Soon enough, new pharaohs arise.
On sand these leaders shift
The winds aside. Like gods they flood
The plain with scalding words
And scapegoat plots. If threats persist,
They order that the Court Jew collect
Back taxes from their subjects, who
blame him for hard times and wars.
Soon enough, flakes of ash descend
Like snow on windless days
And even after the Jew is gone,
They claim he’s there, a menacing
Shadow just below the shifting seas.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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