Can you hear it? You can if you learn how.
What it's like to be Jewish these days: What you see, what you don't, and some words from writers who have very very good ones.
Generally, when I write a new Substack post I pop it into my Instagram stories at @Mom101. Today, I’m taking an Instagram story and turning it into a Substack post (lightly edited) because I think this is important and I don’t want it to disappear in 24 hours.
Dog Whistle: A coded message communicated through words or phrases commonly understood by a particular group of people, but not by others.
-Merriam-Webster. Added to the dictionary in 2017.
Over the past week, I’ve read some really beautiful and difficult articles from Jewish friends and writers about what it feels like to be Jewish these days.
Nothing particularly political — just their feelings about things they are noticing that maybe other people don’t. Because that’s how we learn to be more sensitive, more caring, to “hear” the dog whistles and make sure we are not inadvertently using them ourselves.
Now I’d like to share something with you…
This morning, I woke up to this from New York Magazine, and was really looking forward to reading it. Because I’m a New Yorker! Also, I am a sucker for lists — like all of us. (Admit it.)
These were the kinds of names that were included. I have not gone through the whole article yet, but I think this is a brilliant concept and I can't wait to learn more about all of these people.
And they’re all zionists 😢
This is the first comment I saw under the Instagram post from NY Magazine. With 3 (so far) likes, no less.
Here is what this means:
“There are possibly Jewish people on this list.”
“If they are Jewish, I’m going to point them out with the hopes that they will be shamed, ostracized, or attacked.”
“Are they actually Zionists? Are they people who believe in a two-state solution? Have I done any research on their beliefs whatsoever? Who knows! I just saw Jewish sounding names on the list and thought I would call them out using the hot-button disparagement term of the day.”
BONUS: “😢 emoji to show I’m ‘one of the good ones.’”
If you don’t think this is a few short steps away from yellow star patches sewn onto coats 80 years ago, please pay attention.
Or maybe you are paying attention. Maybe the dog whistles are just not ones you can hear yet. So please: Seek out those who are hearing them and pointing them out. Because trust me; they are everywhere.
This post is public and open to all so feel free to share it. I am restricting comments to my paid subscribers only, and I trust everyone will be thoughtful and kind.
(Also, shoutout to a new reader last week who, in his words, wrote “I supported your work because it has touched me and I need to connect by commenting.” As someone who is here more for community than for “reach,” I’m grateful and I’m glad you are here.)
It’s so ugly. I wish I had a better way to point it out than, essentially, saying “how can you NOT see this?”
I’ve spent quite a bit of time this summer trying to explain to my kids (one in high school and one in college) that antisemitism is all around them, but particularly in the things they’re seeing about the situation in Gaza. I’m hoping that what I say sticks more than whatever they’re seeing on social media.