If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking, “There can’t be any anti-semitism in anti-oppressive spaces. That just doesn’t make sense.”
I thought it was just me. And maybe a few other people who — in secrecy — told me hushed stories of agreement. But then I talked with someone — in confidence! — about this issue, who pointed out some interesting resources. And soon I found out that it’s not just me.
It’s the whole world.
Here are some deep-dives that I would love to go through with you:
Looking Left at Antisemitism by Spencer Sunshine (67-page super-readable article that will cause you to rethink everything about Left ideology)
The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere: making resistance to antisemitism part of all our movements by April Rosenblum (30ish-page zine that traces antisemitism on the Left through history and worldwide)
“Progressive” Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism by Alvin H. Rosenfeld (22-page pamphlet)
Understanding Antisemitism: An Offering to Our Movement - A Resource from Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (44-page booklet)
That’s Funny, You Don’t Look Anti-Semitic: An anti-racist analysis of left anti-semitism by Steve Cohen (115-page book published in 1984(!!), and again in 2019, and sources say the problem hasn’t changed in 35 years(!!))
What is left antisemitism, and how can it be confronted? with Daniel Rendall (23-minute video, historical and current overview, from a UK Socialist perspective)
Carly Pildis’ writings (a feast of articles; this one and this one helped inspire me to stop silencing myself and start speaking up)
Workers’ Liberty’s Debate and background on left antisemitism (so much material - including this 28-page pamphlet, and this on boycotts)
Engage Online: The anti-racist campaign against antisemitism (link is to their “About” page, but we can look all over their site)
Jews & Allies United to End Anti-Semitism (articles and method of healing discourse)
Myths & Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Mitchell G. Bard (book and separate articles, such as this one on intersectionality)
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries: The Case for Rights and Redress by Irwin Cotler, David Matas, and Stanley A. Urman (74-page booklet)
Whoa. That’s a lot. I can’t believe some of these people are writing about things I’m writing about.
I haven’t read all of this. And I already know I don’t agree with everything everyone says. But that’s why I want to go through this with you. Let’s plunge into each resource together, highlight key quotes, share perspectives and experiences, and keep looking. This is a veritable abundance. Let’s take each source one at a time. Process it and let it change us. Heal and refine our thinking.
After that, we can walk through paywalls and get “Anti-Semitism: Why Is It Everyone’s Concern?” by Cherie R. Brown and Amy Leos-Urbel (30-page pamphlet); Left in Dark Times by Bernard-Henri Levy (214-page book, French perspective); Fields of Exile by Norah Gold (novel); Jews Don’t Count: How identity politics failed one particular identity by David Badiell (144-page book)
If we have time we can also ask questions like, What is Progressivism, anyway? And, What’s the deal with Middle East Reporting? We could look at Bari Weiss’ resignation letter from the New York Times.
We can also look at the claim that anti-Zionism is more about supporting Palestinians than it is about antisemitism by looking at their silence on other Palestinian struggles, such as in Syria. Maybe these are topics that need to be part of all movements to support Palestinians.
And if we really want to face racism within Jewish communities, we can do more to learn from and support Jews from the Middle East and North Africa.
All right, friends. Where would you like to start?