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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 17h

It's funny that one loud camp is (predictably) saying that Mamdani’s antisemitism plan is not Zionist enough, while another is claiming it's (somehow) too Zionist. What both overlook, because neither really care, is the project of fighting antisemitism in NYC on its own terms

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Rabbi Emily Cohen @thatrabbicohen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Here's my Yom Kippur morning sermon on Safety through Solidarity, with thanks to @benlorber8.bsky.social and @shaneburley.bsky.social! (To get the context, I recommend watching part 1 first) youtu.be/do7V5EAyZPI written version here: morethanfourquestions.beehiiv.com/p/question-2...

youtu.be

To Life- Yom Kippur 5787/2026

YouTube video by Rabbi Emily Cohen

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ncarinsights.bsky.social @ncarinsights.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Nearly half of ADL's 2025 Audit was tied to Israel. A new report from NCAR breaks down what's in that number, from Jews harassed or attacked over Israel's actions to public expressions of hostility toward Israel that ADL considers antisemitic, like 'From the River to the Sea.'

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yesterday @peterbeinart.bsky.social & I discussed the bad-faith attacks on Hasan Piker, why establishment Dems keep punching Left, & why it's a failed strategy. We also discussed antisemitism, Israel/Palestine, America First & coalition politics. Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...

podcasts.apple.com

Navigating Bad-faith Accusations of Antisemitism

Podcast Episode · Occupied Thoughts · September 2 · 36m

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Michael Sappir @m.sappir.net · 27/08/2026

@benlorber8.bsky.social: ‘the fight over Piker’s words reminds of the final clause of the Balfour Declaration, promising to protect “the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country” to address the concerns of Jewish critics of Zionism’ benlorber18.substack.com/p/specters-o...

benlorber18.substack.com

Specters of Balfour

Critics of Hasan Piker’s recent warning don’t understand the time we’re in. We owe it to ourselves and our children’s children to get a grip-- and soon.

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

My latest on Substack- Specters of Balfour "Those who dismiss Piker’s warning as victim-blaming are thinking moralistically, not politically...the point is not to assign blame for antisemitism but to understand the conditions of its emergence"

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

By joining the pile-on against Hasan Piker, Democrats & liberals are running the Right's disinformation playbook for them-- the same playbook the Right uses before every election. This time around the moral panic was created by a far-right pro-Israel account named Max Nordau/

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Hasan Piker's statement about the relation between American Jewish support for Israel and antisemitism shouldn't be so controversial. Here's Hannah Arendt making the same point in her 1944 essay 'Zionism Reconsidered'

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Deborah Lipstadt, noted Holocaust historian & antisemitism czar under Biden, just shared a hardline transphobe who compared gender-affirming surgery to genital mutilation & slammed 'gender ideology' For many self-styled 'liberals', Israel advocacy is a gateway drug to the Right

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

The latest issue of @jewishcurrents.bsky.social carried a bad review of my good friend @blbalthaser.bsky.social’s excellent new book on the American Jewish Left and anti-Zionism. I wanted to explain what’s wrong with the review, and why it matters

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I usually keep my pettiness in check. But I do wonder if the boys at @mostmoralpod.bsky.social are having second thoughts after recording a whole episode the other month, slamming me & others for naming Susan’s antisemitism. These 3 posts are just from the last few days—

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Mamdani’s pro-Israel critics are correct today— that when the mayor of NYC used his large platform to call Netanyahu a war criminal and urge his arrest, it helped inspire a mentally ill person to stab a Jew on the streets of Manhattan /

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

My latest-- Christians United for Israel, the largest Zionist group in the US, just held its annual conference in DC. An interfaith coalition led by Christians for a Free Palestine & @rabbis4ceasefire.bsky.social took the streets to demand faith beyond Empire religiondispatches.org/2026/07/16/r...

religiondispatches.org

Reading Scripture from the Throne, Not the Cross

Last week, Christians United for Israel—the largest Christian Zionist organization in the United States—held its 21st annual national gathering at a resort outside Washington, DC. With over 10 million...

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Perhaps he meant to say that Mamdani's positions on Israel have *helped* in maintaining a net-positive image among American Jews overall

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Israel/Palestine is now central to American politics both because people don’t like genocide and because they do like politicians with real principles who aren’t afraid to stick to them, even at a cost

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Hockley barely breaks 100k followers across X and YouTube-- a big step down from Fuentes' 'generational run' in 2025, when he was in front of millions. Around this time last year I insisted Nick Fuentes' time in the spotlight would be brief & pushed back against many reporters who insisted he was /

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

And we know what came after the Tea Party...

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Michael Lieberman @mlieberman.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

“no equivalent to…MAGA, where the movement’s leading platform proudly features age-old deicide charges & caricatures of Passover as a ritual of tribal bloodlust from an ‘expert’ who points his finger squarely at ‘international Jews.’” @benlorber8.bsky.social religiondispatches.org/2026/06/26/t...

religiondispatches.org

Tucker Carlson's Latest Foray Into Far-Right Antisemitism Flies Under the Radar

On Tuesday, Tucker Carlson hosted Jordan Daniel Hall, a Christian nationalist blogger, for a wide-ranging interview criticizing the fundamental tenets of Christian Zionism. Carlson, who recently trade...

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

This week Tucker Carlson platformed another hardline antisemite-- a pastor who told Carlson 'the Jews killed Jesus' and whose writings rail against 'international Jews'. But unlike last fall's interview with Nick Fuentes, this time the media hardly noticed. My latest at @religiondispatches.org:

religiondispatches.org

Tucker Carlson's Latest Foray Into Far-Right Antisemitism Flies Under the Radar

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

if we want to talk about Jews ‘joining our oppressors’, the Zionist movement saw the Holocaust and decided that the Jewish state would serve as the Christian West’s loyal, frontline strike force for the rest of the 20th century

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

thanks Meghan. It felt great to win so big in NYC last night. and it's more than a bit freaky, you're right, to see the change we've yearned for so badly start to happen. we appreciate your support

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

The story modern antisemitism tells about ‘the Jews’— a grotesque fairy tale of rapacious, absolute elite power— holds up a funhouse mirror to all that is morally monstrous in our world. Antisemitism is a caricature of monstrosity. /

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

In 15 minutes I'll be on Hitting Left Radio with Mike Klonsky, discussing the strange new alliances reshaping the American right — from Christian Zionists to the Gen‑Z ‘America First’ crowd. Tune in at WLPN 105.5 FM in Chicago or online > lumpenradio.com

lumpenradio.com

Home - Lumpen

Lumpen Radio is a project of Public Media Institute a registered 501 (c) non-profit organization. We are committed to the spread of knowledge and positive vibrations on the public airwaves. None of th...

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Great to see a writeup of my forthcoming book on Christian Zionism at @publisherswkly.bsky.social! "Lorber describes those who shaped the heart of U.S. support for Israel, as well as those who are creating new visions of faith and freedom" www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

publishersweekly.com

Religion Book Deals: June 17, 2026

Among recent deals are a trio of inspirational romances, a look at the Christian Zionist movement, and a Bible-based guide to sex and relationships.

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dr. thrasher, an american writer in ex(archia)(xile) @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Last image from tonight (short film in the morning): this brother out here with his Singer sewing machine, gifting people a custom embroidery on their jerseys and hats with the name and the date, was more artistic than anything at Burning Man and ad gorgeous as a Caravaggio. Magic! Goodnight.

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

This tweet isn't just about the Knicks. Zohran is hacking the culture to send a bat signal, calling forth a revolutionary subject capable of re-entering history after decades in the wilderness. Only historical materialism, he's telling us, can light the fuse which blasts open the present

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

End Times Orientalism-- in the eyes of Christian Zionists, Yemeni Jewish migration to Israel both civilized the savage and helped fulfill Bible prophecy From 'The Pentecostal Evangel', June 1967, right after the Six Day War

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Rabbi Simcha Bunem taught that a person must carry a different note in each pocket. One, 'for my sake was the world created'; the other, 'I am but dust and ashes'. Today, when a leftist navigates an issue, they should also carry two notes. One, 'check Bluesky'; the other, 'check X'

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

At the risk of overextending such metaphors, there is an emotionally abusive relationship between Israel and the diaspora in the normative Jewish mentality. The ingrained attitude is that the diaspora has been superseded, is forever less-than, incomplete and dependent on Israel as the locus

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

My latest at @praeyesright.bsky.social, with Habiba Fahr "Trump’s coalition is built from many factions, motivated by diverse ideologies and interests...crafting effective strategy to oppose this war requires understanding the forces propelling it" politicalresearch.org/2026/05/20/d...

politicalresearch.org

Demonize, Privatize, Profit, Repeat

The United States’ attack on Iran was a product of numerous, sometimes conflicting, sectors of the Right advocating for war—including Chrsitian Zionists, neoconservatives, and anti-Muslim ideologues.

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Last week I spoke with @peterbeinart.bsky.social and @ruwaromman.bsky.social on the rise of the Israel-critical Right "They're very savvy in trying to outflank the Democratic establishment. They see which way the wind is blowing...They know large numbers of young voters are critical of US support

youtube.com

“You Cannot Pick and Choose Exceptions to Your Bigotry”

YouTube video by Beinart Notebook

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Political Research Associates @praeyesright.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

In this article. PRA researchers Habiba Fahr and @benlorber8.bsky.social discuss the sectors of the Right steering the war in Iran and assess the main threats posed to social justice movements during this period. Learn more at politicalresearch.org/2026/05/20/d....

politicalresearch.org

Demonize, Privatize, Profit, Repeat

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Nearly half of American Jews under 35 support a binational state in Israel/Palestine according to a recent poll. If we define Zionism as support for a Jewish state, nearly half of young Jews are non/anti-Zionist. More young Jews support binationalism than a two state solution.

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

From Frances FitzGerald’s ‘The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America’, on conservative Southern Baptist clergy in the 1960s and 70s who did not ‘play it safe’ but agitated their congregations into political activism. Too often today, we hear from progressive Jewish

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

When the Left argues over the ‘pro-Palestine’ Right, we’re really arguing about liberalism. Should we fight for our politics within a broad-based anti-authoritarian popular front? Those who answer no, who despair over No Kings are more likely to look to the far Right for allies

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Palestine isn’t the first issue that parts of the populist Right have taken up to cosplay as anti-establishment insurgents. For over a decade these same players have claimed to oppose neoliberal inequality & the hollowing out of the middle class. Have they fought for workers?

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Last week I spoke with Ahmed Moor on the Occupied Thoughts podcast on the rise of Israel-criticism on the Right: what motivates it, why now, and why progressives should be wary of Left-Right alliances, on Palestine or any issue youtu.be/2m8-pyUHG94?si=7-ZWCfcCEUK…

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

‘Acceptable’ Western discourse draws a tight fence around Jewish histories of persecution & narratives of trauma, but too often Palestinians are refused any similar right to particularity. Let the Nakba speak on its own. On a basic human level, it isn’t complicated

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

There is an oft-repeated truism that most American Jews are “pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu”. Today’s poll shows that nearly 1/4 of American Jews do not support Israel as a Jewish state, in other words, are not recognizably Zionist. It’s well past time to rethink our assumptions

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hannah gais @hannahgais.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I'll have something coming out about this eventually but to say this killer was motivated by just "nihilism" is wrong: The killers glorified neo-Nazis They promoted Siege and ideas like "accelerationism" Their influences were ripped out of a "Terrorgram" documentary. www.cbsnews.com/news/san-die...

cbsnews.com

Teen attackers in San Diego Islamic Center shooting were wallowing in nihilistic hate, investigators say

"These subjects did not discriminate in who they hated," said Mark Remily, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego Field Office.

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Jared Holt @jaredlholt.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

We need to take this "nihilistic hate" jargon and throw it in the trash. Definitionally, it means nothing. Law enforcement is only interested in it because it helps them obscure right-wing extremist violence. The public finds the concept offensive. Just drop it, imo www.cbsnews.com/news/san-die...

cbsnews.com

Teen attackers in San Diego Islamic Center shooting were wallowing in nihilistic hate, investigators say

"These subjects did not discriminate in who they hated," said Mark Remily, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego Field Office.

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The establishment narrative on antisemitism views it in isolation from other forms of bigotry & oppression. In that narrow frame, there’s no way to understand why page 4 of the alleged manifesto left by yesterday’s San Diego mosque shooters reads:

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Me from two years ago today. I may have been on to something “A burgeoning anti-Zionist strain in the America First movement looks to capitalize on popular disaffection over Palestine for its own ends”

jewishcurrents.org

The Right’s Anti-Israel Insurgents

A burgeoning anti-Zionist strain in the America First movement looks to capitalize on popular disaffection over Palestine for its own ends.

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Me from two years ago today. I may have been on to something “As mounting pressure from progressives over Israel’s war on Gaza finds little outlet in an obdurate bipartisan establishment, this insurgent right threatens to capitalize/ jewishcurrents.org/the-rights-anti-…

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Over Christmas, white nationalist Dave Reilly had James Fishback, Florida’s groyper governor candidate, on his YouTube show. Later in the episode his cohost opened a Nazi flag someone mailed them as a Christmas gift. Today Reilly is en route to Kentucky to help Thomas Massie

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Benjamin Balthaser @blbalthaser.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

A landsman and friend of mine asked me somewhat rhetorically today why, given Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestinians and extensive American Jewish institutional support for the genocide, there aren’t *more attacks against Jewish ppl in the US? Why isn’t there *more antisemitism? 🧵

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Today Deborah Lipstadt— who built a career on defending the memory of the Shoah & demanding historical justice for its victims— is amplifying a call for New York Times editors to face Nuremberg-style public hanging

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