Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

In the Barry Levin film Diner, there’s a scene in which Paul Reiser’s character says, “You know what word makes me uncomfortable? Nuance.” It’s one of those quirky, random comments that warrant a chuckle, and one that I remember decades later. Reiser went on to eventually name his production company “Nuance Productions,” so I guess it stayed with him, too. But these days, in the current climate of ubiquitous anti-Semitism, I, too, find myself extremely uncomfortable with this word. Here’s why.

Last week, I saw a childhood friend whom I hadn’t seen in decades. We caught up on each other’s personal lives and then we spoke about Israel and the anti-Semitism in Toronto. A brilliant, Jewish academic, he then told me about his son, a bright young man preparing to defend his dissertation. “My son is very interested in what’s happening in the MIddle East. He and I have been talking a lot about the nuance in the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians.” Hmmmm. Nuance. Our conversation ended abruptly as I was called away, but I did wonder about the word he used and what was being implied.

A few days later, I was speaking about Israel with a Jewish Toronto acquaintance. A friend and colleague of his had posted on social media scathing anti-Semitic comments in defense of the Hamas October 7 massacre. When I brought this up, he responded, “Well, he doesn’t really feel that way. He and I have had many soulful conversations about all the nuance in this war.”

There was that word again but this time I didn’t need to wonder. Crystal clear what he meant. As someone who has always been able to see two sides of a situation, ummmmm. . . . . nope. I could not possibly agree this time. Sorry.

There is absolutely NO nuance about it. Hamas wants Israel wiped off the map. Nothing subtle about that. They tell us themselves. The Palestinians are taught from birth that their mission in life is to kill Jews. At any price. They learn this in school. We’ve seen the text books. From UNRWA schools.

There is no in between. You are either with us or against us. You either believe that Israel has a right to survive and that the Jewish People are entitled to a Jewish homeland (that’s called “Zionism”, folks), or not. Don’t talk to me about nuance. Talk to me about terrorists who need to be stopped. Talk to me about hostages who need to be brought home. Talk to me about a country that is merely trying to survive and has managed to do so — and flourish! — against all odds for 76 years. Israel is a modern-day miracle and an inspiration for the world.

Am Yisrael Chai!