When I learned of Senator Dennis Johnson’s slur while debating a bill, I noticed something weird.
Most of my Orthodox friends were not as shocked or outraged as my non-Orthodox friends.
At first I wondered if Senator Johnson were perhaps unaware of the meaning of the slur. For example, I used the term “gypped” until recently, having been totally clueless that this term is a pejorative against Gypsies (Roma). I was likewise unaware, until recently, that “midget” is derogatory while “dwarf” is preferred, and that the Deaf community prefers Deaf with a capital “d.”
But when I watched the Senator’s weak apology, this explanation seemed unlikely.
So why am I not shocked or outraged? Mostly, because I am very “out” about my Judaism and am therefore totally aware, and even expect, to some extent, anti-semitism. I remember my grandparents telling me how some of their best Hungarian and Polish neighbors turned on them with a vengeance during the Holocaust. In taking a long view of Jewish history, this is the norm rather than the exception.
Do I think that Senator Johnson hates Jews? Nah. But neither do I fool myself into thinking that we’re well-liked out there in the world. Yes, even in America, and yes, even today. I would term it begrudging acceptance, for the most part. And I am aware that in the heterodox community, this is not a very popular view. Hence the shock and outrage anew each time a politician or celebrity slips in public with an anti-Jewish slur.
There’s a value to the shock and outrage, though. I think it draws us together as a people and reminds us that we are different. As you know, I think this a good thing.
In this world, there are some philo-semites and there are some anti-semites. The difference arises in your view of which category most of the world falls into.
What do you think?
As a non-Jewish person, when I just watched that video, my mouth dropped open. It never ceases to shock me when people say things like that. I struggle with trying to understand how people can be so ignorant or hateful. His apology? Hardly an apology, in my opinion.
I completely agree. The apology was almost more offensive than the slur.
Yes, I felt that way too
I will confess that I burst out laughing at the apology. I loved its artlessness and that he had to read all 5 words off a piece of paper. No big, tearful, sucking-up apology at a press conference.
If there's going to be anti-Semitism or plain ignorance of what terms really mean, I'd rather it be that straightforward than sugar-coated and disguised.
But of course you would 🙂
It's a false dichotomy to split the world into philo-semites and anti-semites. What about the large, large number of people who don't love or hate Jews as a group, but who get to know people and evaluate them as individuals?
Do you think Senator Johnson fits into that large group?
Have you ever read "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell? He describes, frighteningly, the prejudices we all harbor, sometimes shocking even ourselves.
Yes, we all harbor prejudices, based on our upbringing and experiences. Orthodox Jews harbor prejudices about other ethnic groups too. Many use the "N" word without a second thought.
The best we can do is try not to act on our prejudices.
The N word is considered highly offensive in the Orthodox circles I frequent, although I agree that prejudices sadly exist.
But I think you contradict yourself. Are prejudices toward Jews commonplace, or do large numbers of people wait to meet Jews prior to forming general opinions?
I'm just saying, Jews aren't even on everyone's radar (a fact that many Jews can't understand). So there are some Jew lovers (like the guy who said it was an honor to help you with your stroller), many Jew haters, and a huge number of people who spend little time thinking about Jews.
The best way to get rid of prejudices, by the way, is to get to know someone on an individual basis. Why do so many politicians who oppose gay marriage suddenly change their tune when they get to know someone gay (or find out someone close to them is gay)? So maybe many of the "Jew haters" have never gotten to know a Jewish person.
tesyaa, I'm curious where you put the Senator in your own mind in this scenario. Doesn't know enough Jews? Didn't realize it even meant Jews? Does think Jews are cheap? Dislikes Jews/ doesn't?
Probably knows some Jews, but wasn't brought up knowing many Jews well
Probably does hold the stereotype that Jews are cheap
Probably doesn't dislike Jews, particularly
As an elected official speaking in public, he should know better. Just as Rabbi Herschel Schachter, a well-known rabbi and speaker, should have known better than to describe a potential cellmate of an Orthodox Jewish offender as "a shvartze who wants to kill him". It's a stereotype. Does it make the speaker evil? No. Indiscreet and stupid? OK. Should we work to educate both the rabbi and the senator so that they'll unlearn their prejudices? Sure.
Agreed!
I agree that the apology was really offensive. He laughed and invoked a stereotype about Jews and money. Not cool.
I also wasn't too surprised by the incident, because I know those attitudes are out there. The outrage is good because it lets others know that this is not acceptable.
I don't really like the "draws us together" effect. There are good reasons to draw together, but being intimidated by anti-Semites is not one of them.
Sarah, do you think that the indignation awakens Jewish pride and feelings of affiliation?
Maybe it does awaken feelings of affiliation, but our sense of Jewishness shouldn't be based on self-defense.
Maybe it's possible, but the unaffiliated Jews I know have never reacted like that. I think pride usually develops from more positive experiences.
Definitely I agree that as a primary mode of affiliation, it's a very weak link. I'm thinking of all the Jews whose main form of affiliation was Holocaust education. Not a religion I would have wanted a part of, were that my main connection.
Agree about affiliating through Holocaust education.
Nevertheless, Ruchi, you said "I think this a good thing."
A good thing that people are shocked, even though I am not. A good thing they feel strong Jewish pride and indignation. Not a good thing if it is their only encounter with Jewish pride and affiliation.
In my experience the Jewish pride that comes with indignation is a shallow pride. I'm surprised you are so positive about this, Ruchi. Isn't it just celebrating one's own victimhood?
SBW, I don't think it's about celebrating victimhood as much as reinforcing the "us vs. them" mentality, i.e. reinforcing the Jewish separatism that Ruchi admires.
Yeah, I misread what the "good thing" applied to. Wait, let me take this piece of paper from my assistant, ok it says, "I apologize to the Blogger". 😉
But I am still very uncomfortable with Ruchi's gratitude for the "remind[er] that we are different". It's as though the appearances of anti-Semitism confirm a truth that she wants confirmed. I know that for her is a kind of positivity, but I find it somehow distasteful.
SBW, I realize that you don't want to think of yourself as different, and in many ways we aren't, but you can't have an identity of any kind without being different from others. I am a person, but if that were my entire identity it wouldn't be much of an identity. It seems to me that an identity to some extent has to distinguish you from others. Do you disagree?
I am a person, but if that were my entire identity it wouldn't be much of an identity.
What if you were a Christian or a Muslim, one of billions of co-religionists? Are they indistinguishable from one another? Do they have less of an identity because there are so many of them??
DG, yes the group identity of Jews depends on some distinguishing elements. At minimum we could say historical differences; you might get into soul differences and other stuff. But I get uncomfortable with the pride around difference, a pride which seems paradoxically to get intensified with feeling victimized.
Tesyaa, it's part of the person's identity, not the whole thing. I'm guessing that religious Christians and Muslims do think of their religion as a major part of their identity.
SBW, I personally don't relate to the pride thing. I'm not sure exactly what it means. I'm not proud to be Jewish. I might be proud to have accomplished something that I worked hard at, but I was born Jewish so I don't see it as a matter of pride. And I don't think anyone's Jewish identity should be based on victimization.
Tesyaa, I would not say "us VS. them." I would say "us and them." Differentness, not conflict.
SBW, not gratitude. My comment seems to be misunderstood so let me clarify. I wrote, "There's a value to the shock and outrage, though. I think it draws us together as a people and reminds us that we are different. As you know, I think this a good thing."
Kind of like, "There's a value to breaking my leg. It reminds me to be grateful for my working body." Do I want to break my leg? No thanks. But even a negative occurence can have a positive, redeeming factor. This is what I meant. If your gratitude is ALWAYS coming from bad things happening, I'm going to say it's a low level of gratitude. Ideally, we should have gratitude when things are good. But, humans that we are, we forget.
Same with identity and pride. A lot of my Jewish friends who never post about Jewish things on FB were up in arms about this incident. (Just because they don't post hardly means they're not proud Jews – I'm aware of that.) But sometimes when all is going swimmingly we forget our identity, till someone reminds us in a bad way. I will still say this is better than forgetting entirely.
I've heard an Orthodox Jew talk about jewing someone down. I cringed every time.
Growing up in America, I heard exactly one antisemitic comment once (from a kid). Sure, I know there are antisemites out there, but I really don't think most Americans are antisemitic. I doubt most Americans think much about Jews as a group one way or the other.
Incidentally, Deaf with a capital D refers to Deaf culture, as opposed to the inability to hear, which has a small d. (And I didn't know until I read your post that "dwarf" was OK.
Dg, you raise an interesting tangent, which is about Jews, especially proudly identified Jews, referencing Jewish stereotypes. I joke about my Jewish nose, but otoh can't stand when Jews tell anti-Jewish jokes. Is this contradictory?
Ruchi, that makes me think of how I react when someone says something about my hometown of Glasgow…..as a proud Glaswegian, though now living 'in exile' on the east coast , not too far from Edinburgh(and there is an old and well known rivalry between the two cities) I don't mind kidding on about it myself, but I hate it when anyone else does…..
Was completely shocked and horrified watching that. I was thrilled that a couple of people walked out. I think it's ignorance, stupidity and just a complete lack of common sense. I've encountered that word before and as a Jew, it is so completely offensive. I must add though, hearing the N word is just as horrifying to me. How completely ignorant can someone be? One must live under a rock to think these words are acceptable in any way.
Did you notice the faces of the onlookers?
I guess it depends on whether you think "Jewish noses" are unattractive. I personally don't like jokes like that because the implication is that it is unattractive.
In years gone by, Jewish distrust of gentile attitudes served important purposes- such as the practical purpose of survival. They hate us and we need to be careful because otherwise we won't be prepared for the pogrom.
Nowadays, these attitudes are still perpetuated and the only reason is, as you've hinted, to avoid assimilation and prevent intermarriage. They all hate us,and it is because we are special and should stick together. Don't marry them, they will hate you.
Avoiding intermarriage and assimilation, to me, is an inadequate reason for raising children to believe that Eisav soneh es Yaakov, the whole world will always hate them and they should be wary of most every gentile.
And the outrage that followed this man's comments suggests the very opposite of what you argue here- civilized society is fundamentally offended by displays of casual anti-semitism and no, anti-semitism is not expected.
MP, I agree with you that in America the facts on the ground have changed regarding anti-semitism and survival. Have I hinted that we should believe we are hated (a possible mistruth, as you suggest) to preserve our nation?
I do believe that many people harbor negative feelings towards Jews. Therefore it doesn't shock me when I see it emerge. Is the outrage due the fact that "civilized society" disagrees with the stereotype? Or due the fact that it's highly inappropriate to speak that way in the Senate?
The senate location has nothing to do with it. It's inappropriate for a school teacher or bus driver to speak that way, never mind a leader, a representative.
if you don't think we should believe we are hated to preserve our nation, what do you mean that it is good if we bond together and realize we are different? What would be the point of recognize difference if not to prevent assimilation?
MP: What makes you think it's a deliberate ploy to convince people not to intermarry or assimilate? My impression is that the people who say all the non-Jews hate us really believe it.
it's not a deliberate ploy and I'm sure the people who say it really do believe it. It's just the underlying intent of it all. We are hated. Why? It's not because of our noses. It's because we're special. We're special and we're different. And it's important for you to know that so you be sure to marry a Jew.
It seems to me that the Jews who believe this these days are very religious and aren't about to marry non-Jews anyway.
The standard, traditional religious belief is that non-Jews hate Jews because they're secretly jealous that Jews have the Torah. The people who believe this are sincere in that belief. Perhaps it started off as a way for Jews to comfort themselves amidst persecution.
Mp and tesyaa, I am unfamiliar with both of your suggestions. Here's the explanation I have learned:
http://steinsaltz.org/learning.php?pg=Daf_Yomi&articleId=2956
I found basically the same thing on the frum "Simple to Remember" site:
The Talmud (Tractate Shabbos 69) cites the source of anti-Semitism using a play on words: The Torah – the source of the Jewish system of laws, values and moral standards – was received at Mount Sinai. The Hebrew pronunciation of "Sinai" is almost identical to the Hebrew word for "hatred" – sinah. "Why was the Torah given on a mountain called Sinai?" asks the Talmud. "Because the great sinah – the tremendous hatred aimed at the Jew – emanates from Sinai."
At Sinai Jews were told that there is one God, Who makes moral demands on all of humanity. Consequently, at Sinai the Jewish nation became the target for the hatred of those whose strongest drive is to liberate mankind from the shackles of conscience and morality.
I never heard of the Sinai/hatred thing before.
Isn't there something perversely gratifying about the idea that so many people/groups hate the Jews? It makes Jews seem more important in their own eyes. It really confirms "Jewish pride" in a way that sheer indifference wouldn't.
I think Tesyaa is right that most people don't think much about Jews, and the ones who "hate" them probably for the most part are simply taught to do so by their parents or societies, and it doesn't really have anything to do with the Jews as such. But the perceived hatred and the Jewish pride go together in a way that I think is unhealthy. Just because someone's hatred (or groundless animosity, or deluded jealousy) is directed to you, doesn't mean you should feel like it's a confirmation of specialness.
I have a feeling it's a confirmation of specialness only to people who feel some sense of inferiority about being different. Religious Jews (and just to make it clear, I don't mean only Orthodox) don't base their attachment to Judaism and the Jewish people on other people's prejudices.
I agree that some not-very-religious Jews might have more Jewish identity built on a history of persecution, because they don't have much else to base that identity on. My very nonobservant mother told me, "Being Jewish means there are people who want to kill you even though they don't know you." When I was small. Thanks, mom, nice job with that positive Jewish identity. And for fostering a feeling of safety in the world, too.
But I don't agree at all that a feeling of specialness-as-evidenced-by-hatred only happens when people feel inferior. I think it's a kind of defense mechanism. Like in the aftermath terrible attacks on the USA, people feel more patriotic than they otherwise would. As Ruchi indicated, negativity directed toward a group does make people in the group bond together and feel their identity more strongly.
Do you guys think this comment is anti-Semitic? If so, does that show that the person saying it is, in fact, an anti-Semite?
It's an expression, not a nice one. Let me ask, do Jews avoid using the word "gyp" as in "he gypped me", which comes from a negative stereotype about Gypsys?
If a Jew uses the expression "he gypped me", does it mean the Jew thinks people of Gypsy extraction are cheats?
Interesting question. The comment is definitely antisemitic. But the Orthodox Jew who I heard use the phrase isn't an antisemite in the least. He presumably just grew up hearing it and it became part of his vocabulary. Just as we grew up saying "gyp" and weren't anti-Roma, some people use it and aren't antisemitic. On the other hand, his "apology" was either antisemitic or a lame attempt to save face by making a joke (and making things worse in the process).
Isn't the definition of "anti-Semitic" complicated here? A person can be consciously hate-filled toward Jews; or just suspicious of a group s/he doesn't much know; or competitively 'against' them because s/he feels that they are doing better or have more wealth than s/he does; or harbor ideas about them that her/his parents told them and with no idea that those ideas are false; or use terms that have a bad history but s/he doesn't know that they have that history. A term can be anti-Semitic in expressing ugly things about Jews but that origin, as DG indicates, got forgotten and so the term is still anti-Semitic but the person using it might not be. And isn't it a different anti-Semitism to hate Jews because "they killed Christ" vs. because "they are cheap"?
To just paint all those as 'the same anti-Semitism' doesn't do anyone much of a service except to strengthen indignation and reduce opportunities for more refined mutual understanding.
SBW: Well put. What you wrote reminds me of Mark Twain's story "Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven." The main character is on his way to heaven, only he assumes he's going to hell. On the way he meets a Jew, also on his way somewhere, who is crying. The protagonist assumes that the Jew is upset because by dying he missed an opportunity to cheat someone. But then he finds out that the Jew is crying because he also thinks he's going to hell and won't be able to see his little daughter who died and of course went to heaven. "I was raised to a prejudice against Jews — Christians always are, you know — but such as I had was in my head, there wasn't any in my heart." For some reason it isn't in the standard published version, but it was in the version I read years ago and it's quoted in "The Image of the Jew in American Literature," which can be seen on Google Books.
Back to Ruchi's question: the way I understand it, the COMMENT is anti-Semitic insofar as "anti-Semitic" includes "terms that refer to insulting stereotypes". It's only understandable as a comment because of that history. If he had said, "I'm going to go Jew around out in my toolshed and then Jew myself some time in the sun" no one would know what that even means.
Like others have said, it's possible to make an anti-Semitic comment without being an anti-Semite. Just takes ignorance and tactlessness.
DG: Interesting story. Not quite what I meant about how the term "anti-Semitism" is used to cover a lot of very different phenomena, but I'm really glad for the reference.
I guess I've always thought of it as an illustration of how someone can know he has antisemitic opinions but at the same time know he's wrong about them. It's one example from the spectrum of antisemitism.
Sometimes people use words and barely know what they mean.
"Is the outrage due the fact that "civilized society" disagrees with the stereotype? Or due the fact that it's highly inappropriate to speak that way in the Senate?"
I think this is a really interesting point that Ruchi makes. I personally think that as it becomes more inappropriate to speak that way in society, this also allows us to lie to ourselves about how much prejudice we all still hold on to. Seeing it less is really only good so long as it simultaneously reflects people becoming more tolerant and authentically respectful of one another. Otherwise, it is just kind of a meaningless politically correctness that hides an ugly truth.
I am optimistic that society is actually changing and becoming more tolerant. Yet I also agree with SBW that the point Ruchi makes about these types of incidents reaffirming Jewish identity or separateness can be seen as a self-fullfulling prophecy. The more groups retreat into themselves, the less likely they are to be understood by others, and the more likely there is for prejudices to remain against them. (I do not mean this statement to ignore the long history of minority groups having no choice but to live separate)
While I totally respect the desire for minority religious, ethnic or any other type of group choosing to remain somewhat separate in order to preserve their belief system and way of life, I also can't help but find it sad. I am wondering what your thoughts are on this Ruchi, because you are someone who advocates for jewish identity (which I read in some regard as advocating for insularity – if you don't see it that way please correct me!) but also actively seeks to understand others. Even if these things aren't mutually exclusive, how many others in your community also seek out common ground with others?
Do you think Jewish identity can be preserved in a world where your children play with my non-jewish children? Are we somewhat destined to be suspect of one another as long as we live in separate communities and have no meaningful interaction with one another (other than this awesome blog!)? As a non-religious person I know I approach these questions from a very different perspective I'd love to hear other's thoughts!
JEM, thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Insularity is a necessary evil, but so is broadmindedness. Each has its pitfalls and each is important in the right way. I believe that if my kids' Jewish identity is strong, consistent, and positive, then they can encounter lots of different kinds of people and not dilute it. But they have to be consistently "plugged in" to that connection. It can't be something you get for a few years, then outgrow. For example, my daughter will be living at home and attending college locally as opposed to living on a campus. We feel her spiritual values will be far too difficult to maintain on campus.
As far as my community, it's a mixed bag. Some people are really motivated to spread their circles and some are not. Some are motivated by lofty reasons, some by personality. I have seen the same in the non-religious world, though. Some are really interested in learning more about my world, some are keeping their distance.
And I completely agree with your thoughts on lying to ourselves about prejudice.
"Otherwise, it is just kind of a meaningless politically correctness that hides an ugly truth."
On the other hand, isn't it sometimes better to keep ugly truths to ourselves sometimes? After all, we might dislike people for personal reasons, but we don't go around telling them so. Also, knowing that certain ideas are socially unacceptable can sometimes make them less common. Kids (and to a lesser extent adults) imbibe prejudices from those around them. If the people around them aren't expressing them, the kids are less likely to have them. I'm not saying it's a perfect method, but it's better than the alternative.
Please make allowances for my lack of knowledge(Ruchi, it's Alex here, in case you didn't know!) but could you all give me your views on where and why the "Jews are cheap" idea originated? It's not something that I came across growing up in a mixed background(in which I think it might be a more likely place to encounter it…..?)
I think it comes from medieval Europe, where Jews were barred from most occupations and the Church wouldn't allow Christians to lend money at interest. So Jews became money lenders. Because the borrowers didn't like owing them money, a stereotype of greedy Jews developed.
cf "The Merchant of Venice"
Ok, I have heard jokes about Jews not ever paying full price, TOLD BY JEWS who themselves would be deeply offended by the senator's comment. Ruchi tells Jewish nose jokes but is offended by non-Jews who tell them.
My armchair-psychological view is that there is a weird pleasure to be had (not just by Jews) in being offended. I can't figure it out, but I think people can delight in being the victim of something that in itself doesn't cause a huge, real harm, but alludes to a bigger, real harm (like an anti-Semitic comment evokes terrible historical persecution without actually repeating it). Maybe it lets people feel all the resentment and pain about the big harm in a more harmless situation, and also lets it feel like they "win" in the harmless situation because the offense (like the Senator's comment) is so patently a big blunder and everyone sees that.
And to take your theory a little further (just speculating here), the jokes elicit the defense mechanism that you mentioned. In other words, they tell derogatory jokes about themselves so that they can feel defensive, which gives them a sense of belonging and specialness. What do you think?
Great idea. In fact maybe telling it about themselves is a way of having more power than the malicious joke-tellers 'out there' and likewise getting to feel a little defensive AND having a laugh if the joke is good. Triple win.
DG, thank you; I didn't know that.
Oh that was SUCH an offensive apology–"I apologize to the Jews." Not convinced.
Is it really so insulting to insinuate that Jews have long been known as shrewd negotiators and generally exceptionally smart as a people? Was anyone harmed when he said "Jew me down"? Is it really so abominable to make a general observation about any group?
The PC Police no longer know any bounds whatsoever…first amendment be damned. Agree with us or be persecuted, that is the new paradigm.