Today and every day I’m grateful for allies – my non-Jewish friends who respond to my posts about Jew hatred (and non-Jewish strangers whose support I see here and on other platforms), and especially those who share posts about antisemitism on your own profiles. I see you and I appreciate you, more than words can say.
To tell you the truth, whenever I post about antisemitism – something I’ve always done but now I’m doing it more than ever before, I wonder if some people (no one specifically) are rolling their eyes and thinking that I post about it too much. That maybe they think I’m focusing on it far more than I should, and that I need to give it a rest. Or maybe they just scroll past, tired of my constant reminders of Jew hate.
I try not to jump to conclusions, but sometimes, my mind gets bogged down in wondering about such things, when I see how people respond and who chooses to do so. You might even think that “I know” you’re against antisemitism and support me/the Jews, and that a response is unnecessary, but I promise you that in these dark days of swirling, blinding hatred (and it’s definitely out there, even if you have the privilege of not witnessing it), your Jewish friends absolutely want you to let them know that you support them, and not just assume we do.
I hear so many Jews in my extended circles and beyond admitting that the silence of their friends is palpable, especially against the backdrop of a raucous cacophony of hatred. If you think I’m exaggerating, I can assure you that I’m not. To think so is a reflection of your privilege of not being Jewish, of the opportunity to continue with your lives as though everything is okay. But the truth is, it’s not.
Your Jewish friends do not feel safe, and they – we – are definitely not okay.
