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WANDERINGS- BLOG

Anti-SEMITISM and the women's march

1/7/2019

6 Comments

 
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​Doesn’t Anti-Semitism in the Women’s Movement sound like an oxymoron?  Unfortunately it’s been around as long as I can remember. In the 1980’s I was regional director of the American Jewish Congress in Washington, D.C.  and was asked to participate in a number of national coalitions, one of which was the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights RCAR (now RCRC).

I remember clearly my pride when I was asked to become an officer of the group until I overheard another activist say “We don’t need Jews in leadership.  We’ve been oppressed for years by men and now we are being oppressed by Jewish women with their education and outspokenness.”

To say that I was stunned and embarrassed is an understatement. I was humbled when elected Vice-President of RCAR, and this sentiment stemmed more from those women who rejected out of hand any form of anti-Semitism, rather than for the honor itself.  At the time I thought to myself that perhaps it was just this one woman who had issues.   I was sadly wrong.

In the 90’s, as regional director for the American Jewish Congress in San Francisco, I often had trouble believing what I was hearing. At one particular civil rights conference I attended, the minorities in attendance were given assignments.  I walked up to the organizer and asked what the White participants were supposed to do.  She thought for a minute and answered, “You should go off in the corner and discuss your privilege.”  This is the EXACT language that I have heard bandied about recently.  Of course better understanding our privilege while increasing our knowledge of the minority experience is critical but we sure won't do a good job talking to ourselves and what a waste of collective energy in that context.

Perhaps the most unsettling comment for me was at the annual luncheon for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco.  The speaker had been an activist in the Civil Rights movement and was a wonderful speaker… until… he came out with, “Those Jews…”  I was dumbstruck.  He received a standing ovation (except from me) and then I watched every Jew in the audience make sure they passed by me on their way out the door to say, “What the hell?”

It became an issue in our Civil Rights Coalition and we had a number of heartfelt discussions.  One of the leaders of the event and the Coalition was heard to say, “It’s not like Jews are oppressed like Blacks, why do we have to spend our time on this?”

This isn’t the Oppression Olympics.  Of course African Americans and Latinos and other minorities have to deal with extreme racism on a daily basis.  They are more discriminated against.  That isn’t the issue.  The issue is that any racism is bad.  Any discrimination is bad.  By tackling issues as they arise it only helps us understand each other and our own biases and helps us to bond and grow stronger. And to marginalize any group that wants to join in is, quite honestly, just stupid.  The more folks at the table, the more strategies and connections they bring, the greater the chance we have of effecting positive change.  I don’t mean to say that Latinos and African Americans shouldn’t organize to further their particular issues. Of course they should.  But when dealing with women’s rights, economic advancement and voting rights, we are dealing with issues that affect all of us. There is more than enough room at the table for everyone.

I remember being denied a grant from the Jewish Fund for Justice and being told I wasn’t a “real” community organizer because I wasn’t organizing in the streets.  In fact I was, but I was also mobilizing connections with the media and legislature.  I wonder if the women in Maryland (in the 80's) considered me a “real” community organizer when the then Governor was going to change his position and veto Medicaid funding of abortions. I picked up the phone and called Abe Pollin, the owner of the local Capitals Ice Hockey team, and a buddy of the Governor.  Did I know Abe? Nope.  I figured, what the hell, we are both Jewish, maybe he’ll take my call.  He did and convinced the Governor to allow the legislation to go through unaltered.

When we are sitting around the table with a common goal, we need to make it about that goal, developing a variety of strategies including rallies, class action lawsuits and identifying avenues of access to people of influence.  That kind of creative brainstorming and garnering of resources is what will continue to make the biggest difference.  If we don’t understand something or say something stupid, we need to pause, educate and build a collective memory based on new experiences.

Effectuating real change doesn’t happen at each other’s expense. It happens by building on each other’s strengths and having the courage to work together as true partners.
 


6 Comments
Victor Salkowitz
1/8/2019 06:50:34 pm

You go girl!

Reply
Eva Lippmann
1/9/2019 11:22:38 am

I am not sure why you chose the title 'Anti-semitism and the Women's March.' seems to me it would have been more accurate to title 'Anti-sememtism I have witnessed in the Civil Rights/Social Justice Movement During my Career.' Thank you for all the work you have done, but I fear that you are giving your readers an 'easy out'. As Jews who align with much of the goal of this work, as you suggest, we need to stay at the table in the effort and part of the conversation. I was asked to be a member of the San Jose Women's March Advisory Committee. I have been impressed by our communities efforts to be inclusive of the diverse ranging communities. I know we are finding challenges within our Jewish Community in terms of our desparate feelings about Israel and it's long term Right wing government and the impact that has with the BDS movement. Despite this, we need to stay at the table, even when difficult...agree on what we can and agree to disagree on other issues. Most of the Women's Marches and their leadership are not connected with the DC March leaders and our strength, truth and pride as Jewish women will be best expressed by staying involved with our progressive sisters and marching forward with them on January 19th and onward to 2020 elections.

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Tracy Salkowitz
1/17/2019 09:10:08 am

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but I wish you had read the blog more carefully as I never suggested we leave the table. In point of fact I underscore the importance of being together and working through historical misunderstandings to release biases where possible. In point of fact, it isn't about leaving, its about firing the anti-Semites in leadership positions of the March, regardless of whether or not they are the founders. I'm so proud of those who have distanced themselves and created alternative marches in response.

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top essay papers link
1/23/2019 06:18:05 pm

Hello, Tracy! I believe that you have done a good job. You've been working for a lot of years already. Though there are still unnecessary thing that are happening around us, we can never deny the fact how big your contribution was. For me, your service was more than enough and you've done really great! Too bad because some people can't see it, but we are not working her for people's acknowledgement. Through the years you have spent for this, I know that you made a huge impact about the said matter!

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Peleg Reshef
1/28/2019 01:08:02 am

A wonderful blog!
Well-written and you are raising an important point, Tracy.
The fact that individuals are involved in the human-rights movement does not mean that they understand the challenges that certain minorities go through, including Jews. Education, education, education- is so important. It's an uphill battle and always better to be the system in order to change the system.
Thank you Tracy, for this important piece.

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April Braswell link
5/27/2019 01:31:32 pm

Hi Tracy,

I completely believe you and especially about the "discuss white privilege" part. Sadly, I lived in San Francisco around the same time as your involvement within the Legal Community. Having grown up in the Tri-State area back East and my mother (we're Goyim) working at both Yeshiva U and Dropsie, I don't expect everyone, certainly not myself, to always be great about the nuances of American Jewry. But I'm always stunned to find such dreadful overt anti-Antisemitism especially within intellectual communities where I would have thought years ago even during my childhood I didn't think it was there. But I am sadly mistaken. I find in the Burbs of California that a lot of our biases are more under the radar, beneath the surface and like a bad zit surfacing just before Prom, that they burst up to show themselves. It occurred once at a low key social event my fiance (he is Jewish, but what the lady said would have bothered me anyway just because it was obvious anti-Semitism) and I attended. She used the phrase "Jew it down" as a verb. I didn't even know what she meant. I tried saying something but she still didn't and wouldn't see it as an ethnic slur. I don't even know where to start when it's insidious like that. Bold outright is often easier to address. It the "in the water" insidious biases which we have in Suburbia beneath the surface which I find challenging to identify. On the positive side, I find that by being seen and surfacing things lightly with an attitude of expectation makes small inroads over time. Like, and we would never have had this in the Tri-State area (rolling of eyes), our Square Dance clubs always have Christmas Parties and Christmas Dances. I'm Christian and even I was amazed. I've ventured to say something over time: How about Holiday Party. Holidays Dance. I figure if I just keep nudging them year after year, it will eventually change. Sadly, I think it's as the older guard who are oblivious retire and step down from leadership that the next gen (I hope, I pray) will possess a more expanded world view. I see you haven't blogged in awhile. I hope you return to doing so agai soon.

Cheers and blessings,

April Braswell
PS: I'm in Orange County now but still visit the San Francisco Bay area annually or so since I still have family there. I think everything in Orange County is more insidious. It's a bit more surfaced in Los Angeles. sigh.

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    Tracy Salkowitz is a Consultant,activist and the former CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. 

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