‘Saying No to Hate’ delivers essential insights and strategies

From ancient blood libels to contemporary campus animosity, Jews have been targeted with hate for centuries. Antisemitism in the United States, though, is often missing from history lessons, leaving students unaware of the ongoing problem — as well as Jewish resilience and courage.

As antisemitism escalates, understanding its deep-rooted history is a crucial first step to ending it. Norman H. Finkelstein’s “Saying No To Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America” ‎(The Jewish Publication Society) opens a necessary dialogue about antisemitism in the U.S. by providing context as well as solutions.

Inspired by his observations of antisemitism, and in response to a general lack of education on the subject, Finkelstein — who died earlier this year, and was the father of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Jeff Finkelstein — clearly outlines the intentions of his book: to share the history of antisemitism and offer strategies to confront it.

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Across its 12 chapters, “Saying No to Hate” provides a compelling framework to help readers understand the origins of contemporary antisemitism. Finkelstein lays bare a litany of anti-Jewish events and acts of violence committed in North America for hundreds of years, and, while readers with little or no background on antisemitism will undoubtedly be shocked and disturbed, his book can serve as an important educational tool to expand their knowledge of the American Jewish experience.

“Saying No to Hate” begins with the writing of the New Testament and how antisemitism and anti-Judaism are rooted in the idea that Jewish people were responsible for the death of Jesus. From there, the book proceeds chronologically, covering antisemitism in politics, education, entertainment and war.

The chronological structure helps readers compare the past to the present to better understand how the hate developed into what it is today.

The book includes defining moments in American history and how antisemitism tied into them. During the American Revolution, for example, Finkelstein explains that Jews were accused of being disloyal to the cause of U.S. freedom, despite their patriotic contributions to the war. Similarly, Finkelstein writes that during the Civil Rights Movement, tensions grew between Jewish and Black Americans and “inflammatory antisemitic literature and taunts spread throughout the Black community.”
By speaking on antisemitism in relation to historical events, “Saying No to Hate” introduces an important element to consider when remembering the background of our country.

The author also shares the narratives of American figures who advocated to protect Jewish rights or were victims of hate.

In Chapter 3, “Settling In,” Finkelstein shares the story of Isaac Leeser, an influential Jewish leader of the 19th century. Finkelstein acknowledges Leeser’s work for the Jewish community by fighting against Catholic missionaries and founding the first Jewish periodical in the United States.

In Chapter 6, “A Lynching and a Lawyer,” Finkelstein writes about Leo Frank, an esteemed Atlanta businessman who was wrongfully accused of killing a 13-year-old girl. Despite a lack of evidence, antisemitism led to his conviction and eventual lynching.

By weaving together historic events and personal narratives, Finkelstein powerfully paints the horrors of antisemitism in our country and emphasizes the strength within the Jewish community.

Finkelstein also notes global instances of hate and violence. He shares how events like the Holocaust and the rise of communism directly impacted how Jews were treated in America.

“As the war raged in Europe, antisemitism persisted in the United States,” Finkelstein writes. “Father Coughlin and the Christian Front continued to incite hate, blaming Jews for every ill in society. Jews were physically assaulted and synagogues and Jewish cemeteries desecrated around the country. Swastikas were painted on Jewish-owned storefronts.”

In the final chapter of the book, “The Changing Landscape of Hate,” Finkelstein discusses antisemitism in a more modern context. He examines recent violent attacks on Jews, including the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting of 2018. In recalling the attack at the Tree of Life building, where 11 innocent worshippers were murdered by an antisemite, Finkelstein also recounts how the community came together in response.

By concluding with modern-day acts of hate in the U.S., the author reminds readers that antisemitism is not just a historical issue but an ongoing threat that must be fought.

The author offers advice for combating antisemitism, emphasizing the importance of defining and identifying hate, as well as the roles of education and policy change. Two appendices include a call to action and safety advice.

In a list excerpted from “A Jewish Call to Action”’ titled “How to Fight Antisemitism with Advocacy and Pride,” Finkelstein includes strategies to challenge antisemitism, like showing Jewish pride and holding educational institutions accountable. The second appendix, titled “How to Prepare for an Active Shooter Attack,” offers safety advice from Secure Community Network Director Michael Masters.

Finkelstein authored 23 nonfiction books, sharing historic moments like the labor movement in “Union Made” and the Holocaust in “The Shelter and the Fence.” He was an educator and historian, teaching at the Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts, for 38 years. His research for “Saying No to Hate” drew from more than 100 sources of books and other publications, including the Chronicle.

Finkelstein ends the book with a quote from his son Jeff Finkelstein: “Our vigilance is not the same as fear. The rise in antisemitism must not make us afraid.” PJC

Kathleen Gianni, a student at George Washington University, is interning for the Chronicle through the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. She can be reached at kgianni@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.