Comments
Hi! I love that you made this list because antisemitism is definitely on the rise in recent years. Especially, considering the horrible terrorist attack that happened in Australia recently, we need books and media that highlights and opposes the rise of antisemitism.
Unfortunately, several of the authors in this list are staunch Zionist and some of the books included relate any criticism towards Israel to antisemitism. Equating Zionism and Judaism is antisemitic, as a vast majority of the Jewish people are not responsible or in accord with the actions of Zionism and Israel.
Also, though I know there is is a rise in antisemitism all across the politic spectrum, most of the violence, hate and antisemitism comes from Christian and right-wing extremism, not modern left wing politics who criticize Israel's apartheid state. Some of the books included are making bad faith arguments, disinformation and are supporters of the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Maybe try looking into the books more before adding them to the list!
tamariOP
Hi, have you read all the books on the list or are you just looking at reviews? There are a variety of perspectives included. It's important to listen to Jewish people on our experiences as marginalized people and the history of our oppression, even if you don't agree with every opinion of the author. The list is really intended to help people who don't know much about Jewish history and the distinctive elements and scope of antisemitism. And yes, also to help people distinguish between normal criticism of a country vs. antisemitic beliefs and tropes.
I was actually looking for another book on recent right-wing antisemitism, but the most recent one I found was (((Semitism))): Being Jewish in America in the Age of Trump. I read it a while back but it was published in 2017 and things have changed a lot since then.
I haven't read the books on the list, I upvoted and came to the list hoping to find books about antisemitism and how to combat it.
Unfortunately, like I said before, some of titles included seemed odd to me. So, like I usually do when I find a new nonfiction author, I looked at interviews made by some of them. I didn't really look at reviews because they are very personal, individualistic and not reliable sources. I always look at the authors personal and political beliefs that they themself share, in articles, interviews, book summaries, etc.
Some of these authors (Bari Weiss, Chuck Schumer, David Hirsch, etc.) are staunch Zionist who call for the continuation of the genocide in Palestine and equate criticism of Zionism to Antisemitism, so they can hide behind the Jewish identity while doing war crimes. This is antisemitic. Like I said before, most Jewish people are not responsible or in support of the apartheid state of Israel, saying the contrary is antisemitic because it is a generalization of a people.
Though, I agree that some of the criticism of Israel comes from antisemitic hate (Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, etc.), some of these books are not doing that, on the contrary, they are actively linking criticism of Israel's war crimes to Antisemitism. Some of these books aren't 'different opinions', they are literal propaganda pieces.
Which includes Deborah Lipstadt that you highlighted in the description. She has called the reports of Amnesty International and other human rights groups' report of Israel's apartheid state and calling it antisemitic and saying it 'delegitimizes Israel'. Now I have not read the book of hers, that you included but I would be happy to do so. The goal is to fight antisemitism, not legitimize violence against any religions, cultures or nationality, that includes both Jewish folks and Palestinians.
Like I said before please look into more books that aren't Zionist propaganda but in fact, real criticism of modern antisemitism and historical looks at antisemitism like some of the books you chose probably are. (I didn't look at every single one.)
tamariOP
By centering your arguments on whether authors are or aren't Zionists in a list about antisemitism, you are doing the exact thing that many of these books call out. I hope you get the chance to read a few. I understand it can be uncomfortable to confront antisemitism within leftist spaces, but powering through white guilt and educating yourself is the key to true solidarity.
do you know what Zionism is? It's the belief and support a Jewish ethnostate. ALL ethnostate are bad. An ethnostate is a state created and govern by one racial identity over all others. Zionism is the same as White supremacy but with a Jewish supremacy. Zionism demands the savage colonization of Palestine and its people. Zionism is a violent and horrible political ideology. You are equating Zionism with Judaism, to call me antisemitic when im actively trying to call out how horrible these people are. This is truly disappointing. The reason I brought up Zionism is because it is the main fuel for antisemitism hate in modern history They voluntarily conflate Zionism with Judaism, so people blame Jewish people instead of Zionism for their war crimes. The biggest financial supporters of Zionism are Christian Nationalists with extremely antisemitic views. I'm saying these people are bad people, not because of their Jewish identity but because of their support of Zionism, a horrible political ideology. Most of the Zionists you seem so inclined on encouraging do not care about actual antisemitism (violent hate crimes against Jewish citizens around the world, resurgence of far-right extremism with ties to Nazism). They only care about upholding the genocidal state of Israel.
babes just want to gently point out this list name reads like a guide to being antisemetic, maybe consider “anti antisemitism” or another name? Said with love & light 🫶!
I think this is a great idea for a list! Bari Weiss being on here is not great. She is a violent Zionist and isn't actually as progressive in her beliefs as she would like to portray. The podcast 'a bit fruity' is hosted by a queer Jew and he did a deep dive on her in one of his Patreon episodes and why she should not be trusted as a legitimate source of information on antisemitism.
