Our Duty to Be Unimpressed

Key Findings:

This essay discusses the complex historical relationship between Jews and various political movements, and unpacks at length its contemporary problems with the Western Left. 

In the 20th century, secular Jewish thinkers like Ben Hecht pondered the paradox of why antisemitism persisted. Hecht wrote that by transferring their allegiance away from the emperors, monarchs, and warlords who had always ruled over man to an Almighty figure in the heavens, the Jews had accepted “the mission to think — to think as an individual in the teeth of all Kings and Causes.” In so doing, the Jews not only liberated themselves from the whims of arbitrary authority but gave humanity itself a priceless gift: the insight that, because life is a godly creation, no man can rule over another. 

Left-wing antisemitism views Jews as adversaries to secular utopians trying to create a perfect world. The roots of left-wing antisemitism can be traced back to Karl Marx's writings, where he portrayed Jews as synonymous with financial greed. Despite contemporary socialists' disavowals, this trope continues to persist in leftist circles.

An example is given of the mural "Freedom for Humanity," painted in Tower Hamlets, London, in 2012. The mural depicted a vivid scene of capitalist exploitation, featuring six well-dressed men gathered around a Monopoly board placed on top of cowering, naked figures. The mural's imagery raised concerns about obvious antisemitic undertones, particularly due to the portrayal of some characters with conspicuously large noses. The artist behind this mural, known as "Mear One" (Kalen Ockerman), initially denied any antisemitic intent but soon revealed his true intentions behind the mural.

What made this incident more significant was the response from Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the British Labour Party at the time. Corbyn defended the mural's preservation. His reaction to accusations of antisemitism was to deny any problem (opinions in the British Jewish varied about whether it was made in full earnest or to play dumb). Corbyn's entire leadership, in fact, looked very similar to this Mear One incident — accusations of antisemitism within the Labour Party were frequent, as were his supporters’ vehement denial of the existence of any problem.

Left-wing antisemitism and leftists, as evidenced by Jeremy Corbyn, tend to vehemently reject allegations of antisemitism, even when confronted with substantial evidence to the contrary. 

Another idea given is that paradoxically, though Left-wing antisemitism exhibits an exclusionary nature, it allows for conversion to the ideology of "social justice." In a potential future where secular Jews may face increasing pressures to abandon their Jewish identity, participation in institutions could come with conditions that reject Jewish peoplehood and support for Israel.

The distinction between right-wing and left-wing antisemitism becomes apparent in their treatment of converts. Left-wing antisemites may welcome converts to their ideology, while right-wing antisemites remain rigidly racial in their outlook. Left-wing antisemites may even allow “converts” to maintain a semblance of Jewish identity such as “tikkun olam” to (1) create plausible deniability for their hatred of Jews; and (2) to aid creation of cognitive distinction between targeting “Jews” and “Zionists” (there is no distinction).

Addressing these concerning trends is paramount for the Jewish community's resilience. The Jewish establishment must acknowledge and actively address these issues, rather than pretending that liberal institutions are immune to problems. Furthermore, building new institutions that align with Jewish values while maintaining a capacity to remain unimpressed by oppressive forces is critical for safeguarding Jewish identity and principles in the face of contemporary challenges.