Who’s Not an Anti-Semite

Here are some people who are not necessarily anti-Semites. Someone who…

… criticizes Israel

… thinks that Jews are especially smart

… thinks that Jews aren’t going to heaven because they don’t accept Jesus as their savior

… believes that the Jewish belief that we’re the “chosen people” tends to make us smug and self-righteous

… thinks that Jews are good with money

… thinks that Jews are clannish

… is uncomfortable talking about religion with a Jew

… thinks orthodox Judaism is sexist

… thinks orthodox Jews in their black coats and funny hats are just plain weird

… thinks the Palestinians have been oppressed

… on Yom Kippur asks us how our seder was

… thinks that Paul Newman doesn’t look Jewish

Some of those beliefs are wrong (IMO) and some are hurtful. So what? Jew haters are my enemies but lots of people who hold to some of those beliefs may be my strongest allies or my best friends. If we can’t tell the difference, we’re never going to get anywhere. Calling someone an anti-Semite (or a racist, or a sexist, etc.) poisons the well of conversation. We should — IMO — save it for our actual enemies.

That’s how it seems to me, anyway.

Categories: Uncategorized dw