First, these things can all be problems at the same time. The rise of Islamaphobia in the western world and antisemitism in the western world can exist in the same space-time. Prejudices aren’t like spell slots. Islamaphobia is a problem in the west. And Islamaphobia is unacceptable. Antisemitism is a problem in the west. It is also unacceptable.

Second, Israel has nothing to do with this. I’m not going to get into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on this post, because it is a complicated and nuanced discussion that is too long to include here. But allow me to point out that busting into a Jewish space and yelling “but Palestine” just because the space is Jewish is antisemitic on top of being irrelevant.

Finally, allow me to share with you just some of the antisemitism you think is “not a big problem anymore” that I’ve experienced through my life

- Pre-K. My secular pre-school hosts a “holiday concert.” I am the featured soloist for the Dreidle song.

- Kindergarten. Kid on the playground (right after Easter, so thanks Passion plays) shouts at me that I’m going to hell for killing Jesus. Other kids join in.

- Fourth grade. For the first time I see classmates doodling swastikas.

- Fifth grade. While in a friend’s yard a passing grown-ass adult screams at me that I’m going to hell.

- Middle school. A classmate’s bar mitzvah I am at is violently attacked, and manages to avoid being national news due solely to some very brave caterers and the assailant’s mental illness (which is why he attacked first with a golf club, rather than the dozen firearms he’d brought in his car for the occasion).

- Middle school. I am punished for correcting a teacher that was misrepresenting Jewish beliefs. Later that year he asks to borrow my family’s seder plate for a “seder” at his Church.

- High school. A swastika is burned into my school’s parking lot.

- High school. My father’s (a teacher there) car is vandalized after Easter. They find more swastikas carved into things around the school.

- College. My first day on campus a staff member at the dining hall sees my Magen David necklace. He tells me it’s beautiful, but I should take it off. It’s not safe for me to wear it on campus.

- College. A “peace in the Middle East” rally hosted by Hillel ends after students spit in Jewish kids’ faces and jack Jewish kids up against the nearest wall. The school tells UPD not to step in. The only faculty to intervene are from the Department of Jewish Studies. Nearby fliers with pictures of canned food that say “Palestinian children, murdered and consumed under Jewish rite” are untouched.

- College. A grad student from our Ethnic Studies department asks, earnestly, how I hide my horns.

- Law school. I am told to feature all of my club memberships (Street Law, Hispanic Law Student Association, etc) on my resume except for the Jewish Law Student Association and warned not to wear Jewish items to job interviews.

- Adulthood. While I am walking to work, BHIs scream slurs at me as I pass. This happens more than once.

- Adulthood. I am obligated to hold hands and participate in an opening prayer to Jesus before every office event. It is known that I am Jewish. I worked in a federal building. Still have to participate.

I grew up and lived (with rare exception) in progressive and safe places. I did not grow up in the Bible Belt. I was much safer than many of my peers.

And all that doesn’t even get into the big picture issues: antisemitism is on the rise in the west, currently more than 50% of religion-based hate crimes are committed against Jews, Holocaust denial runs rampant at the same time Holocaust education declines.

dan..... screaming frog..

@danielhowell

dan: