It’s not an especially brave act to proclaim, “I am a Jew.” I belong to a privileged minority in the U.S. compared to most other minority groups. I have had no antisemitism worthy of the name directed at me in my lifetime. I have never had an opportunity taken away from me because of my religious/cultural identity. I have no personal complaints.
But we are at a moment where I feel the need to say the words, “I am a Jew,” if for no other reason than to let myself know I am not afraid to say them aloud or in print. And yet, to be perfectly honest, one reason for saying the words is because, in the current climate, being Jewish doesn’t worry me, but saying “I am a Jew” does, a little. That is precisely the time to talk about it.
We are seeing a frightening rise in antisemitism in this country. The latest incident I read about happened Thursday night. Standing alone, it would only be a shudder in the steady undercurrent of antisemitic hatred lurking beneath the surface in this country. But combined with the resurgence of antisemitic rhetoric and events which have been building since 2016 and have accelerated rapidly in the past weeks and months, it is a terrifying example of what could become regular occurrences.
Comedian Ilana Glazer scheduled a get-out-the-vote event at a Brooklyn synagogue Thursday night where she was going to interview a journalist and two Democratic state senate candidates. It was canceled because antisemitic graffiti was found on inside walls of the synagogue, including “Die Jew Rats,” “We are here,” “Hitler,” “Jew Better Be Ready” and “End it now.”
The usual response would be to increase security at the event and carry on as planned. Don’t let the haters win. But not this time. Not in today’s climate. After the killings at a Pittsburg synagogue, you don’t take chances with people’s lives.
The vile, threatening slogans scrawled on the synagogue walls are the kind of thing my parents told me about, or I read in books and saw in movies. They weren’t supposed to be happening anymore. But then again, until two years ago, I cannot remember seeing television coverage of people marching down the street carrying tiki torches and chanting “Jews will not replace us!” The murdering of Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue is said to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in this country’s history.
The same Thursday as the canceled event, two swastikas were found spray-painted in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Two days earlier, a number of Brooklyn Heights buildings had swastikas chalked on their walls.
In the days leading up to this election, George Soros, an 88 year old Jewish investor and philanthropist who contributes to Democratic candidates, has become the official bogeyman of the Republican party. Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters have faded into the background. Using Soros as the symbol of rich Democratic donors is nothing new, but recently the Soros/Jew/Democrat connection has moved from dog whistles to bull horns. He was called satanic. A Trump tweet said Soros paid for people to protest against Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh. Rudy Giuliani retweeted a post saying Soros is “the anti-Christ.” At rallies, Trump originally said the migrants walking through Mexico toward the U.S. were funded by the Democrats. Soon after, others were putting Soros’ name on the funding. The Jews were bringing the “invading hordes.” When Trump was asked whether Soros was involved, he said, “I wouldn’t be surprised. A lot of people say yes.”
Now at Trump rallies, the crowds chant “Soros! Soros! Soros!”
When Trump condemns “globalism” or calls himself a “nationalist,” people who aren’t familiar with the lore and legends of antisemitism may not hear the historic fear and hatred of Jews echoing in his words. Antisemites do.
Where Trump falls on the spectrum of antisemitism is an important question, but not a crucial one. What is important is that he acts the part when he is playing to his base. No one put the idea better than Andrew Gillum, Democratic candidate for governor in Florida, when he was talking about the racist campaign mounted by his Republican opponent, Ron DeSantis. “Now, I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist,” Gillum, who is African American, said in a debate. “I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist.” The same goes for Trump. No matter his personal beliefs, there is no question, antisemites believe he is an antisemite, and that makes them prouder, louder and bolder than they would be otherwise. This is their moment.
And that makes this a frightening moment for Jews like me.
This article appears in Nov 1-7, 2018.
So what David Safier really believes is not crucial, what is important is what people think David Safier believes.
Nice.
And all this time I thought Soros was just an open borders communist. Attempting to convert America. I trust Netanyahu.
The Hate and Bigotry in our Society will NOT cease until we STOP partitioning ourselves into categories based primarily on Religion and Ethnicity; accepting the inherent diversity in Human Society; that these our Differences are superficial. We are ALL part of Human Society and MUST accept the advice of the GREAT Social Reformer: Love your Neighbor as Yourself!
The Constitutional Democracy of Donald Trump and his Supporters, is based upon private property rights, a market economy, and the unfettered accumulation of wealth. These are the tools that their view of our society uses through which individual and national ambitions for freedom and happiness may be reached. Could all this be illusionary and productive of neither, and, in fact, destructive of both when pursued in contradiction to community interests and achieved on the miseries or credulity of others? Can we look at our own enormous wealth and see, at the same time, our own decadence; the untrammeled pursuit of individual wealth and luxury that has been destructive of both community and individual interests as evidenced by a decaying system of Public Education, Public Health Care, and, in fact, the decay of the very health of our Citizens?—- all related to the centrifugal focus of our Society.
In the National/State Election on Tuesday, Democrats must be given control of the US Senate and House of Representatives if the Bigoted/Neo Nazi Agenda of Trump and his Supporters are to be Reversed!
I agree: Anti-Semitism is completely unacceptable. This is a pluralistic country where the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. There absolutely does need to be more push-back against this kind of prejudice.
On the same topic: what did you think, David, of all the anti-Catholic bias and hatred stirred up and mobilized by the media in this historically Protestant majority, Protestant establishment country before, during, and after the Kavanaugh hearings?
If youre honest and sufficiently analytical in looking at the whole range of whats going on in our political discourse these days, you will have to admit that various forms of hate speech and prejudice against religious minorities are being tapped and mobilized on both sides. All forms of it need to be opposed in a bi-partisan fashion, but that is not happening.
At the root in this and other eras when there have been resurgences of noxious forms of hatred and prejudice are ECONOMIC problems. We bicker about other things and leave them unaddressed at our own peril.
Thank you David. It is important we stand up in the community and not be intimidated
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.
“Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
“Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
“Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.” Martin Niemller
The name, George Soros, has been a cricket/trope for the past few years – I do not know where my BIL got it, but now it is part of the open lies and accusations of that part of the country which whispers these things until they seem to be true.
If the people who were murdered attending the Synagogue in Pittsburgh had been walking in the street the shooter wouldn’t have known if they were Jewish or not because they look like all of us. Many of the people in Europe who didn’t come to the aid of the persecuted Jewish citizens there wound up being killed by the Nazis as well. When we allow extreme thuggery to exist and we turn a blind eye to it not only are we as guilty as the perpetrators of the crimes but many of us also become the victims as well. Are you an American with integrity, humanity, and compassion. Then why are you not outraged , enraged, and demanding that our political leaders act more responsibly and demand an end to the persecutions that continue to plague our society. “I’m sorry for your loss” is such a cliche that I want to puke when I hear some prominent person utter those words. The man that killed those Jewish people should be executed by broad ax in public where it can be witnessed. I would pay to see his demise. People who want to forgive these murdering monsters should keep their mouths shut. If the killer had his way he would still be killing as many Jewish citizens as he could. He doesn’t deserve one iota of pity.