This speaks to me. As a youngster in a Deep South town, I experienced awful Jew hate--including being physically beaten up several times. Then, as an adult living in Los Angeles and then New York, I felt better over time but always experienced a jolt of anxiety whenever I was asked by someone, "Are you Jewish?" And then, after Oct. 7th-- I began having panic attacks. I began volunteering for several groups fighting antisemitism, and yes, that has helped channel my anxiety into a feeling of empowerment. But, wow--what you wrote is true and I recognized myself in the article.
This is beyond disgusting! It is truly terrible. I can’t work this out but it is terrifying. We have to come together and solve this, otherwise, civilisation will end. Israel, I stand with you and this terror has to end.
"antisemitism is not just alive and well on college campuses. In New York City, for example, activists and foreign actors have infiltrated the city’s public schools with anti-Israel materials, fostering bias and hatred of Jews"
Where does the money trail for the considerable expenses related to these "public demonstrations" lead to? Just wondering.
Dr. Ilene S. Cohen noted "“Most notably, the Holocaust has left an indelible mark on the collective Jewish psyche. . ." The technical term for this well known phenomenon is intergenerational trauma. Every Jew looks at pictures from this. And thinks "If I were there then, that would be me."
"Hate crimes against Jews are rising globally, and expressions of anti-Jewish sentiments have become alarmingly mainstreamed"
Peering into the abyss that is raw human hatred is never comfortable. History shows us over and over again its ultimate end.
"Recognizing and validating antisemitism anxiety is not a concession to fear, but rather a call to action. This anxiety can serve as a guide, a reminder to uphold the values of resilience, solidarity, and proactive vigilance."
Two responses: the claim that anxiety "can serve as a guide, a reminder to uphold the values of resilience, solidarity, and proactive vigilance" is a simplistic feel good statement. The real value lies in the first part of the above about a call to action. To counter the antisemitic propaganda swirling about us, we need what is Israelis call הַסְבָּרָה, hasbara in English. It has no direct English translation, but roughly means "explaining" or in today's parlance, Public Diplomacy. The Israeli government and Jewish organizations around the world need to target all non-Jewish media outlets. To do so effectively, they firstly need to recognize that they are dealing not with a mere emotion-reason polarity but rather with several different cognitive processes:
1. Belief (taking a thing to be so when there is no evidence that it is so and often in the face the evidence that it is not so);
2 Opinion, especially personal vs. informed or expert opinion, and
3. Argument (attempting to prove that a claim is valid through logic and evidence rather than what is commonly believed that argument is intended to prove a claim is factually true).
Each one calls for a different strategy to effectively cut through the fog of presumptions and assumptions. The most difficult one to deal with is belief, for it wraps itself in certitudes and self-righteousness. With help from communications experts and psychologists who have extensive experience dealing with belief, opinion, and argument, strategies can be developed to get our voices heard despite the antipathy of the media to allow our experience any credence.
Phrased it as a question to get readers to discover the answer themselves. Sad thing is that Biden and Harris know it too. Doesn't seem to have influenced their attitude or shaped their policy. Machiavellian and Bismarckian version of Realpolitik at work here.
Doesn't look good for traditional American style democracy, Jews, Israel, or the world for that matter, whoever wins on the 7th.
The Dark-side of the Human Psyche is the real driver of ill-feeling towards Out-Groups in society. Hatred is an all-too-easy emotion and The Dark-side gets cyclically activated when The State needs emotions in the Populus to re-boot The State's function. This is why all Jews need Israel as the place of safety, when The State reaches for the Bull-Horn and the Bull-Whip. We are not the only out-group, but certainly the oldest. Actually we are lucky. Israel is strong, and this commands respect in European and US corridors of power. So, stay vigilant, keep notes, and buy property in Israel!
I'm very thankful Joshua for Future of Jewish, and your own writings that I have read as well as a number of your Guests writers. I'm also very thankful to the '1000s' of Jewish persons working behind the scenes: from Hillel Neuer of UN Watch to local community members at our minimally active Shule who ensure wonderful communal meals on memorial and other related functions to our Chevra Kadisha (whose main members very rarely would 'step inside a shule'). Nonetheless, after another wonderfully informed, well written, thoughtful piece... I have as usual... my own kneejerk reaction. In this case only to the last bit: "... transforming anxiety into a call for justice, empathy, and resolve. And in this shared vigilance lies a source of strength, uniting us in the unwavering belief that antisemitism, however it appears, will not go unchallenged." 'call for justice, empathy, and resolve' to my little mind that stuff reminds me of the well thought out concerns and directives of DEI (galore, ad infinitum except to the consideration of Jewish and Israeli persons); and what is called 'woke' and 'progressive' not to mention -for example- the un-religion of the Jewish cult of The Well-Intended - 'Progressive Movement', etc. Other nifty words at the ending such as 'vigilance' 'source of strength' 'uniting us' etc. strike me as VERY nice words but they strike a sour chord in my little mind that rings like Beethoven's Fifth. That is warnings one after the other. This time the overall warning is that nice words are not always effective. As an example.... what practical value did the Jewish 'nice words' yield since October 8th (2023)? Since October 8th (2023) I have often written, including in my Comments on Substack, "The We" now must face "The BIG Lesson" which actually may consist of dozens of small lessons for individual Jewish persons. Additionally I ask rhetorically "Now What"?. Nice words are MUCH better than 'strong' or nasty words. But 'nice words' have reached their Use-By-Date October 6 (sixth), 2023. Nice words are still most appropriate, always. But they are simply no longer effective. Personally, as stated repeatedly, besides the great work of fantastic blogs such as Future of Jewish and the 1000s working behind the scenes in other very practical ways... I think/imagine/believe/wonder that the most important immediate reply is a) study Torah daily as has long been proscribed; b) meet face to face with other Jewish persons - any excuse will do - keep it minimal, keep it light, attempt to bring Torah somehow into the conversation c) go within and get over one's own blocks which stop one from delving into our Cultural Practices; etc. As 'member' of the non-existent realm of 'Minimalism Judaism' so to speak... I'm trying. Jews need to come together around and in Judaism.. Often. Good luck.
Great article! Much to think about. Here in Australia Jews are having to take an Iman to court themselves for hate speech inciting violence because our government has been so weak in supporting us.
"For instance, it is reasonable for a Jewish person to feel anxiety if they see one political leader as better equipped to protect Jewish communities or foster a positive relationship with Israel."
If you are referring to Trump vs. Harris, the problem is that this is terribly subjective. So a more accurate way to put this would be "..if they PERCEIVE one political leader as better equipped to protect Jewish communities.."
This speaks to me. As a youngster in a Deep South town, I experienced awful Jew hate--including being physically beaten up several times. Then, as an adult living in Los Angeles and then New York, I felt better over time but always experienced a jolt of anxiety whenever I was asked by someone, "Are you Jewish?" And then, after Oct. 7th-- I began having panic attacks. I began volunteering for several groups fighting antisemitism, and yes, that has helped channel my anxiety into a feeling of empowerment. But, wow--what you wrote is true and I recognized myself in the article.
This is beyond disgusting! It is truly terrible. I can’t work this out but it is terrifying. We have to come together and solve this, otherwise, civilisation will end. Israel, I stand with you and this terror has to end.
The leak of private data about Australian Jews was from a New York Times reporter, Natasha Frost
https://www.foxnews.com/world/nyt-reporter-leaked-info-whatsapp-group-jewish-businesses-leading-doxxing-harassment
Not been fired. She’s still there.
"antisemitism is not just alive and well on college campuses. In New York City, for example, activists and foreign actors have infiltrated the city’s public schools with anti-Israel materials, fostering bias and hatred of Jews"
Where does the money trail for the considerable expenses related to these "public demonstrations" lead to? Just wondering.
Dr. Ilene S. Cohen noted "“Most notably, the Holocaust has left an indelible mark on the collective Jewish psyche. . ." The technical term for this well known phenomenon is intergenerational trauma. Every Jew looks at pictures from this. And thinks "If I were there then, that would be me."
"Hate crimes against Jews are rising globally, and expressions of anti-Jewish sentiments have become alarmingly mainstreamed"
Peering into the abyss that is raw human hatred is never comfortable. History shows us over and over again its ultimate end.
"Recognizing and validating antisemitism anxiety is not a concession to fear, but rather a call to action. This anxiety can serve as a guide, a reminder to uphold the values of resilience, solidarity, and proactive vigilance."
Two responses: the claim that anxiety "can serve as a guide, a reminder to uphold the values of resilience, solidarity, and proactive vigilance" is a simplistic feel good statement. The real value lies in the first part of the above about a call to action. To counter the antisemitic propaganda swirling about us, we need what is Israelis call הַסְבָּרָה, hasbara in English. It has no direct English translation, but roughly means "explaining" or in today's parlance, Public Diplomacy. The Israeli government and Jewish organizations around the world need to target all non-Jewish media outlets. To do so effectively, they firstly need to recognize that they are dealing not with a mere emotion-reason polarity but rather with several different cognitive processes:
1. Belief (taking a thing to be so when there is no evidence that it is so and often in the face the evidence that it is not so);
2 Opinion, especially personal vs. informed or expert opinion, and
3. Argument (attempting to prove that a claim is valid through logic and evidence rather than what is commonly believed that argument is intended to prove a claim is factually true).
Each one calls for a different strategy to effectively cut through the fog of presumptions and assumptions. The most difficult one to deal with is belief, for it wraps itself in certitudes and self-righteousness. With help from communications experts and psychologists who have extensive experience dealing with belief, opinion, and argument, strategies can be developed to get our voices heard despite the antipathy of the media to allow our experience any credence.
The money trail usually leads back to Iran and Qatar.
And Saudi Arabia
Or from American ( Biden) straight to Iran
Phrased it as a question to get readers to discover the answer themselves. Sad thing is that Biden and Harris know it too. Doesn't seem to have influenced their attitude or shaped their policy. Machiavellian and Bismarckian version of Realpolitik at work here.
Doesn't look good for traditional American style democracy, Jews, Israel, or the world for that matter, whoever wins on the 7th.
Soros, Pritzker and Rockefeller are also involved.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/05/pro-palestinian-protests-columbia-university-funding-donors-00156135
The Dark-side of the Human Psyche is the real driver of ill-feeling towards Out-Groups in society. Hatred is an all-too-easy emotion and The Dark-side gets cyclically activated when The State needs emotions in the Populus to re-boot The State's function. This is why all Jews need Israel as the place of safety, when The State reaches for the Bull-Horn and the Bull-Whip. We are not the only out-group, but certainly the oldest. Actually we are lucky. Israel is strong, and this commands respect in European and US corridors of power. So, stay vigilant, keep notes, and buy property in Israel!
I'm very thankful Joshua for Future of Jewish, and your own writings that I have read as well as a number of your Guests writers. I'm also very thankful to the '1000s' of Jewish persons working behind the scenes: from Hillel Neuer of UN Watch to local community members at our minimally active Shule who ensure wonderful communal meals on memorial and other related functions to our Chevra Kadisha (whose main members very rarely would 'step inside a shule'). Nonetheless, after another wonderfully informed, well written, thoughtful piece... I have as usual... my own kneejerk reaction. In this case only to the last bit: "... transforming anxiety into a call for justice, empathy, and resolve. And in this shared vigilance lies a source of strength, uniting us in the unwavering belief that antisemitism, however it appears, will not go unchallenged." 'call for justice, empathy, and resolve' to my little mind that stuff reminds me of the well thought out concerns and directives of DEI (galore, ad infinitum except to the consideration of Jewish and Israeli persons); and what is called 'woke' and 'progressive' not to mention -for example- the un-religion of the Jewish cult of The Well-Intended - 'Progressive Movement', etc. Other nifty words at the ending such as 'vigilance' 'source of strength' 'uniting us' etc. strike me as VERY nice words but they strike a sour chord in my little mind that rings like Beethoven's Fifth. That is warnings one after the other. This time the overall warning is that nice words are not always effective. As an example.... what practical value did the Jewish 'nice words' yield since October 8th (2023)? Since October 8th (2023) I have often written, including in my Comments on Substack, "The We" now must face "The BIG Lesson" which actually may consist of dozens of small lessons for individual Jewish persons. Additionally I ask rhetorically "Now What"?. Nice words are MUCH better than 'strong' or nasty words. But 'nice words' have reached their Use-By-Date October 6 (sixth), 2023. Nice words are still most appropriate, always. But they are simply no longer effective. Personally, as stated repeatedly, besides the great work of fantastic blogs such as Future of Jewish and the 1000s working behind the scenes in other very practical ways... I think/imagine/believe/wonder that the most important immediate reply is a) study Torah daily as has long been proscribed; b) meet face to face with other Jewish persons - any excuse will do - keep it minimal, keep it light, attempt to bring Torah somehow into the conversation c) go within and get over one's own blocks which stop one from delving into our Cultural Practices; etc. As 'member' of the non-existent realm of 'Minimalism Judaism' so to speak... I'm trying. Jews need to come together around and in Judaism.. Often. Good luck.
Great article! Much to think about. Here in Australia Jews are having to take an Iman to court themselves for hate speech inciting violence because our government has been so weak in supporting us.
"For instance, it is reasonable for a Jewish person to feel anxiety if they see one political leader as better equipped to protect Jewish communities or foster a positive relationship with Israel."
If you are referring to Trump vs. Harris, the problem is that this is terribly subjective. So a more accurate way to put this would be "..if they PERCEIVE one political leader as better equipped to protect Jewish communities.."