Over the past few weeks, I have been increasingly disturbed by the normalization of overt antisemitism around the world. While it is easy for some to think this is occurring at the margins of society, former President Trump’s embrace of Kanye West cannot be ignored. Nor can we brush aside the reports of antisemites and Holocaust deniers being welcomed at a Canadian Parliamentary reception.
In the early hours of the morning yesterday, I wrote a 6-part Tweet that I am reproducing here for archival purposes:
A 6- part thread:
Growing up in the 60's in London Ontario, there was a quiet but pervasive hint of antisemitism in the air.
I remember my Grade 7 shop teacher lubricating screws using a bar of soap with Yiddish lettering, saying it was Jewish soap, made from Jews.
1/6
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) December 5, 2022
The recent normalization of antisemitism into the mainstream is especially disturbing given the efforts to eradicate other forms of bias and prejudice.
It feels as if we declared open season on Jews.
2/6
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) December 5, 2022
Kanye's outbursts and Trump's endorsement are examples that perhaps provide cover to disturbing messages over the past week by Canadian politicians.
I don't think we can legislate away antisemitism. If people want to hate Jews, the law can't make them change their minds.
3/6
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) December 5, 2022
But there should be consequences associated with such hatred.
Governments, bureaucrats, and elected leaders shouldn't be normalizing such views by funding bigots, hosting them at official functions, posing with them, endorsing them.
4/6
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) December 5, 2022
News media must publicize incidents so electors can make informed decisions about the type of people representing them.
Party leaders must be more demanding of excellence from members, dealing decisively with incidents of antisemitism as they would any other form of bias.
5/6
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) December 5, 2022
Watching these events unfold while visiting Israel, I have an even better appreciation of the line in Israel's national anthem, Hatikva (The Hope):
להיות עם חופשי בארצנו
To be a free nation in our landWe can do better. We need to start by demanding better from our leaders
6/6
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) December 5, 2022
As Shimon Fogel, president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs told the Globe and Mail, “It’s disappointing and difficult to understand how these failures of vetting continually occur, and now we have yet another incident that sends a troubling message to the Canadian Jewish community.”