Opinion | Antisemitism and Israel: 13 Jewish Americans Discuss

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

Rough.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

Decorum.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

For whatever reason, the only thing that came to mind was, you know, inflation.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

Divisiveness.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

Broken.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

Respect.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

Climate.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Uncertainty.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

Change.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

Hate.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

Administration.

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

Economy.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

Polarizing.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

I’m thinking about gun violence. I’m thinking about the recent incident with Tyre Nichols and the police.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

I think if we all had respect for each other’s beliefs and views, those kinds of things wouldn’t happen.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

A lot of people don’t know how to talk to each other and respect different views. I feel like there was a time when we would listen and then we would disagree but not violently. And I feel like we’ve lost that. And the last time it felt like we were this polarized, it was the ’60s and early ’70s.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

Things used to be easier even 10 years ago. It feels like we’re at the fall of the Roman Empire.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

There’s so much division and divisiveness between people, the wars, bombs and stuff, the hatred inside our country. It just feels like everything was easier 10 years ago, 20 years ago. And it doesn’t feel so easy right now.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

Even if you look back at the recession of 2008, I think even though our country and our city or our states had problems, people in general were much more mindful of each other, whether or not it concerned race, creed, religion. You knew your neighbors. You cared about your neighbors. You cared about the store down the block. The division was not like it is now.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

I have the glorious fortune of being raised as a young kid in the ’50s and the ’60s. We had very different generational issues then. But it seemed like a time where family was sacred. And there was less technology. There was less comparing yourself to other people. It was just a pure, simpler time.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

I worry for our younger generation in terms of access to technology and social media and what that’s going to mean for the future of the country.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

I was just trying to be optimistic. Because what else can you do?

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

I’m always trying to be optimistic as well. And I get excited with the advances in technology, especially with electric vehicles and renewable energy. And sometimes, you need a crisis to get people to come together. I think the stronger the crisis that we face in America, the more we bounce back and work together.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Interesting.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

Everything.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

Family.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

Love.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

Tradition.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

Light.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

Better understanding.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

Tradition.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

I would say “family.”

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

Grounded.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

Faith.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

Belonging.

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

Diverse.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

I think that we’re here to spread the light and make the world a little better place than when we got here.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

I’m not sure why I said that. But it incorporates people loving each other and treating each other well and family and everything else, all combined into one.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

I said “belonging” because I think by being raised Jewish, I have found a place where I feel like I have a community.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

I mean it in a kind of negative way. Wherever I work, I’m almost always working in a Christian environment. And every year, the same people come up to me and ask me to explain the Seder and explain Hanukkah. I feel like I’m the only voice of the Jews. I’m really tired of it.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

I am married to a Protestant man. Every Christmas, we put up a Christmas tree. But we also do the menorah. And to me, that’s tradition. And this is the first year my great-grandchildren wanted to know all about it, about the lighting of the menorah. And we went through the whole thing, and they really enjoyed it. And that made me just so happy. In fact, it made me cry at the time.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

My parents have passed on. They were Orthodox Jews. And the traditions were very deep inside me. And nowadays, tradition doesn’t seem to make that much of a difference in people’s lives. But it does to me.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

I have a Jewish lens on how I view the world. It’s not that I practice Judaism. I really don’t. But I understand I’m standing on the shoulders of my ancestors and I’m facing similar issues. And I’m using a Jewish lens just to live my life and to solve problems.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

I liked what Joel said. I grew up in a very nontraditional household. Mom was reformed. Dad was very conservative.

I’m married to a gentleman who’s Greek. But as I lost my mom and dad and grandma, I kind of picked up on my own the traditions that I remembered. I went to one or two high holy days at the Reform temple where I live. Not saying I joined, but I wanted to kind of come back to what I was.

Since I have no children, I just do it for myself. When I was younger, I used to say, Dad, I don’t want to go to temple. Now at age 61, I wish he was still here, and that we could go to temple together.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

I’ve had both parents die. So I’ve said Kaddish for the last 11½ months almost every day. I play in a golf league with, like, 15 goys. And I’m the only Jew. They used to tease me all the time. It didn’t bother me at all, but now they’ve stopped. Now they actually ask questions about my commitments. They can’t believe I went to shul twice a day for 11½ months. So it’s actually made me respect my religion more than I had before.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Well, I was raised in a Reform home, and I basically just do the two or three main days of the year. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, I fast on that day. But I have two boys. One could take or leave Judaism. My second boy is moving forward to become a rabbi. And they were both in the same house. How crazy is that?

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

Well, for me, it’s fasting on Yom Kippur every year, mainly. Other than that, the only time I formally pray is when I go to someone’s funeral.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

I’m a politically conservative Jew. We used to belong to a temple. And I don’t have anything against the temple. I think it’s a wonderful organization. But after our kids’ bar and bat mitzvah, we didn’t continue.

And it was mostly because we didn’t feel so connected because they were so liberal. We just felt like we didn’t want to get lectured to. So I’m not sure who speaks for me — maybe the Orthodox sect, because as far as I know, they are more conservative politically.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

The agency that connected with us most for Judaism and Israel is an agency called Birthright Israel. My youngest daughter, she’s 23, she always wanted to go see Israel, and they provided free transportation and free trips for her to have that experience.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

The organizations I personally feel more connected to are more on the liberal side and less propaganda-y. One that comes to mind is One Table.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

I guess just more open-minded and willing to hear out people’s opinions and accept that things are changing, and you can openly discuss which traditions maybe, I don’t know, didn’t age as well.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

Opportunity.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

Uh, it’s just what I am.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

Original.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

Proud.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

I’m proud, but I’m hidden.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

Proud.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Proud.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

Scared.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

Uneasy.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

Minimized?

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

Safe.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

Proud.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

I feel unknown.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

Well, in some situations, I wear my Jewish star, and I have a Jewish necklace, and I have Jewish star earrings. But in some cases, I almost feel, like, threatened if I wear them.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

With all the antisemitism going on nowadays, you never know if someone will say something or do something because I am wearing my Jewish star. And it’s scary. Some places you just don’t feel safe.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

Yes. I think with all that’s going on with the Black Lives Matter and with the police — everything is so scary out there.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

Well, now they have this B.L.M. with all the — they want to defund the police, and they’re firing them all, and they’re all retiring because they don’t want to work and go through all of this. So if we don’t have the protection, who knows what’ll happen next to any of us?

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

I think it happened after Pittsburgh, with my shul actually training people on how to act when there’s a shooter in the temple. And that scares me a little. Growing up, my next-door neighbor used to beat me up because I was Jewish. So growing up that way, I’m just concerned about being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Until Pittsburgh, I never thought much about it. But the training at the temple — every time somebody opened the door, I was looking, making sure that somebody I knew was coming in.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

I grew up in Long Island, N.Y. And I was part of the majority where I lived. And now I live in the Mid-South, and I’m very much the minority. And I would like to say I’m proud. But I often feel scared to come out and say I’m Jewish. I feel like because of the antisemitism, that I will somehow be singled out.

And there have been instances here that I hear about around the holidays where people put out their blow-up dreidels and their houses are vandalized. I want to be proud to wear a Jewish star around my neck. But like Phyllis, I’m afraid of the attention that might draw and how that could adversely affect my family.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

Nothing directly to me. But I sent my kids to a Jewish preschool here. One day, my 4-year-old came home and said, “Mommy, I got to stand on a toilet seat today. And I had to be really quiet for 10 minutes.”

And I think this was not long after the attack on the synagogue or the threats against the Jewish preschools. I mean, we went to a bar mitzvah in Chicago a few months ago, and, like, the other gentleman just said, “The whole time, my eyes were on the door.”

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

So, being Jewish, we have the unfortunate truth that there’s tons of fear back from when our bubbe and zayde were children. But the country that we live in was founded with two very distinctive rules, which was right of religion and speech. And the second one is so you can protect that, which is the Second Amendment.

So if everyone knows that the Jews aren’t ones to be messed with, then I have a feeling that they’ll mess with us less. Fortunately, I’m very privileged to live in and work in two different towns that are predominantly Jewish. Brookline, Mass., and Newton, Mass. But me, as well as the other managers where I work, along with several other Jewish store owners on the street, we all have carry licenses. Because we’re very aware of the fear, but we’re also very proud to be where we are.

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

I see America as being very focused on diversity, especially in recent years. That’s been impressive. I’m not blind to a lot of things going on, antisemitism-wise. But it seems to me antisemitism is a lot more likely to happen in other countries. And your question was specifically about America. That heavily influenced why I say “safe.”

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

I just wanted to say my mother’s mother and father, my grandparents, were from Kyiv. And I just — I have to read every single thing in the paper that’s going on there right now. Because that could be me. And it’s like, you just never know just what’s going to happen.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

I said I feel minimized. But interestingly enough, my daughter, who’s 16 now, her first job was at Chick-fil-A. They’re Christian. And she proudly wore that Jewish star. It made me feel good. And people commented. People asked, “Oh, you’re Jewish?” You know, sometimes customers, sometimes employees. And then even a family came in and said, “Look, Mom. She’s Jewish, too.” I was so proud of her.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

I nanny for a little boy who is from an affluent family, and we Uber to Hebrew school. And I’ve had three different Uber drivers who say, are all Jewish families rich?

But I explained to him, there are rich Chinese people. There are rich African American people. And I kind of gave him the rundown to kind of deter him from that mind-set that we’re all filthy rich, we all live in mansions.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

When I was younger, I heard racial epithets being thrown out all over the place. And, like, fistfights over Catholics and Jews and all of that — that was just part of everyday life. I don’t feel like any of that is overt anymore. But I do sense an underlying hatred sometimes when I talk to certain people. It’s a little more genteel now. But it’s there.

But I will say, I feel like the country is moving forward. Yes, we have these horrible incidents. And there’s very specific problems. But I think we’re accepting of diversity in general, including Jews.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

I would love to believe what Joel just said, but from the sources that I read, antisemitism is actually getting worse. I’m taking an online class right now through Sonoma State University on the Holocaust, and there are leading experts who argue that antisemitism is on the rise right now.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

This may totally open Pandora’s box, but one expert I heard from said that it really was Trump that undid the lid on the pot. The pot had always been boiling, but he removed the lid and allowed it all to come forth.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

I think it’s the same. I believe it’s there, of course, but I don’t see it up close and personal.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

I feel that under Trump, instead of bringing people together, he would succeed by having people fight with each other and create friction and hostility. Oftentimes, people can’t be accepting of others who are different. And that’s what causes the antisemitism. It’s really no different than the violence in gay bars or gay nightclubs. Because people are afraid of people that are different.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

And I think it just goes with the amount of lies in the country. Not necessarily Trump. The Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the world. That party allowed that to happen. QAnon. All the things that happened that are still happening. I mean, just think about what Marjorie Taylor Greene said about the lasers and all those things. So people allowed that to happen and continued to let her talk. They’re still letting her talk, which is even more unbelievable to me.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

About dividing the country. I mean, jeez. I think Biden is doing an amazing job at that right now. And as far as Trump with antisemitism, he moved the embassy, and he had a great relationship with the Israeli prime minister. And look at Ilhan, whatever her name is, Omar. I mean, thank goodness the Republicans had the sense to kick her off. And the Democrats are saying it’s because she’s from another country? It’s because she’s an antisemite. It’s disgusting.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

Trump — if he could have stayed off Twitter, he would have been OK, I think. And if he’d just kept his mouth shut. He does have a Jewish son-in-law.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

Maybe Trump wasn’t outwardly antisemitic. But he gave people a platform to hate, and he encouraged people to express those hateful opinions. And unfortunately, antisemitism kind of falls into that category. So I think that the rise of antisemitism and Trump in office is probably definitely correlated.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

She said what she said. Definitely not good. She apologized. And there’s some Republicans who’ve said some similar things in this world. So the problem I have with kicking her off is Kevin McCarthy had said years ago that he was going to kick her off because they kicked off Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar. So that’s the problem I have with it. Not that she didn’t deserve to be kicked off. It’s that they used a reason that really wasn’t the reason.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

If somebody would have said something anti-Black, I would feel the same way. I mean, when you act in an uncivil manner, you need to be punished. There needs to be repercussions.

And that’s the problem right now, is that people act in a very uncivil manner and they’re not held responsible for it. It’s not a specific matter of antisemitism. It’s a specific matter of behaving in a civil manner.

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

Fearful.

Lee,


73, California, Democrat, retired

Proud.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Proud again.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

Love.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

“Proud,” probably.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

Sense of democracy.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

Homesick.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

I’m fearful of it. I mean, every time I turn on the news, I hear about a bombing or a shooting going on there. It’s just not a place, at this point in time, I’d feel comfortable going to on vacation.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

I think when I was younger and had an opportunity to go to a kibbutz, maybe I would have went then. Now I have absolutely no inkling to ever want to go to Israel. I hate to sound so cruel, but I don’t even want to know what’s going on in that part of the world. I don’t care.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

Whether or not they’re technically advanced, educationally advanced, financially advanced, I think that whole neck of the woods is all backwards, and they all hate each other, and they’re all going to blow each other up one day. And you know what? It doesn’t pertain to me. Don’t care.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

I feel the opposite of Margo. I have unmitigated pride in Israel, and I’m very proud of what the country has become. And strangely enough, when I go there, I feel safer than I do here. I feel protected. I sit on a bus, and there’s soldiers with guns. I feel like nothing will happen to me. These are people who are shooting rockets out of the sky with technology that they developed. They’re the culmination of our history.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

I love Israel. I have dual citizenship. I grew up going there every summer, and I lived there for several years. Once, when I was a kid, we were walking through Tel Aviv through the market, and there was a bomb. And instead of panic, everybody dropped what they were doing, and the citizens, not the police, not soldiers, came and cleaned it up and cordoned off the whole area. And then everything was just picked up, and it wasn’t an issue.

And also, I’m just — every day I’m amazed at the technology and the forward thinking and just the resources that come out of this little podunk country.

I grew up in an area with a high concentration of Holocaust survivors. So I think there’s a little bit of that coming out into it. So I like to see success after that trauma. I don’t feel at all negative about the country. I feel deep, unmitigated pride.

Howard,


72, Missouri, Democrat, retired

Oh, I think any Jew should be pro-Israel just because of all the experiences that we’ve had there. But some of the things that they do just don’t make sense to me. I surely don’t believe in everything our government does, and I’m pro-U.S. So being pro-Israel would be the same thing.

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

Obviously I have a sense of pride about Israel. But that definitely doesn’t mean I agree with everything that the country is doing at all times.

Wendy,


52, Arizona, Republican, therapist

Yeah. Yeah. I think Israel is wonderful and amazing. But I was very surprised they continued to push the Covid jab, especially being such intelligent people, that they wouldn’t wait for more research.

Margo,


61, New York, Democrat, freelancer

In my case, I don’t have kids. But as the generations go further, even if the children decide not to become overly religious, as long as the understanding of the holidays and what happened previously is taught in a way that they can understand and appreciate, it will at least get carried on and on, especially as intermarriage and interfaith marriage becomes more and more popular. At least I know in my generation, there are a lot of interfaith couples. So I had to teach him, and he had to teach me. But I think it’ll continue as long as we teach it the way that we were taught.

Warren,


57, Nevada, Democrat, attorney

That we can peacefully coexist.

David,


51, Pennsylvania, Republican, accountant

I would hope that they’d be able to speak their mind without being afraid.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

I’d like to see my two boys pass down what I know to their children. We can all learn from one another with generation after generation.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Well, I think they’d be surprised at how many interfaith marriages are happening today.

Ben,


66, Texas, independent, special education administrator

Probably not a good way. [LAUGHS.] At least my grandparents wouldn’t have been happy about what they see today.

Joel,


59, Illinois, Democrat, architect

I think they would be completely shocked by how successful we are and how we’ve really taken to the country and we’ve really melded in a way. We can make our own way here in a way that we’ve never been able to in Europe.

Phyllis,


73, Florida, Republican, wholesale clothing

They would say, “Oy vey.” That’s all. [LAUGHS.]

Nicola,


27, Georgia, Democrat, communications

I think that they would be happy to see the level of success that I think Jewish people have had the opportunity to achieve.

Lindsay,


41, North Carolina, Democrat, physical therapy

I think my great-grandparents might be a little disappointed to see some of the traditions have been lost through the generations. But I think they’d be proud, generally.

Matthew,


34, Massachusetts, independent, catering

I think my great-grandparents would be very proud about how openly Jewish everybody’s allowed to be now. You don’t have to take off your yarmulke before you walk into a store in fear of something happening.

Dora,


32, Ohio, Republican, artist

I think more specifically about my great-great-grandmother. We’re direct descendants of the Vilna Gaon, a kind of higher-level rabbi. And my great-great-grandma — her father ran a yeshiva. She actually left her second husband in Poland because he was not religious enough for her. And I would like to think that my great-great-grandma would see our family being Jewish and being so proud about being Jewish, that she would look down at us and she would see fondly what we’ve done with our faith.