Theyre Gay

theyre gay

A recent response to a white Jew who struggles to understand systemic racism and conflates it with antisemitism.

Hi there xxx- student rabbi here. I think the thing that xxx is saying is that it is important for us to take a step back here and listen to Black folks, Indigenous Folks, and People of Color. And especially as Jews, I think that we need to especially listen to Jews of Color who sit at the crossroads of antisemitism and racism in our country. A lot of what I’ve written below is what I’ve learned from my colleagues and friends who are Jews of Color.

You are right in that often a lot of white Ashkenazi Jews came to this country at a point after the end of slavery, and you are right in that we still face antisemitism (on both sides of the political aisle) in this country today. In my studies of antisemitism, I’ve learned that it is a systemic issue. Across the board, people do not realize (or rather, understand) that the stereotypes that they have of Jews in their head are bad. And this leads non-Jews to make bad choices in how they vote, in how they interact with Jews, in how they speak about inter-Jewish related issues, how they speak about Israel, etc. It’s a systemic issue in that people and this emboldens non-Jews who use their words, their power, and violence to hurt Jews.

Racism is also a systemic issue. Although it is true that many white Jews came to the United States before slavery, and it is also true that many of us have historically worked very hard in ending racism (I look right to that moment you are referencing when Rabbis Heschel and Eisendrath marched with Dr King in Selma), it does not mean that we are immune to the systemic issue of racism in our country. When many of us white Jews came to the US, we entered into a country that was built on stolen land of Native Americans and built on the backs of slaves stolen from Africa. This created a particular system in this country where lighter skinned people have more privilege than darker skinned people. And unfortunately, every part of our nation has been built on this notion– from our school systems, text books, economics, to the places where people live. It makes me very sad.

This does not disclose the real danger that Jews in this country face due to systemic antisemitism, but its worth noting here that racism and antisemitism are two different systemic issues. Being that they are two different systems of oppression, it is possible to experience antisemitism and have privilege over other people because of the color my skin.

As a Jew, I look right to our tradition for guidance. In Parshat Berishit, we learn that human beings are created Betzelem Elohim- in the Image of God. Later on in the parsha, we learn that we are also created Afar Mi-HaAdama, from the Dirt of the Earth. The rabbis speak about this juxtaposition- about how we are both simultaneously stardust– dirty, from the dust of the earth and also made in the Shadow of Elohim, the Image of God. I great Hasidic rebbe once likened this to how we understand ourselves and other humans. It’s important to listen to others- to hear them out and understand them, because they too were created in the Image of God. And hey, you’re also a pile of dirt too. I bring this midrash to you because it helps me to have humility and guidance in this challenging moment that we live in. It reminds me to listen, it reminds me that each of us have a story to tell, and it reminds me to have a lot of self compassion.

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secure-my-ass

5 years ago

im not much of an ask-sender guy but i just wanted to let you know i think youre super cool

This made me so genuinely happy I love you Anon I hope you prosper