Antisemitism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot these days about the "are we guests here?" question, which it merits saying is something we didn't used to actually say out loud or bother to defensively insist we're not. The times have definitely brought this out. That's telling in itself.

I also (in our Progressive city, in my Progressive workplace, etc. ) feel this enormous pressure to demonstrate I'm one of the "good" Jews. Not too attached to Jewish tradition, not too aware of Jewish history, not too relieved Israel exists in the event we turn out to be guests here after all.

And this is simply not an area with much of an observant Jewish community. I have to remind myself every time DCUM Jews, who seem to skew very Reform or basically Reform, shock me by proclaiming themselves to be both "good" Jews (as in inoffensive cosmopolitan universalists who have no interest in Jewish particularity) and also that they can be this way and insist that they're still somehow good Jews (as Jews) because they're totally free to decide for themselves, from within their own pupiks (look it up if you need to, case in point) what that means.

Anyway, I recommend this essay, which I thought was a very clear-sighted discussion of Jew-hating moments in the world like the one that has emerged again. The thing is we're inherently uncool, and we'll be punished as long as we refuse to make ourselves cool: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/the-cool-kids

Minus the Ashkenormativity, this is a fair point. But there are observant Jews in DC or close-in suburbs (Kemp Mill, Shepherd Park). And one can be shomer everything and be a bad Jew (e.g., KI rabbi who went to prison) and eat treyf and watch TV on Saturday and be a good Jew from a Jewish literacy/ethics standpoint.

[Anonymous]

I can’t think of any other group that feels so compelled by others to rationalize the prejudice against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot these days about the "are we guests here?" question, which it merits saying is something we didn't used to actually say out loud or bother to defensively insist we're not. The times have definitely brought this out. That's telling in itself.

I also (in our Progressive city, in my Progressive workplace, etc. ) feel this enormous pressure to demonstrate I'm one of the "good" Jews. Not too attached to Jewish tradition, not too aware of Jewish history, not too relieved Israel exists in the event we turn out to be guests here after all.

And this is simply not an area with much of an observant Jewish community. I have to remind myself every time DCUM Jews, who seem to skew very Reform or basically Reform, shock me by proclaiming themselves to be both "good" Jews (as in inoffensive cosmopolitan universalists who have no interest in Jewish particularity) and also that they can be this way and insist that they're still somehow good Jews (as Jews) because they're totally free to decide for themselves, from within their own pupiks (look it up if you need to, case in point) what that means.

Anyway, I recommend this essay, which I thought was a very clear-sighted discussion of Jew-hating moments in the world like the one that has emerged again. The thing is we're inherently uncool, and we'll be punished as long as we refuse to make ourselves cool: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/the-cool-kids

“Are we guests here?” really resonates with me in a powerful and disturbing way. It’s as though some of “us” in the US are “Real Americans”, while others are “guests” — sometimes welcomed, sometimes not. Still others are seen as servants, or fugitives, and many are simply not seen at all. I’m not even entirely sure where this disdain is coming from, although it’s easy to see that media representation and lack of representation, and the way history is taught both reflect and support these cultural tropes, as does the current political climate. I’m idealistic enough to believe that we can — and will — do better as a more “United” country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot these days about the "are we guests here?" question, which it merits saying is something we didn't used to actually say out loud or bother to defensively insist we're not. The times have definitely brought this out. That's telling in itself.

I also (in our Progressive city, in my Progressive workplace, etc. ) feel this enormous pressure to demonstrate I'm one of the "good" Jews. Not too attached to Jewish tradition, not too aware of Jewish history, not too relieved Israel exists in the event we turn out to be guests here after all.

And this is simply not an area with much of an observant Jewish community. I have to remind myself every time DCUM Jews, who seem to skew very Reform or basically Reform, shock me by proclaiming themselves to be both "good" Jews (as in inoffensive cosmopolitan universalists who have no interest in Jewish particularity) and also that they can be this way and insist that they're still somehow good Jews (as Jews) because they're totally free to decide for themselves, from within their own pupiks (look it up if you need to, case in point) what that means.

Anyway, I recommend this essay, which I thought was a very clear-sighted discussion of Jew-hating moments in the world like the one that has emerged again. The thing is we're inherently uncool, and we'll be punished as long as we refuse to make ourselves cool: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/the-cool-kids

Minus the Ashkenormativity, this is a fair point. But there are observant Jews in DC or close-in suburbs (Kemp Mill, Shepherd Park). And one can be shomer everything and be a bad Jew (e.g., KI rabbi who went to prison) and eat treyf and watch TV on Saturday and be a good Jew from a Jewish literacy/ethics standpoint.

Where's the Ashkenormativity, besides the Yiddish word that's become part of Modern Hebrew? I am of course aware of the more traditional enclaves in the area, but I guess my point was that the average DCUM poster who identifies as a Jew is pretty far (and often weirdly proudly far) from a Jewish community that represents any kind of ancestral and cultural continuity. I draw your attention, too, to the frequent posters who chime in to assure others that "my Jewish husband doesn't care about any of that stuff". Quelle surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot these days about the "are we guests here?" question, which it merits saying is something we didn't used to actually say out loud or bother to defensively insist we're not. The times have definitely brought this out. That's telling in itself.

I also (in our Progressive city, in my Progressive workplace, etc. ) feel this enormous pressure to demonstrate I'm one of the "good" Jews. Not too attached to Jewish tradition, not too aware of Jewish history, not too relieved Israel exists in the event we turn out to be guests here after all.

And this is simply not an area with much of an observant Jewish community. I have to remind myself every time DCUM Jews, who seem to skew very Reform or basically Reform, shock me by proclaiming themselves to be both "good" Jews (as in inoffensive cosmopolitan universalists who have no interest in Jewish particularity) and also that they can be this way and insist that they're still somehow good Jews (as Jews) because they're totally free to decide for themselves, from within their own pupiks (look it up if you need to, case in point) what that means.

Anyway, I recommend this essay, which I thought was a very clear-sighted discussion of Jew-hating moments in the world like the one that has emerged again. The thing is we're inherently uncool, and we'll be punished as long as we refuse to make ourselves cool: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/the-cool-kids

Minus the Ashkenormativity, this is a fair point. But there are observant Jews in DC or close-in suburbs (Kemp Mill, Shepherd Park). And one can be shomer everything and be a bad Jew (e.g., KI rabbi who went to prison) and eat treyf and watch TV on Saturday and be a good Jew from a Jewish literacy/ethics standpoint.

Where's the Ashkenormativity, besides the Yiddish word that's become part of Modern Hebrew? I am of course aware of the more traditional enclaves in the area, but I guess my point was that the average DCUM poster who identifies as a Jew is pretty far (and often weirdly proudly far) from a Jewish community that represents any kind of ancestral and cultural continuity. I draw your attention, too, to the frequent posters who chime in to assure others that "my Jewish husband doesn't care about any of that stuff". Quelle surprise.

People who are married to Jews and not Jews themselves often have their own issues (rejection, fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy) that are triggered which causes them to chime in in ways that reflect their own confirmation bias - this kind of improper centering is not unique to the Jewish community. Jews in this country have traditionally been part of the political left (if never truly accepted by the left because of antisemitism). It’s not surprising that people on DCUM try to out “woke” each other. Some of this is internalized self-loathing; some of this is misguided subscribers to ideological purity tests, and some of this as you point out is Jewish illiteracy.