One point I am wrestling with: the Jewish community (most of it) has spent the last 70-80 years lobbying for, and promoting, the State of Israel to anyone in power, and in the media. We have convinced mainstream America (most of it, until now) that Israel's interests are in perfect alignment with those of the USA. Now, we (many of us) want to communicate that we don't support the current government, or the outrageous actions of its military. After decades of promoting unconditional support, I am not surprised that (some) Americans view American Jews as proxies for that state. This, at times, is hard to counter, especially among people whose only connection to American Jewry is through one of the mainstream Jewish organizations, and the coverage they get in the press and online.
The "alphabet soup" of American Jewish mainstream organizations, from the ADL to the JFNA to the ZOA (as you pointed out) are acting as agents of a foreign power, and not as advocates for American Jews. I'd like to officially reclassify these organizations as such. I imagine there are implications for tax status; but, even if not, at the very least, people would see these groups for what they truly are.
In my own community, I am trying to push our Federation away from this unconditional support, around which they organize programs and send promotional emails. I mostly fail. And, "worst" of all, many people who work there are lovely folks, respectful, professional, and helpful when I need something. It's a complicated relationship to navigate.
Add AIPAC to your alphabet soup. I'd put them at the top of the list. As I'm sure you are aware, AIPAC has long been -- and is now widely recognized as -- a toxic influence pushing policies supporting Israeli actions, including genocide in Gaza and expansion of West Bank settlements. They also contribute to the suppression of dissent on university campuses here in the US.
Since Gaza it's becoming a curse in most districts to say a candidate is supported by AIPAC. They may not represent a majority of American Jews, but they're funded by the donor class and have had a stranglehold on Congress.
Jay, I know you publish in more mainstream publications like Rolling Stone and such. What I’m wondering about is how does this message get out especially to these organizations? There must be people within the alphabet organizations who would be receptive to this information.
What you’re saying is very scary and very true. It’s journalism like yours that hopefully can turn people’s awareness, but how do you get this out to the right people? The antisemitism on the right is terrifying and is the real threat!
Many thanks for expressing more cogently what many of us are seeing and hearing and experiencing. In my youth, anti-semitism was experienced from the right and the more extreme left. It was as late as 1974 when I was told by a fellow law student that she did not mean me in personally in a comment she made, I was “a white Jew”. It seems never to go away.
Jay, thank you for this essay!
One point I am wrestling with: the Jewish community (most of it) has spent the last 70-80 years lobbying for, and promoting, the State of Israel to anyone in power, and in the media. We have convinced mainstream America (most of it, until now) that Israel's interests are in perfect alignment with those of the USA. Now, we (many of us) want to communicate that we don't support the current government, or the outrageous actions of its military. After decades of promoting unconditional support, I am not surprised that (some) Americans view American Jews as proxies for that state. This, at times, is hard to counter, especially among people whose only connection to American Jewry is through one of the mainstream Jewish organizations, and the coverage they get in the press and online.
The "alphabet soup" of American Jewish mainstream organizations, from the ADL to the JFNA to the ZOA (as you pointed out) are acting as agents of a foreign power, and not as advocates for American Jews. I'd like to officially reclassify these organizations as such. I imagine there are implications for tax status; but, even if not, at the very least, people would see these groups for what they truly are.
In my own community, I am trying to push our Federation away from this unconditional support, around which they organize programs and send promotional emails. I mostly fail. And, "worst" of all, many people who work there are lovely folks, respectful, professional, and helpful when I need something. It's a complicated relationship to navigate.
Again, thank you for this piece.
Add AIPAC to your alphabet soup. I'd put them at the top of the list. As I'm sure you are aware, AIPAC has long been -- and is now widely recognized as -- a toxic influence pushing policies supporting Israeli actions, including genocide in Gaza and expansion of West Bank settlements. They also contribute to the suppression of dissent on university campuses here in the US.
Since Gaza it's becoming a curse in most districts to say a candidate is supported by AIPAC. They may not represent a majority of American Jews, but they're funded by the donor class and have had a stranglehold on Congress.
This is a great post, but I feel like it goes a little light re: the cynical and purposeful nature/impact of the anti-antisemitism industry....
Jay, I know you publish in more mainstream publications like Rolling Stone and such. What I’m wondering about is how does this message get out especially to these organizations? There must be people within the alphabet organizations who would be receptive to this information.
What you’re saying is very scary and very true. It’s journalism like yours that hopefully can turn people’s awareness, but how do you get this out to the right people? The antisemitism on the right is terrifying and is the real threat!
Many thanks for expressing more cogently what many of us are seeing and hearing and experiencing. In my youth, anti-semitism was experienced from the right and the more extreme left. It was as late as 1974 when I was told by a fellow law student that she did not mean me in personally in a comment she made, I was “a white Jew”. It seems never to go away.