Do we really still need to explain that when we misstep and fall, the ground is not evil for hitting us?
Do we really still need to explain that when civilians are raped and shot in a war, they are not stupid or evil for being victimized?
Do we really still need to explain that Jews did not cause the Holocaust?
Do we really still need to explain that women do not cause or ask being stared at, being catcalled, being raped, and being murdered by men?
* **
A Fresh News Story of a Toxic Mix of Male Sexism and Violence, White Racism, and Western Sex Fixation
An Israeli teenager’s famous silky voice at a half-pornographic Israeli music clip, accompanied by many sparsely clad underfed women and some token half-naked muscle-bound men (not unusual on YouTube), is now charged with contributing to the violation of women in Israel, according to some opinion leaders (men, for sure). And some women chip in too (of course), just as there always will be Jews who blame (part of) Jew-hatred on Jews.
Of course, the men-run news site shows the clip and the victim-blaming. They’re just reporting, right? Not trying to make money by showing skin?
First, no one buys your art (or talks to you) if you keep it super decent. Then, if you don’t, you are the slut who is indecent–not the public’s taste.
Even prostitutes do not give a license to be violated (Jack the Ripper).
***
And of course, when sexism shows up, racism is never far-away. The teen-singer’s audience is not exclusively Ashkenazic nor are all her dancers White. Often, her music sounds Arabic. She uses much Mizrachic idiom.
Israeli youths don’t know and don’t care if she is Mizrachic. But her clips are distinctly outside of the Caucasian bubble and alone for that, already will set off White people who do live in White ethnic isolation still.
Racism that White kids, still tiny, see from parents and educators is so shameful to them that they learn to suppress anything to do with their bodies: closeness, dancing, even pride. And nothing drives a sex addiction like isolation, loneliness. Add classical Christian morality that sex is dirty and sinful and White Europe and the USA are the top of sex obsession.
Admit it, the Western world (in particular) is totally oversexed. Especially the men. Sexualizing, labeling non-White women ‘exotic,’ is a popular form of racism and sexism combined. Don’t dare to blame that on (any) women!
***
As if that all isn’t enough, Wikipedia (Hebrew) (as always backed up by sources) reports that in 2018, the singer’s father was arrested on suspicion of contacting the singer’s minor fans and making sexual suggestions. He confessed in part and was convicted under a plea agreement. How cruel and foul to accuse the daughter, Adi Bity, of being sexually provocative!
Stop blaming the victim! Start taking responsibility for ending sexism and sexual violence, and men murdering acquainted girls and women.
As long as you are blaming (anyone) instead of being an activist, you’re part of the problem. Speak out against sexual violence! Whoever could envision beautiful skin to be an invitation to be violent but a sick mind?
NB: Sexual violence is not a form of sex. It is a form of violence.
I like how the Sages already understood that easier than taming the men, would be to ask women to dress up. But they never blamed the women.
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Of the 15 (!) books he has in mind, the next two are about homosexuality in Judaism and new rabbinics. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2600 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog that also may contain updates to Times of Israel posts, to which one may subscribe, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
He's getting ready to publicize books on: "Free Will, "Judaism and Homosexuality, "His parents in the Holocaust, "Judaism, "A New Torah Translation and "A New Hebrew Grammar, "Co-Counseling, "Vegan Facts, "Immortality, and more. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He agrees that in a post-truth world, that's irrelevant, but then this is for the record. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. His posts are spell, grammar, and style polished by AI, but all written by himself. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1