Mental Illness Happy Hour #746 Disillusionment - Rich Forer
May 2, 2025
Rich Forer, a Jewish-American author and activist, shares his journey from being a member of AIPAC to witnessing a profound shift in his views on Palestine. He discusses the complexities of Jewish identity amidst anti-Zionism, confronting personal biases while exploring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Forer reveals how empathy towards Palestinian struggles led to a transformative awakening, emphasizing the importance of understanding shared humanity beyond cultural constructs. He urges listeners to address historical injustices and promote compassion in healing.
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Rich's Jewish Upbringing
- Rich Forer grew up Jewish in New Jersey with a strong belief in Israel as a safe haven after the Holocaust.
- His early education and community deeply instilled gratitude toward Israel and fear of its enemies.
Roots of Jewish Identity Fear
- The belief was that the Arab world hated Israel due to deep-seated anti-Semitism.
- This was rooted in an identity shaped by historical Jewish persecution and trauma.
Belief in Misleading Narratives
- Rich read Joan Peters' book claiming Palestinians were not a distinct people but Arabs coming for jobs.
- Later he discovered this was debunked and realized he had believed propaganda without deeper research.
