A Social Media Liberation

In my ideal world, social media sites like Instagram would be places for people to unwind from the stresses of daily life, not political battlegrounds. But the fact that I’d rather scroll through reels of funny pet videos doesn’t mean I will sit idly by while Israel and the Jewish people are smeared by celebrities and young people joining the hottest social media trends. Information wars and public perception have real-life consequences. As history teaches us, when Jews are demonized, it becomes much easier to justify violence against them, whether they are in Europe, Israel, or the streets of New York. These days, I have too much skin in the game.

With genuine curiosity, a good friend of mine recently asked me the question, “What do you hope to get out of posting about Israel on social media?”

What exactly do I want from my posts on Instagram? I asked myself. Am I fishing for sympathy and supportive messages from friends?

Though I would no doubt appreciate more “just checking in” messages the next time there is a ballistic missile attack on my family in Israel, something else impels my recent burst of social media activism.

Just as Israel must respond as a sovereign nation to physical attacks on its citizens in the Middle East, I now feel a responsibility as a diaspora Jew to respond to virtual attacks against my people in the digital realm. Not to convince anyone of anything, but to ensure that, for at least the people I care about in my social network, there will be another perspective to challenge some of the misinformation masquerading as truth. And maybe, sharing that often-underrepresented perspective will make others with similar beliefs feel less alone.

Emmanuel Acho and Noa Tishby begin their book, Uncomfortable Conversations With a Jew, highlighting that “…understanding, not agreement, is the objective.” I want my friends and family to be curious about my perspective and to understand my perspective. I do not need them to agree with me.

A dark pall has lifted from my life since I began using my voice on social media. I no longer worry about who would still love and accept me if they knew how much I cared about Israel and the Jewish people. I am proud of my people, my identity and my beliefs. I will gladly engage in fact-based, logical discussions anytime with anyone—I enjoy defending my ideas and expanding my understanding of other perspectives. But I will no longer entertain those who wish to hear only views that match their own, and I will certainly not grovel for anyone’s acceptance or love.

Surprisingly and despite all of its toxicity, social media has liberated me from the fears of lost friendships and conflict I once held. To my fellow Jews and allies feeling the beginning stirrings of a strong, resilient, fighting spirit in your gut, maybe social media can do the same for you.