We’re back!
Housekeeping notes: There will be no newsletter next week because I will be traveling and then celebrating Thanksgiving. If you are celebrating, too, I hope you have a lovely holiday.
And now onto news, views, and Jews.
THE NEWS
For the Washington Post, I reviewed Money Kings, on the German Jewish immigrants who shaped America’s financial system and much more.
I went on Amanpour & Company to talk about the past and present of US Jewish politics as well as American Jewish fears, responsibilities, and reactions in and at this moment.
I also went on Slate’s What Next podcast to discuss the same.
For the Forward, I tried to unpack the point of the March for Israel, to Free the Hostages, and Against Antisemitism.
For MSNBC, I wrote about Pastor John Hagee’s appearance at the march and why we shouldn’t conflate support for Israel with the fight against antisemitism.
For Slate, I wrote about why it’s cynical to have a march that encourages people to put aside their disagreements and then hold up attendance as proof people agree with you.
VSquare, the Central European site I help edit, has relaunched and it is beautiful.
I thought this Priscilla piece was great.
New Lines has a report on sexual harassment in the chess world.
David Cameron is back in the UK government, this time as foreign secretary. Sure! Why not!
MY VIEWS ON…
…young American Jews!
This isn’t really about young American Jews. It’s about college students.
There has been a lot of coverage, before and especially since Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, about antisemitism on university campuses. I wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago about American Jewish fear and why I think it’s important for American Jews, and especially young American Jews, to not reduce their identities to fear.
I stand by that, but that is not the point of this little essay. The point of this little essay is that, according to a new poll by the Jewish Electorate Institute, the people worried about antisemitism on university campuses are actually older, not younger, American Jews. Only 37 percent of American Jews between the ages of 18 and 35 thought that antisemitism on university campuses was a very serious problem; they were also more concerned with Islamophobia and racism in the United States than older Jews. (Younger American Jews were also far more critical of US President Joe Biden’s handling of the war than American Jews overall.) By comparison, 79 percent of American Jews between the ages of 36 and 64 and 78 percent above the age of 65 thought antisemitism on American campuses was a very serious problem.
I thought of that while reading this piece on the cancellation of a campus screening of a documentary that’s critical of Israel. Who is this for, really? Is it for students? For younger American Jews? Or is it for older people who are either legitimately concerned about this issue even if they are perhaps a step removed from it or, more cynically, weaponizing antisemitism on campuses for political purposes?
I am not saying that antisemitism is not a problem. I would never say that. And universities need to make sure all students are safe. Of course they do. And universities need to try to manage this subject, about which students have been extremely heated since time immemorial, such that discussion around it is as respectful as can be. People need to feel safe at these places of learning.
But these are also supposed to be places of learning, and where young people are challenged and can grow. I know that we have heard from students who have said that they’re scared. But we should also hear from students who are saying that they aren’t. That they’re welcoming discussion and debate and are concerned about antisemitism in this country, yes, but also about racism and Islamophobia. And we should listen to them, too.
AND SOME STUFF ABOUT JEWS
Vivian Silver, the Canadian Israeli peace activist who was thought to be among the hostages taken by Hamas, was confirmed to have been killed on Oct. 7.
This, by Deborah Feldman, the author of Unorthodox, is a really sharp piece on Germany’s loyalty to Israel versus to its Jews. Pair it with this piece from The Dial on Germany’s crackdown on civil liberties.
The Anti-Defamation League added Jewish-led rallies for a ceasefire to its database documenting antisemitism, per the Intercept.
I thought this piece on the cancellation of events at the 92Y was great.
Masha Gessen has a report on the crackdown on speech within Israel.
That’s it for now. Hope to see you back here soon.
-ET