Over the past few weeks there has been a substantial increase in the number of reported incidents of antisemitism in the UK. One of the big challenges with antisemitism is that it tends to get ignored or treated differently to other forms of racism and this is in part, I believe because of the following myths that have grown up about it.
- Antisemitism all began and ended with the holocaust
There’s a tendency to fixate on the Nazis and World War 2. There are two issues with this. First, it tends to minimise contemporary examples of antisemitism. Secondly, it ignores the sad and horrific historical experience of pogroms that Jews have faced across Europe for much of the past 2000 years including here in Britian.
- Antisemitism isn’t racism because Jews are a religious group not an ethnic- group
If it’s your religion that’s criticised, then this is something you can choose to change, unlike your ethnicity. The problem is that whilst Judaism is significant and central to Jewish identity, the Jews are a distinct ethnic group. Many Jews do not practice Judaism including those who have converted to Christianity and those who have no faith at all.
- We are being anti-Zionist. This is not antisemitic and you can make an easy distinction between the two.
The problem with this is that anti-Zionism, is often used as a means to specifically single out Jews and Israel, to deny the Jewish people the right to self-determination and a homeland. Furthermore, “Zionism” is often used as an umbrella term to describe conspiracy theories that see Jews or Zionits as wielding undue influence over world politics and economics.
- It’s only those on the Far Right who are antisemitic
Linked to this is the belief that those on the liberal left are anti-racist so could not be racist against Jews. The reality is that prejudice is a heart issue caused by sin. Sadly, there is a human tendency to find particular groups to blame. Antisemitism is present across the political spectrum.
- It takes one to know one, you are the real antisemite
This is the familiar tactic of the racist. “You are only hearing what I say as racist because you are yourself racist. I didn’t mean anything bad by it.” It’s obvious nonsense and should not need any more said about it. One version of this is the argument that advocating for a Jewish homeland is it self antisemitic because some antisemites favoured this as an option for exiling Jews from Europe. There is an obvious distinction between defending a people’s right to self-determination and seeking their expulsion.
- Those who speak up against antisemitism are driven by a political agenda
This is the #ItWasAScam approach. The motives of Jewish politicians for highlighting their experience is questioned. Their experience and their right to speak up is denied. Their voices are silenced.
- Anti-Semitism is really prejudice against all those who speak semitic languages
This is to ignore the very specific conspiracy theories that drive hatred against Jews. It’s a means of watering down the seriousness of what Jews face in daily life around the world. Notice, it is for this reason that the preference is not to spell the term “anti-semitism” which gives the impression that the focus is on linguistic groups but rather to spell it as antisemitism to make it clear that the term is referring specifically to hatred and discrimination targeting Jews.
Faithroots 