I’ve listened to racism without challenging it – that won’t happen again – Heritage Florida Jewish News
Posted By admin on March 3, 2022
(JTA) If I have learned anything over the past month, it is that racist tropes are not harmless words. They must be actively and consistently challenged.
You know them and so do I. The racist tropes peddled about Jewish people are plentiful. What you may not know is that antisemitic tropes caused my friends and me to be held hostage at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.
Our Shabbat morning service on Jan. 15 began normally. I had just sat down after the morning Amidah. Within a few seconds, I heard that unmistakable sound of an automatic pistol chambering a bullet. A man we invited into the synagogue on that cold morning so he could warm up was screaming. He waved his gun at us and threatened to blow us up with a bomb.
Without turning around, I picked up my phone from the chair next to me, dialed 911, and returned it, screen side down, to the chair. I stood up and faced our attacker. I slowly moved so that I was in line with an exit. Many of you saw the headlines and are aware of the terror that unfolded over the next 11 hours. One of us was released after about six hours; the other three, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and me, escaped by running out a side door five hours after that.
We were fortunate. This man wasnt like the attackers in Pittsburgh, Poway or Paris. Instead of a hate-filled white supremacist who wanted to kill as many Jews as possible, our attacker had a specific demand. He wanted to free a person being held in a U.S. federal correction center. And he thought we could get that done.
Jews pull all the strings. Jews control the banks. Jews control the media. Jews control the government, he repeatedly told us.
He demanded we get the chief rabbi of the United States on the phone. Both Rabbi Cytron-Walker and I explained that, unlike the U.K. where our attacker was from, there is no head rabbi in the United States not that a chief rabbi would have that kind of power in the first place.
Our attacker frequently told us not to worry because President Biden and former President Trump would listen to his demands rather than allow even one Jew to get hurt. He had clearly bathed in racist tropes about my community.
People who say sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me do not know what Jewish people live with on a day-to-day basis. They do not understand what other marginalized communities live with either. Words have caused, and will continue to cause, harm. And those little throw-away tropes that we all endure may be the most damaging because, when repeated often enough, people begin to believe them.
When not addressed directly, racist tropes make all of us bystanders to hatred and participants in anothers suffering. We expect them from the skinheads, and we hope good people will ignore them. We roll our eyes as our friend winces and apologizes for the crazy older relative everyone accepts is a racist. We live in a society where we hold onto the premise that racists are the minority. We say nothing because we dont want to bring attention to ourselves or to the comments. Sometimes we even tell ourselves that we are stronger than those who hate us. We very well may be. But that doesnt mean that the actions of the hateful should be coddled or tolerated.
I say we because up until recently, I didnt speak up either. But racist tropes do not automatically dissipate. They must be challenged consistently and vigorously.
How many of us have been taught that if we ignore the taunt and do not engage the bully, the bully will go away? That didnt work in elementary school; it will not work now. Words matter. Words influence. Repeated racist tropes dehumanize. Unchallenged words signal acceptance.
As I reflect on how to challenge hatred, here are several things I am committing to do:
First, question what I hear, in the moment and on the spot. I will do better about asking, Did I hear you correctly? What did you just say? By making the speakers repeat what they say, I believe we can force them to acknowledge their words and confront social norms. It also empowers others to speak out as well.
Second, inform the individual that their comment is unacceptable. I will do better about sharingin the moment something like, Statements like that are not acceptable here. I do not believe it is helpful to call the speaker a racist or antisemitic because I do not want people to shut down and not hear what I am saying.
And third, respond to the trope with truth and appeal to the speakers sense of right and wrong. I might share, Both the Fascists and the Communists used antisemitic tropes as propaganda. They needed a scapegoat to blame for their failings. Dont follow in their footsteps.
Will that approach keep the attacker out of the next synagogue or Black church, or from stalking another Asian-American woman? Probably not. But if we dont challenge racist tropes, we have no hope theyll ever stop. Far too many people will be threatened and harmed, and I dont want anyone else to go through what I did.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Excerpt from:
- Mike Colle Statement re Jewish Heritage Month 4 10 14 - Video [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2014]
- Israel Independence Day 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2014]
- BOL Celebrates Jewish Heritage Month 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2014]
- Jewish Heritage Month : CUPE Local 79 [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2014]
- Rangel Honors Jewish American Heritage Month | Congressman ... [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2015]
- Why Does No One Care About Jewish Heritage Month ... [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2015]
- Jewish Heritage Month [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2015]
- Why Did Canada Nix Jewish Heritage Month? - Opinion ... [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2015]
- Video: The Holocaust | Watch The War Online | PBS Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2015]
- Jewish Heritage Month -- National Register of Historic ... [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2016]
- How May became Jewish American Heritage Month - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2017]
- May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Here's why you didn't know that. - Jewish Post [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2017]
- Did you know that May is Jewish American Heritage Month ... - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2017]
- The case for Jewish Heritage Month - Canadian Jewish News (blog) [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2017]
- Palestinians Launch Fresh UNESCO Bid to Deny Jewish Ties to ... - Algemeiner [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2017]
- A trove of Nazi-era objects in Argentina stuns investigators - Jewish Telegraphic Agency [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2017]
- Given that June is both Gay Pride and Immigrant Heritage Month, it's fitting that the Tenement Museum last week ... - Tablet Magazine [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2017]
- Ontario Jewish Heritage Month Calendar | UJA Federation of ... [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2017]
- A French Jew's killing provides a test for the new Macron administration - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2017]
- Fun Shabbats planned at Congregation Beth Am this summer - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2017]
- My special-needs daughter's tallit is her superhero cape - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2017]
- Citrus Club 'Happy Hour' unites support for Jewish Pavilion - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2017]
- Higher health risks for Israeli Ethiopian immigrants - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2017]
- WATCH: Indian Jews bring Bollywood flair to Jerusalem - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2017]
- The 'reward' of every Temple Mount rioter: 4,500 shekels a month ... - Arutz Sheva [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2017]
- Women and Tales in Jerusalem Jewish Orthodox style - eTurboNews [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2017]
- More Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage Than Ever - Reason (blog) [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2017]
- Israel's Western Wall Crisis: Why Jews Are Fighting With Each Other Over the Jewish Holy Site, Explained - Haaretz [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2017]
- News Transcript Datebook, June 28 - centraljersey.com [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2017]
- Bringing People Together in Montgomery County - Virginia Connection Newspapers [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2017]
- Corsicana receives $25k grant to maintain Temple Beth-El - Corsicana Daily Sun [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2017]
- Housefather celebrates Jewish Canadian contributions - The Suburban Newspaper [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2017]
- What's Goin On July | SD JEWISH JOURNAL - San Diego Jewish Journal [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2017]
- Palestinians Hope to List Hebron As UNESCO World Heritage Site - The Media Line [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2017]
- A trove of Nazi-era objects in Argentina stuns investigators - thejewishchronicle.net [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2017]
- How Jewish women have shaped our nation - Canadian Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2017]
- Building in Beachwood | Destination | clevelandjewishnews.com - Cleveland Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Tidbits from the Sandwich Generation - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- International Jewish athletes 'return' to Jerusalem for 20th Maccabiah Games - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- New and improved Jewish tradition - Heritage Florida Jewish News - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Over 200 North Americans become Israelis as first aliya flight of the summer arrives - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2017]
- The Secret Jewish History Of A Violent New Zealand Cult - Forward [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2017]
- Clayton native re-engineers Sriracha sauce - St. Louis Jewish Light [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2017]
- Hungarian Jews ask PM Orban to end 'bad dream' of antisemitism - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2017]
- 'PM's gifts from Kerala to his Israeli counterpart reflect our Jewish heritage' - Times of India [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2017]
- Kochi jews in israel seek a monumental protection- The New Indian ... - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Days out while school's out - Jewish Chronicle [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Is Hungary's anti-Soros campaign antisemitic? Even Israelis can't ... - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- After UNESCO vote, Netanyahu reads from Bible to prove Jewish ties to Hebron - Jewish Telegraphic Agency [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- After UNESCO Vote, Netanyahu Reads From Bible To Prove Jewish Ties To Hebron - Jewish Week [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2017]
- Anti-Soros Campaign In Hungary Dogging Bibi's Trip - Jewish Week [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- This 2016 Donald Trump Jr. interview about Russia is now downright cringeworthy - Washington Post [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- Belated Bar Mitzvahs for Five College Students in Vienna - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- How a Portuguese King Found Solace in the Psalms of His Ancestors - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2017]
- How a Korean-Jewish entrepreneur uses food to empower immigrants - Jewish Post [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2017]
- How Gaza's electricity crisis could spell trouble for Israel - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2017]
- Knesset bloc unveils peace plan: Total Palestinian surrender - jewishpresstampa [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2017]
- Hungarian PM to Netanyahu: We Cooperated With Nazis Instead of Protecting Jews, Won't Happen Again - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2017]
- First Read For July 18 - Jewish Week [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2017]
- Albany Beat - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2017]
- Calendar July 21, 2017 - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2017]
- Leah Koenig - Tablet Magazine [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2017]
- Group travels to Israel to connect with Jewish heritage - Florida Times-Union [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2017]
- 5 students celebrate belated bar mitzvah - Arutz Sheva [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2017]
- Holocaust Rhymes And Lamborghinis, A Jewish Rapper Breaks Taboos In Germany - Worldcrunch [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2017]
- Cool off with Shabbat Sababa at Ohev Shalom - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2017]
- At least 15 Jewish families move into disputed West Bank building - Jewish Telegraphic Agency [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2017]
- A new generation of Jewish farmers sees a fertile future in South Jersey - Philly.com [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2017]
- At 30, YJLC Rafting Weekend Now Competing with Technology - Jewish Exponent [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2017]
- Begin breaks ranks to oppose Jewish nation-state bill | The Times of ... - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2017]
- Anti-Semitism Claims Hound Party Led by Darling of U.K. Left - 41 NBC News [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2017]
- In trip to Lodz, Poland, East Bay group sees dark past, hopeful future - Jweekly.com [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2017]
- Scene Around - Heritage Florida Jewish News [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2017]
- "Shared struggles" forum to tackle faiths' differences, similarities - Charleston Post Courier [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2017]
- Temple Mount or Haram Al-Sharif? We've been here before - i24NEWS [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- Around Newton - Wicked Local Newton [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- SlutWalk Chicago, in reversal, will allow marchers carrying Jewish and Zionist symbols - Jewish Telegraphic Agency [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- Cave Of Dreams - Jewish Week [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2017]
- Grapevine: When age doesn't matter - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2017]
- SlutWalk Chicago, In Reversal, Will Allow Marchers Carrying Jewish ... - Jewish Week [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2017]
Comments