything and my maternal grandfather who was brains of family business died. My oldest sibling stayed south, my younger sibling went to live with Mother's cousin, and I was sent to a military academy owned by Episcopalian Church in Marin in 1966. The family in the East Bay were designated as a place I could go on leave. There was a new, progressive then boarding school in the East Bay that their mother wanted her son to go and me to be closer, I was accepted he was not. The school was close to half Jewish kids, some very wealthy (Haas, Selznick, etc.). Father took me out of the "hippy school" and went my senior year of high school on the Hupa Reservation (I am not NA). Had been told not going to Hoopa HS was the reason was sent away.
etc. etc.
Lived with a non-practicing Jewish (father side) woman from age 19-24. Married a Jewish woman active in her faith. Two degrees from Cal. Eight of the 10 people that were roommates while at Cal were Jewish (one non-Jew owned the house). Last two years of undergrad work caretakers for a wealthy Jewish couple in Piedmont with woman I married. Spouse family was from the same neighborhood as Golda Meir in Milwaukee.
Been living in the Klamath Mountains of childhood since 2002 so like Rip Van Winkle. Have not been to Bay Area (or any city) since 2003. Did not see a stoplight or chain store from 2013 to 2017 when was diagnosed with lymphoma followed by several other cancers. Have decided to die in place.
The Jews I knew were all liberal and loving people. The only religious meals have ever attended are Seders with the two families of Reformed Jews. My love of learning and outlook on life did not come from my own family. Went to San Francisco and Berkely anti-war rallies with Jews in late 60s and early 70s.
Still occasional contact with friend from 1st grade and regular contact with younger brother who was also one of roommates at Cal. Friend became a Jew for Jesus back in 1990s and moved to deep South. He broke things off with his parents and I broke things off with him until during covid.
The hate and violence deeply troubles me.
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