r/JewsOfConscience • u/AutoModerator • Sep 25 '24
AAJ "Ask A Jew" Wednesday
It's everyone's favorite day of the week, "Ask A (Anti-Zionist) Jew" Wednesday! Ask whatever you want to know, within the sub rules, notably that this is not a debate sub and do not import drama from other subreddits. That aside, have fun! We love to dialogue with our non-Jewish siblings.
Please remember to pick an appropriate user-flair in order to participate! Thanks!
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u/EgyptianNational Palestinian Sep 25 '24
Okay I’ve been waiting for this. (I appreciate your patience with me mods).
I am an Arab Muslim and am highly involved with the Arab community in the west. Particularly young men (15 to 25). I am also educated in both the west and the Middle East so I tend to have perspectives rooted in my reality. So I do apologize if anything I say comes off as hateful or offensive. It’s not my intention and if you inform me I’ll be sure to rectify.
I have two main questions:
how do Jewish people feel about Arabs using the term semites? and by extension how do you feel about expanding the term antisemitic to Include Arabs?
Some organizations and positions in regard to antisemitism have been struggling with accusations (it actually happened) of racism and bigotry. For example, A local pride chapters antisemitism task force had to disband after its members were found to have been using the organization to keep queer Arabs out of the organization committee. As a result of this and other similar cases I’ve been approached with the possibility of expanding the role to include racism towards all Semitic peoples.
Would this be something you could see yourself participating in?
would the mods and the community at large consider allowing a certain number of Arab people direct access to the community?
I find myself often in need to ask Jewish people questions. While there are a few of you who have reached out I’m often looking for a wide variety of opinions to take into account.
There is a anti-Zionist rabbi who tries to make himself available to us but we don’t want to take everything he says to us as final nor do we want to bother him with every minor question about Judaism asked by a 15 year old. (I know google exists, but if we could trust 15 year olds or even 20 year olds with it, we wouldn’t be where we are as a species)
Often times people are not looking for the political and often Zionist rooted answers but are looking for the perspective of members of their community. (As a side note, if any Jewish people want to volunteer with the Arab communities in Alberta, Canada reach out!)