(JEWISH GROUP) A Plea to the Left: Stop Defending Anti-Semitism

[Behind the Aegis]

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!! RESPECT, PLEASE!

Jewish Americans have a proud history of fighting for a more just and equitable America. Today, that heritage is being threatened as high profile organizations and individuals seek to push Jews out of justice movements. But rather than denouncing these movements, some leaders in the Jewish community and social justice movements are making concessions, excusing, or ignoring, or even accepting this anti-Semitism as the cost of doing business. This has to stop, not least because it’s Jews who live at the cross-section of multiple marginalized communities who have the most to lose and who pay the highest cost.

Leaders of our social justice community who I respect and admire, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are ignoring the urgent threat — and growing acceptance — of anti-Semitism in social justice movements. It’s as though they believe that justice for marginalized people is somehow strengthened when we swallow hatred against us.

But accepting the anti-Semitic behavior of other marginalized groups does not strengthen them – it weakens them. Jewish Americans need our leaders to stand against the normalization of anti-Semitic behavior and rhetoric in progressive communities. Troublingly, Jews at the intersection of various marginalizations (LGBTQ Jews, Jews of color, Jews who are immigrants, Jews who are living in poverty) are facing the terrifying prospect of alienation from the very movements that are supposed to be fighting for their lives. This is something Jewish leaders must stand against as advocates for justice.

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This goes to our internal work as well. Many of our best leaders are working to make our institutions more welcoming and accessible to all Jews. Part of that justice work means drawing a clear line between those who accept with open arms Jews who have intersecting marginalizations, and those who exclude them or demand litmus tests. When we think of intersectional theory, we must apply that lens to anti-Semitism.

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BRAVA!

[EllieBC]

1. K&R!

This is an excellent read!

[grossproffit]

2. Has this been posted in GD? eom