(Jewish Group) How many Jews have to die for our allies to acknowledge the antisemitism Jews face?
If the circumstances weren’t so terrifying, the mental gymnastics of the last few days could almost be considered comedic.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno described the nearly 11-hour hostage crisis that had unfolded at Congregation Beth Israel, a Reform synagogue in Colleyville, Tex. as “not specifically related to the Jewish community.
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Mercifully, none of the hostages were physically harmed, though it is clear that without previous safety training and the bravery of Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker that they could have lost their lives. It is also undeniable that Jews were targeted for a reason: the attacker thought Jews literally control the world.
I can’t help but think of Dara Horn’s book “People Love Dead Jews,” in which she argues that dead Jews are fetishized without allyship for living ones. Horn has written several novels dealing with Jewish history, and she notes that her readers show far more interest in the gory details of the concentration camps than anything having to do with living Jews. When she writes about her visits to Jewish heritage sites in countries that no longer have any living Jews, she realizes that previously, she “had mistaken the enormous public interest in past Jewish suffering for a sign of respect for living Jews.”
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I have asked this very question to my husband. Sadly, it isn't just allies, but Jews, who don't seem to be able or willing to confront anti-Semitism either.
Also, if you have the time, I do suggest you read Dara Horn’s book “People Love Dead Jews,” as you will not be disappointed; you may end up madder than a wet hen, but...
ETA: I am adding this, from last year, because, well...read it:
Antisemitism Spikes, And Many Jews Wonder: Where Are Our Allies?
For Alex Zeldin, it began as a normal Friday.
He was headed to Trader Joe's on New York City's Upper West Side to pick up some food for the Jewish Sabbath.
As usual, he was wearing his yarmulke, or skullcap. When he turned a corner, he realized that a couple of teenagers had started to follow him, spewing antisemitic insults.
"It took me about halfway down the block to realize that the thing that they were commenting on was they kept saying, 'Yarmulke': 'I want to take that yarmulke. I want to hit him in his head and take that yarmulke. That Jewish baby killer,' " Zeldin recalled.
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= new reply since forum marked as read
