(Jewish Group) Jews should define antisemitism

[Behind the Aegis]

(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)

With the recent uptick in antisemitism there has been a welcome resurgence of activism on the left and right of voices speaking out against it. Yet, there has simultaneously been a push from within our own Jewish community to bolster and amplify the voices of non-Jews – sometimes even above Jews – in the public sphere. It has even gotten to the point where allies – sometimes even enemies – begin to assert their opinions on what “real antisemitism” is to other Jews, or in today’s terms, they “goy-splain” antisemitism.

We need all the allies we can get, and while we love and appreciate our non-Jewish allies, we as a community need to be careful not to confuse being an ally with being a spokesperson. Jews should not be undermined when leading the charge against antisemitism, and non-Jewish allies should not be lecturing Jewish communities on our own persecution.

Imagine if the voice of a white person was valued over a black person in speaking out against brutality against the black community. It would be wonderful to see such solidarity, but the only people who can really understand what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a person of color, or a Muslim or a Jew, etc., is a person of that group. It is for that reason that antisemitism should be defined by Jews, that Jews should be leading the educational initiative about what antisemitism is.

In our desperation for solidarity, many Jewish organizations have propped up voices of non-Jewish allies almost as though they are more enlightened or important than scholars of antisemitism from our own community. Sadly, this is not a new trend. For a decade, we have both worked in the Jewish community and witnessed first-hand how organizations work hard to foster positive relationships with others, particularly minority communities.

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What a novel concept! Lots of gentilesplainin' happens and gets a pass.