Homewood-area seniors share concerns about uptick in anti-Semitic hate speech
I’m impressed with the Shalom Over 50 group of Jewish senior citizens who gather weekly for lunch and fellowship at Shir Tikvah synagogue in Homewood.
JCC Chicago invites me to meet regularly with the group. The organization shortened its name from Jewish Community Centers and presents an annual film festival, runs youth summer camps and sponsors other programs.
I first met with the group several years ago at Temple Anshe Sholom in Olympia Fields, which later merged with the synagogue in Homewood.
I look forward to seeing many familiar faces as we sit around a large table and discuss current events.
Our conversations have taken on a more urgent tone over the years.
America has dealt with toxic politics, argued over responses to the pandemic and recently voted in midterm elections described as the most consequential of our lives.
“Every day when I watch the news I want to scream,” a woman in the group said the other day. “I get so upset.”
This month, I was eager to ask group members their thoughts about several recent newsworthy incidents involving anti-Semitism and celebrities. Right-wing extremists seem to be normalizing hate speech and Jews are one target.
Adidas and other business partners dropped Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, due to remarks about Jews.
“Ye continues to amplify antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories,” according to the Anti-Defamation League. “Ye repeatedly blamed ‘Jewish media’ and ‘Jewish Zionists’ for numerous alleged misdeeds, stating that ‘Jewish people have owned the Black voice.’”
Comedian Dave Chappelle sparked debate after he joked about anti-Semitism in his opening monologue during a recent appearance hosting “Saturday Night Live” on NBC.
“Why are Jewish sensitivities denied or diminished at every turn?” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt posted on social media about Chappelle’s routine. “Why does our trauma trigger applause?”
The NBA’s Brooklyn Nets suspended basketball player Kyrie Irving after he posted a link on social media about a controversial book and film, “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!”
The material promotes stereotypes that Jews control banking, Hollywood and other influential aspects of society. At the Homewood synagogue, group members shared personal experiences of being targeted as scapegoats.
“When times are bad you’ve got to pick a victim,” a man in the group said. “The Jews have been blamed for 2,000 years.”
A woman shared a story about how her late husband sought work back in the day when employers had quotas about hiring Jews.
“They would tell him, ‘We’ve already hired our Jew,’ ” she said.
Another person recalled seeing a sign at a Chicago-area country club.
“No Blacks, no dogs, no Jews,” he said. Jews were listed last, lower than animals.
One would think the lessons of the Holocaust would teach people that openly mocking Jews and other minority groups can lead to unimaginable horrors.
But it appears humanity is prone to forget and must learn hard lessons all over again.
I told the group I recently read a theory that society undergoes a great upheaval every fourth generation, or 80 years.
Author Thom Hartmann analyzed the midterm elections and quoted Arnold Toynbee, who noted the 80-year spans between the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War II.“When the last man who remembers the horrors of the last great war dies, the next great war becomes inevitable,” Toynbee said.
It’s been nearly 80 years since World War II ended.
The group and I always engage in stimulating discussion.
Jack Levitt, of Homewood, always comes prepared with newspaper clippings and questions about several topics. He’s proud of a grandson who recently earned a journalism degree and offered a flattering introduction before we kicked off our group chat.
“You’ll walk out of here more intelligent and knowledgeable than when you walked in,” Levitt said.
We usually talk about politics, and Levitt recalled how, back in April, I accurately predicted how the race for Illinois governor would unfold.
This week he asked who I thought would win the upcoming election for mayor of Chicago.
“It’s Lori Lightfoot’s to lose,” I said.
The field of candidates includes such familiar names as Willie Wilson, Paul Vallas and U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. I liked Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, I said, but as it stands I thought Lightfoot’s advantage of incumbency would win her a second term.
Incumbency is very powerful. Name recognition is critical. Look how Kim Foxx won reelection as Cook County state’s attorney despite criticism of how she handled the Jussie Smollett case.
I’m glad members of the group pay close attention to current events. They always ask good questions and talk about their concerns. That helps me understand what topics concern readers.