What is anti-semitism, an illuminating discussion with a friend

 

Antisemitism, Jew-hatred, is an ugly, disturbing, yet puzzling and resilient social phenomenon, and it takes many forms. It is similar in many ways to crude racism, but also different. We seem forever to be wondering what it is, why it exists, and how to respond to it. In the linked column, from the NYT a few years ago, Brett Stevens (formerly of the WSJ) tackles the question “what is it?” and, as usual, does a superb job of providing a guide for the perplexed. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/opinion/antisemitism-jewish-israel-war.html 

My friend Kenny Hymen recently sent it to me, with some comments of his own, and a poignant story about his recent experience as a tourist in Morocco, that I felt compelled to share with you. 

First, Kenny’s “random thoughts”  on the column:

 ·  The Progressive Left and the hard right are very focused on identity politics. And that focus is primarily on the victims, the persecuted, oppressed, disadvantaged, disenfranchised etc. And there must be someone to blame for that.

·    I hear little of the success stories ie those who’ve risen from disadvantaged backgrounds and become successful, be that in business, professions, science, philanthropy. Many of these success stories are Jews and many are also black.

· Too many Jews have become success stories, creating a pent up loathing from the broader community… jealousy and “they’re to blame for the disadvantaged and less fortunate”. Must have ripped them off. Look how many billionaires are Jews. Over millenia, Jews have been too successful, especially as forced refugees/immigrants in new countries. We all know that many immigrants have a higher need/passion for success, to replace what they may have had before and especially to ensure that their children thrive. I would say that almost all Jewish immigrants have this passion…. And we’ve been on the move for over 2 millenia so we apply this passion to succeed to successive countries.

·   Then there’s the quest for education. Let me share a story of my lightning visit to Tangier and the deep discussions with my guide Ahmed (not his real name) on 

the history and roll of Jews in Morocco.

 “they (Jews) were so successful.  They built up trading businesses that helped the country’s economy.  The rulers liked the Jews. The Jewish merchants acquired wealth and they bought beautiful apartments.  (he showed me a street where 90% of apartments were owned by Jews 50-150 years ago). My father worked for a Jewish merchant.  Such a wonderful man.  So honest.  No contract signed… just a handshake. He gave my father a small share of some of his businesses. My father did well and bought a few flats (apartments). The merchant told my father he must educate his children so that they can succeed. My father decided to move to a different area close to a good school.” 

All 5 of the siblings went to university … Ahmed did a 5yr linguistics degree. he speaks 5 languages. 

So Ahmed, “how did the other Moroccans feel about these Jewish merchants and their families ?” 

“They hated them.  So jealous.  They must be stealing money from us … “ SOUND FAMILIAR? 

This to me is a classic summary of the plight of the Jews and the regular rekindling of antisemitism. As long as the Jews are suffering and not succeeding, antisemitism is percolating without boiling over. But once you start succeeding and being noticed. Woe betide.

 When I asked Ahmed what he thought about the Abraham Accords (to which Morocco was a signatory) he knew nothing about them.  If a successful university graduate knows nothing about the Abraham Accords no wonder the "Arab Street" is on a different planet from their rulers. 

[And now Kenny turns to modern Israel]: 

Until the 1980’s Israel was generally regarded by the West as the “victim” and fitted well into the community’s view of victimhood. Being constantly attacked by multiple Arab armies. 1948, 1967 & 1973. Fending them off bravely … little Israel. 

And when Palestinian hijackers landed Israeli hostages at Entebbe in 1976, what country could launch a successful rescue mission in a foreign country, aside from Israel? (Jimmy Carter couldn’t do it in 1979   he crashed his helicopters In the desert). 

But slowly the tide has turned.

Israel, drawing on the Jewish passion for education & science and the independent, unstructured thinking and “can do” ethos embedded in the IDF, became the Startup nation. Some of the most cutting-edge technology of the past 20 yrs comes directly or indirectly from Israel. Business and investors applaud that but progressives hate it. Big business and Tech exploiting the masses. Granted some of the technology can be used for nefarious purposes as can electricity, nuclear energy, social media etc. 

The economic success of the Startup Nation now made Israel to the oppressor - no longer seen as a victim.  

Following the 2000 Camp David offer from Barak, that was turned down by Arafat, the Israeli appetite for a settlement with Palestinians has steadily receded, helped a lot by the “reign” of Netanyahu.  Settlements, the closest to the current fad for Colonization, have ramped up this narrative. Many in the world see Israeli settlers in a similar way to Russians in the Donbass. The combination of extreme right-wing nationalists and Haredi fundamentalists has significantly weakened global support for Israel, from Jews and non-Jews alike. 

So, we are in a situation where ugly Israel is a global oppressor/colonialist, an economic powerhouse “relative to size of population” and becoming a pariah when it defends itself. It fits perfectly into the “oppressor” camp. Think Al Assad/Russia bombing Fallujah/Mosul, Putin’s bombing Mariupol, Bucha

And the percolating, pent up loathing of mainstream communities for Jews has been unleashed. It plays perfectly into the key drivers of antisemitism.

 What can reverse this?

 Do we need to return to victimhood?

The Nazis accomplished that pretty well and the world tolerated Jews for a good 35 years after WWII 

 The Haredi drive to eliminate Science and Maths from Haredi education may be a perverse attempt to cut out the education that tends to drive Jews’ success. Produce theologists with no broader education?

 Our discussion ends with me mentioning to Kenny Natan Shiransky’s incisive test for identifying speech that is anti-semitic. The three D's for whether speech is antisemitic. When is Demonizes, when it delegitimates and/or when it engages in double standards.