Progressives, We Need to Talk.

 

By T. Kleinfeld

Your frustration is justified. What’s happening in Gaza is heart-wrenching, and your criticisms of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s seemingly endless war are valid. The blind, uncritical support many extend toward Israel, regardless of its actions, deserves scrutiny.

But we need to talk. Before you act, stop and think.

Using antisemitic symbols, especially the swastika, to condemn Israeli government actions is not resistance. It is antisemitism. The swastika is a symbol of profound fear and pain for many Jews. Yes, not all, but for countless individuals, it carries the weight of generational trauma. Whether you’re a student of history or not, that wound remains raw. By employing this symbol, you trivialize its historical significance to Jewish history and diminish its role in understanding extremism in America. Don’t do that. Do better.

Similarly, writing “Free Gaza” on the walls of a Chabad center, a synagogue, a Jewish institution, or the home of a Jewish leader is not support for Palestine. It is antisemitism. The message of “Free Gaza” is legitimate, even essential, and you should continue to display it—but context matters. When you scrawl it on spaces tied to Jewish identity, you conflate Judaism with Israel. That choice transforms your statement from solidarity with Palestinians into an attack on Jewish people. The message itself is not antisemitic, but the venue you choose can make it so. Don’t do that. Do better.

I understand your frustration and the urgency you feel. But by flippantly invoking Holocaust symbols or equating all Jews with the policies of Israel, you are playing into the narratives of those who seek to discredit you. The Mike Huckabees, Sean Feuchts, and Virginia Foxx’s of the world weaponize these actions to paint progressives as a threat to Jewish safety, as the true antisemites.

Don’t hand them this narrative on a silver platter. Be clear. Be precise. Condemning Israel’s policies does not have to equate to antisemitism, but these tactics cross the line. Progressives, we need you to do better—for the sake of your cause and for the integrity of the fight against bigotry in all its forms.

Do Better.

T. Kleinfeld is a name that was created by From The G-Man in order to protect the identity of the writer, who is a “proud Jew.”

Image source: clipart-library.com