Censorship Is Not a Jewish Value

Key Findings:

This essay makes the case for “nixing the blacklists,” and that a reasonable response to antisemitism in cultural figures is a component of Jewish chosen-ness.

The antisemitic views of the famous children's author Roald Dahl and his mild defense of Hitler, as expressed in interviews from the 1980s, are highlighted. The Dahl estate issued an apology for Dahl’s antisemitic statements after his death. A subsequent debate has been sparked about whether such apologies are meaningful or counterproductive, given that the descendants of Roald Dahl have not inherited the crime of antisemitism (and given that Jews have been accused of inherited crimes for 2,000 years).

The author is of the camp that apologizing for the actions or beliefs of a deceased family member is unhelpful and reinforces the idea that sin is hereditary. He also suggests that Dahl's literary works don't contain explicit antisemitism, except for a vague reference to large noses in one of his books.

Several cases of living authors with controversial beliefs are cited, such as Sally Rooney's refusal to allow her latest book to be translated into Hebrew due to her support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The author criticizes Rooney's decision, arguing that literature should transcend politics and be accessible to all readers.

The essay also touches on the issue of censorship and cancel culture, highlighting the dangers of banning or boycotting authors with objectionable views. It draws parallels to the Hollywood blacklist during the McCarthy era and suggests that blacklisting individuals with reprehensible views can sometimes elevate them to undeserved moral status.

Overall, the essay advocates for resisting the temptation to respond to hateful ideas with hatred and calls for a more nuanced and balanced approach to addressing controversial views, especially in the realm of literature. It emphasizes the importance of upholding democratic values and free expression while confronting antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.