Amid the reality TV president's bad faith antics, the "replacement child" of Holocaust survivors digs into the language and definitions framing the debate over Zionism, Jewishness and bigotry
Tessa Veksler. I'll start there. The name of the student body president who was the target of vile antisemitic rhetoric and actions (the recall petition) here on our own UCSB campus -- and the university's response? Basically, a shrug. This courageous young Jewish woman's name is never mentioned in the above article. But I do thank Jana Zimmer, author, and Jerry Roberts, for publishing this article and for clearly defining "Anti-Semitism," something I never thought requiring such, at least in this country. I never imagined that the Holocaust would be tossed aside and then that word -- exclusive to one moment in history and one people -- be weaponized against those same people, Jews, nearly exterminated 80 years ago. Aside from the opening and closing paragraphs that focus on DJT (or MAGA, MTG), I found the other references to the current president, scattered throughout, a distraction from the pressing issue: the rise of open, without shame, anti-Semitism, on our college campuses nationwide. Certainly Academia's hatred of Jews and embrace (or apologists for) Hamas stands on its own, separate from the Trump Administration. And that includes my Alma Mater not ten miles from my home.
Thank you, Jana—great job.
Tessa Veksler. I'll start there. The name of the student body president who was the target of vile antisemitic rhetoric and actions (the recall petition) here on our own UCSB campus -- and the university's response? Basically, a shrug. This courageous young Jewish woman's name is never mentioned in the above article. But I do thank Jana Zimmer, author, and Jerry Roberts, for publishing this article and for clearly defining "Anti-Semitism," something I never thought requiring such, at least in this country. I never imagined that the Holocaust would be tossed aside and then that word -- exclusive to one moment in history and one people -- be weaponized against those same people, Jews, nearly exterminated 80 years ago. Aside from the opening and closing paragraphs that focus on DJT (or MAGA, MTG), I found the other references to the current president, scattered throughout, a distraction from the pressing issue: the rise of open, without shame, anti-Semitism, on our college campuses nationwide. Certainly Academia's hatred of Jews and embrace (or apologists for) Hamas stands on its own, separate from the Trump Administration. And that includes my Alma Mater not ten miles from my home.