What’s New:

A Jewish American from Brooklyn reflects on the increasing polarization and extremism online, particularly following the acts by Hamas against the civilian population in Israel on October 7. This millennial writer grapples with the dissonance between their Jewish identity and the perceived binary of political allegiances within their social circles in the United States.

Why It Matters:

The rise of social media as a platform for spreading political opinions and personal ideologies is shaping the discourse around the Israel-Palestine conflict. The writer, Alyssa Rachel Gross, encounters a troubling shift in her non-Jewish friends’ attitudes, some of whom have shared content that approves of Hamas’s actions or equates support for Israel with white supremacy. The struggle to reconcile Jewish identity with a progressive worldview brings to light the challenge of navigating complex social issues in an increasingly divided political landscape.

Details:

Alyssa details her shock at the weaponization of the Holocaust against Jews by her friends and the use of social media to recruit for terror attacks. She describes being labeled a white supremacist for her support for Israel and depicts the turmoil of being a liberal Jew who feels pressured to disavow the Jewish nation or face social ostracism.

Between the Lines:

The article explores the tension between Jewish heritage and the current political climate, where ideological purity tests seem rampant, and historical traumas like the Holocaust are manipulated as rhetorical devices. The writer’s experiences underscore the growing difficulty of maintaining nuanced views and identities within the binary classification of political stances.

The Bigger Picture:

Gross’s insights into her personal experience reflect a broader issue of polarization within diaspora Jewry, where allegiance to Israel and Jewish identity are being questioned and, at times, attacked in political and social contexts. The op-ed serves as a commentary on the need for more inclusive and nuanced dialogues around Jewish identity, Israel, and global political movements.

Personal Impact:

The writer, as a grandchild of four Holocaust survivors, finds herself in the precarious position of defending her identity and beliefs against a backdrop of shifting political allegiances and emerging strands of antisemitism. She offers a perspective that is personal, grounded in a historical understanding of Jewish struggles, and informed by current social dynamics.

This story was first published on jpost.com.