We must condemn antisemitism and genocide

by Russell Pollitt SJ

The world can never forget the horrific events perpetrated by the Nazis in the 1930’s/1940’s. The genocide of six million Jews in Europe, as a result of the growing antisemitism of the 19^th century, is something that humanity can never forget. The darkest side of humanity stained history forever. This cannot be denied. Antisemitism is real.

A controversy recently took place between two private schools in Johannesburg, Roedean School and King David High School, Linksfield, when Roedean learners boycotted a tennis match against King David. From media reports, Roedean did not explain clearly why they did not want to play; they gave mealy-mouthed excuses. The principal of Roedean clumsily tried to explain to the principal of King David why Roedean wanted to boycott the game. The conversation was recorded, presumably without the Roedean principal’s knowledge (an ethical question in itself), and leaked to the media. Roedean was, as a result, accused of antisemitism, and as a result, Roedean’s principal resigned. The incident ignited uproar and fierce debate. One of the first to protest was Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, calling it an “antisemitism scandal” and seeking to justify the label by appealing to a partisan account of history. Goldstein has not once condemned the suffering of Palestinians.

We must, however, acknowledge that there are many unanswered questions about the incident before labelling it “antisemitic”. One important question is: did the Roedean learners indicate that their boycott was because they disliked Jews or because of King David’s unfailing support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza? In the leaked telephone transcription, the Principal of Roedean explains how, last year, learners from that school were uncomfortable with the armed guards at the gate of King David and the posters around the school of Israeli hostages. King David does not in any way claim to be neutral when it comes to Israel’s actions in Gaza; in fact, it is reported to explicitly support the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in its curriculum.

In the dark years of apartheid, sports boycotts, locally and internationally, were intrinsic to the anti-apartheid movement. This was seen as a moral imperative, and anyone who played international sport against South Africa was a global pariah. South Africa was excluded from international sports for decades because of the system that dehumanised millions of black people.

It has become easy to conflate distinct issues for political expedience; politicians do this daily. Conflating Jewish people and the modern Israeli state is an all too easy category error and a sign of intellectual laziness. In fact, it was “South African Jews for a Free Palestine” who issued a letter of solidarity with Roedean. Jewish people amongst themselves do not all agree with the actions of Israel in Palestine. A protest against genocide is not antisemitism. It is political expediency for the Israeli authorities (and their supporters in South Africa) to shout “antisemitism” as a cover-up for genocide. We should call them out.

Words are powerful; they evoke strong feelings and shape how we act and react. Labelling someone (or a group) can have deadly effects – we have seen this in the holocaust and, in our own times, Rwanda. We should not use words because they are politically expedient. The use of the word “antisemitic” – or “racist” for that matter – cannot be a cover to perpetuate morally reprehensible actions.

We should always be on our guard for and condemn antisemitism. We know all too well what depraved actions resulted from this reprehensible ideology. Equally, we must also condemn genocide. Under the guise of one, it is possible for the other to flourish.