When “Zionist” becomes culturally understood shorthand for something sinister, Hollywood no longer needs explicit antisemitism. The implication does the work.
If you want to understand the hate, read The Hidden Hand by Warren Kinsella, who argues that the surge in anti-Israel activism is not organic but is orchestrated by a "hidden hand" involving entities like Iran, Qatar, Hamas, and Hezbollah. He details how these groups operate a massive online propaganda campaign (a "Digital Intifada") to influence public opinion. The book argues that Gen Z and Millennials on social media are being manipulated into supporting extremist ideologies that target Israel and Western values.The work highlights that the current surge is the result of decades of planning and substantial funding, involving networks of NGOs, unions, and professional organizers.
The book is characterized as a study of the "narrative war" designed to sway Western media, voters, and legislators against Israel.
Yes but that preposes that people guilty of antisemitism have no agency, that they themselves carry none of the responsibility for their conduct. There may well be nefarious agents of amtisemitism acting like traffic wardens, guiding the hatred. But each and every person spreading this virus knows exactly what they're doing, and shares responsibility for it.
The antizionist bigoted hate movement has through libels, conspiracies, denials and stigmatisation created the permission structure to not only demonise Jews on the biggest global stages, but to have Jews futilely try find an escape path out of the abuse to try save themselves. However the abuse only stops when the abuser is told “Stop your abuse!”
Handler is a shameless attention whore. That is all she is. The same with the likes of Seth Rogen. She also knows that if she came out as Zionist, her industry would disown her. So she has no backbone. And honestly she really is just stupid thinking the Jew-haters wouldn't throw her in a cattle car if she helped get other Jews killed.
"Chelsea, you should know that Judaism and Zionism are NOT two different things. There are so many Jews you could contact, including me, to help you understand why. Let me know."
“Chelsea Handler fired back: “just so you know, Judaism and Zionism are two different things.”
Someone recently observed on a youtube video that the American Jewish community was basically doomed to disappear. Chelsea Handler is one evidence of this assimilationist self-destruction.
To assert “She accepted the premise that “Zionist” was a label requiring an apology” is reductivist as it minimizes what actually took place. What she committed was a prime example of dissociation.
Her claim reveals a profound ignorance of the essence of Judaism. The Land of Israel is not simply a piece of real estate. Zionism is and has always has been what all indigenous peoples claim as the source of their foundational identities: intimate connection between the Divine, Peoplehood, and Land. For Jews, this identity finds its quintessential expression in The Covenant, something Handler appears to have no handle on.
Mitch, great article, and you’re so right. If someone calls you a Zionist, the response should not be embarrassment, distancing, or apology. The response should be: “Yes, I’m a proud Zionist.”
What has happened culturally is that the word “Zionist” has slowly been transformed into something sinister in many circles, and too many people now react defensively instead of challenging the premise itself. Once you start apologizing for the word, you already surrender ground psychologically and culturally.
I don't think Gilles is an anti-semite. I have never heard him say anything either anti-Jew or anti-Israel before. This "joke" was disgusting. There are some things decent people don't joke about and one is the implication that Zionists are child killers. He ought to apologize for it but won't. But I don't think he or Netflix should be considered either anti-Zionists or anti-Semites just because of this one shameful attempt at a joke.
I am more disturbed by Handler. No Jew should ever attempt to separate Judaism and Zionism. This is what the leftist Anti-Zionist Jews do. I have no evidence that Handler is one of them so she should not be doing their work. It reminds of when Charles Schumer decided to handle the uptick in anti-semitism in late 2023 by insisting that Jews are victims too and not oppressors. He accepted the paradigm of the anti-semites and so did Handler.
I respectfully disagree. Gilles is clearly an antisemite. No one else would make such a comment (it wasn’t funny or even remotely a joke). Shame on him.
I realize that many anti-Jewish people use anti-Zionism as a cover for their Jew hatred, but when Jewish Haredim, at least some them, say that Israel shouldn't exist due to their own religious beliefs, do they not see a distinction between the two?
Not trying to create an argument, just trying to understand their logic.
A very tiny fraction of Jews, a sect called Neturei Karta, claim that Israel should not exist as a Jewish state until the messiah arrives. They are used by Jew-haters and Antizionists as tokens to “prove” that even so-called Orthodox Jews are against Israel, or that Israel’s existence somehow defies Jewish law. It’s a fig leaf for hate, nothing more. The beliefs of this sect are in no way representative of or in any way more authentic than the mainstream of Jewish belief.
And PS: there’s no “logic” to antizionism. It’s a hate movement and those who embrace it suspend all disbelief and logic to spread hate and libels about Jews.
Speaking of dead kids, there was the Bibas babies and 38 Israeli children in all murdered on October 7.
That's why I never watch any of this crap, whether awards shows or roasts.
If I said I have nothing against Catholics, I just believe the Vatican should be abolished, would Catholics find that acceptable?
Jews should embrace Zionism not run away from it in fear of the mob or their particular peer group. Judaism and Zionism are inextricably linked and essential to Jewish identity and religious belief. Zionism should be a source of pride. We cannot accept the radical left's redefinition of Zionism as they have done with so many other terms. We must STOP allowing the left to set terms.
Gillis hosted “The Roast of Kevin Hart” aired live on Netflix from Los Angeles on Sunday. He said, speaking of Jewish comedian Chelsea Handler, who was also in attendance: “Chelsea is a Zionist. Not saying that’s a good or bad thing. Speaking of dead kids, she’s a big fan of abortions.”
If you want to understand the hate, read The Hidden Hand by Warren Kinsella, who argues that the surge in anti-Israel activism is not organic but is orchestrated by a "hidden hand" involving entities like Iran, Qatar, Hamas, and Hezbollah. He details how these groups operate a massive online propaganda campaign (a "Digital Intifada") to influence public opinion. The book argues that Gen Z and Millennials on social media are being manipulated into supporting extremist ideologies that target Israel and Western values.The work highlights that the current surge is the result of decades of planning and substantial funding, involving networks of NGOs, unions, and professional organizers.
The book is characterized as a study of the "narrative war" designed to sway Western media, voters, and legislators against Israel.
Yes but that preposes that people guilty of antisemitism have no agency, that they themselves carry none of the responsibility for their conduct. There may well be nefarious agents of amtisemitism acting like traffic wardens, guiding the hatred. But each and every person spreading this virus knows exactly what they're doing, and shares responsibility for it.
Thank you for this information. As I always say, Qatar is the devil wearing Prada.
Just bought The Hidden Hand tonight
read The Hidden Hand and Share!
The antizionist bigoted hate movement has through libels, conspiracies, denials and stigmatisation created the permission structure to not only demonise Jews on the biggest global stages, but to have Jews futilely try find an escape path out of the abuse to try save themselves. However the abuse only stops when the abuser is told “Stop your abuse!”
Hollywood is as morally bankrupt as it is antisemitic. I should know because once upon a time
I worked on studio lots. I don't have a Netflix subscription--never!-- and you couldn't pay me to watch Chelsea Handler perform.
Jews need to stop financially supporting people and streamers-- all companies etc. who harm the Jewish people.
Handler is a shameless attention whore. That is all she is. The same with the likes of Seth Rogen. She also knows that if she came out as Zionist, her industry would disown her. So she has no backbone. And honestly she really is just stupid thinking the Jew-haters wouldn't throw her in a cattle car if she helped get other Jews killed.
I just messaged Chelsea on "https://www.chelseahandler.com/contact" the following, and you should too!
"Chelsea, you should know that Judaism and Zionism are NOT two different things. There are so many Jews you could contact, including me, to help you understand why. Let me know."
“Chelsea Handler fired back: “just so you know, Judaism and Zionism are two different things.”
Someone recently observed on a youtube video that the American Jewish community was basically doomed to disappear. Chelsea Handler is one evidence of this assimilationist self-destruction.
To assert “She accepted the premise that “Zionist” was a label requiring an apology” is reductivist as it minimizes what actually took place. What she committed was a prime example of dissociation.
Her claim reveals a profound ignorance of the essence of Judaism. The Land of Israel is not simply a piece of real estate. Zionism is and has always has been what all indigenous peoples claim as the source of their foundational identities: intimate connection between the Divine, Peoplehood, and Land. For Jews, this identity finds its quintessential expression in The Covenant, something Handler appears to have no handle on.
Mitch, great article, and you’re so right. If someone calls you a Zionist, the response should not be embarrassment, distancing, or apology. The response should be: “Yes, I’m a proud Zionist.”
What has happened culturally is that the word “Zionist” has slowly been transformed into something sinister in many circles, and too many people now react defensively instead of challenging the premise itself. Once you start apologizing for the word, you already surrender ground psychologically and culturally.
Did you really think for one second that @ChelseaHandler was NOT going to run away from her progressivism.
I don't think Gilles is an anti-semite. I have never heard him say anything either anti-Jew or anti-Israel before. This "joke" was disgusting. There are some things decent people don't joke about and one is the implication that Zionists are child killers. He ought to apologize for it but won't. But I don't think he or Netflix should be considered either anti-Zionists or anti-Semites just because of this one shameful attempt at a joke.
I am more disturbed by Handler. No Jew should ever attempt to separate Judaism and Zionism. This is what the leftist Anti-Zionist Jews do. I have no evidence that Handler is one of them so she should not be doing their work. It reminds of when Charles Schumer decided to handle the uptick in anti-semitism in late 2023 by insisting that Jews are victims too and not oppressors. He accepted the paradigm of the anti-semites and so did Handler.
I respectfully disagree. Gilles is clearly an antisemite. No one else would make such a comment (it wasn’t funny or even remotely a joke). Shame on him.
I realize that many anti-Jewish people use anti-Zionism as a cover for their Jew hatred, but when Jewish Haredim, at least some them, say that Israel shouldn't exist due to their own religious beliefs, do they not see a distinction between the two?
Not trying to create an argument, just trying to understand their logic.
A very tiny fraction of Jews, a sect called Neturei Karta, claim that Israel should not exist as a Jewish state until the messiah arrives. They are used by Jew-haters and Antizionists as tokens to “prove” that even so-called Orthodox Jews are against Israel, or that Israel’s existence somehow defies Jewish law. It’s a fig leaf for hate, nothing more. The beliefs of this sect are in no way representative of or in any way more authentic than the mainstream of Jewish belief.
And PS: there’s no “logic” to antizionism. It’s a hate movement and those who embrace it suspend all disbelief and logic to spread hate and libels about Jews.
OK - thanks - those Neturei Karta sound a little off.
Truthfully, they should be called out as Zionists too, just “Zionists in waiting”, not Antizionists.
Very off!
Speaking of dead kids, there was the Bibas babies and 38 Israeli children in all murdered on October 7.
That's why I never watch any of this crap, whether awards shows or roasts.
If I said I have nothing against Catholics, I just believe the Vatican should be abolished, would Catholics find that acceptable?
Jews should embrace Zionism not run away from it in fear of the mob or their particular peer group. Judaism and Zionism are inextricably linked and essential to Jewish identity and religious belief. Zionism should be a source of pride. We cannot accept the radical left's redefinition of Zionism as they have done with so many other terms. We must STOP allowing the left to set terms.
.................................................................................................................................................................................................
Gillis hosted “The Roast of Kevin Hart” aired live on Netflix from Los Angeles on Sunday. He said, speaking of Jewish comedian Chelsea Handler, who was also in attendance: “Chelsea is a Zionist. Not saying that’s a good or bad thing. Speaking of dead kids, she’s a big fan of abortions.”
Good.
Breaks my heart. Racism and Antisemitism have equal damage 😞💔🙏