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Behind the Aegis

(53,833 posts)
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 05:42 AM Nov 2018

Being Jewish, Watching the Rise Of Antisemitism

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We are seeing a frightening rise in antisemitism in this country. The latest incident I read about happened Thursday night. Standing alone, it would only be a shudder in the steady undercurrent of antisemitic hatred lurking beneath the surface in this country. But combined with the resurgence of antisemitic rhetoric and events which have been building since 2016 and have accelerated rapidly in the past weeks and months, it is a terrifying example of what could become regular occurrences.

Comedian Ilana Glazer scheduled a get-out-the-vote event at a Brooklyn synagogue Thursday night where she was going to interview a journalist and two Democratic state senate candidates. It was canceled because antisemitic graffiti was found on inside walls of the synagogue, including “Die Jew Rats,” “We are here,” “Hitler,” “Jew Better Be Ready” and “End it now."

The usual response would be to increase security at the event and carry on as planned. Don't let the haters win. But not this time. Not in today's climate. After the killings at a Pittsburg synagogue, you don't take chances with people's lives.

The vile, threatening slogans scrawled on the synagogue walls are the kind of thing my parents told me about, or I read in books and saw in movies. They weren't supposed to be happening anymore. But then again, until two years ago, I cannot remember seeing television coverage of people marching down the street carrying tiki torches and chanting "Jews will not replace us!" The murdering of Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue is said to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in this country's history.

more...

And yet, some still make excuses to not discuss anti-Semitism, make excuses for anti-Semitism, or, even worse, participate in the anti-Semitism.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Being Jewish, Watching the Rise Of Antisemitism (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Nov 2018 OP
Not only must we discuss anti-seminitism but be proactive in stopping justhanginon Nov 2018 #1
How can I have become so old and still be so naive? UpInArms Nov 2018 #2
Happened to me the other day... mitch96 Nov 2018 #3
The TrumpenFuhrer is not just fostering extremist hatred in our nation, but is the living embodiment jcmaine72 Nov 2018 #4
People need to wake up. yardwork Nov 2018 #5
I'm not even sure where this lived for all of my life Sgent Nov 2018 #6
Until people acknowledge leftynyc Nov 2018 #7
K&R. JudyM Nov 2018 #8
Guy at my pharmacist, wears a yarmulke, Coventina Nov 2018 #9

justhanginon

(3,287 posts)
1. Not only must we discuss anti-seminitism but be proactive in stopping
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 07:26 AM
Nov 2018

it before it takes over a large portion of our country. It happened before and will happen again if we don't speak up forcefully against it when and where it is encountered. People need to know that we will not tolerate it in any way shape or form, period.

UpInArms

(51,253 posts)
2. How can I have become so old and still be so naive?
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 07:56 AM
Nov 2018

I have never understood anti semiticism ... and I cannot even grasp how people can think, much less, write those words .... I was made crazy when tRump said there were “fine” people in that Charlottesville display of hate .... our president? Someone supposed to be an example of what is best and ... he is only an example of what is worst?

I fear for all of us who live on this planet when such evil walks among us ...

Stay safe, my friends

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
3. Happened to me the other day...
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 09:07 AM
Nov 2018

Having lunch with a friend and her other friend I have never met before.. We were talking about getting our DNA tested for our biological history... The one girl who I just met is very proud of her Italian ancestry. She then comes out with the statement that she would be afraid to find out she was not Italian... Maybe Spanish, French or Eastern European or even... She then gives me the side eye and says those magic words... Your not Jewish are you???
I was so fucken flabbergasted I was speechless!!! My old man was Jewish so I'm very sensitive to that crap... Even my grandmother on my mothers side had me baptized so there would not be a "little Jew" in the house.... Jeeze this shit never stops...
m

jcmaine72

(1,773 posts)
4. The TrumpenFuhrer is not just fostering extremist hatred in our nation, but is the living embodiment
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 09:12 AM
Nov 2018

of it.

Property seizures and round ups are probably next.

Sgent

(5,857 posts)
6. I'm not even sure where this lived for all of my life
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 10:00 AM
Nov 2018

Its almost like we went from 1960 - 2016 with almost no anti-semitism, then bam.

I remember thinking that anti-semitism was basically a relic of a different time which at worst might keep you from a social club -- that said the country club in my small town had Jewish members at least as far back as the 70's.

Then Charlottesville and the synagogue where I grew up was defaced, and now another one near where I live.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
7. Until people acknowledge
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 11:01 AM
Nov 2018

that hating Jews comes from both sides of the aisle, it will remain the least talked about hatred.

Coventina

(26,874 posts)
9. Guy at my pharmacist, wears a yarmulke,
Sat Nov 3, 2018, 02:56 PM
Nov 2018

yesterday when I picked up my prescriptions, he was wearing a baseball cap.

I'm assuming the yarmulke was underneath it.

It made me want to cry.

I wanted to say something to him, but I just didn't know what the right words to say were.
I wanted to express support, but wasn't sure how to do so without possibly sounding patronizing.

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