The Blogs: Do You Have Jewish Exhaustion Syndrome?

Are you Jewish and exhausted — mentally, physically, emotionally and in any and all other respects?

If so, you probably have Jewish Exhaustion Syndrome, explained and defined as follows:

For a brief moment when October 7 happened, you thought that the world would have a surge in compassion and sympathy for Jews. You had a fleeting moment of hope that in the face of one of the most brutal and barbaric mass murders, rapes, and abductions in history, the world would have a modicum of compassion for the victims.
But quickly after October 7, you realized that not only would there be no increase in compassion for the Jewish people, but in fact the world would turn viciously and virally against the victims and, by extension, virtually all Jews globally.
You have been “de-friended” virtually on social media and literally in real life by people whom you thought you could trust — but who have cut you out of their lives because you are Jewish. You’ve said nothing controversial, you’ve not “taken a side”, you’ve not excused or defended the bombing of Gaza. And yet, you have somehow, apparently, failed some kind of test that these former friends have but did not reveal to you. Perhaps you dared to express grief, or perhaps you have not openly declared that the State of Israel has no right to exist. And for that, you have been defriended repeatedly.

You have tried in vain to explain antisemitism to friends, former friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and anyone else whom you think might listen — only to have your words and feelings rejected completely. You have found again and again that people who seem otherwise sensible reject the possibility of anything being antisemitic, and reject, in the face of undisputed evidence, that Jews ever have been or could be the victims of bias, violence, or murder.
You cannot get away from antisemitism — not at work, not socially, not out in public, not online. It follows you and dumps buckets of hatred on your brain constantly, including when you sleep. The nightmares are so bad that you are relieved to wake up, even when your brain and body are screaming for more sleep.
You had some hope in the months following October 7, 2023 that “this will all blow over” by September 2024, summer will close out, students and professors will go back to school, and things will calm down again to the relative normalcy that we knew up through October 6th. Now you fear September, you sense strongly that things will only be worse, that the open and widespread acceptance and embrace of antisemitism will continue to spread virally. You worry about facing friends, colleagues, and others harboring spiraling hatred of you because of your identity.
You wonder — will the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — the fundamental reference guide of the American Psychiatric Association — recognize Jewish Exhaustion Syndrome as a disability, providing legal recourse and supports for anyone suffering from it? Will Jewish children qualify for special education supports, whether an IEP or even a less powerful 504, because to be a Jewish student is to attend class and walk hallways full of dread and fear, feeling hatred and hostility from all sides, including students, teachers, and administrators?
Will your Jewish children “just happen” to be left off invitation lists for parties or other social gatherings because of their identity?
You wonder — will Jewish students in public school districts that embrace antisemitism –or deny that it is “a real thing” — qualify for out-of-district placements, so they may attend Jewish Day Schools if they wish, to be free of the bombardment of hatred, scapegoating, and ostracization they feel every minute?

Do you fear to show this column to anyone other than those whom you know for certain will understand? Do you fear that if you show this column to someone who might not fully understand it, you will be accused of “white privilege,” self-pity, and lack of compassion for innocent Gazans?
Do you fear that if you show this column to someone who might not fully understand it, you will be lectured about how other minority groups “have things much worse,” so it is shameful and entitled of you to dare to expect any compassion from anyone for you, your children, or for any Jews, anywhere?
Do you fear daily that the world wants all Jews to die just for daring to exist while Jewish?

If some or all of the above resonates with you, you probably have Jewish Exhaustion Syndrome.

And if nothing else, at least we now have a term for it that we can share with each other, even if no one else will care or understand.

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Thoughts?

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