Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove on Jewish Identity, Antisemitism, and Hope

The Genesis of "For Such a Time as This"

• ✍️ Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove began writing his book, "For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today," in the urgent aftermath of the October 7th attacks.
• ⏳ The manuscript was fast-tracked for publication, aiming for the one-year anniversary of the attacks, requiring a rapid writing process amidst ongoing global events.
• 🌍 The book addresses themes of diaspora and Israel tensions, hyphenated identities, and the evolving nature of antisemitism, ideas he had been exploring prior to October 7th.

Navigating Post-October 7th Realities

• disorientation and loneliness experienced by the Jewish community following the attacks, compounded by the world's often critical or dismissive response.
• 🤝 A profound sense of communal belonging and solidarity emerged, described as a "tribal awakening" and a "sharpening of our sense of kinship."
• 🎯 The attacks provided a moment of moral clarity, distinguishing between legitimate debate and the unacceptability of sexual violence, murder, and hostage-taking.
• 🌟 This clarity also fueled an internal exploration of Jewish identity on one's own terms, rather than being defined by hatred.

Evolving Roles and Identity

• 🔄 Rabbi Cosgrove distinguishes between "Genesis Jews" (positive, outward-looking identity) and "Exodus Jews" (defined by external threats and defense).
• 🛡️ Post-October 7th, his rabbinate shifted to include playing defense against antisemitism and equipping the community with tools to counter anti-Zionist narratives.
• ⚖️ The challenge now is to balance offense and defense, fostering community and positive Jewish life while actively combating rising antisemitism and the blurred lines between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

Internal Community Dynamics

• 🗣️ A significant concern is the internal polarization and infighting within the Jewish community, diverting energy from external threats.
• 🤝 Rabbi Cosgrove emphasizes the need for language and dialogue to hold complex truths, allowing for disagreement without animosity.
• 🕊️ He advocates for embracing difficult questions, such as supporting Israel's right to self-defense while also showing empathy for Palestinian suffering and discussing post-conflict plans.

Intergenerational Dialogue and Hope

• 💬 The book models conversations with younger generations, like the character Maya, who grapple with aligning their Jewish identity with the decisions of the Israeli government.
• 👂 The approach emphasizes engaged listening, curiosity, and acknowledging different realities rather than immediate confrontation.
• 🌍 While acknowledging the complexities and short-to-medium term difficulties, Rabbi Cosgrove maintains a long-term hope rooted in the Jewish people's historical resilience and aspiration for a better future.

Combating Antisemitism

• 🏛️ The establishment of a citywide department to combat antisemitism is noted as a significant development.
• 🔍 Antisemitism is categorized into overt violence and more subtle, "higher" forms that exclude Jewish and Zionist voices from public discourse.
• 🚩 It's crucial to actively combat antisemitism on all fronts, from street-level incidents to cultural and institutional spaces, to prevent its escalation.

Personal Reflections on Hatred

• 💔 A deeply personal story is shared about the violent attack on his cousins in the UK, highlighting the viciousness and illogic of antisemitism.
• 💭 This experience underscores the presence of ancient hatreds and the need for vigilance, as American Jews can no longer assume they are immune.
• 🤔 The incident prompts reflection on how such hatred festers and the cultural cues that may enable it, emphasizing that it is often pure, unadulterated hatred.