At AWP, I spoke on a panel focusing on antisemitism in the literary world. Yes, there was a protester (of course), but the climate was not hateful. Also, my report from the Jewish Writers Caucus.
Thank you for this rich and meaty report, Howard, and for investing your time and resources to show up as a Jewish author and to speak out for us all. The antisemitic Jewish writers are clueless on many levels, and cannot appreciate the irony of titling their panel "Our Memory Will Not Be a Weapon: On Jewish Writing after October 7.” Jewish memory is crucial for our identity. Hard to believe, but there is no word in Biblical Hebrew for the word "history," even for a people with such a vastly consequential history as ours. But the word for "remember" is used nearly 200 times in the Bible. As we approach Passover, we reenact history at the seder through our memories collectively, as we are meant to feel we were there personally. Our memory is our strength, one we have no tradition of weaponizing.
On a different note, I will add my dissent to any comparison of today's religious Christians in the US with our enemies. As you stated, Howard, we need to be able to recognize our friends, and today's religious Christians (not "nationalist") are among our best friends and they are due thanks and an apology for the endless times Jews castigate them unfairly. Christians United for Israel has 10 million members (more than 3x the number of AIPAC members), including college students fighting back with knowledge and facts against the antisemites at school. They take missions to Israel and send millions and millions of dollars to charitable organizations throughout Israel, including religious institutions. I have written about them several times, and they are not evangelical. I will also continue "showing up" to raise awareness of the good that they do in the hopes that we will offer our long overdue appreciation.
Thank you so much for your detailed comments, Judy. Yeah, the "Christian ally" question is one that I have grappled with for some time, which is why my presentation at the panel was so sloppy! Here's the way I look at it: There has never been, and will never be, a party in power that does anything purely for the benefit of the Jews. At best, when we are favored by the rulers, it is in their best interests and not necessarily ours. So, while we can accept allyship, we have to always remember that we are "a people apart."
We are not favored by our rulers now. They have adopted the Sig Heil as their salute. George Soros is the Jew bogeyman. They use us as a political football to justify attacks on the First Amendment. Stefanik loses her mind at University presidents and can't condemn the Sig heil. On the left, women's groups were dead silent about the Oct. 7 rapes and I had former allies celebrating the attacks. Expect nothing.
Thank you for this report Howard. It's incredible to me that a Jewish anti-Zionist would roll their eyes at the presence and growth of antisemitism. But here we are.
Thank you for this report about your AWP experience, Howard. Since I was not there, I found this enlightening and it made me feel include, in absentia.
Yes, "red diaper babies" are a phenomenon in parts of the American Jewish community. It's also possible that some were raised in liberal/progressive families and went off the rails in college.
I grew up in the 60s and went to university at the first progressive university, HOFSTRA. I didn't know what that meant I was just running away from a boyfriend. I'm shocked that they didn't grow up.
Lovely people from the UN in gaza are tattooing themselves with nazi slogans, Lebanese neighbours read Hitler between sending rockets to kill Jews. Mein kamph in Arabic was recently confiscated at the book store at the center of Jerusalem. The "cossacks" actually never did leave. Except in Ukraine where anti-Jewish sentiment is lowest in Europe at the moment. Living with the neighbours who want to kill you for existing does wonders for the ability to recognise right from wrong.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience despite a couple of minor scars. Just curious if the room was full for your session and do you think they were mostly Jews in the audience?
There's nothing to agree or disagree with. What is happening now to Jews in publishing is not even my opinion anymore. It's an established fact that Jewish authors are being blacklisted.
Sorry I thought you were saying the opposite. Enjoyed your article as I remember what happened last year so a tiny bit encouraged that it was at least slightly better
Thank you for this rich and meaty report, Howard, and for investing your time and resources to show up as a Jewish author and to speak out for us all. The antisemitic Jewish writers are clueless on many levels, and cannot appreciate the irony of titling their panel "Our Memory Will Not Be a Weapon: On Jewish Writing after October 7.” Jewish memory is crucial for our identity. Hard to believe, but there is no word in Biblical Hebrew for the word "history," even for a people with such a vastly consequential history as ours. But the word for "remember" is used nearly 200 times in the Bible. As we approach Passover, we reenact history at the seder through our memories collectively, as we are meant to feel we were there personally. Our memory is our strength, one we have no tradition of weaponizing.
On a different note, I will add my dissent to any comparison of today's religious Christians in the US with our enemies. As you stated, Howard, we need to be able to recognize our friends, and today's religious Christians (not "nationalist") are among our best friends and they are due thanks and an apology for the endless times Jews castigate them unfairly. Christians United for Israel has 10 million members (more than 3x the number of AIPAC members), including college students fighting back with knowledge and facts against the antisemites at school. They take missions to Israel and send millions and millions of dollars to charitable organizations throughout Israel, including religious institutions. I have written about them several times, and they are not evangelical. I will also continue "showing up" to raise awareness of the good that they do in the hopes that we will offer our long overdue appreciation.
Thank you so much for your detailed comments, Judy. Yeah, the "Christian ally" question is one that I have grappled with for some time, which is why my presentation at the panel was so sloppy! Here's the way I look at it: There has never been, and will never be, a party in power that does anything purely for the benefit of the Jews. At best, when we are favored by the rulers, it is in their best interests and not necessarily ours. So, while we can accept allyship, we have to always remember that we are "a people apart."
Of course, you are right. We are "the people who dwells alone," though within larger communities.
We are not favored by our rulers now. They have adopted the Sig Heil as their salute. George Soros is the Jew bogeyman. They use us as a political football to justify attacks on the First Amendment. Stefanik loses her mind at University presidents and can't condemn the Sig heil. On the left, women's groups were dead silent about the Oct. 7 rapes and I had former allies celebrating the attacks. Expect nothing.
Thank you for this report Howard. It's incredible to me that a Jewish anti-Zionist would roll their eyes at the presence and growth of antisemitism. But here we are.
Thanks so much for the account of the event for those of us who were not there.
Thank you for this report about your AWP experience, Howard. Since I was not there, I found this enlightening and it made me feel include, in absentia.
Thank you for this report. Really excellent and so appreciated.
Thank you, Howard, for attending, for representing Jewish writers, and for reporting on the event.
Thanks for this write-up. I'm glad to hear it was a calm and positive event.
Re: Anti-Zionist Jewish authors -- have you ever seen any who were not leftists? I haven't, and I hung out in those circles before October 7th.
I think a lot of them grew up in Communist families.
Yes, "red diaper babies" are a phenomenon in parts of the American Jewish community. It's also possible that some were raised in liberal/progressive families and went off the rails in college.
I grew up in the 60s and went to university at the first progressive university, HOFSTRA. I didn't know what that meant I was just running away from a boyfriend. I'm shocked that they didn't grow up.
Lovely people from the UN in gaza are tattooing themselves with nazi slogans, Lebanese neighbours read Hitler between sending rockets to kill Jews. Mein kamph in Arabic was recently confiscated at the book store at the center of Jerusalem. The "cossacks" actually never did leave. Except in Ukraine where anti-Jewish sentiment is lowest in Europe at the moment. Living with the neighbours who want to kill you for existing does wonders for the ability to recognise right from wrong.
I've bookmarked this amd finally read it.Thanks. It's painful but also balanced and helpful. May the force be with you and all of us.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience despite a couple of minor scars. Just curious if the room was full for your session and do you think they were mostly Jews in the audience?
Nice panel title! ;-)
You should talk to John Podhoretz about the state of Jews in publishing. I don't think he would agree with you.
There's nothing to agree or disagree with. What is happening now to Jews in publishing is not even my opinion anymore. It's an established fact that Jewish authors are being blacklisted.
Sorry I thought you were saying the opposite. Enjoyed your article as I remember what happened last year so a tiny bit encouraged that it was at least slightly better