(Jewish Group) Where Can a Black Jew Turn in This New Era of Antisemitism?
As a Black Jewish woman who also works in the media, I can no longer block out the deeply disturbing, violent, antisemitic comments that continue to run rampant. I have tried. I wanted to believe it was all a bad dream and would be over soon. Especially as I just spoke about my experience being a Black Jew and wanting to reconnect with the community in time for the high holy days.
When I read the news that Kanye tweeted antisemitic comments to his millions of followers, and then Kyrie Irving, and now Trump amplifying those remarks with a meeting at Mar a Lago—I was upset, exhausted, and wanted to shut down. I can't say I am shocked, as Kanye has said and done some pretty vile things in the past and more recently—like claiming George Floyd's death wasn't murder, and that Black Lives Matter is a scam while promoting White Lives Matter T-shirts at his Paris fashion show.
I immediately started to get texts and emails from people asking what my opinion was on the matter. It was nonstop. At the time I decided to disengage since I didn't want to focus on a man who decided to ignite an attack on Jewish people.
Besides the texts and calls, I anticipated the worst, and truthfully expected rejection from the Jewish community because of Kanye voicing his dangerous opinions. But what has happened is just the opposite. I have been inundated with hundreds of beautiful, uplifting, and welcoming messages and calls from Jews around the world and those of other religious faiths. Messages that I am still responding to because they keep coming in as the hate speech continues.
more...