How I Stopped Being a Jew, Shlomo Sand, SOAS University of London

This event was co-hosted by the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) (www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/) and the Centre for Jewish Studies at SOAS (www.soas.ac.uk/jewishstudies/).
This book launch and discussion titled "How I Stopped Being a Jew" was given by Shlomo Sand at SOAS University of London on 14 October 2014.
Discussant: Professor David Feldman, Director of the Pears Institute for the study of Antisemitism at Birkbeck, University of London The event will be chaired by Professor Gilbert Achcar, SOAS.
From the back-cover of his new book: Shlomo Sand was born in 1946, in a displaced person’s camp in Austria to Jewish parents; the family later migrated to Palestine. As a young man, Sand came to question his Jewish identity, even that of a “secular Jew.” How I Stopped Being a Jew is his first autobiographical meditation on the problems at the centre of modern Jewish identity and the negative effects of the Israeli exploitation of the “chosen people” myth. Sand criticizes the fact that, in the current context, what “Jewish” means is, above all, not being Arab and reflects on the possibility of a secular, non-exclusive Israeli identity, beyond the legends of Zionism.
Professor Sand studied History at the University of Tel Aviv and at the École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, in Paris. He currently teaches contemporary history at the University of Tel Aviv. His books include The Invention of the Jewish People, On the Nation and the Jewish People, and The Invention of the Land of Israel.

[@LittleLikeness]

I think where people are getting a bit confused is emotional. He is absolutely correct and what could help clarify him a bit more is that he is saying is that EVERYONE is Indigenous to SOMEWHERE (Follow your genetic heritage). When we look at countries, we have forgotten that they are corporations (look it up), for instance, the U.S. is a corporation not a nationality. What he is doing here is bringing forth truth, and if you pick up law books and start researching the terms that your country uses for you as a citizen/member, you will begin to understand where he is coming from. In no way am I saying "do away with corporations" to the contrary the system has structured, in some ways protected and enhanced progress. With that said, the corporation as it stands now has been dooping society for quite some time and have given themselves far too much power over even the basic of human life and rights, all while we keep ourselves distracted with our modern creations. We keep our eyes buried in everything else, even the simple tactics that keep us divided as religion, race, sexual preferences, etc and we enjoy the lively fight about being on one end of the extreme, and sometimes those who experience both sides of the duality, and the rare few who fall in the neutral category (with knowing that each extreme births the good and bad). Needless to say, we hardly have acceptance and appreciation for all of the contrast and the experiences it lends to us. We prefer to roar at any opposition and remain the aggressor, yet ignorant. Back to my original point, all he is saying is that the Jewish People are a religion, not a nationality. Study migration patterns and haplogroups with DNA, and trace backwards. You will find that everyone has a majority of a nationality in them, and as migrations happened, naturally they mixed along the way and you are a blend now (most likely not living in your original nation, and legally are in a state without a nation, therefore without rights). I have been studying for years and I am still learning all of the time about this labyrinth. You could also start from a point in history where there was not only Neanderthals, but other races of humans like Denisovians, Homo naledi, Homo heidelbergensis, etc. and you will see that is typically as far back as you can search. His comments about Britain today were right on point, they current monarchs are not from that land. They colonized it. Same way that Norwegians, Swedish, Finnish, and some of Russia has colonized Scandanavia when the Saami People are the Indigenous of that land, yet they invaded that land and set up shop. The original Irish and Briton people were invaded and colonized by the Anglos and Saxons and such. Point being, before you shouting against Shlomo, study your history in depth and use your logic, not just what you were told. Starts to become a mental treasure hunt of it's own, and the system begins to make a lot more sense.

[@amehu]

Very well said

[@Freezencrash]

I am 100% in support of Shlomo Sand and his position. It explains why there is so much doubt on this issue. It's a tough choice for someone living in that place. Takes a lot of personal integrity.

[@Athenian888]

Adopting Sand''s views will help Israel survive in my opinion.

[@Leibo07]

so much for the "sole democracy of the Middle East".

[@joshzeidner5412]

Who are these ppl who think they can engineer a democratic system?

[@greylock1959]

Oh what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Any question?

[@MoisesMendoza67]

Very interesting and very truthful, it is great that some one tells the true, free Palestine

[@robtul1294]

Q&A?

[@sleeplessintokyo]

very educational。ty soas。

[@Metsada007]

Great man.

[@ReggiD]

Culturally jewish, religiously secular, nationly Israeli. I don't see the issue nor a discovery tbh. I must be ignorant.

[@schrubelwubel]

What have Jews and Anti-Jews in common? Both say: "You cant stopp being a Jew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ;-)

[@schrubelwubel]

Marcel Peter That tells me that both come from the same nonsense source: racism. In one case it's positive racism und the other case it's negative racism.

[@1cspr1]

+Marcel Peter wtf is a positive racism

[@MendelMarozov]

Everyone has a right to their opinions and beliefs but not to disrespect or slander others.

[@rachelmonees2858]

good redients

[@michaelepstein2570]

If we want a Wonderful World, then we must Create Wonderful individuals. Totally Free. Totally Lucid. Without beliefs, religions, philosophies, or ideologies. Without national or racial identities. Not democratic, republican or libertarian. Not leftist, rightist or centrist. Not socialist or anarchist. Not jewish, christian, muslim, buddhist or atheist. Not american, russian or chinese. Individuals who are the very embodiment of Love, Peace, Joy and Wisdom, without any bias or prejudice. One for All and All for One...and Oneness does not mean sameness.

[@isaacolivecrona6114]

Using Scotland and England as an analogy to Palestine and Israel isn't good at all, since Scots can vote in English elections but the English can't vote in the Scottish elections.

[@patmacnamara8260]

they will have to go home or except a single state solution

[@zobielamouche1]

that explains why he is so much hated by zionazis... yet, he wasn't met by the ilan-pappe-faith

[@inotaishu1]

If there is no judeo-christian civilization, why has my language so many words of Hebrew origin and why are there languages like Yiddish?

[@bloopblooper490]

one thing for sure, isrealis are unmistakably different, thankfully.

[@AliHussain-fz7pd]

Perhaps its because I grew up in a Jewish area of London and am familiar with the community that leads me to believe that Shlomo Sand is talking nonsense. That, coupled with the fact that his theories have been debunked. It doesn't matter what one's personal position is, whether you are an anti-Zionist or not, you can't just lend credence to something that is false because it suits your position. I often disagree with this notion of a self-hating Jew that some people from the community are very quick to label anybody that is remotely critical of Israel, but in Sand's case, I have to revoke that opinion. If this guy isn't..than I'm not sure what is?! I'm not sure why is this guy is allowed to give lectures at universities like Soas. Quite strange.

[@amehu]

WTF? :D

[@jedward637]

How can you label him a self hating Jew when he isn't Jewish. He renounced his Jewishness and he should be respected for that.

[@AliHussain-fz7pd]

Renouncing ones identity is precipitated by a healthy dosage of self loathing.

[@jedward637]

+Ali Hussain He just matured as he got older and became a better person. No self hating is needed in order to follow the way of truth. Its stupid for Zionists to label every non-Zionist as either an anti-semite,or self hating Jew.

[@AliHussain-fz7pd]

Jed Ward Yes I tend not to subscribe to that philosophy either as I said in my original comment. Although, this guy appears hell bent on perpetuating this flawed theory. The claim that today’s Ashkenazi Jews are descended from Khazars who apparently underwent conversion to Judaism en masse at some point is a little fanciful to say the least. He has zero proof. So either the man is a charlatan intent on profiteering on fiction on the back of negative sentiment for the Jews, which makes him a self-hating Jew, or he's making a mockery of what it is to be a historian, and has no business giving lectures at SOAS.

[@DEANMBLAKE]

Sand was a professor of Film History and qualified to critique Jewish The Three Stooges, nothing else. Maybe he's the fourth!

[@lisajackson1476]

according to the bible, God said he would come back and restore the holy land. I think you should read the bible revelations 2-9 and 3-9. You would be very shocked to read what God said...

[@carolinealade9347]

Ai thank god for your life may the almighty God in Jesus name continue to annoit you with the Holy Spirit to tell the truth same with some conscience politician who refused to join propaganda and destroy the world like McCain may God forgive him but no way that everybody will not reap his reward the blood of innocent in Lybia Syria Iraq etc mostly Christian are crying to god

[@juliadulchitiz9130]

How do I stop being a Jew? Well, you don't. You don't just decide to leave a brotherhood whenever you want. The group will not allow it, unless you are a person of absolute no importance and has no family. Otherwise, the group will not let you go.The brotherhood will continue to see you and treat you as one of their own. It is bs to come about saying "Hey, I am no longer a Jew." It is just ludicrous. You are what the group says you are, and favours will continue to be asked of you. The nexus of mutual help will not be allowed to be broken.

[@juliadulchitiz9130]

julia dulchitiz So, why is it important for the world to know someone decided to leave the brotherhood? If anything it gives the opportunity for the same brotherhood to present a wooly justification to its own existence. What we have here is controlled opposition, an opportunity to respond to arguments currently becoming more prevalent agaisnt Judaism and its dominance in the world.

[@SuperMYSHKIN]

marxist propaganda. hobsbawn indeed. What of the occupied territories?

[@motorhead6763]

Lol...look at all the Arabs applauding him...maybe he can convert to Islam now...