This is such a beautiful piece of writing. I've read it a few times now. You write so well and should consider turning this into a series or book! I don't have the gift of articulating my thoughts that well, but I will say that you certainly answered questions that I didn't realize that I had. I agree with almost everything you wrote with the exception of some semantics that I didn't fully grasp .

I read this last night and started writing a response and then paused and re-read it again to stay on topic (I tend to go off on other tangents unintentionally). If I were to kind of summarize my thoughts about the gist of all of this, it would be that perhaps some Jewish people and Black Americans sense/feel like the other group has pre-conceived opinions about them. Whether these pre-conceived notions stem in some antisemitic tropes or racist beliefs is perhaps the core of the point of contention.

I think it's always hard to believe the opposite of what we see/read/hear when the same sentiments are expressed by public figures or through social media. Sometimes all it takes is one or two experiences of hearing someone speak negatively about a group you may identify with and the damage is done. For example, when Kanye said what he said, it was a shock, but not surprising if that makes sense because he likes to shock and he seems to be volatile. But when Dave Chappelle said what he said on SNL it was more hurtful because he not only doubled down on the antisemitic tropes that Kanye used, he also tried to normalize them. And even though a few Jewish comedians supported his skit, the majority of Jews with a platform to share their thoughts, did not. This is just one example of how hearing someone rewriting your history/journey/experience in such a reductive way can cause a lot of anxiety in a group of people that have been persecuted throughout history by an individual claiming, "Well they own Hollywood." The irony, and what many people don't know is that many Jews got involved in Hollywood because no one was willing to hire them at the time in other industries. But I digress.

So when an articles are written by non-Jews describing what is and isn't antisemitic, that is very triggering. I don't know of any group of people that appreciate someone else telling them what their history, journey or beliefs are. It isn't their place to decide for anyone else.

With all that being said, I've had some wonderful conversations with my Black American friends. There are certain things that we don't get into, but I do listen to them share their opinions about public figures like Dave Chappelle and listen to their view while I can understand parts, but not have to agree with all of it. And I can also withstand antisemitic tropes like "you guys are so good with your money" because even though that can be perceived as a trope, I can understand that the intention is to try and offer a compliment. I can even understand why a friend (Black or white) telling me "I don't look Jewish" because in their view they're trying to compliment, even if though they don't really understand the implications of what they're saying. It's a lot easier to do that with friends. I don't feel like I need to educate them. I want to listen to them and learn. And I don't have to be sensitive to everything when I know it's not coming from a harmful place. However, when it is directed from a harmful place, like hate-speech, calls to violence, etc, regardless of the age, sex, race, religion, etc, then that's a whole different story, and my guard is up. I think I went off on a tangent again, so so much for trying not to, but I hope this sheds some light into what fear can bring out in a persecuted group of people.

I am not friends with people who disrespect others based on race. I don't have anyone in my family who does and so and I didn't grow up with that. I'm sure they exist though. The Jewish writers I've engaged with on Medium have been very liberal, perhaps even moreso than I am, so again, I haven't come across articles or comments here that share racist beliefs. Or maybe I simply didn't recognize them if they were there. I can't claim to understand the implications of subtle racism but I do most certainly want to learn to recognize and stop it.

From my own personal experience, I don't think Black Americans are endemically antisemitic. I've met numerous Black Americans who converted to Judaism and love the religion in a way that is admirable to me. My own Christian Black American friends have invited me to their churches, which I have enjoyed tremendously. At the end of the day, people are just people. And that is something one of my dear friends has said to me when I started asking her what I can do to try and help and not hinder raising awareness of racism. And she simply said, "Just treat us like regular people." And isn't that what we all really want? Don't we want to be treated like equals, like regular people? And with that, to still be able to hold true to our values and heritage and beliefs? I know that's what I want. While I can't put myself in anyone else's shoes, I agree with anger and rage felt by many Black Americans at the historical injustice, theft, discrimination, racism, abuse and murder committed against them. While I can't fix that, I don't want to be part of the problem, so I try to offer support whether it's by supporting Black owned businesses, or speaking up, or donating, or whatever means I can. With that, I'm also trying to be careful not to try and be a White savior, but rather to just try and get out of the way. I think about this a lot because it's important to me. It's also important to the friends I keep and to the Jewish people I'm related to and friends with. I can only hope and pray that we can have more conversations like this with each other and recognize how much we have in common, but also realize it's not the same.