As flames of conflict rage in the Middle East and threads of hate weave through politics worldwide, the need to confront antisemitism has rarely been more pressing – or more fraught. In her sharp and engaging new book Off-White: The Truth About Antisemitism, journalist Rachel Shabi plunges into this complex issue, addressing how antisemitism is being downplayed by parts of the left and weaponized by factions on the right.
Confronting Uncomfortable Truths
Shabi, an Israeli-born Jew of Iraqi heritage, refuses to shy away from hard realities as she explores antisemitism’s many facets. She notes how it differs from other forms of racism, often targeting Jews perceived as powerful rather than marginalized. Yet as the Holocaust bore witness, antisemitism’s impact can be every bit as genocidal.
For many Jews, that trauma still echoes through the generations. Dismissing this anguish, Shabi asserts, is callous and counterproductive:
There has rarely been a more urgent need for us to stretch our compassion, to hold Jewish trauma even while a savagely catastrophic war is inflicted on Palestinians in its name.
Grasping Historical Complexities
Shabi emphasizes that recognizing the horrors of the Holocaust is vital to understanding Israel’s founding. The Jewish state emerged not solely from settler-colonialism, but also as a refuge for a persecuted people. In the searing phrase of Edward Said, “the Palestinians are the victims of the victims, the refugees of the refugees.”
Acknowledging such nuances is crucial, Shabi contends, in pursuing justice and reconciliation. Reflexive “anti-Zionism” that flattens complexities and negates Jewish self-determination is not a path to peace.
The Alarming Rise of Far-Right Antisemitism
Even as parts of the left downplay antisemitism, Shabi documents its disturbing growth in far-right, white nationalist movements. Old tropes of conniving, disloyal Jews have mutated into social media-fueled conspiracy theories like the “great replacement” – the fantasy that Jews scheme to overwhelm white populations via immigration.
Some right-wing figures now court Jewish support by posing as defenders against Muslim antisemitism. But this cynical “anti-antisemitism,” Shabi notes, merely pits one form of racism against another.
Toward Solidarity Over Dehumanization
Achieving substantive change, Off-White ultimately asserts, requires good-faith engagement and compassion from all quarters. This means honestly grappling with antisemitism in Muslim communities, but without indulging Islamophobia. It demands firmly denouncing Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, but distinguishing valid criticism from antisemitic vitriol.
Above all, we must forge alliances against the forces of dehumanization that imperil Jews, Palestinians, and beyond. For in a world of rising racism and splintering solidarities, confronting antisemitism is integral to confronting injustice writ large. Shabi’s finely-grained yet accessible analysis marks a vital step in that urgent struggle.
