Looking forward to speaking at the @UKJewishFilm screening of @alexandre_amiel’s “Why do they hate us?” at @JW3London on Thursday night, alongside @marievanderzyl (@BoDPres), @joanryanEnfield and @Tom_Godwin.
ukjewishfilm.org/event/why-do-t…
ukjewishfilm.org/event/why-do-t…
1/9 Was an honour to speak at the @UKJewishFilm screening of @alexandre_amiel’s “Why do they hate us?” @JW3London. A great film on anti-Jewish racism in France (part of a trilogy also exploring anti-Arab and anti-Black racism)
2/ Couple of things I took away from the film:
a. how French republican secularism (laïcité) forces people to chose singular identities which causes a sense of “schizophrenia” and encourages the corrosive cultivation of invisibility that Jews resort to from fear of antisemitism;
a. how French republican secularism (laïcité) forces people to chose singular identities which causes a sense of “schizophrenia” and encourages the corrosive cultivation of invisibility that Jews resort to from fear of antisemitism;
3/9
And b. the vicious circle whereby fear of antisemitism leads to “ghettoisation” (residential and educational choices) that prevents the meaningful encounters that would start to break down antisemitism. What’s the way out of that circle?
And b. the vicious circle whereby fear of antisemitism leads to “ghettoisation” (residential and educational choices) that prevents the meaningful encounters that would start to break down antisemitism. What’s the way out of that circle?
4/9
As a fragile resource for hope I’d offer up the stories of quotidian Jewish-Muslim encounter @SamiEverett described in this article:
As a fragile resource for hope I’d offer up the stories of quotidian Jewish-Muslim encounter @SamiEverett described in this article:
4/9
Also screened last night: Kippa by young film-maker Lukas Nathrath, a disturbing short based on a true story of antisemitic bullying in Germany. Very worth watching if you get the chance.
Also screened last night: Kippa by young film-maker Lukas Nathrath, a disturbing short based on a true story of antisemitic bullying in Germany. Very worth watching if you get the chance.
6/9
It was a daunting honour to share a platform with people as distinguished as @marievanderzyl (@BoDPres) and @joanryanEnfield, and @tom_godwin’s experience of racist harassment in Devon, where I grew up, was quite an insight
It was a daunting honour to share a platform with people as distinguished as @marievanderzyl (@BoDPres) and @joanryanEnfield, and @tom_godwin’s experience of racist harassment in Devon, where I grew up, was quite an insight
7/9
The debate afterwards brought home the intense state of insecurity of UK Jews right now. This is understandable, but I worry that it means we lose sight of other dangers threatening our and other communities.
The debate afterwards brought home the intense state of insecurity of UK Jews right now. This is understandable, but I worry that it means we lose sight of other dangers threatening our and other communities.
8
The debate also reminded me we need better language than “virus” & “madness” to talk about danger of antisemitism. One important point made by @marievanderzyl is that *intent* is irrelevant in thinking about antisemitism & other racisms: it’s the impact, the hurt, that matters.
The debate also reminded me we need better language than “virus” & “madness” to talk about danger of antisemitism. One important point made by @marievanderzyl is that *intent* is irrelevant in thinking about antisemitism & other racisms: it’s the impact, the hurt, that matters.
9/9
Thanks to @IronsideJudy for the invite, to the @UKJewishFilm team, to @FatSideburns for kind hosting, and also especially to @rachel787878. A shaynem dank!
Thanks to @IronsideJudy for the invite, to the @UKJewishFilm team, to @FatSideburns for kind hosting, and also especially to @rachel787878. A shaynem dank!
