As an American Jew, I’ve almost gotten used to facing anti-semitism from the right. A Republican politician is tacitly approving of Nazis waving swastika flags and chanting anti-semitic slogans? Must be a day that ends in Y.
What’s scared me is the anti-semitism I’ve seen from some on the left. I’m not talking about criticizing Israel or wanting the Palestinians to be safe. I don’t count that as anti-semitism. I’m talking about people on the left saying that all Jews are responsible for what Israel is doing and saying that American Jews (including Jewish temples and Jewish owned businesses) are legitimate targets because Israel did stuff they disagree with. And then there are others on the left who try to gaslight Jews who say they are encountering anti-semitism - telling them that they aren’t and are just imagining it.
Intellectually, I know this is a very vocal minority, but suddenly hearing this from the left while still hearing anti-semitic remarks from the right has me scared and not feeling safe. I don’t want to publicly identify myself as Jewish in public for fear of encountering someone who either hates me for my religion or who holds me responsible for the actions of a country that I’m not a citizen of.
people on the left saying that all Jews are responsible for what Israel is doing and saying that American Jews (including Jewish temples and Jewish owned businesses) are legitimate targets because Israel did stuff they disagree with.
Here’s a post from someone on Threads declaring that all Jews are legitimate targets. This was in response to an article about a Jewish Temple and Jewish owned bakery in America being vandalized.
I tried arguing with this person and they eventually limited their “it’s okay to vandalize” to buildings that fly the Israeli flag - which would be every Jewish Temple in America.
As a leftist, and being honest about it, I feel the sympathy draining away from me. I see the long-term process of removing Palestinian people from their lands and all the oppression they go through in their daily lives. Then I see the corresponding silence or even intimidation of critics from the Jewish community in America. I disagree with that post you linked to, but I could see how one could evolve into that position as a leftist.
Again, thanks for that post. It helps me see the path I should avoid. We should find other ways to engage the Jewish communities in other countries to become more vocal against the Palestinian genocide by the Israeli government.
“Open air prison,” indiscriminately slaughtering 2.3 million people,’ even the tumblr-esque “not repeat NOT” framing are all indicative of left language
If you don’t believe me, here’s the exact same thing said but just with right-coding. It’s gonna sound really weird.
"Vandalizing a zionist symbol, when the zionists have been responsible for the deaths of thousands while taking billions of our dollars in foreign aid, is just freedom of speech. Wake up, repadamschiff
Focuses on monetary cost, “freedoms,” and downplays the Israeli/Gazan rift for the more neutral “thousands.” I threw in the “wake up” too since that’s been heavily co-opted, but isn’t technically a right-flag
People in different communities code their languag for their in-group and if you pay attention it’s pretty easy to find, once you catch the commonalities.
So saying that attacking American Jewish places of worship and American Jewish owned businesses because of things Israel has done isn’t anti-semitic? At what point does attacking Jews become anti-semitic to you?
When a person’s vandalism is directed at places because they are where Jews go or places Jews own then there’s no difference. And when someone is targeting Jewish organizations because they are Jewish, that’s anti-semitic whether or not any people are injured in the vandalism.
Synagogues represent Jewish faith, not the government of Israel. There’s a very very important distinction there and failing to make it is a serious issue
As an American Jew, I’ve almost gotten used to facing anti-semitism from the right. A Republican politician is tacitly approving of Nazis waving swastika flags and chanting anti-semitic slogans? Must be a day that ends in Y.
What’s scared me is the anti-semitism I’ve seen from some on the left. I’m not talking about criticizing Israel or wanting the Palestinians to be safe. I don’t count that as anti-semitism. I’m talking about people on the left saying that all Jews are responsible for what Israel is doing and saying that American Jews (including Jewish temples and Jewish owned businesses) are legitimate targets because Israel did stuff they disagree with. And then there are others on the left who try to gaslight Jews who say they are encountering anti-semitism - telling them that they aren’t and are just imagining it.
Intellectually, I know this is a very vocal minority, but suddenly hearing this from the left while still hearing anti-semitic remarks from the right has me scared and not feeling safe. I don’t want to publicly identify myself as Jewish in public for fear of encountering someone who either hates me for my religion or who holds me responsible for the actions of a country that I’m not a citizen of.
yeah that’s fucked.
With all due respect, I’ve yet to see any Leftist discourse saying anything remotely like what you’ve written. Even on Hexbear.
Thats really awful. It’s not OK to make all Jews wear the blame for another country’s actions.
welcome to the irrationality of racism
Can you point to any examples of that?
In New Zealand, we have had synagogues targeted.
Here’s a post from someone on Threads declaring that all Jews are legitimate targets. This was in response to an article about a Jewish Temple and Jewish owned bakery in America being vandalized.
I tried arguing with this person and they eventually limited their “it’s okay to vandalize” to buildings that fly the Israeli flag - which would be every Jewish Temple in America.
Thank you, that is helpful.
As a leftist, and being honest about it, I feel the sympathy draining away from me. I see the long-term process of removing Palestinian people from their lands and all the oppression they go through in their daily lives. Then I see the corresponding silence or even intimidation of critics from the Jewish community in America. I disagree with that post you linked to, but I could see how one could evolve into that position as a leftist.
Again, thanks for that post. It helps me see the path I should avoid. We should find other ways to engage the Jewish communities in other countries to become more vocal against the Palestinian genocide by the Israeli government.
I mean, nothing of what they’ve written here is emblematic of Leftist rhetoric.
It is entirely coded in left language.
“Open air prison,” indiscriminately slaughtering 2.3 million people,’ even the tumblr-esque “not repeat NOT” framing are all indicative of left language
If you don’t believe me, here’s the exact same thing said but just with right-coding. It’s gonna sound really weird.
"Vandalizing a zionist symbol, when the zionists have been responsible for the deaths of thousands while taking billions of our dollars in foreign aid, is just freedom of speech. Wake up, repadamschiff
Focuses on monetary cost, “freedoms,” and downplays the Israeli/Gazan rift for the more neutral “thousands.” I threw in the “wake up” too since that’s been heavily co-opted, but isn’t technically a right-flag
People in different communities code their languag for their in-group and if you pay attention it’s pretty easy to find, once you catch the commonalities.
Oh hey it’s this screenshot again, that still isn’t antisemitic.
So saying that attacking American Jewish places of worship and American Jewish owned businesses because of things Israel has done isn’t anti-semitic? At what point does attacking Jews become anti-semitic to you?
Removed by mod
TIL Kristallnacht wasn’t antisemitic at all. JFC. Wake the fuck up
When a person’s vandalism is directed at places because they are where Jews go or places Jews own then there’s no difference. And when someone is targeting Jewish organizations because they are Jewish, that’s anti-semitic whether or not any people are injured in the vandalism.
Synagogues represent Jewish faith, not the government of Israel. There’s a very very important distinction there and failing to make it is a serious issue
It’s unfortunate that Israeli propaganda has been unrelentingly conflating jewishness and israeliness. A real disservice to Jews everywhere.