This article on the Finding Our Voice conference on anti-Semitism is by David Morgenstern and first appeared in the March-April Bulletin:
Some advances in dealing with new strains of anti-Semitism were apparent at Finding Our Voice, a conference held in late January. Yet, from conference discussions, it seems further education on this important issue is needed by our entire community.
The conference examined the range of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel messages now coming from the political left and explored possible responses to these attacks. BIJ was a cosponsor of the conference and a number of members attended along with Rabbi Rosalind.
I was impressed by the keynote speaker, Anthony Julius, the British lawyer who successfully fought an academic boycott against Israeli universities. He offered a detailed analysis of what he calls the "new anti-Zionism".
Characteristics of this new anti-Semitism include its emergence from the left, rather than the traditional right; it relies upon misrepresentation of facts to the detriment of Israel and Jews; and its proponents are in denial of their own anti-Semitism.
Fueling this denial, Julius said, is a widely held belief that the real anti-Semitism is one that resembles the Holocaust, in other words, an active, state-led assault against Jews. This attitude leads some people with an otherwise liberal mindset to ignore new, more subtle forms of anti-Semitism.
Identifying this new anti-Zionism requires careful analysis of complex subjects and history. Persons who level critique against Israel's policies, such as those in the Occupied Territories, are not categorically anti- Semitic (even though their statements may be painful for many of us to hear). However appropriate criticism crosses into anti- Semitism when it relies upon misrepresentation, like false analogies to South African apartheid, or advocates boycotts against Israeli products; asserts global Jewish conspiracy theories such as the "Israel Lobby", or blames Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians for all the trouble in the Muslim world (or the entire world for that matter).
Worst of all, Julius said, this new anti- Semitism bespeaks a wish for simplicity when the answers are complex. "The new anti-Zionism is the common sense of our times — it's in the air", he said. "How do you argue, or give a comeback to 'everyone knows that?'"
This was troublesome news. Julius said that this attitude can be overcome by education and by countering falsehoods with facts. One good place to find these arguments is at the Engage (www.engageonline.org.uk) website. Here are a few additional observations from the sessions:
Countering boycotts. In a session on sanctions, we heard from the Reverend Rebeccah Kuiken about the Presbyterian movement's 2004 proposed boycott of Israel investments. I remember news of this at that time and it really bugged me. She called that year the "low point" for relations between Jews and Presbyterians. She said at last year's biennial meeting, that the boycott was reversed. The Presbyterian leadership issued an apology, repudiating the previous action, acknowledging that terrorists were a real threat to Israel. It recognized the "hurt and misunderstanding" that the call for the boycott had caused to Jews.
Tough decisions. The war in Iraq was a major topic of discussion at some sessions. Or perhaps more accurately put, there is great concern in progressive Jewish groups over the expressions of overt anti-Semitic and anti-Israel messages at demonstrations against the Iraq war.
During a session led by Mark Leno, San Francisco supervisor, many attendees expressed pain over the issue. It appeared that everyone had a different take on a solution.
Some said that those protesting the war should simultaneously hold pro-Jewish signs to counter anti-Zionist banners. This way they could put "feet on the street" but distance themselves from any anti-Semitic messages. Others argued that any association with demonstrations that include anti- Semitic banners and signs give tacit approval of those very messages. Although demonstration organizers recognize this problem there is no agreement among the community as to how to address the issue systematically.
If other conferences on this subject are held, I encourage you to attend since I found it very worthwhile.