The Double Standard: A Jewish Dilemma in the Face of Injustice

In a revealing New Yorker interview, Holocaust historian and Biden appointee Deborah Lipstadt appeared to defend Trump’s crackdowns on pro-Palestinian student activists. Critics were quick to notice the irony—and danger—of using the fight against antisemitism to justify the suppression of political dissent.

As New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg wrote in response:

"It seems to me that there’s another sort of derangement at play here, rooted in the way Israel’s defenders conflate all but the mildest criticism of Israel with antisemitism."

This post explores how political actors, and even respected Jewish intellectuals, are using antisemitism as a shield—not for Jewish safety, but for political gain—and why the silence of the Jewish majority in the face of injustice is a moral crisis.

Judaism’s Ethical Tradition—and Its Silence Today

From childhood, Jews around the world are raised with powerful moral lessons: never forget the Holocaust, speak out against injustice, never stand idle while another suffers. These values echo through synagogues, schools, homes, and playgrounds.

Yet, as Gaza burns before the world's eyes, with civilians enduring immense suffering, many Jewish institutions and voices remain silent—or worse, complicit. Speaking out is often met with condemnation. Criticism of Israel is labeled antisemitic. Dissent is punished, not debated.

Why?

Because a dangerous idea has taken root: that opposing the policies of the Israeli state is equivalent to betraying Jewish identity.

The Argument of “The Un-Jews”

This idea is perhaps most forcefully argued by Natan Sharansky and Gil Troy in their article “The Un-Jews” for Tablet Magazine.

They write that Jews who reject Zionism or openly criticize Israel are effectively abandoning Jewish peoplehood. They frame such dissenters as betraying their roots, their history, and their identity.

“The Un-Jew doesn’t merely criticize Israeli policies; he repudiates the Jewish people’s national identity and connection to the land of Israel.”

This ideological framework equates Zionism with Judaism itself—leaving no space for critique, moral questioning, or political diversity within the Jewish world. It reduces a millennia-old ethical tradition to a nationalist allegiance.

The Weaponization of Antisemitism

In this climate, antisemitism is no longer a shield for the vulnerable—it is a weapon for the powerful.

This rhetorical sleight-of-hand silences university students, Muslim voices, Jewish dissenters, and international human rights organizations. It enables politicians to crack down on critics of Israeli policy under the guise of "protecting Jews," even as actual far-right antisemitism festers in plain sight.

This isn’t about protecting Jews. It’s about protecting power.

Judaism Is Not a Nationalist Ideology

Judaism has always been more than a nation-state. It is a religion rooted in ethical responsibility, moral inquiry, and relentless questioning. From the prophets of ancient Israel to the rabbis of the Talmud, Jewish tradition has honored those who challenge kings and call out injustice.

To conflate Judaism with the state of Israel is to flatten its complexity and deny its soul.

Jewish Dissent Is Not Betrayal—It Is Faithfulness

Jews around the world are speaking out. Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow, and others are reclaiming the moral heart of Judaism. They argue that standing against the siege of Gaza is not abandonment—it is the very fulfillment of Jewish values.

They remind us:

To be Jewish is not to stand with power. It is to stand with justice.

Conclusion: A Call to Moral Clarity

We are witnessing one of the worst atrocities of our time. What we do—or fail to do—will echo for generations.

Silence is complicity. And for those trying to cancel voices of dissent in the name of Jewish identity, let this be clear: Judaism cannot be reduced to blind loyalty. It is a living tradition of moral clarity.

To stand for justice in Palestine is not antisemitism. It is Judaism.

Tags:
#JudaismAndJustice #FreePalestine #DeborahLipstadt #MichelleGoldberg #Zionism #JewishDissent #PalestineSolidarity #TheUnJews #JewishVoiceForPeace #IfNotNow #IsraelGaza #HumanRights

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