As a Jew with a graduate degree in Jewish Studies, I define anti-Semitism as any action or belief that attempts to lower the value of Jewish civilization, Jewish values or beliefs, or that would attempt to exclude the physical presence of Jewish people due to being Jewish. Anti-Semitism can appear in an overt form (verbal jibes and insults, a la Joseph Goebbels) or in a covert, more manipulative form (‘we like Jews, we just despise Israelis’). Historian Robert Wistrich has aptly stated: ‘Anti-Zionism has become the most dangerous and effective form of anti-Semitism in our time, through its systematic delegitimization, defamation and demonization of Israel.' (1)
Those who claim today to want to dismantle Israel as the Jewish state, due to their political opposition to Zionism, are sure enough anti-Semitic in their thrusts, though they will ultimately always deny their anti-Semitism. Let’s use some logic here. I have confronted advocates of the BDS movement (boycott, sanctions and divestment) with their anti-Semitism. Of course, 100% of the time it is denied. Yet their hatred for Israel’s existence as the world’s only Jewish state is often enough not denied. Ah, a breath of ‘welcome’ honesty!
If one advocates for the overthrow or dismantling of a state, whether by violence or ‘peaceful’ measures, and that state happens to be Jewish…defining that advocacy as anti-Semitic is logical and true. If the persons whom one is trying to dislodge are all Jewish, then the attempt to dislodge is inherently anti-Semitic. If the attempt to de-value the legitimacy of the world’s only Jewish state is done with smiles, hugs and Christian language, it is still anti-Semitic.
I urge all readers of this website to use these lenses by which to evaluate anti-Israel statements, anti-Israel movies (case in point, 'The Stones Cry Out' by Yasmine Perni; please see the CAMERA article on her film, found at: http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=2650), and anti-Israel speeches, presentations and media statements.
D. Friedman
(1) Wistrich, ‘Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism’, Jewish Political Studies Review/16:3-4, found at: http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-wistrich-f04.htm
Those who claim today to want to dismantle Israel as the Jewish state, due to their political opposition to Zionism, are sure enough anti-Semitic in their thrusts, though they will ultimately always deny their anti-Semitism. Let’s use some logic here. I have confronted advocates of the BDS movement (boycott, sanctions and divestment) with their anti-Semitism. Of course, 100% of the time it is denied. Yet their hatred for Israel’s existence as the world’s only Jewish state is often enough not denied. Ah, a breath of ‘welcome’ honesty!
If one advocates for the overthrow or dismantling of a state, whether by violence or ‘peaceful’ measures, and that state happens to be Jewish…defining that advocacy as anti-Semitic is logical and true. If the persons whom one is trying to dislodge are all Jewish, then the attempt to dislodge is inherently anti-Semitic. If the attempt to de-value the legitimacy of the world’s only Jewish state is done with smiles, hugs and Christian language, it is still anti-Semitic.
I urge all readers of this website to use these lenses by which to evaluate anti-Israel statements, anti-Israel movies (case in point, 'The Stones Cry Out' by Yasmine Perni; please see the CAMERA article on her film, found at: http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=2650), and anti-Israel speeches, presentations and media statements.
D. Friedman
(1) Wistrich, ‘Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism’, Jewish Political Studies Review/16:3-4, found at: http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-wistrich-f04.htm