EXPLORING HATE – LISTENING IN: “SPOTLIGHT ON ANTISEMITISM”

As part of our ongoing “Listening In” series, we team up with the 92nd Street Y – one of New York City’s longest-running cultural institutions – to bring you some of the most important and thought-provoking discussions taking place in our city.  Tonight, we listen in on New York Times columnist Bret Stephens and Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein’s conversation on antisemitism, its pervasive nature, and how it is being used as a political pawn from both the right and the left.

Our partners from MetroFocus report on this story.

TRANSCRIPT

TONIGHT NEW YORK SENATE SHOWDOWN WHY REPUBLICAN JOE PINION IS FIGHTING TO PULL OFF THE UPSET OF THE CITY BY TAKING DOWN SENATOR JOSHUA.

THEN LISTEN AND AT THE 92nd STREET Y TO EXAMINE THE HISTORY AND TROUBLING RESURGENCE OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN POLITICS.

STARTS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS METRO FOCUS WITH RAFAEL, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

METRO FOCUS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WALKING TIME THE THIRD.

SYLVIA A AND SIMON B PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI- SEMITISM.

THE PETERSON AND JOAN FUND.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE FOUNDATION .

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO METRO FOCUS.

I AM JENNA FLANAGAN.

THE RACE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR’S FAR FROM THE ONLY MAJOR CONTEST ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION SEASON.

NEW YORKERS ARE ALSO DECIDING WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM IN THE U.S. SENATE FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS.

IN THE RE-ELECTION BID CHUCK SCHUMER HAS TOUTED A SERIES OF DEMOCRATIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS HE LOOKS TO KEEP HIS JOB AND PARTY IN POWER.

HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, JOE PINION , THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO BE A MAJOR PARTY SENATE NOMINEE IN NEW YORK, AND A FORMER NEWSMAX AND POLITICAL COMMENTATOR , WHO HAS APPEARED HERE ON METRO FOCUS.

MAKING THE CASE, SCHUMER HAS TOO LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT.

HE IS HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW HIS VISION FOR NEW YORK AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING ELECTION COVERAGE.

JOSEPH, COMBAT TO METRO FOCUS.

IT HAS BEEN A MINUTE.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE VOTERS ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ELECTION.

ABSOLUTELY.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE DID REACH OUT TO SENATOR SCHUMER’S OFFICE AND WE HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK AS OF THE TIME OF THIS TAPING.

BUT JOSEPH, I WANT TO SAY WHAT IS YOUR TOP PLATFORM?

WHAT WAS THE THING THAT GOT YOU TO BE LIKE I NEED TO GET IN THIS RACE AND MAKE A CASE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW.

FOR ME, THERE IS THE OVERARCHING GOAL, WHICH IS TO ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT IS NOT HELD TO A LOWER STANDARD THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

FOR US, WE SEE THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING ALL ACROSS THE STATE AS WE ENDEAVOR TO TELL WHAT WE HAVE THE UNTOLD STORY OF NEW YORK STATE.

A STATE WHERE SYRACUSE NEW YORK THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CHILD POVERTY IN THE NATION PER CAPITA.

ROCHESTER NEW YORK HAS A HIGHER MURDER RATE THAN CHICAGO ILLINOIS.

WE HAVE SEEN SHOOTINGS GO UP 90% IN NEW YORK CITY HOMICIDE GO UP 30% BECAUSE CHUCK SCHUMER AND MANY OTHERS WERE SILENT IN THE FACE OF THE 3 MOST DANGEROUS WORDS INJECT IT INTO MODERN POLICY.

THE FUND AT THE POLICE.

THESE ARE OUR PARTIES.

EDUCATE THE SYSTEM THAT’S BROKEN.

WE HAVE 60% OF ALL CHILDREN NOT READING AT A LEVEL.

MORE IMPORTANTLY WE SAW OF A FEW WEEKS AGO 70% OF THE BLACK STUDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY FEELING THE STATE MATH EXAM.

THAT IS NOT A LEGACY OF SUCCESS FOR MY PERSPECTIVE.

IT IS A LEGACY OF FAILURE THAT HAS OCCURRED ON CHUCK SCHUMER’S WATCH 24 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

42 YEARS IN CONGRESS.

I BELIEVE NEW YORK SHOULD STOP NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES WHEN A MAN CAME WITH POWER IN HER TO BENEFIT THE 19 MILLION AND SHRINKING THAT CALL NEW YORK STATE HOME.

ALL RIGHT, THE TWO OF YOU HAD A DEBATE RECENTLY.

ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES , THE TOP ISSUE FOR EVERYONE, INFLATION.

OF COURSE, POLLING IS SHOWING THAT HIS THE TOP OF EVERYBODY’S MIND AS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE.

SENATOR SCHUMER POINTED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS A BIG DRIVER OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

FOR THE SAKE OF DEBATE, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ? WHAT YOU SEE AS CAUSING THE INFLATION , THAT’S CAUSING SO MUCH PAIN FOR SO MANY NEW YORKERS.

AS I TOLD HIM ON THAT STAGE.

THE DRIVER OF THE INFLATION WAS NOT COVERT.

THE DRIVER OF INFLATION WAS OUR RESPONSE TO COVID.

THE FACT THAT WE PRINTED SO MUCH MONEY AND THEN ALLOWED BUBBLES TO OCCUR IN OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE WE DIDN’T GET ENOUGH RESOURCES DIRECTLY INTO THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM TO HAVE IT THE MOST.

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE CURVE INFLATION MOVING FORWARD YOU CANNOT SOLVE A PROBLEM IF YOU DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

CHUCK SCHUMER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY OVERHEATED THE ECONOMY WITH THE RECKLESS PRINTING OF MONEY TO DO WITH THE VIRUS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN FOR WHICH THEY’VE HAD MORE CONTEMPT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAN THEY HAVE FOR THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY , THAT IN MANY WAYS RELEASE THAT PLAGUE ON THE WORLD AND THEN LIE TO ALL OF US AT A CRITICAL POINT IN TIME.

WHEN WE NEEDED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE VIRUS IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE GLOBE THAT TO ME IS WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW.

NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE BUILDING A MIDDLE OUT ECONOMY.

STRUCTURING THE TAX CODE IN SUCH A WAY THAT BENEFITS THE MAJORITY OF WORKING-CLASS INDIVIDUALS.

I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD JOB DRIVEN OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHOULD’VE EXISTED IN NEW YORK STATE THAT A FLOOD BECAUSE OF A HOSTILE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

WE BEAT THE NATION AND OUTWARD MIGRATION IN NEW YORK STATE IN CHUCK SCHUMER’S WATCH.

HE NOW WEARS THE CROWN FOR HAVING THE LARGEST EXODUS IN THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK STATE BY ANY SENATOR.

THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES YOU CANNOT RUN FROM.

EVEN WHAT HE CITES AS A SOLUTION TO THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT ACROSS THE BOARD.

ECONOMISTS OF ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS AGREE IT WOULD DO VERY LITTLE TO REDUCE INFLATION.

IN MANY INCLUDING A GREAT MANY ON THE LEFT BELIEVE IT WILL ACTUALLY EXPLODE INFLATION.

FOR ME, IT WAS AN INFLATION REDUCTION BILL WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT.

AS A HEALTHCARE BILL WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT.

IT WAS A CLIMATE BILL WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PROVISIONS FOR HEALTH AND CLIMATE AND INFLATION, HE FAILS TO DELIVER THE RESULTS THAT ARE PROMISED.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS IN THE ANSWER I WANT TO QUESTION A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

PRINTING TOO MUCH MONEY AND OVERHEATING THE ECONOMY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN?

I KNOW FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE GOVERNMENT , THE STIMULUS CHECKS WERE A MUCH NEEDED RELIEF.

ACING THAT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM?

WHEN YOU SAY PRINTING MONEY AND OVERHEATING THE ECONOMY WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU REFERRING TO?

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AGAIN, NONE OF THIS HAPPENED IN A VACUUM.

IT WAS SENT INTO THE PUBLIC SPHERE OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS AND OVER THE PERIOD OF YEARS.

SO NOW IF WE LOOK BACK, WE NEEDED TO GET MONEY TO PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY.

WE WAITED TO GET MONEY INTO THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE AT THE HEIGHT OF COVID PANDEMIC.

LESS THAN FIVE CENTS ON THE DOLLAR WAS GOING INTO THE POCKET OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

WE PRINTED A LARGE QUANTITY OF CORPORATE PAPER BUT WE NEVER ACTUALLY MAJOR THAT , AGAIN, WE WERE BOLSTERING THE MIDDLE CLASS THAT NEEDED TO DO THE SHOPPING , PAY THE MORTGAGES, PAY THE RENT.

INSTEAD, WE SUSPENDED THE RENT PAYMENTS.

WE IN MANY WAYS DELAYED THE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

NOW WE HAVE AN ECONOMY WITH LOTS OF HOLES, LOTS OF BUBBLES.

BECAUSE IT’S AN EXODUS THAT IS STARTING SLOWLY TO OCCUR.

THERE IS A MORTGAGE CRISIS THAT VERY SLOWLY IS GOING TO REVEAL ITSELF.

AND ALL OF THAT DOESN’T DO WITH THE OVERARCHING REALITY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY WE SEND PEOPLE HOME.

ANY OF THE JOBS THAT ARE NOW OCCURRING IN THE POST-COVID ENVIRONMENT ARE NOT ALIGNED WITH THE WORKERS THAT ARE STILL LOOKING TO FIND A JOB THAT IS SUITABLE.

AND THE OTHER FOR I WANTED TO QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION IS WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE COVID-19 VIRUS YOU MENTIONED IT WAS A FOREIGN VIRUS.

WE’VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON NOT ONLY METRO FOCUS JUST ON 13 IN GENERAL ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE LANGUAGE AROUND COVID-19 AND HOW THAT IS CAUSE A LOT OF TENSION.

PARTICULARLY FOR THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO CLARIFY.

WHEN YOU’RE TALKING, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SPECIFY THIS WAS A FOREIGN VIRUS AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE CONCERN OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT?

PEOPLE WHO TRY TO TACK ON THE ETHNICITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ORIGINATE FROM THAT COUNTRY OF ORIGIN TO THE NAME OF THE VIRUS, I THINK THAT WAS CRASS AND WRONG.

I THINK THEY’RE DISTRACTED FROM THE ISSUE.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS A VIRUS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN.

BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE NOW KNOW FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OUR OWN GOVERNMENT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DID IN FACT LIGHT TO THE WORLD AND THE CURTAIN AND SUPPLIES WE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE HEROES THAT WERE RUNNING INTO THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC UNPROTECTED.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THE MEMORIES OF OUR SOCIETY, THE SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE.

WE ALSO KNOW THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, HELPED TO COVER UP THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION AT THE POINT WHEN REAL SHARP DECISIONS COULD’VE SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES AROUND THE GLOBE.

I SAY THIS NOT TO CASTIGATE THE PEOPLE BUT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE SENATE IS THE MOST DELIBERATE BODY ON THE PLANET.

THE JOB IS TO PREVENT THE CRISIS.

IT’S NOT THE SHOW UP AS CHUCK SCHUMER DOESN’T HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN THE CRISIS ARISES.

THAT TO ME IS IMPORTANT RELEVANT FACT.

HIS JOB IN THE MOST LIMITED BODY ON THE PLANET IS TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM SUCH A TIME AS THIS THAT WE EXPERIENCE DURING COVID.

THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO THE LIVES THAT PRECIPITATED THIS VIRUS IS PERTINENT.

I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT AND A CRITICAL MEASURE OF HIS LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP ON THIS MATTER.

JOE, I CAN’T BELIEVE ARE COMING TO THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

I DO WANT TO ASK A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL YOURSELF.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK, BEFORE THIS ELECTION SEASON EVEN BEGAN, ABOUT THE RHETORIC . ABOUT THE RANCOR, THE TENSION , THE DIVISIONS THAT ARE REALLY STARTING TO SHOW VISIONS IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AND I’M WONDERING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE , WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE, OR NEEDS TO BE DONE , TO TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN.

WE HAVE SEEN IT STARTING TO SHOW UP IN VIOLENT WAYS, THE PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THE VERY DISTURBING ATTACK THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE HOME OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NANCY PELOSI.

I THINK THERE IS SHARED BLAME ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

I THINK THE MEDIA NEEDS TO ANALYZE THE ROLE IN THE RHETORIC IN HOW THEY PRESENT THE NEWS.

I THINK THAT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICIANS THAT ARE LIGHTING THE FLAMES OF THE VISION IN OUR PUBLIC POLITICAL SQUARE.

AND I SAY THAT NOT IGNORING THE REALITY THAT THE ONLY PERSON IN HAS USED THE LANGUAGE OF HATE TO QUITE LITERALLY DRIVE AGE RANGE PERSON TO THE DOORSTEP OF A U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, TO KILL THEM , IS MY OPPONENT.

CHUCK SCHUMER.

IT WAS HIS RHETORIC THAT LETTER MEANT TO SHOW UP ON THE DOORSTEP OF JUSTICE KAVANAUGH.

THAT’S A REALLY INFLAMMATORY ACCUSATION.

CAN YOU TELL US EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN?

YES.

I THINK IT’S WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE SENATOR , FROM THE STATE, DID SAY I’M HERE TO TELL YOU CAVANAGH THAT YOU SHALL INHERIT THE WORLD AND YOU SHALL PAY THE PRICE.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE WAS A MAN WHO SHOWED UP WITH HANDCUFFS IN HIS POCKET AND A NINE MILLIMETER WHO TOLD THE POLICE IN HIS STATEMENT AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED THAT HE WAS TO KILL JUSTICE KAVANAUGH.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD GLOSS OVER.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE GONE UNADDRESSED.

EVER TIRED OF THE RANCOR AND KEEP TRICKLING DOWN ON CAREER POLITICIANS THAT LEVERAGE THAT LANGUAGE OF DIVISION TO HOLD ONTO POWER.

EVERY OTHER WORD OUT OF THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IS NOT AT THAT STAGE WAS MAGA THIS AND MAGA THAT.

WE DO NOT HAVE MAGA JUSTICES APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA, APPOINTED BY TRUMP, APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.. WE NEED TO START HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES.

THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE FILLING THE.

THE SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT NO LONGER EXISTS IN MANY OF OUR CITIES.

BECAUSE WE ALLOWED LAW- ENFORCEMENT TO HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED BEHIND THE BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN COCOONS OF FEAR.

THAT’S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

AGAIN, IT ALL STARTS WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE POLITICIANS WHO HAVE PRIORITIZED POLITICS OVER PEOPLE.

NOW THE RHETORIC IS STARTING TO REFLECT THAT.

JOSEPH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER OUTCOME IS FROM THIS MIDTERM ELECTION.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AGAIN . EITHER AS A COMMENTATOR OR AS A U.S.

SENATOR.

EITHER WAY PLEASE DON’T FORGET US.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT EVENING I AM JACK FORD.

TONIGHT IS PART OF OUR ONGOING LISTENING IN SERIES WE TEAM UP WITH THE 92nd STREET Y ONE OF NEW YORK’S CULTURAL HUBS TO BRING YOU SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING DISCUSSIONS TAKING PLACE IN OUR CITY.

LET’S LISTEN IN ON NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST STEPHEN AND RABBI PETER J RUBENSTEIN IN THIS CANDID TALK ON ANTI- SEMITISM.

IT’S PERVASIVE NATURE AND HOW IT’S BEING USED AS A POLITICAL PAWN FROM BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT.

THIS CONVERSATION IS PART OF OUR EXPLORING HATE INITIATIVE.

THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS JUST SHORT OF 3 YEARS AGO WE TALK ABOUT OUR MOVEMENTS POLITICALLY BOTH ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT THAT WERE DEMONSTRATING ANTI-SOMATIC MEANINGS.

AND THEN AFTER COLLEYVILLE EURO AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT THE MUTATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND WHAT IT HAD BEEN AND WHAT IT IS BECOMING.

CAN YOU REVIEW THAT AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING?

ANTI-SEMITISM IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE COVID.

IT IS A SHAPE SHIFTING VIRUS.

BECAUSE OVER TIME ONE MUTATION DOESN’T LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE OTHER , SOME PEOPLE CLAIM THAT ONE COAT MUTATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER.

SO THE HISTORY OF ANTI-SEMITISM BEGINS OBVIOUSLY THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO , AND HAS A LONG GESTATION IS A PRIMARILY RELIGIOUS HATRED.

AND THEN SOMETIME AFTER THE 18th CENTURY ENLIGHTENMENT TRANSFORMS INTO A RACIALIZED HATRED.

AND THEN AT SOME POINT BECOMES A POLITICAL CONSPIRACY THEORY WHICH IS FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT THE ANTI-SOMATIC SIDE OF JEW HATRED IS.

IT’S A CONSPIRACY THEORY.

AND THEN AS RACIAL HATREDS BECAME UNCOUTH, IT TURNED INTO A NATIONAL HATRED CALLED ANTI- ZIONISM.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL CONTINUUM BETWEEN THE OLD-FASHIONED ANTI-SEMITISM OF GOING BACK TO 2000 YEARS AGO TO ANTI-ZIONISM TODAY . WHICH IS AN ASSAULT ON JEW’S FOUR CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY ESPECIALLY JEWISH . GREED, FOR MONEY OR LAND OF OTHERS.

A CERTAIN KIND OF CONNIVING THIS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.

THIS IS A POINT THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY A FRIEND OF MINE , PAMELA PARETSKY . I THINK IT IS A REALLY PROFOUND POINT.

THINK OF ANTI-SEMITISM.

WHAT IS ANTI-SEMITISM?

IT’S A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT ARGUES THAT JEWS ARE IMPOSTERS AND SWINDLERS.

SO WHAT DID THE ANTI-SEMITE OF THE 19th CENTURY BELIEVE?

HE BELIEVED THAT JEWS , YOU KNEW AS YOUR NEIGHBOR OR SOMEONE IN YOUR TOWN, CLAIMED TO BE GERMAN BUT THEY WEREN’T GERMAN , THEY WERE SEMITES.

THEY CAME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY WERE MIDDLE EASTERN FOREIGNERS.

AND THEY WERE SWINDLERS.

HOW ARE THEY SWINDLING YOU?

OUT OF PATRIMONY, INDUSTRY, FINANCES AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.

THERE IS THIS COMBINATION, THE ALLEGATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM WAS THESE JEWS DON’T COME FROM HERE AND THERE SWINDLING US.

WHAT IS ANTI-ZIONISM?

IT’S AN ALLEGATION THAT JEWS ARE IMPOSTERS AND SWIMMERS.

POWER IS ALWAYS PART OF THAT.

JEWISH POWER.

TO COMPLETE THE THOUGHT.

WHAT DOES THE ANTI-ZIONIST STATE.

THEY CLAIM THE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST BUT THEY’RE FROM POLAND OR WHEREVER.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

THERE SWINDLING THE PALESTINIANS OUT OF WHAT IS PROPERLY PALESTINIAN.

SO THERE IS THIS FUNDAMENTAL CONSONANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO HATREDS THAT I THINK IS LARGELY A MISSED IN THE ASPECT OF POWER IS ALSO ESSENTIAL.

THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW OR OTHER, WHATEVER THE ALLEGATION IS ABOUT 25 THAT THEY CONTROL LEVERS OF POWER THAT OTHERS DON’T.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE FBI IN TERMS OF IF THERE’S ANY ABILITY TO SAY THIS IS AN ANTI-SOMATIC ACT.

IN CERTAIN WAYS, BECAUSE IT DIDN’T FIT THE PATTERNS THAT WOULD DEFINE ANTI-SEMITISM IN TERMS OF WHO THE VICTIMS WERE AND WHO THE VILLAIN WAS.

THE OFFICE STATION OF THE F VI BOTHER ME BUT BOTHER ME LESS THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA.

THE F VI GUY MADE SOME IDIOTIC COMMENT THAT THIS WAS NOT, THE ATTACK WAS NOT DIRECTED AT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE GUYS MOTIVE WAS TO SPRING A TERRORIST IN THE NEARBY GEL FREE.

RAISES THE QUESTION WHY DIDN’T HE JUST GO INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE?

HE WENT INTO A SYNAGOGUE, AND HE ROBBED BANKS BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE MONEY IS.

HORRIBLE DISCLAIMER.

WILLIE SUTTON DIDN’T ACTUALLY SAY THAT BUT IT’S A GREAT LINE.

THIS GUY WENT INTO A SYNAGOGUE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT’S WHERE THE POWER WAS.

THE FBI , THE MAN ON THE SCENE I THINK WAS OUT OF HIS DEPTH.

BUT WHAT I FOUND REALLY DISTURBING WAS THE EXTENT TO WHICH MAJOR MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS MORE OR LESS PARROTED THAT LINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND AMONG MY JEWISH FRIENDS, IT’S PRETTY MUCH ALL WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT WEEK.

STORY AFTER STORY, KIND OF DELIGHTED THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A BLATANT AGGRESSIVE ANTI- SOMATIC ATTACK WHAT IS SO DISTURBING TO ME, PETER, WHEN THAT LUNATIC WENT ON A RAMPAGE IN ATLANTA WITH MASSAGE PARLORS . NOBODY IN MY PROFESSION WASTED A MINUTE CALLING IT AN ANTI- ASIAN ATTACK THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS IN ANTI-ASIAN ATTACK.

IT WAS A HORRENDOUS ATTACK.

BUT WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED IT WAS UNQUESTIONABLY THERE WAS A RACIST COMPONENT TO IT.

THIS WAS WIDELY TRUMPETED IN THE MEDIA.

NOT SAYING THAT’S A BAD THING TO DO.

BUT WHY IS IT THAT ANTI-SEMITISM KEEPS BEING THE HATE THAT DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME.

WHY ARE PEOPLE SO RELUCTANT TO CALL OUT ANTI-SEMITISM?

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT’S ANTI- SEMITISM THAT ISN’T BEING PERPETRATED BY ONE OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS.

THE GUY WHO ASSAULTED THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE OR THE MARCHERS AT CHARLOTTESVILLE.

PEOPLE , I DON’T WANT TO PAINT WITH A BROAD BRUSH, TOO MANY PEOPLE IN MY PROFESSION ARE HAPPY TO.

OUT ANTI-SEMITISM WHEN IT’S COMING FROM THE RIGHT, AND MUCH MORE RELUCTANT TO DO SO WHEN IT’S COMING FROM NOT THE RIGHT.

WHETHER IT’S THE LEFT OR SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM BUT I THINK WE JEWS HAVE IN AMERICA.

WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING A WAVE . WE ARE THE VICTIMS.

THE LARGEST VICTIMS OF RELIGIOUS-BASED HATE CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES AND YOU WOULD HARDLY KNOW IT.

UNLESS YOU ARE IN WILLIAMSBURG OR IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORS YOU WOULD HARDLY KNOW IT ON A DAY- TO-DAY BASIS.

THE EXTENT TO WHICH VISIBLY JEWISH COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER THREAT.

I LOVE THE ADS THROUGH MANHATTAN WOULD SAY IF YOU DON’T THINK THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-SEMITISM, WALK AROUND WITH THE YARMULKE ON YOUR HEAD FOR A FEW DAYS AND SEE WHAT YOU DISCOVER.

PART OF THE PROBLEM YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR ARTICLE.

JEWS ARE PERCEIVED AS SUCCESSFUL AND SUCCESSFUL IS NOT A GOOD THING FROM THE POINT OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT OF SO WE ARE HELD AT FAULT FOR THAT.

HOW DO YOU COMBAT THAT?

I AM REALLY WORRIED.

I’M GOING TO USE THIS TERM, WOKE.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT HAS BECOME TO MEAN, NOT WHAT IT ORIGINALLY MEANT.

BUT I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE RISE OF WOKE IDEOLOGY AND THE WAY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE JEWISH FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT IT USED TO BE THAT IN AMERICA SUCCESS WAS ADMIRED.

I THINK ONE COAT OF THE REASONS JEWS FLOURISHED IN AMERICA BECAUSE HERE IN AMERICA WHEN PEOPLE SUCCEEDED ON THEIR MERITS THEY WERE ADMIRED.

IN EUROPE WHEN PEOPLE SUCCEEDED ON THEIR MERITS THEY WERE ENVIED.

IS CALLED TALL POPPY SYNDROME AND OTHER PLACES.

BECAUSE AMERICA A UNIQUE CALVINIST HERITAGE FROM THE PURITANS, WORLDLY SUCCESS IS SEEN AS IT MARK OF DIVINE FAVOR.

AMERICA HAD BEYOND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES.

HAD A CULTURE OF ADMIRING SUCCESS.

NOW IN THE NEW WOKE DISPENSATION . AGAIN, I AM OVERGENERALIZING FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY, IN THE NEW WOKE DISPENSATION THE CONCEPT OF SUCCESS HAS BEEN REPLACED BY PRIVILEGE.

SO IF YOU ARE WELL OFF, LET’S SAY . IT’S NOT THAT YOU WORK TO BUSINESS . CREATED JOBS FOR PEOPLE, YOU ARE PRIVILEGED.

AND PRIVILEGE IS SOMETHING THAT WOKE AMERICA WANTS TO ATTACK.

JEWS AREN’T PERCEIVED AS SUCCESSFUL, 25 ARE SUCCESSFUL.

I DON’T THINK I AM DISCLOSING A GREAT SECRET.

THE JEWS ARE AN EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL.

YOU WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT THAT AND YOU FRAMED IT DIFFERENTLY FROM THE WAY MOST PEOPLE WOULD FRAME IT.

VERY OFTEN WE TALK ABOUT SUCCESS PEOPLE PUBLISHED THESE LISTS OF NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS.

GET A VERY DIFFERENT AND PROPER UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY WE JEWS ARE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT’S A WHOLE DIFFERENT, JEWS ARE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF AN EXPERIENCE HISTORICALLY OF ALWAYS HAVING ONE FOOT IN AND ONE FOOT OUTSIDE OF THE DOMINANT CULTURE.

IT IS A HYPOTHESIS OF MIND . WHEN YOU LOOK AT, EVEN IN THE COUNTRY SOME OF THE RADICAL ASSOCIATION THAT JEWS BEGAN , THEY BEGAN BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION .

IT’S A QUALITY OF THINKING DIFFERENT.

WHICH CREATES SKEPTICISM, ACTIVISM , INNOVATION, SO ON.

SO THIS NOTION THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PRIVILEGE YOU SHOULD BE PENALIZED IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD CONCERN AMERICAN JEWS.

BECAUSE AMERICAN JEWS YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WHICH IS NOW CALLED PRIVILEGE.

ANOTHER THING THAT DISTRESSES ME IS THE ASSAULT ON INTELLECTUAL INDEPENDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT , AT LEAST IN CERTAIN AREAS.

COLLEGE CAMPUSES, IN PUBLISHING, IN OTHER FIELDS, TO BE THE OUTLIER OR TO QUESTION A ONE COAT OF THE RECENT WHY JEWS THRIVED IN ACADEMIA IN THE 20th CENTURY WAS THE FACT THAT SO MANY JEWISH SCHOLARS WERE THE OUTLIERS WHO WORK QUESTIONING ORTHODOXY AND THE PROBLEM OF OVERTHROWING AND ORTHODOXY CREATED NEW DISCIPLINES AND FIELDS, SO ON.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL CLIMATE IN WHICH THINKING DIFFERENT , THINKING DIFFERENTLY, IS CONSIDERED A FORM OF HERESY ON AN EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF SUBJECTS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE FAVORABLE TERRAIN FOR THAT JEWISH HABIT OF QUESTIONING, OF DOUBTING, OF SECOND-GUESSING.

SO I THINK THIS COUNTRY IS CREATING AN ARID INTELLECTUAL CLIMATE IN WHICH THAT INSTINCT IT’S AN INSTINCT, IT’S NOT JUST AMONG JEWS , I NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT ALSO HAS, AS A JEWISH CHARACTER, THAT INSTINCT I THINK IS GOING TO BE JEOPARDIZED SO THIS NEW KIND OF CULTURAL HEGEMONY HAS TAKEN OVER THIS COUNTRY . I THINK JEWS NEED TO BE AWARE.

METRO FOCUS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WALKING CHAIM THE THIRD.

SYLVIA A AND SIMON B PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI- SEMITISM.

THE PETER G PETERSON AND JOAN FUN.

BERNARD AND DENIS SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE McNEIL FOUNDATION

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Voice from Gaza

March 28, 2024 | Episode 1

Listen harder, dig deeper, break the box: Unexpected voices challenge the hate gripping the world since Oct 7th. A new 5-part series.