Bullies in the Schoolyard

[elleng]

When anti-Semitism is aimed at kids—by other kids—how can parents respond?

'This week at after-school, my 7-year-old, Esther (not her real name), perked up her ears when she heard two older boys talking about “the Jews.” We’re Jewish. Not observant, but definitely Jewish. Esther figured they were talking about Hanukkah. They weren’t.

“Did you know,” one boy said to the other, “that the Jews hung Jesus on the cross because they hate Jesus?” The other boy, with whom Esther has been friendly in the past, nodded. “Yeah.”

Esther interrupted. She’s not always brave about climbing and swimming pools and food she suspects is awful, but she stands up for what she thinks is right. “That’s not true,” she told the boys. “And that’s a mean thing to say. Do you know I’m Jewish? That hurts my feelings.”

She said they looked at her—a Jew—for a moment and then looked away. They were older boys. There wasn’t much more she could do.

When I picked up Esther about an hour later, she was drawing a picture of the Statue of Liberty. They’ve been learning lately about the statue, and Ellis Island, and immigration, and she’s been asking a lot about the immigrants—Jewish and Catholic—on both sides of our family. She didn’t tell us what the boys said until later in the evening.

She was upset, but not too upset, because she did not know how bad it was, what the boys had said. I asked questions. I considered. I decided to tell her how bad: “As bad as the n-word.” Then she was a little more upset. I gave the boys the benefit of the doubt: “They may not have known how bad it was.”

***

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/220113/bullies-in-the-schoolyard?utm_source=tabletmagazinelist&utm_campaign=0bc73eaaa4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c308bf8edb-0bc73eaaa4-207625145

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Some kudos and a big, fat raspberry

Frankly, I am glad some Jews have finally started to actually speak out in a meaningful way about anti-Semitism. It seems many of us are so engaged with discrimination against others, we are willing to overlook anti-Semitism (I am not one of those people, however!). Too many Jews can't even identify anti-Semitism completely. Sure, there are many who can pick out the "big offenses", but really don't understand the nuances, which is exactly how much of the hatred against our kind is justified, then whipped up into a frenzy using the 'oldies, but goodies.'

I think the only thing which really surprises me is how many people really are completely unfamiliar with anti-Semitism. I am, however, not surprised by those who use anti-Semitism to their advantage, including those on the left. Things like "playing the race card" and "they are just falsely claiming sexism/homophobia" almost always get called out by the left (almost always), but when the same sentiments are used against Jews; well, it is an entirely different story. Stories about anti-Semitism usually rapidly dissolve into conversations about other forms of bigotry or, more commonly IMO, turn to "bad Jews", I am including Israel in that category.

I was pissed by his comment;

I must be “an ADL type,” he said. Not at all, I answered. I don’t care for the ADL, and I don’t like when some Jews use anti-Semitism as a kind of trump card.

What an asshole! I don't care for Jews who use anti-Semitism as a trump card, but I also don't appreciate Jews who back up those make false allegations such a card is being used! I also despise those who think it is "PC" to bash the ADL. While I can't agree with everything they do, they are a very worthy group who has done much in regards to battling anti-Semitism, and unlike many other anti-discriminatory groups, they have done LOTS of work for OTHER groups! The ADL has worked on behalf of women, the GLBT community, African-Americans, Latinos, immigrants, and yes, even Muslims! Where have other groups who pit themselves against bigotry done the same? How often has the NAACP stood up for LGBT rights? Or CAIR for Jews? or the HRC for African-Americans? And so on... I have no issue with the work those groups do, nor do I have an issue with them almost exclusively focusing on their own groups, but the ADL does so much more and the fact that so many people shit all over them really pisses me off. While they remain, primarily, a group combatting anti-Semitism (one of the only ones), they have spoken out and even but their money where their mouths are to defend the rights of those who aren't Jews!

I hope some Jews are waking up to the reality; anti-Semitism has never left, never weakened, and is likely due for a big comeback. Know what anti-Semitism is. Speak out against like you would against any other form of bigotry. Confront those on your own political side when they engage in anti-Semitism (and they will!).

According to the FBI Hate Crime stats, Jews, were the number one target of 2015 anti-religious incidents(1244/664) 53%/victims (1402/731) 52%; and in 2014 incidents (1014/609) 60%/victims (1140/648) 57%. This resulted in an increase in both incidents and victims, 9% and 13%, respectively.

This is reality!

[JudyM]

2. One young boy "schooling" another in antisemitism will likely become more commonplace with our

new "leadership."