“O mankind, if you cannot stop the war, at least be silent!There is no ‘religious brother,’ only a human brother; and Zionism?”
- 3 Mar
- 5 dakikada okunur
“The word ‘Zionism’ is often misused. In fact, throughout history, every people have sought to determine their own destiny and establish their own state; this is not unique to any one group, but a widespread political process in human history.”
Hello dear friends,This text is not a defense of Zionism, as it is sometimes negatively portrayed in certain circles today. On the contrary, it reflects the unusual thoughts of a woman over sixty, moving into old age, carrying a Turkish-Jewish identity, loving her native land and flag, passionately devoted to the Turkish language, thinking and writing in Turkish, and described by those around her as someone who “speaks and writes Turkish extremely well” — a true lover of Istanbul.
This writing is directed against those who view people only as “religious brothers” and separate them into right and wrong. It is also aimed at those who see only their own suffering while ignoring or dismissing the pain of others. It comes from the pen and heart of a woman who loves people for being human and can truly call them her “brother.”
Social media is a great power for all of us; however, we must remember that power can easily be misused when in the hands of evil. From what I observe online, the situation seems to have spiraled out of control. Therefore, I think:
“O mankind, if you cannot stop the war, at least be silent. If you cannot act, if you cannot go to the battlefield to help the victims, then remain silent. Be silent, and according to your faith, pray, wish well, or send positive messages to the universe; but first, be silent and wish for peace. Remember: wars are started by states, not people, but the people suffer the consequences.”
If you ask how I reached this point of frustration: I used to enjoy my mornings with coffee and reading the newspaper; now, my mornings are filled with coffee, social media, and online news. Of course, there are beautiful, thoughtful, and informative posts — for which I am thankful.
However, alongside these, there is hatred, and especially recently, posts targeting a specific people, filled with curses, and thousands of ordinary users writing “Amen” underneath. The other day, I saw a post that had reached the peak of this trend, with thousands of followers and “Amens” beneath it.
A man, wearing headphones and named R.K. (I will provide a link if possible), was spreading messages like:
“Jews are traitors; they were expelled from every country because of their betrayal; Zionist Jews are responsible for the Epstein cases; Jews are responsible for all evil in the world; now they have settled in that land” — and more.Thousands of people endorsed this. Some might say, “Let him talk, it’s harmless,” but remaining silent is a very dangerous act; silence is equivalent to condoning error. That is why I will write here as much as my space allows; those who understand, will understand.
Firstly, there is no reliable historical evidence supporting the claim that “Jews were expelled because they were traitors.” Historians generally explain the expulsion of Jews through religious unification policies, economic interests, and scapegoating of minorities.
Jews have always positively contributed to the societies they lived in, including in Turkey. The reasons for their departure from societies are historical and political. For example, Jews were expelled from Spain by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile to enforce religious unity; there is no collective evidence of “betrayal.” Therefore, this claim stems from antisemitic generalizations, not historical research.
Assigning all the evils revealed in revolting events such as the Jeffrey Epstein case to the Jewish people is clearly racist and antisemitic. Human nature is the same everywhere; there are good and bad people in every group. Therefore, we cannot classify entire peoples or races as “good” or “evil.”
For instance, the recent murders of two women and a child with the same name in Turkey relate to individual actions; they cannot be generalized to an entire population. Similarly, a radical Islamist or jihadist cannot be equated with my beloved Muslim neighbors or colleagues — they are not the same people and did not commit the same acts.
Regarding Israel:Every people dreams of establishing their own state; some can achieve it, some cannot. Establishing a state is the result of intelligence, organization, and unfortunately, sometimes war. I hope that in the future, states can emerge without the need for war. The expression “settling in a land” is unacceptable. History — not requiring deep knowledge — shows that in regions including Anatolia, England, France, Canada, and many others, multiple civilizations have ruled at different times. This demonstrates that states and societies emerge within shifting historical power balances.
“If we look at the meaning of the word ‘Zionism,’ which today is often filled with accusations, hatred, and negative connotations, we see that its original meaning is different. The definition I present here is based on sources such as Wikipedia and ChatGPT.”
The Jewish people’s right to self-determination
Zionism, according to many supporters, advocates for the Jewish people’s right to have their own national homeland.
Historical connection
It emphasizes the Jewish people’s historical and religious ties to the Land of Israel, acknowledging their cultural and historical roots spanning thousands of years.
Security concern
After long-term discrimination in Europe, including tragedies like the Holocaust, Zionists argued that Jews needed their own state for security.
Establishment of a state
This idea culminated in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, representing the national rebirth of the Jewish people.
Cultural revival
Zionism also promoted the revival of the Hebrew language and strengthening of Jewish culture and identity.
In short: stop the pointless arguments on social media and the toxic messages you spread against peoples. If you dare, go to the battlefield and help people in need — but do it with peace and love, not with weapons.
As for me, as I wrote in the first sentence and reiterate in the last: I am on the side of humanity. Faiths do not concern me; I judge people by their humanity. State policies do not bind me; I pray and wish for peace. I do not judge peoples or individuals by the politics of their states. My principle is: “THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS BROTHER, ONLY A HUMAN BROTHER.”
And one last request: please do not send me AI-generated videos claiming “Tel Aviv has been destroyed.” I have asked politely, yet they keep coming. I do not wish harm on any land or people, and neither should you.
Wish for goodness, so that everything may truly be good.
Rahel Çela Behar
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*Daha önceki yazımı okudunuz mu?*
Have you read my previous post?
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