Abe Foxman, ADL : Why I Wrote "Jews & Money"

[scandal 951]

http://adl.org/ADL_Opinions/Anti_Semitism_Domestic/20101210-Oped+.htm

Why I Wrote "Jews & Money"

By Abraham H. Foxman

National Director of the Anti-Defamation League

Posted: December 10, 2010

It wasn't any particular comment during the financial crisis that led me to write "Jews and Money: The Story of a Stereotype." Rather it was the cumulative effect of a host of anti-Semitic statements focusing on money matters together with the uncertain environment in which Jews were living that provided the imperative for me to return to the world of authorship, my vow never to return notwithstanding.

Still, a number of the comments made a deep impression on me. One was the claim that Lehman Brothers, immediately before its collapse, transferred $400 billion to Israeli banks. It reminded me of the Hezbollah charge soon after 9/11 that they had "learned" that 4,000 Israelis did not show up for work at the World Trade Center that day. These conspiracy theories are so outlandish that one is tempted to ignore them. But, as absurd as they are, they do take hold. There's no room for complacency.

Then there was a comment on an online news site: "Ho hum, another Crooked Wall Street Jew. Find a Jew who isn't Crooked. Now that would be a story."

Or, "Just another Jew money changer thief. It's been happening for 3,000 years. Trust a Jew and this is what will happen. History has proven it over and over. Jews have only one god --money."

And so I embarked on this project to tell the story of how the stereotype about Jews and money came into being, what were its consequences through the centuries, and the impact and danger that it presents in our own time.

The accusation is pernicious at any time. On a personal level it leads to distrust of Jews and legitimizes comments about people that are hurtful. On a societal level, it opens up a variety of attacks against Jews that can be very damaging.

Shakespeare's Shylock figure in the "Merchant of Venice" embodies so much of what took place historically. Jews will do anything for money, which leads as well to the idea that Jews have no loyalty to any group other than their own and that Jews are naturally treacherous. We know where such ideas buried in the subconscious of a population can lead when exploited by a demagogue.

Of course, the period of 2008-2009 was not any time. It was a time of great anxiety, a perfect setting for conspiracy mindsets. The world financial system was in trouble, Islamic extremist terrorism continued and Iran was moving forward on its nuclear program.

In such a setting, I thought it important to speak to the broad public that may not be sensitive to these issues both as regards to how offensive these accusations are and how dangerous they are in our modern world. My mantra, as reflected in my decision to write this and two other books, is that anti-Semitism is not a history lesson, it's a current event.

Let me cite just a few examples of how the theme of Jews and money is alive and well beyond individual comments on blogs and Web sites.

When a recession hit Malaysia in the late 1990s, the prime minister, in a country without Jews, seeking to avoid speaking of the complexities of the economy, attributed the suffering of his people to international Jewish currency dealers who were manipulating the currency to serve the interests of Jews against the interests of the Malaysian public.

When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke before the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 as the world economy was sinking, he told the gathering of world leaders that Zionists, although a small minority," have been dominating an important portion of the financial and monetary centers... in a deceitful, complex and furtive manner."

Further examples appear in ADL polling of European attitudes toward Jews. In a survey conducted late in 2008 and early in 2009 in seven European countries, 40 percent of those surveyed indicated that Jews have "too much power in the business world" and 41 percent indicated that Jews have "too much power in international financial markets." Perhaps most troubling, in the same survey, taken during the height of the global economic crisis, 31 percent of the Europeans surveyed said Jews were to blame at least in part for the crisis.

In other words, the potency of this stereotype remains intact. And what this should tell us, and what my book is about, is several seminal points.

First, with all the appropriate attention being paid to the "new" anti-Semitism -- hatred of Jews in the guise of anti-Zionism -- the classic stereotypes still are powerful and undergird the new manifestations.

Second, because of ongoing economic anxiety, blaming the Jews for corrupting the world economic system is likely to surface again and again.

Third, the explosion of the Internet and the ability of extremists, conspiratorialists and anti-Semites to reach new audiences and stoke the emotions of millions means that younger generations need to be educated on this subject.

In the end, I hope my book contributes toward three goals: waking people up to the nature and severity of the problem; encouraging adults to educate their children against such insidious prejudice; and providing a framework for leaders around the world -- governmental, business, religious, cultural -- to speak out when confronted with this ancient and persistent myth.

__________

Abraham H. Foxman is National Director of the Anti-Defamation League. His books include "Jews and Money: The Story of a Stereotype” (Palgrave Macmillan, November 2010) and "The Deadliest Lies: The Israel Lobby and the Myth of Jewish Control.”

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Third, the explosion of the Internet and the ability of extremists, conspiratorialists and anti-Semites to reach new audiences and stoke the emotions of millions means that younger generations need to be educated on this subject.

So true.

[Captain Oates 911]

The idea that the US Media generally, and merchant banks and the whole of the financial world etc etc are all dominated by Jews and that a disproportionate number of Jews live in nice houses in great areas is easily disproved. In the case of the media, it is disproved by simply turning on the telly and looking. In the case of the rich areas etc, by taking a tour of Palm Beach or the best areas in any large city in the UK/US..

Anyone who does those two things will realize what a slander and stereotype it all is. I was going to become a jew for monetary reasons until I realized that the people at the top in media/finance are no more jewish than society on the whole

So I think I will join the masons instead

[Danno 1,228]

This thread could get ugly.

[scandal 951]

This thread could get ugly.

Visa Journey is ugly. Very ugly.

The Internet is ugly. People who give a sh!t about facts vs lies could cower in our corners, ignore it, and hope it all goes away by itself. Or, we could stand up and challenge the the obscenities. History teaches that acquiescence to bigotry, intolerance and lies is more bigotry, intolerance, and lies. And worse.

[Captain Oates 911]

Just watching the packer game and I noticed that disproportionate number of the players (compared to the population as a whole), are black.

Is it ok to say that ?

I think it would be entirely possible to become a jew, but impossible to become black - so although my original plan to become rich via media/finance turned out to be based on false data (in that jews are not preponderant in finance/media after all) , it wasn't an impossible plan in the way that becoming a black football player would have been.

Visa Journey is ugly. Very ugly.

The Internet is ugly. People who give a sh!t about facts vs lies could cower in our corners, ignore it, and hope it all goes away by itself. Or, we could stand up and challenge the the obscenities. History teaches that acquiescence to bigotry, intolerance and lies is more bigotry, intolerance, and lies. And worse.

Sounds like you wont be voting for Perry. I wont either.

[peejay 327]

Sounds like you wont be voting for Perry. I wont either.

I'm sure ol' Rick maybe will lose about half a milisecond of sleep agonizing over it tonight.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Fascinating documentary called "Defamation" which spotlights Foxman, by Israeli filmmaker Yoav Shamir:

[Captain Oates 911]

I'm sure ol' Rick maybe will lose about half a milisecond of sleep agonizing over it tonight.

Takes him all his time to keep wake during debates so I am sure he will sleep tight. I recognize insomniacs at a glance and he sure isn't one. He will be resurrected in a couple of weeks when that stalking horse pizza man exists stage left.

Wasn't Hitler's plan 'nein nein nein'... weird how the comics haven't picked up on that.

I sent it in, but because I am English, they wouldn't use it...

[Sofiyya 1,687]

There are people on this thread who gleefully stereotype Muslims with impunity. So, the message must be, on VJ, it's not okay to stereotype Jews, but okay to stereotype Muslims.

[Captain Oates 911]

I believe in stereotyping as it is a natural and useful defense mechanism

Examples

When I see a bull in a field, I stereotype it as most possibly dangerous

When I see a girl covered in tattoos and urinating on the footpath in Seattle town center (I have), I stereotype her as not being a top executive at Microsoft

When I get an Email from mr winston in Nigeria telling me I have been left 20 million in a will, I stereotype it as a scam

etc etc etc

Stereotyping is a very valid tool for navigating us through this life and we ignore it at our peril

If I stereotype Saudis as not wanting a mini skirted girl who drives as their wife, in what percentage of cases will I be wrong ?

If I stereotype 400 lb people as living an unhealthy life style - am I wrong ?

The exceptions exist - but only go to prove the rule and that stereotyping is a valid method

This is conditional on the stereotyped model being accurate in the first place - and in the examples above it is.

Anyone who doesn't want to stereotype the situation in Libya as being dangerous should book 2 weeks vacation (self catering) - Then report back

[Sofiyya 1,687]

This posts contradicts what you said in post #3.

I believe in stereotyping as it is a natural and useful defense mechanism

Examples

When I see a bull in a field, I stereotype it as most possibly dangerous

When I see a girl covered in tattoos and urinating on the footpath in Seattle town center (I have), I stereotype her as not being a top executive at Microsoft

When I get an Email from mr winston in Nigeria telling me I have been left 20 million in a will, I stereotype it as a scam

etc etc etc

Stereotyping is a very valid tool for navigating us through this life and we ignore it at our peril

If I stereotype Saudis as not wanting a mini skirted girl who drives as their wife, in what percentage of cases will I be wrong ?

If I stereotype 400 lb people as living an unhealthy life style - am I wrong ?

The exceptions exist - but only go to prove the rule and that stereotyping is a valid method

This is conditional on the stereotyped model being accurate in the first place - and in the examples above it is.

Anyone who doesn't want to stereotype the situation in Libya as being dangerous should book 2 weeks vacation (self catering) - Then report back

[luckytxn 2,265]

The Jews killed Jesus.

[scandal 951]

The Jews killed Jesus.

Naah, we didn't. That was the Romans. They were killing many of us at the time. Perhaps you've heard of Rabbi Akiva, Bar Kochva, two of the more famous Jews tortured and put to death by the Romans? Jesus was just one of many thousands of Jews they persecuted.

But do go on with your slander, we expect nothing other from you.

Don't hate them. Don't hate anybody. Hating people is defeating ones soul.

Pffft.

[Amby 490]

I love my Jewish friends