One of the interesting things about the Labour antisemitism crisis--and why certain folks on this side of the pond don't pay it much mind--is that it neatly and unimpeachably disposes with the fictional line separating anti-Zionism from antisemitism.
British Jews fear for their safety and are contemplating aliyah and American Jewish groups are like "good thing antisemitism is only dangerous from the right!" IOW, the American left to British Jews: Drop dead.
Solidarity in this country is reserved for ideological tribes. Yuck.
Solidarity in this country is reserved for ideological tribes. Yuck.
One of the things I liked in Bari Weiss's book was her point that Jews should be clear that they expect others to show solidarity. Bari meant it mostly with non-Jews. But the truth is in America we badly need this within Judaism. Catholics will defend me; secular Jews won't.
Funny part is, the reverse doesn't hold. When something like the attacks on Vindman happen, they will (rightly) expect me to be there on the front lines with them. And then when Rashida Tlaib says something they suddenly vanish, new phone who dis.
My favorite--and it happens a lot--is the "clean up your own house" dodge when we call out antisemitism on the left. That is, so many liberal Jews see "their house" as a political party or movement, and see their fellow Jews as belonging to some other tribe, not their problem.
I think that gets at the key difference between British Jews and American Jews. Liberal US Jews see right-of-center Jews as not their "house." British Jews still see the Jewish people as a people. They're all in one "house." That's the contrast, and it's a massive difference.
A line Kevin Williamson wrote in a piece for us this year: "the relatively orthodox and observant Catholics and Jews who have in the early 21st century discovered that they have far more in common with one another than they do with casual secularists, agnostics, or atheists."
It is, when you think about it, an absolutely amazing place Catholics and Jews have come to. And it's entirely accurate.
In any event, the takeaway is this: expect solidarity. But not merely from the non-Jews around you. Expect your fellow Jews to show up and have your back. And make sure they know that's what you expect of them.
One reason this is in my head is I've been reading a bunch lately on the anti-Zionist campaigns throughout the Russian Empire in the first part of the 20th century, and the untold bloodshed they caused, so I don't have much patience for "it's just legitimate criticism of policy!"
Sure, this has always caused pogroms throughout existence, but this time it's coming from a good place! Intersectionalism!
Under no circumstances am I going to pretend this is anything other than a monstrous argument.
Under no circumstances am I going to pretend this is anything other than a monstrous argument.
