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My Antisemitism Story was created for people to know the real stories of hate against Jews
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Max Lightstone of Hamilton, ON created a Twitter account to chronicle people's experiences with antisemitism | Photo: Courtesy Max Lightstone
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“Jewish fragility” and “Jewish privilege” –these terms didn’t take long to create a Twitter storm of antisemitism, emboldened by Louis Farrakhan, who was broadcast by Sean Puffy Comb’s Revolt TV for his Fourth of July Address to the Nation of Islam.
As if the antisemitic noise from the US wasn’t enough – coming from sports icons like DeSean Jackson and rappers like Ice Cube – Canada has been facing its own increasingly toxicity of antisemitism, such as the Foodbenders saga, a pro-Palestinian rally where teens chanted “death to Jews”, and Travis Patron spouting far-right white nationalism—just to name a few.
Much in the same fashion that Jewish twitterers responded to various antisemitic attacks, by tweeting out personal stories of antisemitism with the hashtag #jewishprivilege, coincidentally and quite timely, Max Lightstone recently created a platform for Jews to document, and share, their personal stories of antisemitism, on the Twitter page “My Anti-Semitism Story” @myASstory.
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Lightstone says he made the Twitter page so people don’t feel like they’re alone, and for others to know that these are real people who experience these real examples of antisemitism all the time.
He explains how many people assume antisemitism is a thing of the past, but what recent events have shown, unfortunately, is that it is alive and well—and taking on a life of its own, with social media making it easier than ever before to spread hate far and wide.
In fact, as Siggy Flicker reports in an Instagram post entitled “Why Is It So Scary to be a Jew Right Now?”: “the combined IG followers of the 5 most vocal celebrities spreading the most dangerous antisemitism this month outnumbered the total US Jewish population by over 7 to 1 (Stephen Jackson, Desean Jackson, Ice Cube, Nick Cannon, Diddy).”
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This is why Jews and allies need to speak up. But even when we do, we are often met with resistance. Even still, Lightstone became increasingly moved to create “My Anti-Semitism Story” after being stonewalled by colleagues in a professional meeting of academics, when he requested they adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. (Among many important notions, it equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism; and, notes correctly that Holocaust denial is antisemitism.)
For Lightstone, now residing in Hamilton, Ontario, this new Twitter account all pointed to the need to document and report our lived stories, from the past, and present.
Because in documenting our experiences, we hold those accountable, especially when such hate leads to violence.
“My Anti-Semitism Story” @myASstory is a new Twitter account created as a platform for Jews to document, and share, their personal stories of antisemitism | Photo: Screenshot
For example, Toronto’s Jewish community (including York Region) is aware that they were once again the most targeted community for Hate Crimes, as reported by B’nai Brith Canada (2019).
Jews must be done with trying to convince others of what antisemitism is —we need to begin to unapologetically show what antisemitism looks like. The stark truth is that Bari Weiss resigning from The New York Times is about the antisemitism story that has taken hold of the world, and that is reflected poignantly in a tweet shared on “My Anti-Semitism Story”: “anti-Semitism means I’m not welcome in the progressive left without denouncing my heritage, my faith, and my family. I’m proudly Jewish, proudly Zionist, and proudly progressive. #JewishPrivilege means I’m not allowed to be all three at once,” tweets @AndAtomSays.
Lightstone adds, “in social justice spaces, Jews have been increasingly pushed out—and Israel, demonized.”
Lindsay Soberano-Wilson is a teacher and freelance writer of over 15 years whose work has been published both in print and online. Such publications include the CJN, the Jewish Tribune, Markham Review, Scary Mommy, Lifestyles and My Business Magazine.
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We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
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Happy reading!
Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
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