Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal:It is unfortunate that there still are individuals that hate out there: that lash out questioning our faith, our people, and our intentions. Good people see the common humanity and good in others, and bad people are infatuated with imaginary intolerable differences, especially of minorities, and enjoy scapegoating them, goading others to join their hate, and even violently preying on them.

1. THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Jude in America
Credit Photo: Andy Bluenthal
This week, I learned more about the level of Antisemitism that exists in some
places in the capital of America, Washington, D.C.
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2. A friend and colleague who works for a very prominent and high-level office in
the federal government was accosted by three people in her office. She was born
in Israel but has lived in the United States for many decades. Yet she was
stopped in the elevator by three people who work in her office and who
proceeded to violate a number of the fundamental principles and protections of
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) in the workplace. First, they made fun of
her name, making her repeat it three times, and then ask her the origin of her
name. Then picking up on her accent, they ask where she’s from, and when she
responded innocently where she works from, they said no, they wanted to know
what country of origin she is from. She told me how uncomfortable they made
her feel, like a real “outsider;” nevertheless to top it off, another one of these
three geniuses disgustingly then tells her that “I will bring you an American flag
so you can feel more American!”
Moreover, they mistreated her this way even after she confronted their abusive
behavior reminding them that these things are covered under harassment
training. Yet, they still didn’t get the message or care at all, and they proceeded
with the harassment anyway. What also stood out is that this isn’t something
just in our heads, paranoia or the lousy “olden days” of pogroms and
persecution. Moreover, this wasn’t just a lone individual “acting out,” but a
group, so this should make us all concerned when this happens in the
government where matters about policy, including about Israel and
AntiSemitism are discussed and decided, but this is what is going on with the
people behind the scenes.
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3. Hours later, this lady told me how bad she felt and that it continued to bother
her how she was bullied at work simply because of who she is. She asked both
despondently and with righteous anger:
When I heard all this, I not only felt very sorry for what she went through, but
also was deeply upset that hateful and intolerant people continue to lash out at
others simply because they are different. What was shocking was that despite
the professional environment, this was a climate where they actually felt “safe”
expressing their Antisemitism and hate. In this case, these high-level, powerful,
“educated” people working in the heart of our nation’s capital should know
better, much better than to harass someone because she is a Jew, an Israeli, a
woman or all three. Moreover, they did it again, and again, and again, so there
was no mistaking their intent. The laws and protections of EEO are a nice start,
but they don’t go far enough when our organizations don’t truly enforce them,
but rather pay lip service or do just enough so they don’t get in trouble.
In the broader context, despite all the incredible and marvelous contributions
that Jews make to the countries they live in, including and especially this great
land of America, and far in excess to the proportion of our people to the
population, it is a sad fact that there will always be those haters and bullies out
there. As this Jewish lady questioningly bemoaned, will we always be
considered outsiders no matter how patriotic, hard-working, sacrificing or
generally giving we are to our host nations? Certainly, America has also given
so much to the Jewish people: a refuge from persecution, freedom to be
Ukraine says Russians trying to storm Mariupol steel
Ukraine says Russians trying to storm Mariupol steel
plant, port city’s last defense
plant, port city’s last defense
Will I always be considered an outsider? Is it because I am Jewish or because
of my accent or my not so American name [from Israel]?”
“

4. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
ourselves Jewishly, and the ability to pursue our dreams in this great land of
opportunity. It is unfortunate that there still are individuals that hate out there:
that lash out questioning our faith, our people, and our intentions. Good people
see the common humanity and good in others, and bad people are infatuated
with imaginary intolerable differences, especially of minorities, and enjoy
scapegoating them, goading others to join their hate, and even violently
preying on them.
As Jews, we are not alone in being a minority in the population and many others
including black people, Latinos, Asians, LGBT, the disabled, and more get
targeted for discrimination and hate. What we need to remember though this
Passover, celebrating our Exodus from Egyptian servitude is that even when we
come up to intractable obstacles like the Red Sea, and with the evil Pharaoh and
the mighty Egyptian army in pursuit to bring us back dead or alive, we must
have resolute faith in G-d Almighty that He can and will spread the Sea for us to
walk through in safety, while the evil persecutors will be left to drown behind in
their own malicious hatred. Mount Sinai and the Promised Land are right
around the corner if we follow the path of destiny that G-d is creating for us.
Redemption, love and freedom awaits us all!