I’ve made no secret that I’m no fan of progressive-leaning Antisemitism. I even wrote an entire piece on that. But this issue goes further. Because for whatever reason, many in socially-progressive circles generalize about the roughly 16 million Jews globally who have a whole slew of opinions. It’s tiring. It’s also unhelpful, and unhealthy, to keep at it, as gentiles overwhelmingly outnumber Jews by more than 100-to-1.
The most-blatantly irritating part is when it makes its way to the political level. It’s annoying online, and social gatherings could stand for less of it…but politicians? The people who represent us globally? What good comes from alienating voters to express a misguided chip on your shoulder? You think that reflects well?
This past week a bill passed in the New York City Council to recognize April 29th as End Jew Hatred Day. This is a good idea: Antisemitism’s been on the rise for years, and it’s permeated progressive spaces. Having a holiday to mark this is welcomed, especially if it leads to introspection. It’s not like other minorities don’t have days dedicated to them as is, so why not Jews?
I’d end there, but I’m not interested in the near-unanimous approval. Politicians in The US generally regard Jews as worth taking seriously, so their safety is sure to have some priority. My concerns are with those representatives who either voted against the bill, or abstained. Because there’s a recurring pattern. And it doesn’t look good.
The “no” votes fall under two categories: not having time to read the bill, and objecting on personal grounds. I can’t speak of the content, having no access as a Canadian, but the former reeks of nonsense because the bill’s only one page. Even if it were dense and wordy, it isn’t that long. I can read a page from Encyclopedia Britannica in 30 minutes, give or take, and I assume this bill isn’t that complicated. Besides, even if it were, isn’t the job of an elected official to read it anyway? Isn’t that why they’re being paid?
I can ramble forever one how ridiculous it is that an elected official “didn’t have time” to read a one-page bill, but I’ll be forgiving and suggest that, maybe, anyone who didn’t was tied up with other matters. The other reason, objecting on personal grounds, I’m less-sympathetic to. Fighting Antisemitism should be a no-brainer, and objecting is mind-boggling. But that’s what happened. And it doesn’t make sense.
Let’s zone-in on the “no” vote that got the most attention: Shahana Hanif. A representative of Borough Park and Park Slope, her reasoning was that the bill was drafted by far-right and Islamophobic organizations. She added that Jews “…[H]ave not stood up for Muslims, they have not stood up for trans New Yorkers or anybody.” Firstly, source? In an age where information’s available with a Google search, it seems like the information to back that up could be obtained. So where is it?
Secondly, I doubt that’s true. Jews aren’t monolithic, despite our small numbers. If the protests and counter-protests over Israel’s current leadership are indication, Jews speak out on anything. This includes Islamophobia and transphobia, two issues I’ve seen groups like The ADL voice concern over. That’s only organizations, too!
This is a faulty argument at best, and a dishonest argument at worst. But ignoring that, this leads to the third and final issue: so what? Fighting bigotry isn’t tit-for-tat. Even if one side “isn’t pulling their weight”, that doesn’t exempt you. Oppression doesn’t care about the grievances marginalized groups have.
I’m not surprised, though. I’ve been seeing plenty of performative ally-ship surrounding Antisemitism on the left, and it’s always when it benefits them: The Tree of Life and Chabad of Poway shootings received plenty of criticism, but the recent tragedy that befell The Dee Family over Passover? One that left them without two daughters and a matriarch? Because it took place in an Israeli city, there was a swath of cricket noises. In some cases, there was also celebration.
This bothers me. It bothers me because it shows disregard for a minority’s real struggles, and it bothers me because it makes you wonder how sincere non-Jewish ally-ship is. Jews are worth talking about…but only on gentile terms. No listening to Jews, especially when they make you uncomfortable. Either they “get with the program”, or they leave. It doesn’t matter if they’re on your side, either.
You know what doesn’t help? Tokenizing our voices. There were some Jewish organizations who were pleased with Hanif’s words, but that’s the key: some. Not all, not a lot, not even several, some. And they were voices that even many Jewish progressives weren’t happy with, because, again, Jews aren’t monolithic. It doesn’t help that the reasoning for why this bill was bad, that its drafters had skeletons in their closets, falls apart when you start digging through the closets of these individuals. Everyone has skeletons in their closets, myself included.
Perhaps the biggest insult was Hanif’s follow-up remark when she was called out for Antisemitism: she accused her critics of foul play, especially when she’s “stood up for them”. Setting aside the arrogance, it’s not up to Hanif to protest. Like how Jews don’t get to decide if they’re being Islamophobic, non-Jews don’t get to decide if they’re being Antisemitic. It doesn’t work that way. But Hanif’s protest is quite common in progressive circles.
Yes, combatting bigotry takes lots of work. And it’s messy. But part of that work requires listening to those who’ve been harmed, even when you’re uncomfortable. It also means not talking over them or only highlighting those voices you agree with. Jews are no exception.
This bothers me. It bothers me because it shows disregard for a minority’s real struggles, and it bothers me because it makes you wonder how sincere non-Jewish ally-ship is. Jews are worth talking about…but only on gentile terms. No listening to Jews, especially when they make you uncomfortable. Either they “get with the program”, or they leave. It doesn’t matter if they’re on your side, either.
You know what doesn’t help? Tokenizing our voices. There were some Jewish organizations who were pleased with Hanif’s words, but that’s the key: some. Not all, not a lot, not even several, some. And they were voices that even many Jewish progressives weren’t happy with, because, again, Jews aren’t monolithic. It doesn’t help that the reasoning for why this bill was bad, that its drafters had skeletons in their closets, falls apart when you start digging through the closets of these individuals. Everyone has skeletons in their closets, myself included.
Perhaps the biggest insult was Hanif’s follow-up remark when she was called out for Antisemitism: she accused her critics of foul play, especially when she’s “stood up for them”. Setting aside the arrogance, it’s not up to Hanif to protest. Like how Jews don’t get to decide if they’re being Islamophobic, non-Jews don’t get to decide if they’re being Antisemitic. It doesn’t work that way. But Hanif’s protest is quite common in progressive circles.
Yes, combatting bigotry takes lots of work. And it’s messy. But part of that work requires listening to those who’ve been harmed, even when you’re uncomfortable. It also means not talking over them or only highlighting those voices you agree with. Jews are no exception.
I wouldn’t be annoyed if people like Hanif were one-offs. But they’re not. Jews are often viewed by progressives as examples of how to break down barriers without doing anything meaningful. They’re part of the power structure…until they’re not. And then they’re discarded. Like that.
Jews deserve better. Left-leaning Antisemitism isn’t “blatant”, but it’s “vicious”. In some ways, that makes it dangerous, as it demonstrates to Jews that we’re disposable. It makes us scared to be vocal about our concerns, lest we be ignored. It also turns us away from progressive causes, because why bother?
It also bugs me that politicians like Hanif are Socialists. Ignoring how Karl Marx was Jewish, Socialists have frequently gaslit and buried Jewish admirers. Leon Trotsky’s the most-famous example, being an early Bolshevik who was exiled and assassinated. Jews may have started The Revolution, but they’ve never been welcomed into it. This is another example of why.
My words alone won’t stop this issue. I’m one person, and I’m somewhat of a nobody online. But I still feel that my voice deserves amplifying. I want to be a valued member of The Cause. But as long as The Cause doesn’t value me, I’ll never feel at home in it. That saddens me.
So yes, that’s my take. Good day!
Jews deserve better. Left-leaning Antisemitism isn’t “blatant”, but it’s “vicious”. In some ways, that makes it dangerous, as it demonstrates to Jews that we’re disposable. It makes us scared to be vocal about our concerns, lest we be ignored. It also turns us away from progressive causes, because why bother?
It also bugs me that politicians like Hanif are Socialists. Ignoring how Karl Marx was Jewish, Socialists have frequently gaslit and buried Jewish admirers. Leon Trotsky’s the most-famous example, being an early Bolshevik who was exiled and assassinated. Jews may have started The Revolution, but they’ve never been welcomed into it. This is another example of why.
My words alone won’t stop this issue. I’m one person, and I’m somewhat of a nobody online. But I still feel that my voice deserves amplifying. I want to be a valued member of The Cause. But as long as The Cause doesn’t value me, I’ll never feel at home in it. That saddens me.
So yes, that’s my take. Good day!
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