I was very surprised to see this post when it popped up in my feed. Liza usually only posts one article per week if that. This must really have been important for her to share with everyone and I see now why. Her father was framed for a crime he didn’t commit and was thrown in jail in Azerbaijan because he was a Jew. That’s literally it, just because of his ethnicity. All he had to do to be guilty was be born and exist. It was only because of the efforts of his parents and luck, that he got out. He and Liza’s mom then fled to the United States and worked their a**** off to give her a good life. Liza was NOT raised Jewish and her parents wanted it that way because they didn’t want her to face the horrific antisemitism her dad and grandpa did.
She never went to a synagogue, never had a bat mitzvah, didn’t wear Star of David necklaces, didn’t light Menorahs, and spoke not a word of Hebrew or Yiddish. Her WASPy classmates thought she was one too. Which is probably for the best, I’d hate to think how they would’ve treated her if they knew she was a Jew. But her Russian heritage she was very much in touch with. But she has difficulty explaining it to her Protestant friends and her Azeri heritage got her excluded from Russian spaces. Her Jewish heritage got her excluded from Christian spaces. She didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere. But attending a Russian-Jewish club in college changed all that. It gave her a deeper connection to her heritage in all its complexity.
The October 7th attack on Israel was also a huge turning point. If I recall correctly, Liza and her family were on a Zoom call and her father explained to them that he never emphasized the family’s Jewishness because he never wanted his kids to go through the hate and bigotry that he and their grandfather who was brutally executed, did because of their ethnicity. But now he wanted to them to loud and proud in their Jewishness. Her grandmother cried when she heard about the pro-Palestinian (or is it pro-Hamas?) protests on college campuses across the nation because the very reason the Libes family came to America was to get away from antisemitism. Now her granddaughter was facing it at school and in everyday life. These events made Liza sad, but also all the more prouder of who she was. Now she rushes to attend every Russian Jewish cultural event she can because her heritage is something she treasures and considers an integral part of her. She also does not hide that she is a loud, proud and unapologetic Zionist and supporter of the state of Israel 🇮🇱. The homeland of her people and the faith many of them practice.
I must be candid, I was thinking about leaving Pens & Poison prior to this article coming out. I felt that I had become obsolete. Why did Liza need a big fan like me to always like, restack or comment on posts when her publication and accounts are blowing up like they are and she’s appearing on a popular show like Andrew Klavan’s? Of what use am I to get or Pens and Poison anymore? I’ll just eventually end up getting forgotten anyway. It’s not Liza’s fault, but time and progress have made it so as like the automobile made the horse and buggy obsolete, I have been rendered useless by tens of thousands of new followers who can now ably and with much more power and influence, serve the role I once did.
But after reading this article this heartfelt and moving piece, I’m reminded of why I subscribed to Pens and Poison in the first place, because of Liza as an individual. Of course I loved her message and her takes and really admired how she fought for the Western humanistic tradition. Sure, those were all factors. But the main one was always Liza, an individual who radiates joy, passion, wisdom, courage, determination, and has no fear. She is NOT afraid to be a libertarian, she is NOT afraid to have culturally conservative views, she is NOT afraid to be a proud Zionist Jew, and and she is NOT afraid to be 100% herself no matter what the haters say! Also, I was reminded of the cultural context we live in with antisemitism growing like wildfire all across the globe. Liza and her fellow members of the Jewish community need their Gentile allies and supporters now more than ever.
I will be honest, am I worried about individual connection with Liza as an internet fading or changing because of how her popularity and career are growing and gaining traction? Yes. Do I feel a bit bummed out when she doesn’t like a comment I made because she’s got a million other comments to read? Yes. I also won’t say that the growth of Pens and Poison doesn’t fill me with apprehension and even a little foreboding. But Liza is my friend and friends don’t abandon each other when the going gets tough or things change. What kind of an internet friend or fan of the publication would I be if I did that? Also, a true ally of the Jewish community stands with the community and supports Jewish artists like Liza. My fears about the loss of personal connection or comments be d****ed! Liza and Pens and Poison regardless of its growth, still needs each and every one of us as we help Liza in her mission to save literature! That mission is bigger than any one of us including me. Also, I’m not a Jew if I walk away from Pens and Poison I’m fine cause I’m a Gentile and I’ll continue to not deal with antisemitism. But as a Jew, whither I walk away or not she always will. She doesn’t have that luxury like I do as a Christian of European descent. Thank you for this piece, Liza! God bless and keep your family and your fellow American Russian Jews! 🙏🤲
The sad fact is that anti-Semitism has found a home on both the left and the right wings of American politics. The brutal Israeli over reaction to October 7th is now a pre-text for bigoted sentiments rising in communities where this was previously unthinkable .I am a strong and vocal supporter of Israel's existence and validity as a state, but am appalled at the conduct of the Israeli government and military. Both things can be true but it will never be a justification for the current storm of anti-Semitism. I think you should also be cautious about your friends on the political right; for them all alliances are transactional and rarely if ever based on true principles.
“you should also be cautious about your friends on the political right; for them all alliances are transactional and rarely if ever based on true principles.”
All things considered, the same can be said about the political left; they will be “empathetic” to you as long as you align with their views or you don’t show any signs of your own views. The minute you diverge even slightly from their beliefs, you’ll be expulsed from their group. In other words, the political left and the political right are two sides of the same coin.
Liza, I worked with a national Jewish group shortly after Oct 7. And Columbia was the number one campus of concern. The leftists and Islamists ran a slick, well funded effort there
Imagine the conversation I had with a hospital when they said I was an Ashkenazi Jew and I was firm in telling them I was a Georgian Jew...They never heard of it!
I relate to this. The pain of feeling like the “other” in America for the first time is excruciating because it’s something we truly thought we shed forever, only to see it growing here like a nightmare come to life. I feel what your grandmother feels:
“So when my grandmother burst into tears upon seeing the hatred and violence at my alma mater two years back, I felt again what it meant to be a Russian Jew. “We left that country and came to this one,” she pronounced, “so that my grandkids would never feel unsafe or singled out as Jews, and I am ashamed that something I thought I’d never have to deal with again is happening in this country, too.”
Growing up Russian toughens one up….
I was very surprised to see this post when it popped up in my feed. Liza usually only posts one article per week if that. This must really have been important for her to share with everyone and I see now why. Her father was framed for a crime he didn’t commit and was thrown in jail in Azerbaijan because he was a Jew. That’s literally it, just because of his ethnicity. All he had to do to be guilty was be born and exist. It was only because of the efforts of his parents and luck, that he got out. He and Liza’s mom then fled to the United States and worked their a**** off to give her a good life. Liza was NOT raised Jewish and her parents wanted it that way because they didn’t want her to face the horrific antisemitism her dad and grandpa did.
She never went to a synagogue, never had a bat mitzvah, didn’t wear Star of David necklaces, didn’t light Menorahs, and spoke not a word of Hebrew or Yiddish. Her WASPy classmates thought she was one too. Which is probably for the best, I’d hate to think how they would’ve treated her if they knew she was a Jew. But her Russian heritage she was very much in touch with. But she has difficulty explaining it to her Protestant friends and her Azeri heritage got her excluded from Russian spaces. Her Jewish heritage got her excluded from Christian spaces. She didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere. But attending a Russian-Jewish club in college changed all that. It gave her a deeper connection to her heritage in all its complexity.
The October 7th attack on Israel was also a huge turning point. If I recall correctly, Liza and her family were on a Zoom call and her father explained to them that he never emphasized the family’s Jewishness because he never wanted his kids to go through the hate and bigotry that he and their grandfather who was brutally executed, did because of their ethnicity. But now he wanted to them to loud and proud in their Jewishness. Her grandmother cried when she heard about the pro-Palestinian (or is it pro-Hamas?) protests on college campuses across the nation because the very reason the Libes family came to America was to get away from antisemitism. Now her granddaughter was facing it at school and in everyday life. These events made Liza sad, but also all the more prouder of who she was. Now she rushes to attend every Russian Jewish cultural event she can because her heritage is something she treasures and considers an integral part of her. She also does not hide that she is a loud, proud and unapologetic Zionist and supporter of the state of Israel 🇮🇱. The homeland of her people and the faith many of them practice.
I must be candid, I was thinking about leaving Pens & Poison prior to this article coming out. I felt that I had become obsolete. Why did Liza need a big fan like me to always like, restack or comment on posts when her publication and accounts are blowing up like they are and she’s appearing on a popular show like Andrew Klavan’s? Of what use am I to get or Pens and Poison anymore? I’ll just eventually end up getting forgotten anyway. It’s not Liza’s fault, but time and progress have made it so as like the automobile made the horse and buggy obsolete, I have been rendered useless by tens of thousands of new followers who can now ably and with much more power and influence, serve the role I once did.
But after reading this article this heartfelt and moving piece, I’m reminded of why I subscribed to Pens and Poison in the first place, because of Liza as an individual. Of course I loved her message and her takes and really admired how she fought for the Western humanistic tradition. Sure, those were all factors. But the main one was always Liza, an individual who radiates joy, passion, wisdom, courage, determination, and has no fear. She is NOT afraid to be a libertarian, she is NOT afraid to have culturally conservative views, she is NOT afraid to be a proud Zionist Jew, and and she is NOT afraid to be 100% herself no matter what the haters say! Also, I was reminded of the cultural context we live in with antisemitism growing like wildfire all across the globe. Liza and her fellow members of the Jewish community need their Gentile allies and supporters now more than ever.
I will be honest, am I worried about individual connection with Liza as an internet fading or changing because of how her popularity and career are growing and gaining traction? Yes. Do I feel a bit bummed out when she doesn’t like a comment I made because she’s got a million other comments to read? Yes. I also won’t say that the growth of Pens and Poison doesn’t fill me with apprehension and even a little foreboding. But Liza is my friend and friends don’t abandon each other when the going gets tough or things change. What kind of an internet friend or fan of the publication would I be if I did that? Also, a true ally of the Jewish community stands with the community and supports Jewish artists like Liza. My fears about the loss of personal connection or comments be d****ed! Liza and Pens and Poison regardless of its growth, still needs each and every one of us as we help Liza in her mission to save literature! That mission is bigger than any one of us including me. Also, I’m not a Jew if I walk away from Pens and Poison I’m fine cause I’m a Gentile and I’ll continue to not deal with antisemitism. But as a Jew, whither I walk away or not she always will. She doesn’t have that luxury like I do as a Christian of European descent. Thank you for this piece, Liza! God bless and keep your family and your fellow American Russian Jews! 🙏🤲
The sad fact is that anti-Semitism has found a home on both the left and the right wings of American politics. The brutal Israeli over reaction to October 7th is now a pre-text for bigoted sentiments rising in communities where this was previously unthinkable .I am a strong and vocal supporter of Israel's existence and validity as a state, but am appalled at the conduct of the Israeli government and military. Both things can be true but it will never be a justification for the current storm of anti-Semitism. I think you should also be cautious about your friends on the political right; for them all alliances are transactional and rarely if ever based on true principles.
“you should also be cautious about your friends on the political right; for them all alliances are transactional and rarely if ever based on true principles.”
All things considered, the same can be said about the political left; they will be “empathetic” to you as long as you align with their views or you don’t show any signs of your own views. The minute you diverge even slightly from their beliefs, you’ll be expulsed from their group. In other words, the political left and the political right are two sides of the same coin.
Liza, I worked with a national Jewish group shortly after Oct 7. And Columbia was the number one campus of concern. The leftists and Islamists ran a slick, well funded effort there
Thanks for sharing this story, Liza, and for your commitment to the Jewish future.
Imagine the conversation I had with a hospital when they said I was an Ashkenazi Jew and I was firm in telling them I was a Georgian Jew...They never heard of it!
I relate to this. The pain of feeling like the “other” in America for the first time is excruciating because it’s something we truly thought we shed forever, only to see it growing here like a nightmare come to life. I feel what your grandmother feels:
“So when my grandmother burst into tears upon seeing the hatred and violence at my alma mater two years back, I felt again what it meant to be a Russian Jew. “We left that country and came to this one,” she pronounced, “so that my grandkids would never feel unsafe or singled out as Jews, and I am ashamed that something I thought I’d never have to deal with again is happening in this country, too.”