A college student’s first encounter with anti-Semitism on campus can be mildly terrifying: after all, anti-Semitism does not announce itself with a big red flag or banner. In some cases, it may even take a while for the student to realize what happened. A comment such as “no wonder you’re irritable, you can’t eat bacon” or “I wouldn’t trust a Jew to drive” doesn’t always register right away, and whether or not we care to admit it, this probably won’t be the last time anti-Semitism rears its head in our lives. So how do we deal with it?
My experience with anti-Semitism has probably been more dramatic than most American college students’. There’s really nothing more edifying then receiving a four and a half page letter from your abusive ex-boyfriend, a full page of which is complaining about how your religion was “inconvenient” for him. There was also the time I got an AirBNB reservation cancelled because the host found out I was Jewish, and the time I had an anti-Semitic cab-driver who went on a rant about Jews while speeding down Lake Shore Drive at 4 a.m. (I stayed silent and called the complaints line later.) I have also dealt with the more mundane “micro-aggressions” of anti-Semitism that I mentioned above: the uninformed comment, the stupid joke, or the awful question.
Dealing with these problems is not always easy. One often feels alone or crazy when it happens, and it is scary to talk about it or deal with it. Something that has made managing this issue harder is a perception among much of American Jewry that anti-Semitism is “dead” in the United States. It is not. I have been told by fellow Jews that I must be overstating the situation or too sensitive to a good joke. I thus do not always feel that I can discuss experiences of anti-Semitism with other Jews. One aspect of communal insularity is that there is a perception that anti-Semitism comes from one’s own departure from the bubble. The problem with that, however, is that it makes the victim feel like the bias is his own fault, not that of the anti-Semite.
So, what can you do? I usually rely on four general measures to handle casual and not-so-casual anti-Semitism.
-Be Witty. Honestly, one of the best weapons against an anti-Semite is your own humor. The next time you hear something that’s anti-Semitic, all you have to do is think of a good line to put the person in their place. For example:
Anti-Semitic lady at an event: “He’s such a typical New York Jew, always money-grubbing,”
Me: “I know, right? We Jews are simply too busy to waste our hard-earned wages.”
This sort of line does two things: first, it makes you feel on top. You took that anti-Semitic bubble and sarcastically popped it! Second, it has another effect: it reveals the anti-Semite as the fool.
–Be willing to educate. Things that we read as anti-Semitic often come from a place of ignorance, not hatred. In many cases, someone will simply be repeating something they heard from someone else. If you correct their misspoken words, and maybe teach them a little bit about the Jewish experience, the person might be less-inclined to say silly things in the future. Furthermore, if you leave them with a good impression, then you also improve the image of Jewry. Isn’t that cool? My friend actually managed to pull this off not long ago: a classmate of his had not really met many Jews before, and was convinced that we were “too clannish for our own good” after she read Reddit for information. He explained some of the historical trends behind this “clannish-ness,” and not only did she change her thoughts, but also was spurred to learn more about Judaism.
Of course educating requires the ability to discern between “ignorance” and “hate,” which can often be hard. This skill is not something I can describe in an article, but something that you simply have to learn – and keep in mind, no one is perfect at it.
–Know when to pick your battles, and when it is easier or safer to go in the opposite direction. There are some cases in which it is not worth your time to pick a long battle – a comment you hear on the train, or someone with whom you have minimal passing interaction. In those cases, as much as it may hurt your honor, it is best to lick your wounds and move on. In fact, getting mad may only make that person’s idea of Jews worse, or (more likely) you may be caused to become even more upset.
More importantly, there are cases in which it is not always the safest to call someone out. If you are in a speeding car piloted by someone on an anti-Semitic rant (as I have been), for example, it might not be the best time to say “well, I’m Jewish, and you’re wrong.” In addition, if you feel threatened, it is not the time to try to be heroic with a battle. Get yourself to safety first and foremost, and then take appropriate action from there. More important than the honor of the Jewish people is your own safety and health.
–Know your rules, workplace law, and school behavioral codes. If your boss, professor, or classmate says something anti-Semitic to you, or gets in the way of Jewish practice, the law is on your side. You are legally entitled to be able to practice at work, and most universities have very comprehensive rules about hate speech on campus. That said, it is probably not worth it for a minor comment to go through the legal wrangle – but if it is a continued situation of harassment, it is probably a good idea. For example, after a co-intern at my workplace one summer made a few anti-Semitic jibes, I avoided him. He did not try to talk to me again, but if he had, I would have likely filed a complaint with Human Resources – who, under state and federal law, would have been obligated to act. However, the paperwork (massive) and time required did not make sense given that I only had two weeks left in my position.
And there are two other things to remember about anti-Semitism:
–Unlike the number 42, it is not everywhere. A lot of people might be asking badly worded questions, or might just say something that is not really much of anything at the end of the day. Furthermore, most people are not anti-Semites. Rather than be eternally on guard for it, it is best to live your life.
–Anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism are not the same thing, and to conflate them is highly, highly problematic. Just because someone is anti-Israel does not mean that they are by extension anti-Semitic, there are plenty of things to criticize about Israel. When you confront a supposed instance of anti-Semitism involving Israel, it might be important to take a step back and think, “Am I upset that this person is critical of Israel, or did he say something about Jews as a whole?” Furthermore, conflating Israel with Judaism may actually contribute to the spread of anti-Semitic notions. Whatever Netanyahu says about representing all Jewry, Diaspora Jews ultimately live very separate lives. Thus, a critique of the Occupation should not be read as a critique of Jewry.
In addition, conflating tolerance of Judaism and absolute support of Israel effectively shuts out Jewish critics of Israel from Jewry, as well as huge swathes of the Jewish population. I’d hardly call that a victory against anti-Semitism.
Obviously, there is no tried-and-true method to combat anti-Semitism: if there was, we would not have to deal with it today. It is my hope, though, that students and other young Jews can build toolboxes to deal with it – and maybe come out stronger for it. And if this short guide can help towards that, I would be very happy.
Jonathan P. Katz recently graduated from the University of Chicago.
