Jew-hating. Israael/Palestine. Will tomorrow be Jan 6 in Jerusalem? Women. Girls. Humor. Music. Tony Blinken. Violin plus hula hoop
LETTY COTTIN POGREBIN NEWSLETTER #109 JUNE 14, 2021
When I was a kid, we called Jews who worried about antiSemitism "paranoid."
"It can't happen here," American-born children would reassure their immigrant elders, among whom were survivors of the Holocaust.
Our parents shook their heads ruefully. "Don't be so sure," they warned us. "Jew-hating never disappears, It just goes underground."
I'm starting to think their generation was right. The recent uptick in antiSemitic vandalism & violence proves that it can happen here, and does. Or, as the late poet Delmore Schwartz famously retorted, "Even paranoids have enemies." To wit, these recent examples;
ANTISEMITISM
*Last month a gang assaulted two Orthodox Jewish teens on a Brooklyn street and demanded that the boys shout "Kill all the Jews." A roving mob yelled"Are you Jewish?" spewed antiSemitic slurs, and attacked diners at an outdoor restaurant in L.A, with knives, bottles, & fists. "Jews should die," screamed a man caught on video dumping a bag of human feces outside a synagogue in Florida A Jew wearing a yarmulke was beaten, pepper sprayed, and hit with crutches in NYC's Times Square. The glass door of a shul in Tucson was shattered and the phrase "DIRTY KIKE" painted on the building. Nazi stickers were affixed to a Jewish museum in Anchorage, (as well as on a gay bar, incidentally underscoring the intersectionality of hate).
* Luca Lewis, a 20-year-old professional soccer player for the New York Red Bulls, was accosted by several men who asked if he was Jewish. On Instagram, Lewis posted : “I paused for a moment in confusion and thought about it." When he saw that the men were holding the knives, Lewis said he wasn't Jewish. "The guy looked at me with such disgust in his eyes and said "Good’.” Lewis asked what they would do if he were Jewish. The answer: “‘I’ll beat the f*ckin sh*t out of you and kill you’,”
* When HatWRKS, a hat store in Nashville was found to be selling yellow star anti-vaccination patches modeled on the yellow Star of David that Jews were forced to wear in order to be more easily singled out for Nazi abuse, hundreds of people protested online and in person. Owner Gigi Gaskins (above) remained defensive until Stetson, and other hat manufactures pulled their merchandise, at which point she defended herself much as Marjorie Taylor Greene does when explaining her feelings about vaccines. Gaskins said she was trying to prevent another Holocaust.
* Students studying for conversion to Judaism have been asking "Is it safe to be Jewish?" One San Francisco woman was so shaken by the attacks on Jews in NYC and LA, and by the fact that the synagogue she attends was vandalized, that she asked her rabbi, Ruth Adar (above), “Do I need to worry about this on the streets of Oakland and Berkeley?” Rabbi Adar replied, "Conversion to Judaism is more complex than a change of creed... It is different from conversion to Christianity in that it means becoming a target for antisemitism." I'm having deja vu all over again. About 2000 years ago, our Sages warned proselytes of the dangers inherent in becoming a Jew: "Don’t you know that the Jewish people at the present time are anguished, suppressed, despised and harassed, and hardships are frequently visited upon them? (BT Yevamot 47a)
* A 17-year-old football player who keeps kosher was forced to eat pork as punishment for missing practice …The student’s religious identity (Hebrew Israelite) and his strict avoidance of pork were known to Coach Wattley Marcus and seven assistant coaches, all of whom have since been suspended.
* Classic antiSemitic violence is fueled by religious difference and blood libel; it bears no connection to events in the Middle East. But when attackers display the Palestinian flag or shout virulent anti-Israel slogans while randomly targeting Jews, their hatred is not just nationalized but generalized and racialized. Every hate crime, regardless of motivation, is indefensible. But on top of worrying about my own people's safety, I worry that some Americans may conclude that all Palestinians are antiSemites who blame ALLJews for the behavior of Israeli policy-makers. This conflation would be deeply disturbing were it true, which, in my experience, it is not. (See woman in headscarf above) Moreover, Palestinians who peacefully petition for justice and equality should not be tarred by the actions of the few who use violence as a means of redress. Criticism of Israeli policy must not be silenced by mischaracterizing it as hatred of Jews or Judaism.
* The statement on antiSemitism released two weeks ago by USA-Palestine Mental Health Network advances two simultaneous truths: that antiSemitism is appalling, dangerous, and unacceptable; and that the practices of the State of Israel toward the Palestinians under its control are unjust, oppressive, and equally unacceptable. The press release ends with a simple declaration, "We stand against anti-Semitism and we stand for Palestinian human rights." This is one of many such statements by Palestinians who have forcefully condemned antiSemitism and expressed sympathy and empathy for the Jewish people. But because most mainstream & Jewish media rarely cover these press releases, some Jews have the impression that all Palestinians condone anti-Jewish speech or actions. Don't fall for it.
* When asked, "Who's behind all the recent antiSemitic attacks?", Oren Segal of the AntiDefamation League says, "Anti-Semitism is not a right-wing issue. It's not a left-wing issue. It's a problem in and of itself. It's unique, in that no matter where someone is on the ideological spectrum, they're able to manipulate anti-Semitic tropes to make a point if they want to. Sometimes it's not necessarily coming from an extreme left or an extreme right, but it's just an anti-Semite."
U.S. POLITICS
* More than 100 scholars of democracy have signed a new public statement of in support of voter access that makes the stakes unambiguously clear: On the line is nothing less than the future of our democracy.
* The oped in the WashPost by former Virginia Congressman Tom Perriello (above, left) is a powerful challenge to the maddening obstructionism of Virginia's Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (above, right). If you're his constituent, call Sen. Manchin's office right now at 202-224-3954 and tell him he'll lose your vote if he continues to insist on nonpartisan support for bills he knows Republicans are pledged to resist.
WOMEN
* This is astounding! Common racial dynamics that play out daily among American women and girls of various races are flipped in Chris Buck's disorienting, consciousness-raising photos. The three pictures show white girls & women, and females of color, but reverse the stereotypical position of both groups. (Above, a white girl surveys toy shelves displaying nothing but black dolls)
* The grand dames of the House, Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters, have great gams. It may be sexist to remark on their legs, but I think it's ageist not to notice and appreciate them.
* The "Pioneer Histories Project" produced by Veteran Feminists of America, offers an alphabetical list of activists who played various roles in the 20th Century Women's Movement. (I'm honored to be included.)
* Two important articles about abortion: "The Free Ride May Soon be Over for Anti-Abortion Politicians," by Linda Greenhouse on the Mississippi abortion case which the Supreme Court agreed to hear in its next term. And "Roe is Going to Fall: Here's What to Focus on Next," a guide for activists by Julie F. Kay and Kathryn Kolbert.
* Haven't seen the book, "Strong is the New Pretty," but love the title.
MUSIC FROM UNEXPECTED SOURCES
* Broadway duo, violinist Suzy Perelman and pianist Christian Regul, have been presenting free "Concerts in the Courtyard" in front of Susie's Upper West Side brownstone. (85th Street between Columbia and Amsterdam). Occasionally, while playing her violin, named "Oscar" because she rescued it from a pile of garbage, Suzy adds a surprise element; “During the pandemic, with countless hours on my hands, I realized that I can play the violin and hula hoop at the same time." Performance dates here.
* Speaking of Oscar, four years ago, Tony Blinken, now U.S. Secretary of State talked about refugees with Sesame Street's fuzzy, blue puppet, Grover. In addition to his day job, Blinken is a "wonk rock musician," who plays and sings under the name ABlinken. In this amateur video, he performs Hoochie Coochie Man with the Coalition of the Willing (C.O.W.) band (below)
ISRAEL-PALESTINE
* While we observe with fascination whether the new Israeli government, composed of 8 very diverse political parties, can run the country without destroying one another, this story struck me as painfully familiar because of its Trumpian echoes: Netanyahu vows to topple 'dangerous' new Israeli government, attacks Biden. And today's headline, "New Israeli government approves nationalist march in Jerusalem" makes me quake. "In the flag-waving procession, planned for Tuesday, far-right groups will march in and around East Jerusalem's walled Old City, where tensions have remained high since 11 days of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants in May." I fear that tomorrow may bring Jerusalem its own January 6th.
* Look who thinks it's apartheid. Two former Israeli Ambassadors to South Africa weigh in on Israel's illegal and discriminatory policies that favor Jews. You can reject the A-word but you can't deny the plethora of well-documented facts in the Human Rights Watch report, "A Threshold Crossed; Israeli Authorities and Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution."
* In this Hartman Institute podcast, three notable Jewish thinkers -- Israelis, Donniel Hartman & Yossi Klein Halevi, & American, Elana Stein Hain (above)-- distinguish between the recent Gaza war and all previous altercations between Israel and Hamas. Hartman and Halevi analyze "a convergence of factors," "a clash between right wing Israel and woke America," the claim that Hamas was reacting to the evictions in Sheik Jarrah and the conflict on the Temple Mount and as a result the perception took hold that "Hamas was engaging in a war of self-defense." You'll hear that Sheik Jarrah "undermined Israel's ability to claim the moral high ground." You'll hear the Black Lives Matter movement described as a "moral advancement." You'll hear lines like, "How much are we to blame?" And, "We need to own the places where Israel is wrong." And, "It's difficult time to be an occupier." And from Hain you'll hear about the folly of "the rhetoric of bravado," and the importance of speaking in multiple voices, while critiquing Jewish responses to the issue of "proportionality," and confronting questioning the growing distrust and discomfort with Israeli power. Don't miss this astonishingly candid, complex discussion.
* Zaid Talbani, 4, and his sister, 2-year-old Miriam Talbani, were among the 68 Palestinian children killed by Israeli bombardment of Gaza last month. The NYTimes story, "They were only children," with its heart-stopping thumbnail photos of each deceased child, humanized the losses and the pain suffered by Gazan families. But it also stoked the wrath of many American Jews -- among them Abe Foxman, former long-time leader of the ADL, who publicly cancelled his subscription to the paper -- who found the story deeply biased against Israel and poorly sourced. Click here to read the piece by Robert Satloff, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who deconstructs the Times' reporting, and defends Israel's behavior. Where do you stand on the Times' coverage?
* Watching "I'm not a racist!," you'll confront your own stereotypes about Jews and Arabs. In the rap video "Let's Talk Straight," a Jewish-Israeli and a Palestinian-Israeli trade racist and nationalist insults. Their performance is the first installment of Uriya Rosenman and Sameh Zakout’s anthem to a better future for both peoples.
* U.S. Muslims and Jews unite in a call for Shalom/ Salaam/Peace. Daisy Khan, executive secretary of Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), Rabbi Arthur Waskow, founder and director of The Shalom Center, and Adem Carroll, an active Muslim member of several interfaith organizations, created a document that's been endorsed by leaders of both communities. If you're a Jew or a Muslim, click here to add your name. Allies from other spiritual, religious, and ethical communities click here.
* I was moved by the warmly personal video, "Abundant Peace," in which Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, an Orthodox Jewish settler on the West Bank, describes how -- despite the pain of "leaving behind the sense that my story is the only story" -- he changed from a silent beneficiary of Israeli policies of discrimination against Palestinians, into a fervent advocate for peace. He now serves as international relations director at Roots, a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence & transformation between Israelis & Palestinians. I also recommend his "Six Unsettling Truths" about the recent violence.
* The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, has a new project, Haaretz21, who's mission is to recruit, train, publish, and amplify the voices of Palestinian citizens of Israel. Here's one they published recently. "Arab Journalist Group Protests Israeli Police Violence After Attack on Photographer." (above)
HUMOR
* Congrats to one of my all-time favorite cartoonists, Mort Gerberg, who generously contributes occasional cartoons to this Newsletter. In October, Mort will be inducted into the National Cartoon Society’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his 60 years of gag cartooning, illustration, comic strips, publishing, advertising, teaching, reportage illustration, animation, live-drawing for television, and writing.* Above is a topical cartoon of Mort's, perfect for the graduation season and witty as always.
* A paraprosdokian is a statement with an unexpected ending that puts the first part of the sentence in a new and amusing context. For instance:
* I'm great at multi-tasking--I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at once.
* If you can smile when things go wrong, you probably have someone in mind to blame.
* Take my advice — I'm not using it.
* Hospitality is the art of making guests feel like they're at home when you wish they were.
* Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
* Ever stop to think and forget to start again?
* Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
* Women spend more time wondering what men are thinking than men spend thinking.
* He who laughs last thinks slowest.
* If I had a dollar for every girl that found me unattractive, they'd eventually find me attractive.
* The colors red, white, and blue stand for freedom, until they're flashing behind you.
*Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool, so I gave him a glass of water.
* Is it wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly?
* I was going to give him a nasty look, but he already had one.
* Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
* Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let him sleepDid someone forward this Newsletter to you? Subscribe free & get your own copy next time