Chronicle poll results: Ending relationships due to antisemitism
We asked our readers if, since Oct. 7, they have ended a relationship because the person expressed antisemitic views. Here's what they said.
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Since Oct. 7, 2023, have you ended a relationship because the person expressed antisemitic views?” Of the 252 people who responded, 71% said no and 29% said yes. Comments were submitted by 77 people. A few follow.
On TikTok I’ve unfollowed everyone who added the Palestine flag to their user name. I also unfollowed all my previous friends who repeat their words.
I needed to block on Facebook one of my art teachers and a friend I made at the university. It’s still painful.
I think the Jewish community and others have propagandized and weaponized the notion of antisemitism to challenge uncomfortable issues and freedom of speech. We rarely, if ever, come out against Islamophobia or the rights of Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank.
Fortunately no one I know has expressed such views. I no doubt would end a relationship with anyone I suspect is antisemitic.
There are stupid people in America — at least 77 million of them. When one of these idiots started screaming in my face “From the river to the sea” I smiled and asked them “Which river and which sea are you referring to?” Of course, they couldn’t answer and just said “Any river and any sea.” At that point I realized that I couldn’t have any type of relationship with this person. You just can’t argue with stupid.
The most disheartening part of my relationships post-10/7 is to lose or end relationships and friendships because of people’s views when I am feeling like I need support and want people around me to support me. Instead, it seemed the majority of people I knew were suddenly making vastly inaccurate and harsh assumptions about my beliefs and my ties with Israel. No one seems to ask me anymore what I think; they just assume since I am Jewish and wear Jewish jewelry and talk about my Jewishness that I must feel one specific way about current events. It is heartbreaking. And I am only 22.
I have not ended any relationships. But as a psychologist clients have had difficult conversations with me. They have had to reconcile my considerably different perspective with theirs, but in the end all decided to continue with the therapeutic relationship. I’ve never had to deal with such issues in my practice before, and that goes back close to 50 years. We live in interesting times, don’t we?
Fortunately, this hasn’t happened to me. However, some local politicians, through their inaction or active anti-Israel views, have lost my support or further confirmed it.
I quit my work union because of the antisemitism. I also resent people who have not said a word about 10/7 or the hostages and suddenly advocate for Mahmoud Khalil.
Not an individual but a group. After 40 years as an ACLU member, I quit when the ACLU PA newsletter published a photo of a staff attorney wearing a keffiyeh. When I inquired with both the national and state offices as to the meaning of doing so, I received no response from either via phone or email. I did not renew and joined the League of Women Voters and National Council of Jewish Women instead.
I ended a lot of relationships in my lifetime due to antisemitism. And I am not Jewish.
I know plenty of people who are antisemitic, but I continue to be in dialogue with them even though I doubt I will ever be able to change their perspective. PJC
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