Seattle's Antisemitic Roots

Ishai Shvartz, a Redmond parent, is deeply bothered by an episode in school in which an offspring was asked to remove a Star of David necklace because, in the teacher’s words, “It’s not safe right now.” His kids have also brought home such remarks as, “I hate Israel” and, “Don’t worry, you’re one of the good ones.”

Such unsettling stories have prompted a wide range of area Jewish organizations to announce a new campaign — #CallOutHate, #CallitAntisemitism — an appeal for recognition and rejection of ugly age-old tropes that have of late experienced an unsettling revival.

Antisemitism reared its ugly head in Charlottesville, Virginia, during the first summer of Trump’s presidency as white supremacists marched to the chant of “Jews Will Not Replace Us” – and Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides.” The country has since experienced a slaughter of 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue and anti-Israel demonstrators chanting “from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea.”

Seattle’s Holocaust Education Center for Humanity described the phrase as “the pain of being hated.” Never mind that the Jewish community has a wide range of opinions about Prime Minister Netanyahu, his right-wing government and tactics employed in the Gaza war. Never mind participation of Jewish peace activists in calls for a cease fire.

https://www.postalley.org/2024/03/29/seattles-antisemitic-roots/