Antisemitism and the Power of Influence

I've been wanting one of these signs I've seen on so many lawns, but felt something was missing. I was feeling left out. Artists 4 Israel finally made the sign I was waiting for!

I've been thinking a lot lately about the power of artists' influence especially as it relates to antisemitism.

The rise we’ve seen in antisemitism over the last couple of months isn’t anything new. Antisemitism is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted forms of hate that exists in the world. Whenever there’s a crisis in society - antisemitism will rear its ugly head. Because that is the ultimate expression of antisemitism - whatever the current societal ills are, they’re blamed on the Jewish people. 

When capitalism is considered evil - Jews are money mongering capitalists who control all of the the banks. When communism is evil - Jews are the perpetrators. When racism is evil - Jews are the masterminds behind the slave trade. When colonialism is evil- the Jews and the “Zionist empire” are colonizing land that doesn’t belong to them. And the list goes on and on and on. It’s contradictory, outright falsehoods, and riddled with hate. But it’s not new.

So why are we all talking about it so much now? Because a number of people in positions of influence, deserved or not, did what’s been done for thousands for years. They took an opportunity of civil unrest, a pandemic, and general sentiments of fear and panic to scapegoat Jews and perpetuate antisemitic tropes that have been around for centuries. 

What’s most troubling though, is not only that they help to spread these messages, but that they are so ignorant and unaware of what they’re doing. Yes, many are outright antisemitic, but I would argue that most don’t even realize the roots of what they’re saying and the harm and pain that it causes. DeSean Jackson, Nick Cannon, Chelsea Handler and countless others, are not educated enough on the issues to understand the hate that they’re perpetuating when they share the sentiments and messages of Louis Farrakhan. Seth Rogen, though claiming to be a proud Jew, has no real knowledge or education on Zionism and the modern state of Israel or understanding of how anti-zionism and antisemitism are inherently intertwined. These celebrities latch onto the current headlines and sound bites from the people they think they’re supposed to be aligned with and just repeat nonsense without really taking the time to educate themselves. 

In today’s world, it’s trendy to be an activist. Take a look at all of the “Instagram influencers” at the BLM protests who were literally there just for the photos. It’s maddening. Activism should not be a trend. True activism is a way of life, a value system that one doesn’t have to flaunt, but rather lives by and organically influences by way of example through integrity and authenticity. When they’re wrong, they are willing to admit they are wrong and take the proper steps to listen, understand and learn. For this, I will give credit to Nick Cannon who seems to be quite sincere in his apology and willingness to listen and educate himself.

One could argue that nobody really cares what these celebrities say- they’re not politicians or academics - who really cares? I wish that were true. But the truth is, the world we live in is so deeply influenced by social media, by popular culture, and by all forms of media - that people in these positions of influence wield extraordinary power. And this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, I believe it provides an amazing opportunity for real change and real societal progress. But that power has to be used responsibly, intentionally, intelligently, and with true care. I believe so strongly that music, entertainment, and art in all forms have a unique power to unify, to connect, and open up avenues of dialogue and understanding. That’s how it should be used. Not to divide and alienate. 

This is why I love working with artists who care deeply about the world around them and understand the power of their platform for activism. Artists who want to be educated on issues before speaking about them, and who want to spread messages of positivity and love. When an artist or celebrity authentically gets behind a positive message and cause - the results can be astounding. Unfortunately, when they spread messages of hate - even when stemming from ignorance or without realizing that’s what they’re doing - the results can be so damaging and hurtful. And rarely can a simple apology undo the damage caused. 

We’re seeing the effects of this in the world of antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred. The same people who in one post call for love, equality, and respect, spread messages of hate and division in their very next post. I’d like to believe most of them don’t even realize what they’re doing. However, I truly believe that we don’t fight hate with hate. As a true Jewish activist- our best response is to stand proud and continue to spread messages of positivity and love. We need to do our best to educate the world on who we are and what we stand for, standing side-by-side in the necessary fight for justice with those that may not understand us. This is the only way that can lead to true unity and understanding.