Michael Saenger, at The Blogs

Michael Saenger

English Literature Professor and Zionist

Jan 11, 2026, 4:34 PM

Jonathan Skolnik (University of Massachusetts, Judith Paltin (University of British Columbia), Cary Nelson (University of Illinois), Michael Saenger (Southwestern University), Monique Balbuena (University of Oregon)

The Modern Language Association is the largest humanities organization in the world. It is the kind of place where one might expect to hear a discussion of the poetics of social perception. For example, in Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago tricks...

Aug 16, 2025, 1:34 AM

Hollywood: Make Movies Jewish Again

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has always been a highlight of cultural life in Canada. As a graduate student at the University of Toronto, I would often walk over to the festival and catch a movie. Celebrities walk...

May 21, 2025, 9:52 PM

Faculty on Fifth Avenue

"Who are we? Faculty! What do we like? Complexity!" This was my suggestion for our chant, as I stood with an assortment of professors from around the country, proudly carrying a banner advertising our organization, Faculty Against Antisemitism Movement, at the annual Israel...

Dec 22, 2024, 6:54 AM

No to BDS at the MLA

In June of 2019, Louisiana became one of 38 states that have laws against the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) Movement, which targets Israel in language that clearly harkens back to antisemitic tropes. Those who support BDS claim that boycotting...

Sep 21, 2024, 10:56 PM

How to Spot Antisemitism

We have a lot of antisemitism going around. For many Jews, it’s fairly easy to see. For those who hate Jews and Israel, it is easy to ignore. But for most people, it’s genuinely puzzling. What exactly is antisemitism,...

Apr 6, 2024, 4:39 PM

Featured Post

The decline and fall of the Modern Language Association

In passing a motion to support just one viewpoint on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the MLA chose to self-destruct

Oct 10, 2023, 8:20 PM

Before the War: Educators in Israel/Palestine

We have all been shaken to the core by the events of the past week. It already seems strange to think about a time before the war. The methodical and horrifying cruelty of Hamas is on full display, and...

Jun 29, 2023, 7:59 AM

The Moral Urgency of Whataboutism

"Whataboutism" is a word that has become very important in the conversation about Israel and Palestine, particularly in relation to the global movement to condemn Israel as a bad moral actor in relation to Palestinian lives. The word itself was...

About Me

Michael Saenger is Professor of English at Southwestern University and the author of two books and editor of two more. He has been a Finalist for the Southwestern Teaching Award, and he has given talks on cultural history in Europe, Israel and North America and Japan. His writing has addressed a wide range of topics, including poetics, linguistics and strategies to combat rising antisemitism in academic life.