A short thread about the word antisemitism. One of the reasons ppl are confused is because the word "Jew" isn't in word. That leads to some misguided rhetoric line "Arabs are semites so antisemitism is hatred of Arabs." (anti-Arab prejudice is real, but term is different) (1/4)
The term antisemite was invented by German antisemite in late 19th c. to respond to trends toward emancipation of Jews, incl in new German constitution. Term represented shift from Christianity-based anti-Judaism (as continued existence of Jews threatened supercessionism) (2/4)
Antisemites suggested that Jews are racially different, that assimilation/integration of Jews is dangerous as Jews become secret nefarious force undermining German society. Not different from white supremacist theory today, which also warns against Jewish infiltration. (3/4)
To be clear, Jews see ourselves as a people, which is a term broader than religion/race/ethnicity & doesn't fit neatly into American categories. But discrimination continues to be based both on ancient Christian anti-Jewish beliefs & also on racialized antisemitism. (4/4)
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A few words about the drama that unfolded over the past week plus regarding @ADL
This will be a long thread—please read the whole thing before responding. And if you tweet part of it, remind your followers that it's a thread & they should also read the whole thing. (1/25)
The ADL was founded in 1913 in response to the lynching of a Jewish man, Leo Frank, the anniversary of whose murder was Monday. This lynching was a wake-up call to American Jews that antisemitism was alive and well. myjewishlearning.com/article/leo-fr… (2/25)
Worth noting that this was just a decade after the Kishinev pogrom, which shook American Jews and the world. Definitely worth reading Steve Zipperstein’s book on this. wwnorton.com/books/97816314…
Also worth noting that white nationalists on twitter are still attacking Frank. (3/25)
As we prepare to enter #TishaBav, the saddest day of the Jewish year, I'm thinking of the utter despair of people after the destruction of both Temples-- esp for those who lived through the slow march toward the sacking of the 2nd. Roman occupation, long siege, the end. (1/8)
The moment when what one has known no longer exists, of entering a new era in which basic survival-- and the survival of a people--is not guaranteed. We know that Judaism emerged transformed from this destruction, but one could not know in the moment. (2/8)
The book of Eicha (Lamentations), read tonight (& written about the first Temple), captures the desolation and loneliness of the moment-- the city of Jerusalem sitting solitary, bereft of its people. (3/8)
For the nth time, a thread on the difference between Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) & Medinat Yisrael (State of Israel) for Gov De Santis and anyone else still confused. Content warning: Contains nuance and will not please those on either extreme. Please read whole thread. (1/10)
Eretz Yisrael is the homeland of the Jewish people. Full stop. Denying this is antisemitic. We have thousands of years of history, memory, collective narrative there & have spent 2000 yrs praying for return, fasting to commemorate destruction of Temple, etc. etc. (2/10)
(Side note: those who think it's clever to say "Arabs are semites, so Zionists are antisemitic": 1. Antisemitism, a term invented in 19th c Germany has never meant anything but hatred of Jews 2. The idea that modern Jews are not "real" Jews is an antisemitic canard.) (3/10)
Dear way too many people in my mentions: Denying the existence or the narrative of either Jews (Israeli or otherwise) or Palestinians is a) dehumanizing b) not even helping your cause. (1/7)
1. Let's start with: Jews today (& yesterday & tomorrow) are Jews. It's an antisemitic canard that we're all descended from Khazars/that some other people are the "real Jews." Stop spreading this lie & don't tolerate it from others, especially those in your political camp (2/7)
2. Palestinians also exist, regardless of whether the English word can directly be transliterated into Arabic & regardless of fact that Palestine has not been a sovereign state. National identity quite often comes before statehood (think Zionism & other nat'l movements). (3/7)
I'm glad to see @jfederations opposing this disastrous bill, but there are a lot of issues with this response. Starting with...1) We shouldn't be disappointed; we should be infuriated. (1/9) haaretz.com/amp/us-news/.p…
2) "They also believe very public debate over original segregated communities clause –which highlighted that key coalition parties endorsed blatant discrimination – damaged Israel’s image internationally." Problem isn't Israel's image or debate. Problem is discrimination. (2/9)
3) Ditto "Another clause...would downgrade Arabic from an official language to one having “special status”...Diaspora leaders believe [this] would create negative perceptions worldwide of state-sanctioned discrimination against nearly a quarter of country’s population." (3/9)
The sin of Sodom, per intra-biblical clues & rabbinic tradition was cruelty to strangers.
"This was the sin of your sister Sodom: arrogance! She & her daughters had plenty of bread & untroubled tranquillity; yet she did not support the poor & the needy."--Ezekiel 16:49 (1/6)
Talmud expands on this: [The people of Sodom] said: Since bread comes forth out of [our] earth & it has the dust of gold, why should we suffer wayfarers, who come to us only to deplete our wealth. Come, let us abolish practice of traveling in our land. (Sanhedrin 109b) (2/6)
In other words, they saw visitors/travelers/immigrants only as a liability & thought it was a zero sum game: if we open our borders, we'll lose our wealth. (of course, we know immigration is economic plus, besides humanitarian concerns.) (3/6)