Antisemitism
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Anonymous
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The other thread about antisemitism was locked for being "political," but I do feel like this conversation belongs in the religion forum, since we are targeted for our religion and many of the posters on the now-locked thread expressed concern about showing outward signs of religious expression (hanging a mezuzah, wearing Jewish symbols, going to synagogue). Not only that, I want/need to address it from a religious POV. Antisemitism, unfortunately, has no political boundaries and is alive and well across political ideologies nationally and internationally.
So let's not talk politics. How are you coping with antisemitism? Is it affecting your religious practice (increasing your desire for religious expression or causing you to want to shrink from it)? Are you or how are you talking to your kids about it? Have your non-Jewish friends spoken up in support of the Jewish community or remained silent? Do you feel like the rise in antisemitism is even on the non-Jewish radar? |
Anonymous
| And there isn't a safe place to talk about these issues during COVID. During COVID our zoom religious services have been infiltrated several times by anti-Semites, clergy have gotten death threats, synagogue vandalized, threats to primary schools, attacks on students we know on college campuses. Outside the Jewish community, few care. Much gaslighting. I think the issue is that many on the non-Jewish radar harbor anti-Semitic views consciously or unconsciously - on the left and on the right, of all complexions. The American dream (if it ever existed) is long dead for a host of reasons, but also because of antisemitism. |
Anonymous
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I asked a similar question on a now-deleted thread. Both of the comments here raise the issue of whether or not people who are not Jewish are aware of an increase in anti-semitism. I am not Jewish. What would you like people who are not Jewish to do to indicate concern and support?
I’m asking this as an individual, although if anyone has ideas that are better addressed by a collective organization, that would be instructive as well. I can speak directly with Jewish friends about these issues, but beyond that , how would I/we best indicate in more general ways that these concern are, indeed, on our “radar”? |
Anonymous
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I didn't get what you are saying. Most people do not wear their religion on their sleeve regardless of what religion they are.
The world is secular and religion is not your life story. Don't talk about politics if you don't like it that someone disagrees |
Anonymous
| The only people I hear or see talking about it in my life are other Jewish people. |
Anonymous
| it's a max of religion and ethnicity. Jews aren't always readily identifiable to the antisemite. But chillingly, in LA, I think, weird bigots were asking who was Jewish. |
Anonymous
Christians wear crosses (not all of them but many do), Muslim women wear hijab. Many religions wear physical symbols that are identifying. |
Anonymous
Why are you centering yourself exactly? |
Anonymous
That’s sad. |
Anonymous
Christian women sometimes wear crosses as a piece of Jewelry and certain sects of muslim women wear hijabs. It is a generally a choice to wear your religion on your sleeve, |
Anonymous
| You’d have to be blind and/or deaf to not notice a huge rise in antisemitism in the US and throughout the world. I am not Jewish, btw. |
Anonymous
| There is a huge rise in anti-semitism. It is very scary. I am a Christian and worry very much that anti-semitism is on the rise. I admit, though, that I believe open and blatant racism and bigotry against certain groups by other groups is very openly on the rise. The fact that more people aren't outraged is what puzzles me most. |
Anonymous
| There has been a huge rise in bigotry and blatant prejudice. Anti-Semitic feeling is part of that rise. I don’t feel singled out and I don’t feel that I’m suffering more than other racial and ethic minorities. |
Anonymous
NP. I’m not Jewish (a Catholic), grew up in the Midwest never heard antisemitism before I came to the East Coast. I try to challenge it when I hear it but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to do so because it just so pervasive these days. Our priest made some anti-Semitic remarks during his sermon, something I’ve never heard from any priest before, despite having lived all over the world. We’re going to be leaving the parish over it, a parish we’ve loved and raised our children in. I don’t know if Jewish people accept this or consider it to be offensive coming from a Catholic, but I’m praying for your peace and safety now, here, in Europe, and of course in Israel. |
Anonymous
| For the first time in my adult life I am truly worried for the safety of my family. And for the person who says that in our secular society society, religion shouldn’t be our life story, one of the pillars of this country is the right to express one’s personal religion in public life. I would hope that you were not saying that by simply expressing our faith by dress or participation in prayer means we are asking to be treated badly or even being attacked. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/24/999790233/officials-say-hate-crimes-against-jews-are-growing-in-the-aftermath-of-gaza-viol |