DeepSummary
The podcast discusses the recent rise in antisemitism incidents in the United States and the difficulties in defining and addressing antisemitism. It notes startling events such as the Charlottesville white supremacist march, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders. The episode brings in two Jewish journalists, Franklin Foer and Julia Yaffe, to analyze the complexities of antisemitism and the debate around what constitutes legitimate criticism of Israel versus antisemitic sentiments.
Foer and Yaffe disagree on whether opposing the existence of a Jewish state is inherently antisemitic. They acknowledge the nuances involved, with Foer arguing that some anti-Zionist views don't necessarily stem from hatred of Jews, while Yaffe contends that non-Jewish anti-Zionists often apply double standards. The discussion also touches on the challenges of addressing antisemitism amidst other pressing issues like the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The guests express surprise at the level of antisemitism experienced by American Jews in recent years, which contradicts the notion of a 'golden age' for American Jewry. Yaffe, having grown up in the Soviet Union, says she expected this resurgence, while Foer describes incidents in his own neighborhood that defied his expectations. They underscore the difficulty of holding multiple truths simultaneously - condemning antisemitism while also acknowledging other crises.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Antisemitism incidents have surged in the United States in recent years, startling many American Jews who thought it was a thing of the past.
- Defining and addressing antisemitism is complex, with debates around whether anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic and the need to balance concerns about antisemitism with other pressing issues like the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- There is disagreement over whether opposing the existence of a Jewish state constitutes antisemitism, with nuanced perspectives on the motivations behind anti-Zionist views.
- American Jews have experienced a shift from a perceived 'golden age' of acceptance to a resurgence of antisemitism, including blatant incidents and rhetoric from political leaders.
- The rise in antisemitism has impacted American Jews in visceral ways, even in communities previously thought to be immune.
- There are challenges in simultaneously acknowledging the trauma of antisemitism while also recognizing the ongoing struggles and discrimination faced by other groups.
- The debate around antisemitism highlights broader societal challenges in expressing disagreements without escalating to vitriol and the hint of violence.
- The episode underscores the difficulty of holding multiple truths simultaneously - condemning antisemitism while also acknowledging other crises and forms of discrimination.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And you had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people on both sides.“ by Franklin Foer
- “Jews will not replace us.“ by Julia Yaffe
- “Frankly, it's a bit of a shock, and maybe we are a bit naive, but we sort of maybe assumed that it was something we had mostly left behind.“ by Jeremy Burton
- “I remember the surprise among american Jews and being surprised by their surprise and kind of feeling like we told you so. It never goes away.“ by Julia Yaffe
- “After October 7. I've seen things in my own neighborhood and in my own community that I never thought I would see that my rabbi was walking down Connecticut Avenue just, you know, a couple hundred feet from my house, and somebody rolled down the window and started shouting anti semitic epithets at her and that at the base of Washington, DC.“ by Franklin Foer
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Episode Information
Consider This from NPR
NPR
5/16/24
The Anti-Defamation League says since then, antisemitic incidents in the US are up 361% over the same period a year ago. Both Congress and the White House have tried to address antisemitism in recent weeks, yet there's still a debate about what it is.
Two journalists, who have been thinking and writing about antisemitism in the U.S. weigh in.
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