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haley_k's review
5.0
This book has sat with me. I know a lot did the history and some of the earlier chapters are more for people who know less about Judaism - but the deeper in to the book, the deeper and more relevant it gets (in these turbulent times). IF ANY OF MY FRIENDS WANT TO READ THIS BOOK - I will buy it for you!!!!!!!
sharonrosenbergscholl's review
5.0
I have been waiting for this book and even as I started reading it, I didn’t know it was the book I’d been waiting for.
With the rise of anti-semitism over the last year and watching otherwise progressive minded people exuse, or even advocate for and celebrate the slaughter of Jews, I had been wishing there was a book that could make visible the antisemitism that is baked into so much of our world and cultures, the way some pivotal books have make visible the racism that is all around us.
This is that book. Through their conversations, asking and answering uncomfortable questions, and not always agreeing, this book can do for non-Jews what The New Jim Crow, White Fragility, What It Means to be White and How to be an Antiracist did for me and so many other white folks. It can help folks see what is happening around them and help them to do less harm, if they choose to do so.
I have one complaint only about the book:
In the section where they discuss an incident in which Jamie Foxx posted something that seemed antisemitic but that wasn’t his intention, I was just wishing they would have made the needed connections between intention and impact, which are so important for white people to understand, but so often set aside when we talk about antisemitism.
When learning about my own racism I found it really important to understand that my intention does not matter more than my impact. If I were to post something that was not intended to be racist but that caused racist pain to people of color I would expect that I should listen and learn about the impact of my actions, and apologize for the impact of my actions. I would hope I would understand that the pain I caused is real even if I had no intention to do so.
That seems missing when people say or do antisemitic things and cause pain and harm. I would like that same concept to be a part of the conversation because I think it’s important here too. When someone causes pain through antisemitic words or actions, that matters. And if that was not their intention, that does not give them a pass or mean that they did not cause pain.
And I think it goes both ways. I also appreciate understanding that as a white person in the US I have breathed in racism and that I will think, say and do racist things. And also that I can keep learning and do better. I found it a relief to learn to think about racism not as a binary that I am or am not, but as something I can’t avoid having absorbed, living in the racism society I do. And so it is my responsibility to learn and keep working to do better. It’s not my fault but it is my responsibility.
I feel like as Jews we don’t take that long view too often and someone who does or says one antisemitic thing is labeled an antisemite as a static unchanging thing, in a way we would not want to be labeled as a racist as a static unchanging thing. I wish the book had talked about that. Especially in that part about the Jamie Foxx posting.
But that is my one complaint. This book does so much good and explains so much and is not long, dense or hard to read.
I hope this book is read far and wide and helps people to feel changed the way other books mentioned above have had a similarly huge impact on me and so many others
With the rise of anti-semitism over the last year and watching otherwise progressive minded people exuse, or even advocate for and celebrate the slaughter of Jews, I had been wishing there was a book that could make visible the antisemitism that is baked into so much of our world and cultures, the way some pivotal books have make visible the racism that is all around us.
This is that book. Through their conversations, asking and answering uncomfortable questions, and not always agreeing, this book can do for non-Jews what The New Jim Crow, White Fragility, What It Means to be White and How to be an Antiracist did for me and so many other white folks. It can help folks see what is happening around them and help them to do less harm, if they choose to do so.
I have one complaint only about the book:
In the section where they discuss an incident in which Jamie Foxx posted something that seemed antisemitic but that wasn’t his intention, I was just wishing they would have made the needed connections between intention and impact, which are so important for white people to understand, but so often set aside when we talk about antisemitism.
When learning about my own racism I found it really important to understand that my intention does not matter more than my impact. If I were to post something that was not intended to be racist but that caused racist pain to people of color I would expect that I should listen and learn about the impact of my actions, and apologize for the impact of my actions. I would hope I would understand that the pain I caused is real even if I had no intention to do so.
That seems missing when people say or do antisemitic things and cause pain and harm. I would like that same concept to be a part of the conversation because I think it’s important here too. When someone causes pain through antisemitic words or actions, that matters. And if that was not their intention, that does not give them a pass or mean that they did not cause pain.
And I think it goes both ways. I also appreciate understanding that as a white person in the US I have breathed in racism and that I will think, say and do racist things. And also that I can keep learning and do better. I found it a relief to learn to think about racism not as a binary that I am or am not, but as something I can’t avoid having absorbed, living in the racism society I do. And so it is my responsibility to learn and keep working to do better. It’s not my fault but it is my responsibility.
I feel like as Jews we don’t take that long view too often and someone who does or says one antisemitic thing is labeled an antisemite as a static unchanging thing, in a way we would not want to be labeled as a racist as a static unchanging thing. I wish the book had talked about that. Especially in that part about the Jamie Foxx posting.
But that is my one complaint. This book does so much good and explains so much and is not long, dense or hard to read.
I hope this book is read far and wide and helps people to feel changed the way other books mentioned above have had a similarly huge impact on me and so many others
mmalone's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
forbala's review
5.0
This is a really great, thorough yet introductory explanation of antisemitism throughout history and into the modern age. Noa Tishby is verbose and easy to understand while Emmanuel Acho plays a great interviewer/questioner and facilitator. If you have any questions about antisemitism, Judaism, Israel/Palestine, and what Jews are experiencing in a post-October 7 world, this is a great place to start. It's a great foundation to these kinds of hard conversations that we all need to be having these days.
bytifcohen's review
4.0
If you don't want to read what follows this - simply start at chapter 29, read through to the end and then start from the beginning.
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I believe all people should be free to live their lives as authentically as possible - as long as it does not harm anyone else. From the comfort of my home that is not in any threat of being bombed, I believe in the pain of both Palestinians and Israelis. There is, however, repetitive behavior that eludes me in discussions about the war between these two states. It is that Hamas (terrorist org that believes they are protecting the rights of Palestinians) is the only one murdering children and civilians. When Israel's actions are defended, the brutality they are also engaging in is conveniently excused. It is "self defense."
Noa Tishby spends a vast majority avoiding this topic - until chapter 29 where she faces it head on. Up until this point, it was difficult for me to earnestly consider her arguments. Once that was out of the way, I was on board. I do believe this was deliberate. Tishby mentions that Jews are punished for their government's policies and that not all people are their govt. The same is not true for, say, Americans. Many Americans (and globally) do not agree with all of the American govt's actions/policies yet they are not calling for the dismantling of the country, like they are of Israel. I believe the delayed recognition of the atrocious of the Israeli govt was to reveal some underlying prejudice against Jews. I'm not sure it was the right choice.
Overall - Everyone's story is valid. We are also all a villain in someone else's story. Even if your beliefs are firm when it comes to Palestine and Israel, it's worth a read for a high level review of Jewish History.
------
I believe all people should be free to live their lives as authentically as possible - as long as it does not harm anyone else. From the comfort of my home that is not in any threat of being bombed, I believe in the pain of both Palestinians and Israelis. There is, however, repetitive behavior that eludes me in discussions about the war between these two states. It is that Hamas (terrorist org that believes they are protecting the rights of Palestinians) is the only one murdering children and civilians. When Israel's actions are defended, the brutality they are also engaging in is conveniently excused. It is "self defense."
Noa Tishby spends a vast majority avoiding this topic - until chapter 29 where she faces it head on. Up until this point, it was difficult for me to earnestly consider her arguments. Once that was out of the way, I was on board. I do believe this was deliberate. Tishby mentions that Jews are punished for their government's policies and that not all people are their govt. The same is not true for, say, Americans. Many Americans (and globally) do not agree with all of the American govt's actions/policies yet they are not calling for the dismantling of the country, like they are of Israel. I believe the delayed recognition of the atrocious of the Israeli govt was to reveal some underlying prejudice against Jews. I'm not sure it was the right choice.
Overall - Everyone's story is valid. We are also all a villain in someone else's story. Even if your beliefs are firm when it comes to Palestine and Israel, it's worth a read for a high level review of Jewish History.
withoutfeathers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5