Standing Strong in the Face of Hate

When I wrote my recent op-ed for the Times of Israel on the radical divestment push in Portland, Maine, I expected some backlash. I knew that advocating for Israel and calling out anti-Zionism would not be met with unanimous support. What I didn’t anticipate was the level of vitriol and personal attacks that I would receive in response.

Two emails, sent from the same person within minutes of each other, exemplify the depths to which some are willing to sink to silence those who defend Israel. They didn’t engage with my arguments. They didn’t address the substance of my piece or the nuanced history and complex realities I sought to present. Instead, they attacked my identity, my body, and my very right to speak out.

In one email, the sender chose to weaponize my conversion to Judaism against me, using my heritage as an insult, saying, “You’re not even Jewish, you fat Italian pig.” It’s an attempt to undermine my legitimacy, to paint me as an outsider without a right to voice my opinions on Jewish matters. This is a deeply antisemitic trope, one that assumes that being Jewish is solely about birth and not about faith, community, and the shared struggle for justice and peace.

The second email, dripping with misogyny and body-shaming, called me “Miss Piggy Pizza Pie” and accused me of being an opportunist using a “fake identity” for personal gain. These words were not chosen at random; they were meant to degrade and humiliate me, to make me feel small and undeserving of my platform. Body-shaming is a cruel weapon that attempts to strip individuals, especially women, of their dignity and strength. It’s a tactic meant to silence, to push us back into the shadows, away from public discourse.

But I refuse to be silenced.

These attacks, as vile as they are, underscore why it is so critical to continue speaking out. They show the desperation of those who cannot counter my arguments with facts or logic, so they resort to personal abuse. They reveal the true face of the anti-Zionist movement’s more extreme elements—those who will stoop to any low to try and silence a Zionist woman who dares to speak her truth.

To those who think that hate mail like this will make me back down, I have only one response: I will not be bullied into silence. My commitment to advocating for Israel and for Jewish rights, wherever they are threatened, is unwavering. I will continue to use my voice to call out injustice, to combat misinformation, and to stand proudly with my community. The hate you send my way only strengthens my resolve.

This is what it means to be a Zionist Jew in today’s world: to face down hatred and to stand firm, knowing that our right to exist, to speak, and to live in peace is non-negotiable. The cowardly attempts to shame and silence me will fail, as they will fail against every proud Jew who refuses to back down.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this op-ed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine (JCA) or its affiliates.