More Than Size Matters — Are Jews the Invisible Minority?

Now that I have your attention, size is in the news lately, but being a minority is more complicated than just size. Jews are a minority facing unique challenges and are too often overlooked or misunderstood.

We Jews are merely .2% of the world’s population. That’s not a typo, not 2%, but .2%. It’s taken 84 years to get back to our numbers before the Holocaust, and we finally did in 2023. May their memories be a blessing. It’s estimated that there are once again almost 17 million of us Jews in the world, amen. I can’t help but wonder how many more inventions and creative ideas were left on the floors of the Nazi crematoriums.

How many attacks over the centuries have we faced, and now again in 2024? Antisemitism is running rampant, and in my opinion, no one seems to know how to handle it. But we must get our act together—we can’t afford to screw up “NEVER AGAIN!”

Tel Aviv University October 7, 2023 victims empty seats

Currently, many Jews often don’t fit with the stereotype of the “underprivileged” characterization of a minority. Mazal tov! As a people, many have done good. Given the freedom to strive to be the best they could, they lived the dream no matter if their persecuted relatives ended up in Israel, the United States, Europe, or? Far too often they’ve been forced to leave their homes with nothing, to find a place where they would be reasonably safe, and start over. Let’s be clear, they were forced to leave just because they were Jewish and were being persecuted and worse.

And today, one of the saddest realities is that there is no place where we can feel safe! I’d like you to take a bit of time to think about what that feels like, especially if you are not Jewish. Do you pay attention to the news? So many of our friends from other religions, or those who aren’t religious, have never had this situation to think about, and consequently don’t. You wouldn’t sign up for it, trust me.

The biblical precept “you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” has some obligations. If your neighbor is being mistreated, shouldn’t you help them?

Israel was made a state after the horrors of the Holocaust and established, we thought, where we finally would be safe in our homeland. Wrong. For decades Israelis have believed their strong military would always protect them—they didn’t.

RE’EIM, ISRAEL – APRIL 7: Orly Efraim reacts to a photo of her niece Eden Liza Auhaion, displayed near the marker of her niece who was killed on the October 7 Hamas deadly attack at the Nova music festival on April 7, 2024 in Re’eim, Israel. April 7th marks six months since Hamas led an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 people hostage. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory war in Gaza that has killed more than 33,000 people, according to the Gazan health ministry. As the latest round of ceasefire negotiations have stalled, the humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza, while more than 100 Israeli hostages remain in captivity. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

From the beginning, we were attacked by the surrounding Arab countries. What we celebrated as Israel’s Independence Day May 14, 1948, wounded the hearts of another people, the Arabs in the territory, today referred to as the Palestinians. They call that day The Nakba, which means The Catastrophe.

Declaration of the State of Israel. Photographer: By צילום: אורן פלס, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6670086

The 1948 Palestinian exodus, known in Arabic as the Nakba (Arabic: al-Nakbah, lit.’catastrophe’), occurred when more than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes, during the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
The exact number of refugees is a matter of dispute, but around 80 percent of the Arab inhabitants of what became Israel (50 percent of the Arab total of Mandatory Palestine) left or were expelled from their homes.

The Palestinians were also offered their own state at the same time, but they refused it. And after 76 years, the Palestinians still don’t have a state. They wanted to have all the territory, devoid of Jews. The chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” means they want all the land, with no Jews living there. That hasn’t changed either.

Consequently, there have been decades of Palestinian attacks from short- and long-range rockets and mortars, small arms, kidnapping operations, rocket-propelled grenades, man-portable air defense systems, antitank missiles, and unmanned aircraft systems in attacks against Israeli military forces and civilians. Terrorist plots of suicide bombers, stabbings, car rammings,  improvised explosive devices, cyber espionage, and computer network exploitation operations abound. As an Israeli, you never know what will happen next. They go about their lives as best they can, a wounded nation filled with people suffering from PTSD.

We’d like to believe that in the United States, we’re safe. This probably never was true, antisemitism foments just below the surface, and now perpetrators seem to feel emboldened to state their hateful diatribes with impunity.

The latest ADL report on anti-Semitism documented unprecedented levels of anti-Semitism, including in the US, where 2023 saw the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US ever recorded by the ADL.

The ADL’s data recorded 7,523 incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States in 2023 compared with 3,697 incidents in 2022.

These acts included harassment, vandalism, and assault, targeting Jewish-owned businesses, Jewish institutions and organizations, and Jewish students. Below is a swastika spray painted on a professor’s office walls.

Swastika on Jewish Professor’s office walls. CNN Photo

College campuses have always been places to freely state your beliefs. However, too often the Pro-Palestinian encampments crossed the line into breaking the law defacing property, taking over buildings like at UCI, and refusing Jewish students entrance to the library at UCLA. Pro-Palestinian protests were intimidating and scary for Jewish students. How were they expected to be able to study and take finals? As students return to campus, will they be protected this time?

Campus protests.

Under a broader methodology that includes anti-Zionist rhetoric, activism, and calls for “resistance,” the ADL found a total of 8,873 incidents in the United States in 2023 — 5,204 between just October 7 and the end of the year.

If we were Israeli Jewish parents sending off our girls or boys who recently graduated high school to their mandatory military service, it would be understandable to fear for them. Israel is at war, who knows how long it will last, and the hostages are still not home. After the savage atrocities of October 7^th, I’m sure additional concerns crossed their minds.

But for Jewish parents outside of Israel—it’s unconscionable that because we send our graduates to college, we must be scared for our kids too! Not only are the protests on campuses untenable, but the administrators defend free speech, while they allow protestors to attack and prevent Jewish kids from attending class or entering the college libraries. How do the Jewish students concentrate, take tests, and even have fun?

What characteristics define a minority group beyond the numbers:

• Unequal treatment and less power: Minority groups often experience discrimination and have limited access to power and resources compared to the dominant group.

Unfortunately, the unequal treatment raises its ugly head, it seems almost like a rule. Proudly, as Jews in modern society, many have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, worked hard, become educated, and achieved greatness. They may not have started out with power, but some have attained it, which is used against us by antisemites. Instead of admiring the chutzpah (a Yiddish word connoting audacity in the face of adversity or opposition), they denigrate and distort how it’s used with antisemitic tropes that have been around for centuries.

And on the other hand, let’s not take credit where credit is not due. Not all Jews have done this. Contrary to some people’s opinion, we are human. We have the same accomplishments and suffer the same foibles as other humans. We can’t be considered a monolith, nor can any other minority.

ANTISEMITIC TROPES:

Financial Power and Control

• Jews are greedy: Portraying Jews as excessively materialistic or obsessed with money.

Who doesn’t want enough money to live comfortably?

• Jews as controlling the economy: The false belief that Jews hold disproportionate power over financial institutions and the global economy.

I’m still waiting for my share, I better not hold my breath.

Religious Stereotypes

• Christ-killer: The false accusation that Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.

Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea, sentenced Jesus to death. He followed the polytheistic religion of the Roman Empire. This involved worshipping multiple gods and goddesses, along with the deification of Roman emperors. However, as it seems everything Jewish is not black and white, it also is true that Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God were considered blasphemous by the Jewish leadership. This is understandable given our monotheistic religion. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi, I’m sure the elders thought had gone astray.

As for the Christians who have sought to persecute Jews through the years, during the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Reformation, it never made sense to me. If you believe in Jesus being God’s son, if he was a Jewish rabbi and what he was teaching was based on the Hebrew Bible (which Christians call the Old Testament), wouldn’t they be persecuting what they study, believe, and is the foundation of their religion? His message focused on love, forgiveness, and the coming of God’s Kingdom. He also emphasized the importance of prayer, helping others, and living a moral life. All tenants of the Jewish religion.

• Deicide: Similar to the Christ-killer trope, this suggests that Jews are inherently guilty of a religious crime.

The evil attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, was directed by Hamas. I can’t help but think of the accusation of genocide toward Israel now so casually thrown around today to demonize the nation. All war is hell and I don’t believe in violence of any kind. Yet, no human can see and hear the Gazan parents’ shocked screams as they carry their dead children and be unaffected. It’s horrific. But again, it’s complicated.

Dead Gazan Children.

On October 7^th Hamas murdered, raped, tortured, and kidnapped Israelis. Their actions were monstrous, gang-raping wives in front of their husbands, and killing children in front of their parents, as the terrorists proudly filmed their own actions. Israelis were killed as they were enjoying a Peaceful lovefest dancing and enjoying fun with their friends, or as they were in their homes, blown up with grenades, burnt to death, or as they were trying to escape. Many Jews who were murdered were Peace activists who had tried to help Palestinians.

Yet with all the documented reports of rape, gang rape and other atrocities, where were the voices of the usual organizations formed to fight sexual abuse? Why has their support for the victims been withheld or delayed? What prevented them from speaking up? It seems an internal investigation is overdue.

For years, Hamas has intentionally built tunnels under schools, hospitals, and mosques so if Israel tried to destroy the facilities from where they attacked Israel with missiles or trafficked their weapons, many, especially children would be killed. When Gaza’s young population is 50% children, those killed would inevitably include children. Israel knew, and the impact was predictable. Hamas’ use of human shields has had an effect Hamas could previously only dream of.  Hamas has no interest in protecting their people, their priority is to display these deaths as fodder for propaganda.

Now Israel is too often seen as the world’s pariah. It feels like the antisemites are winning. What we see nightly on the news is one side killing the other, which seems endless.

On PEACE with Penny, we show Peace organizations whose members are both Israelis and Palestinians who work together on Peace. Our news is hopeful. Besides, once the Israeli-Hamas war ends, having experienced Peacemakers to help move the people forward into a respectful commitment toward Peace is essential.

Netanyahu is a right fighter, he felt he was right and the way he went about eliminating Hamas, he felt was justified. The rest of the world be damned. In today’s global awareness, this is foolish at best, and he handed the antisemites pictures that can be described in any way they choose.  And they do so without regard to truth.

Conspiracy Theories

• Jewish world conspiracy: The unfounded belief that Jews are secretly controlling world events.
• Protocols of the Elders of Zion: A fabricated document used to promote the idea of a Jewish conspiracy to dominate the world.

As reported in CAMERA UK Jonathan Steele was criticized for “promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories reminiscent of ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” The disturbing cartoon below was published in a leading newspaper in Saudi Arabia, hampering Israeli-Saudi Arabia relations. The implied evil of the Jewish man jumps off the page and I found it disgusting.

Reported in This caricature, drawn by cartoonist Jihad ‘Awartani, was featured in Al-Watan, a leading newspaper in Saudi Arabia.

Given our minuscule numbers, how could this even be possible? Just more hate spewed by bigoted people against their favorite enemy.

Physical and Moral Inferiority

• Blood libel: The false accusation that Jews use the blood of Christian children in religious rituals.

What can one say about this sickening libel? It seems someone to believe this would have to be more than ignorant, its malevolent claim seems wicked.

• Disease carriers: Blaming Jews for the spread of diseases, such as the Black Death.

Did COVID come to your mind? We escaped blame for COVID, but unfortunately, the Chinese were charged with this scourge.

• Moral corruption: Portraying Jews as morally corrupt or deceitful.

This is ridiculous. No one is a saint, but we have no more people who lack morals than any other group. Our religious teaching regarding morals should be lauded, not distorted. The key Jewish moral terms are justice, acts of charity, kindness, and compassion.

Other Tropes

• Dual loyalty: Accusing Jews of being more loyal to their religion or ethnicity than to their country.

A person can be loyal to more than one party at once. Which falls as number one depends on an individual’s choice. And if the choice is their religion, given the number of countries who have viciously turned on them, who would you choose if you were in their position?

• New World Order: The belief that Jews are part of a secret cabal seeking to establish a global government.

Jews have been perpetually outspoken that they want to be able to live Peacefully in their tiny homeland. Global? Let us at least finally live Peacefully in this tiny land called Israel.

It’s crucial to recognize that these tropes are harmful and inaccurate. They have been used to justify discrimination, violence, and even genocide. By understanding these stereotypes, we can better identify and challenge antisemitism in all its forms.

 Distinguishing physical or cultural traits: These traits can include race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. They are often used to differentiate the minority group from the dominant group.

Jews are more varied than many think. Ashkenazi Jews upset this characteristic because with our European roots, we look just as white as the next Caucasian in the dominant group. Then again, Sephardic Jews are Ladino and came from Spain, and Mizrahi Jews come from the Middle East. Ethiopian Jews throw another wrench into the mix since they are African and therefore are black. We are not a one-size-fits-all religion nor ethnic group.

• Involuntary membership: Individuals typically do not choose to belong to a minority group; they are born into it or acquire its characteristics involuntarily.
• Awareness of subordination: Members of minority groups are conscious of their subordinate status and often develop a strong sense of group identity.

Certainly, through the years, Jews have been mindful of their religion, aware of how it is celebrated differently from the majority, and traditionally enjoy sticking together. Yet in countries like the United States, not all feel the need to stay together, and we see much assimilation has taken place. Every once in a while, there is that twang of being different during Passover when we don’t decorate eggs (although I’ve been known to munch on a chocolate Easter egg), or during Christmas when kids talk about what Santa is bringing them. But then again, we have eight days of Hanukah, perhaps all the presents help soothe the discomfort.

• High rate of in-group marriage: While not always the case, minority groups often have higher rates of marriage within their group due to social pressures and discrimination.

For religious Jews especially, marrying Jews is expected. 98% of Orthodox Jews have a Jewish spouse. However, there is quite a lot of intermarriage amongst Jews as well.  In a 2021 Pew Research Poll, 42% of all currently married Jewish respondents indicated they have a non-Jewish spouse. Among those who have gotten married since 2010, 61% are intermarried.

Perhaps to some, Jews don’t fill in all the usual boxes as a minority. Unfortunately, we probably need several boxes to fill in what has happened historically and is out of control now as far as persecution and antisemitism. Because some of us have achieved the American dream, don’t discount the impact of prejudice on the group. Nor should you believe that because some Jews have earned success, they aren’t emotionally struggling now. It’s a time when friendships are challenged. Yes, we all have x number of friends on Facebook. But what we need are true friends, who see their connections as a responsibility. They must be willing to speak up and support the relationship. If you are involved in interfaith groups, be sensitive, but you must ensure the safety of all the members of the group. These can be uncomfortable times, and also times of growth. Which will you choose?

May You Live in Peace, שלום and سلام.

Note: To our Muslim sisters and brothers, I’m just as committed to Peace as ever, and recognize that islamophobia has made your life difficult as well. Please acknowledge that a person can care about more than one subject simultaneously, but on occasion choose to write about one at a time.