Do you think there is such a thing as Jewish paranoia, and that one can find anti-Semitism even where it isn’t intended or lurking? 

Do not some Jewish people, those of a lower socio-economic level, sometimes walk around with a chip on their shoulder, screaming, "I’m Jewish! Do something to me." 

L  

Dear L: 

First, please call me Gil. I answer by saying I definitely think some Jews are paranoid; however, I don’t think it has anything to do with socio-economic status. 

I believe this paranoia is based on the overall status of Jews in history. Objectively speaking, as you look at what has happened to Jews over the last couple thousand years, who wouldn’t be, as you say, paranoid? Kinder or more positive terms might include "pragmatic," "realistic," or "alert to danger." 

Famed author Tom Clancy, in his thriller, The Sum of All Fears, gives a good explanation of why Jews might feel this way when he describes Israelis as having an:  

"Us-and-them mentality… [that is] understandable. They all think like front-line grunts. What do you expect? Hell, man, their whole country is a free-fire zone for the other side. They have the same way of thinking as us line animals had in ’Nam. There are two kinds of people — your people and everyone else… The Israelis think that way ’cause they can’t think any other way. The Nazis killed millions of Jews and we didn’t do [anything] about it." 

This description, I think, applies not just to Israelis, but to many or even most Jews. The Nazis, of course, are only one part of many centuries of horrible abuse, threats, and harm that Jews have suffered. Consequently, I think many Jews, maybe even most, are paranoid to some degree. I know I am, but I’m not sure there is anything really wrong with that. As opposed to clinical paranoia, Jewish paranoia is very much grounded in reality. 

Now, having said all of that, I am going to depart from my line of reasoning to say the following: while I understand "Jewish paranoia, "I also think some Jews take this way too far. 

I think some Jews do have, as you put it, a chip on their shoulder. But, most of those with chips who I know personally, have experienced severe anti-Semitism in their own lives, or they have relatives who have. Hearing their stories, I can understand why they feel as they do. 

In my view, however, their thinking is wrong if it reaches the point of saying (as I have heard uttered): "scratch any gentile deep enough and you will find an anti- Semite." I personally find this kind of thinking revolting. 

Going back to the Holocaust, there are numerous examples of gentiles risking their lives to save Jews. Imagine literally being faced with execution if you tried to give a hand to a persecuted minority person. Could you honestly live up to the model set by these incredible non-Jews? 

These courageous and generous people are models of ethical and dignified behavior (see our article on page 8 for a wonderful example of this kind of heroism). 

Today, in North America, Jews have experienced unparalleled acceptance from our non-Jewish neighbors. The best example of this is intermarriage. Non-Jews are choosing to marry us in unprecedented numbers. Statistics indicate that two thirds of the children in these marriages are not being raised as Jews. Some say the biggest threat to the existence of the Jewish community long-term is no longer hate, but ironically love! 

So where does all this leave us? I conclude as follows: I still fear anti-Semitism, but not from the vast majority of North Americans. Yes, I remember seeing signs during the 1973 Arab oil embargo that said "BURN JEWS NOT OIL" and I have certainly seen and heard anti-Semitism, so I am always wary. I also, view most "anti-Zionism" as veiled anti-Semitism. 

Still, in my adult life, my being Jewish has not been an obstacle for me in any serious way — my being Jewish has not negatively impacted where I wanted to live, work, or study. I have also met many non-Jews (including online) who have embraced me together with my Judaism. 

I hasten to add that I recognize my parents’ and grandparents’ generations were not able to say that about America when they were younger. In addition, I recognize that in many parts of the world today, anti-Semitism remains vicious. 

But mostly this is outside North America; so, my last conclusion as it relates to those (North American) Jews who walk around with a chip on their shoulders, is that I believe these Jews are doing a disservice to themselves, to Jews in general, and to non-Jews. 

Fortunately, I don’t believe most Jews today subscribe to such thinking. We have risen above any paranoia we might feel to become proud Jews and proud contributors to the non-Jewish societies where we live. 

So to sum up: I think we should stay ever alert to those who would harm us — they definitely exist — while at the same time, we should appreciate how lucky we are to have so many non-Jewish neighbors who accept us as Jews and as human beings. 

Happy Chanukah! 

Gil  

cover | next page