can you talk about some small and big things that people can do to be better allies to Jews right now?
Thanks for asking! That alone puts you ahead of a lot of people who’ve gone quiet or gotten weird:
Small things:
Check in on your Jewish friends. Not to make it about you, not to ask them to explain things. Just a thinking of you or you crossed my mind and I hope you're hanging in.
If you're in progressive spaces, watch for the silencing. Are Jews being interrupted, sidelined, or interrogated more than others? Are Jewish speakers only invited when something antisemitic happens? Are they being required to perform the right sort of Jewishness or the right position on Israel's right to exist? Slap that shit down
Learn the basics of Jewish history outside of crisis. Jewishness is more than trauma. It's culture, language, ritual, music, food, texts. You can’t be an ally if all you see is a wound.
Medium things:
Push back when antisemitism shows up in your circles, even when it’s subtle, coded, or disguised with cause-language. You don't have to give a lecture. "Hey, that's not okay" or "That framing feels off" is much more than we're used to seeing. Ask if they'd say the same thing if a different tribal identity was involved. Underline the hypocrisy.
Don't use Jewish pain as a rhetorical prop. If you're quoting statistics about Jew hatred, make sure you're also listening to actual Jews.
Get comfortable holding space for complexity. If you care about human rights, you can care about Palestinians and Israelis without erasing either one.
Big things:
Make space for Jewish voices even when it's not convenient, appreciated, or applauded. Invite Jews into coalitions, panels, projects, not just as the antisemitism rep, and not just Jews who are willing to be tokens and condemn Israel's right to exist.
Show up when no one else is looking. That means speaking out before things get uglier. That means backing Jewish colleagues and classmates even when it's awkward and uncomfortable.
Let go of the idea that being a good ally means being perfect. A good ally is present, accountable, and willing to grow. (Seems like you're at least most of the way there, Anon.)
You don't need to do everything.
You just need to start somewhere and keep showing up.
Again, thanks for asking. I hope others will share their answers, too.
