(Jewish Group) Life imitates art as play about antisemitism faces wave of abuse

[Behind the Aegis]

(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)

A new play about rising antisemitism that opens in a London theatre this week has become the target of antisemitic abuse. One Jewish Boy by Stephen Laughton focuses on the relationship between a Jewish man and a mixed-race, non-Jewish woman, their experiences of hatred and abuse, and the impact on their marriage. “It’s about big themes on a domestic level,” Laughton said.

Since publicity for the play was launched in September, Laughton has been targeted with abuse on social media, and posters for the production have been defaced and torn down. Palestinian flags were posted online in response to mentions of the play.

Among the comments were: “Who cares about Jews? This looks shit”; “I must say I do not give a fuck. Perhaps you could write a play about Palestinian kids getting blown to pieces by Jews”; and “You’re a fucking enabler. You Jews disgust me”.

Laughton said he was saddened by the responses. “I expected something, but I didn’t anticipate they’d come for me. I’m worried there’ll be more antisemitism when the play opens, and I’m worried it could become physical.” The Community Security Trust, which protects and defends British Jews, had been consulted.

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[rainy]

1. People who are upset with the way Israel

treats Palestinians are not anti-Semite. They are anti-Isreal. The distinction is real and many HATE the way Palestinians are being treated.

Many in the world are anti-America, anti-american because they hold us accountable for the atrocities committed in our name around the world.

I’m just saying that the distinction needs to be made. Anti-Semite is not the same as anti-Isreal and there is nothing wrong with expressing anti-Israel sentiment.

[JudyM]

2. There is something wrong with it when it conflates the two, which is happening more and more.

[rainy]

3. You are right!

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Being upset with Israel doesn't give one license to be anti-Semitic!

And yes, some "critics" of Israel, including some "upset with the way Israel treats Palestinians" are anti-Semites. You are right a distinction needs to be made, and you seemed to have missed it, and chose to conflate them. The article is about a play concerning anti-Semitism and people responded with, let's pretend and call it, "outrage" against Israel. Then, you come along, to the Jewish group, no less, and defend the behavior with excuses. It is no different than when GLBT complain about homophobia and someone "feels the need" to bring up pedophilia or some other distraction to minimize or change the subject away from the topic: homophobia.

A play about anti-Semitism and how a Jew feels about it is not the place nor time to "express anti-Israel sentiment", and if one does, then YES, it is anti-Semitic!

[EllieBC]

5. Explain to me how Jews in the UK, the US, Germany, etc

being the victims of antisemitism is just us misunderstanding your might righteous anti-Israel viewpoint?