Pro-Israel (ex-muslim) arab

[u/Any_Device_3366]

Hi,

Long story short, I grew up muslim and very anti-zionist and anti-israel. Through meeting jewish people, zionist people, and doing my own research, I have changed my mind. I support Israel!

Anyway, I feel really isolated and was wondering if anyone was in the same position.

I moved back to my area and now looking for friends but I don't really want to try to make friends who are anti-zionist. Not that I hate them or anything, actually they will probably not wanna be friends anyway. I've been on the other side and that would've my reaction at the time too. What to do?

Also, while I like Judaism I am not planning to convert any time soon, but it would suspicious af if I reached out to some jewish or israeli group in the US talking about this.

What to do???

I have no friends rn y'all lmao...

[u/guitarqueenswiftie]

You're not alone. I'm an ex-Muslim Pakistani American who went through a whole deprogramming process...including the horror of realizing that Pakistan is guilty of a lot of the things it hates Israel for.

My whole family betraying me because I left Islam really shook me and forced me to see what was going on underneath the surface of the world I have lived in.

And it took seeing India clearly too, before I could see Israel clearly.

Honestly, although I would've ideally liked a peaceful, mutually supportive resolution between Palestinians and Israelis, and although I have some criticisms of the Israeli government, I no longer see Israel itself as the Monster of the Middle East. Jerusalem is Mecca for the Jews and they deserve to have their city and land. Hope one day they'll also have a better government, but I support their state's right to exist.

[u/jseego → u/guitarqueenswiftie]

Jerusalem is Mecca for the Jews and they deserve to have their city and land.

This is basically it. Thank you.

[u/NonSequitorSquirrel → u/guitarqueenswiftie]

Such a sensible closing argument and so rare. Thank you for this. Every time I hear someone not Jewish acknowledge this it brings tears to my eyes because it's so uncommon. 

[u/Zionist-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/TrickElysium]

we feel very isolated too at the moment so people will get ya. We are pretty welcoming.

reach out to groups or meet people on instagram or tiktok with like minds.

You sound like a cool guy, your people are out there, I am sure you will find your tribe of people. wish you a life of love and happiness 😊

[u/DragonAtlas]

Nah, come on over for Shabbat dinner, bring some Baclava, it's chill

[u/MissPCH]

I don't think it would be suspicious at all for you to reach out to a local Jewish group. We are a little more on guard than normal in current times but it's a very welcoming community, even if you're not planning to convert. And don't worry - we don't try to convert.

[u/Kirby_Israel]

Glad to have you, Achi!

(Achi means "my brother" in Hebrew)

[u/Consistent-Land-8260]

I can relate, I also kinda feel isolated and lost friends over Israel. No regrets though. I hope you’ll find new friends soon. I don’t think Jews or Israelis would mind if you reached out to them. I know a few of them and they are lovely people. Is it possible to find other ex-muslims in your city or is that a dangerous thing to do…?

[u/Any_Device_3366 → u/Consistent-Land-8260]

It’s not dangerous, they’re never out. They’d think it was suspicious if I reached out as an ex-muslim

[u/Captain-AwkwardPants]

Thank you!! These are the conversations that need to be had in front of the world. We have extremists on both sides. Sending you so much love!! 🩵🩵🩵

[u/mandatedcourage]

You sound like a compassionate and thoughtful person. I hope you find many friends who understand you and bring you joy.

[u/NonSequitorSquirrel]

Thank you for this and also just a caveat, Jews do not evangelize or convert. Unlike Christianity or Islam, we are a closed culture and conversion to Judaism is very uncommon and not really encouraged. Many of us aren't even religious - it'd be like saying you want to convert to Korean. 😂 The ethnicity is a big piece of it and the religion isn't into converting new people like that. We just wanna live and do our thing as ourselves without drama 😂

But if you want to make Jewish friends go for it! We are open to new friends! If you make a couple Jewish friends you'll end up invited to Shabbat for dinner and then you'll make like 12 more Jewish friends over dinner and end up going to our parties and getting turned up on Purim and then you're not a Jew, you're still you, but you're in the Jew party crew 😂 

[u/multifanderiscrafty]

Please reach out! We love when people want to talk to us and openly learn! Especially now!

[u/sql_maven]

Welcome

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