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Louis Hemmings
poet, author, quixotic

‘Is it because I is goyish’?

Betty Verheij, Pixababy (copyright free image)

As part of my Journalism diploma research in Ireland last year, I pitched to some leaders of the Irish Jewish community. I wanted to represent their point of view, in the light of Oct 7th, and the worrying rise of antisemitism. Those organisations stalled at an early stage and then I was ghosted.

As journalism students, we were all encouraged to apply for short term internships. So, I applied to The Irish Independent, a broadsheet and Dublin Inquirer, a community newspaper. The former didn’t reply, the latter promised a follow-up that then vaporized.

Was it ageism that got me such non-responses? Or, perhaps my pro-Israel position on socials affected possible knee-jerk, judgmental assessments of me?

As there is no Irish Jewish media presence, I next applied to Jewish media abroad: The Jewish Chronicle, in London and Haaretz, in Tel Aviv. No dice with either of those politically diverse newspapers. Then I struck gold with The Times of Israel in Jerusalem. They kindly responded and suggested that I try them again “after the war”. However, they also invited me to apply to be a blogger. So, of course I did! The first of my blogs was posted in November 2023.

In a few of the college classes, the cracked-record, cliched anti-Israel discussions portrayed how “innocent” the Palestinians were and how “evil” the Israelis were. My vocal, nuanced, pro-Israel position was disdained. I was out-numbered 10-1. Surprise, surprise!

Now I’m studying for an Arts & Humanities diploma, looks at politics and sociology in the main. I (slightly skeptically) applied to a number of Irish and Israeli Jewish organizations for work experience. Surprisingly, both The Irish Jewish Museum* and Knesset internships in Israel drew a blank.

As a firm friend of Israel, a constant advocate (500+ responses to antisemitism in UK Times comments) and an audacious investor in Israel – is that not enough proof of commitment? So, why am I unacknowledged by some Jewish organizations? All this got me thinking – just how much advocacy from a non-Jewish, evangelical Christian – is actually wanted? To misquote the witty and risqué Jewish comedian, Ali G‘Is it because I is goyish’? 

However, I may have struck gold in my need for college-mandated work experience. I applied to be a researcher with the UK Campaign Against Antisemitism. So far, so good. Here’s hoping I will soon be approved…

Regardless of my previous experiences of (ironic) antipathy, I know that Yahweh cherishes those who speak up positively for Israel:

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonor’s you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Genesis 12: 3

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*(In a side note, I discovered that the Irish Jewish Museum is open only on Sundays between 11.00 am – 2.30 pm. Ironically, that timespan is when most Christian Sunday services are held. Albeit, schools and other large groups of people though can pre-arrange week-day visits.)

About the Author
Louis Hemmings has been writing prose and poetry since 1972. Some of his work has been published in Poetry Ireland, The Irish Catholic, Forward (USA) and Books Ireland. He is a late-life journalism student in Dublin, Ireland. He is married 38 years, has two boys, buried a stillborn and holds an ecumenical Christian point-of-view.
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