By Allan Hoffman
Staff Writer
Just because most people believe something to be true does not mean it is the factual truth. This logical fallacy is known as a hasty generalization. We all can agree that society has been wrong in many instances even though the societal values and beliefs did not represent that. For example, while today we know that slavery is wrong, back in the 1860s, there was an American Civil War primarily due to that debate: whether slavery was wrong or not. This form of unpaid and brutal labor was an integral part of society for thousands of years. Yet, it was overturned and banned since it promoted the discriminatory ideology that some humans (based on class, gender, race, or religion) are superior to others.
Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: just because a minority of people repeat something to be true does not mean it is the factual truth. This logical fallacy is known as an appeal to the minority. For example, the Flat Earth Society proclaims the Earth to be a flat plane, surrounded by an impenetrable ice wall, known as Antarctica. Because of scientific facts, pictures, and some logical thinking, it is clear that this opinion is factually incorrect, regardless if this society believes this notion to be true.
Why are these two logical fallacies important? Because it perfectly describes the plight of the Jewish people combatting the Token Jew.
Let’s backtrack a little: what does tokenism mean? According to the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary, tokenism is defined as “the fact of doing something only in order to do what the law requires or to satisfy a particular group of people, but not in a way that is really sincere”.
This term is rather vague and has many nuanced definitions and answers. Essentially, it means that a person, corporate entity, or organization uses a specific, underrepresented group of individuals to give the impression that the entire group supports a cause. Instead of looking at the majority, the minority’s voice is taking precedence.
This is impactful on many levels: for one, it gives legitimacy to other groups unrelated to the Jewish majority to be able to explain what antisemitism truly is. This double standard is seldom seen in society, and surprisingly still exists as an active threat to the Jewish community. For example, a person of African descent belonging to the majority should not be told what is and is not racist, or a person of the Muslim faith majority should not be told what is or is not Islamaphobic.
Yet, constantly, the Jewish people are being told “You are wrong, this is not antisemitism”. There are even token Jewish groups like the Independent Jewish Voices outright refusing to accept the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, saying it is “too vague” and concentrates more on Israel than the actual Jewish people (more on this in the following paragraphs).
Even though the majority of Jewish people give an exact definition and clear examples of what antisemitism is, the mainstream media, as well as antisemites, prop up these Token Jews to give their biased interpretation. This leads to a diminishment of the actual impacts of antisemitic speech and actions.
A notable example can be found in the top universities in the United States of America. Many of them harbor antisemitic employees and students, and they get free rein because they are told that it is not antisemitism. This continuously leads to violent and antisemitic attacks that not only endanger and hurt individuals but proliferate irrational thoughts, logic, and opinions.
On another note, it gives the idea that the Jewish people are not Zionist and that the state of Israel is indeed a terrorist, apartheid, and discriminatory country that is not supported by the people it says to protect. Unfortunately for all those naysayers and “activists” who believe to “know” what Zionism is, it is undoubtedly clear that they do not know the correct information or even outright refuse to listen to reason.
It is time to clear out any doubts and misconceptions before continuing: Zionism is the self-determination of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel. Any other definition involving “settler-colonialism”, ties to racism, or “white European Jews” is clearly an opinionated and false definition filled with antisemitic tropes and a lack of basic knowledge of the situation with the state of Israel.
Now, it is time to dig deeper: if one refuses to accept Zionism (and is, therefore, an anti-Zionist), they do not believe the Jewish people have the right to self-determination, the right to declare their own country, and/or the right to be in their ancestral homeland. As such, it is clear that if every other nationality and people are allowed so, but Jewish people are not, then only one conclusion remains: anti-Zionism is antisemitism. For all activists saying “criticism of Israel is not antisemitism”, I applaud them: like any democratic country, criticism of a country is always allowed and is highly encouraged so we can discuss, argue and debate important subjects. However, once that toe of criticism steps into the territory of anti-Zionism, it is no longer criticism, but antisemitism.
Why is this context important? Because it directly relates to the minority of anti-Zionist Jewish people who screech at the top of their lungs that Israel is, essentially, a “devil” state that does not hold the values of the Jewish people in its society and integral institutions.
To that, I have but one reaction: HUH?
While this may come as a shock to many people, the large majority of Jewish people actively support and have even visited/live in the State of Israel. Instead of listening to the words of people who have never even visited the country, they visit the place, understand that the country is democratic and free, and is perpetually threatened by terrorist groups and extremist countries that are inherent Jew-haters.
However, the Token Jew uses their own ethnicity and religious affiliation to give them a platform to refute exactly what defines them. While they do have the privilege of criticizing the actions of others and many diverse opinions, they and mainstream media cannot push them as the “true” opinion of the majority.
This phenomenon is mostly seen in the United States of America and the Western world; groups such as the Independent Jewish Voices, Jews for Justice for Palestine, and countless other groups push this false narrative and inaccurate representation of the Jewish people’s opinion on Israel and anti-Zionism (or more accurately, antisemitism).
Now, some will point to the ultra-orthodox Jewish groups like the Neturei Karta and the Satmar (to a much lesser extent). While it is known that some Orthodox sects do not believe the State of Israel should have been established, they still view the Jewish people living in the land as needing to be protected, and hence support the State of Israel.
By this point in the article, it is clear that the Token Jew is a present factor when combatting antisemitism and anti-Zionism. The double standard that negatively impacts Jewish people is a clear reminder that Jew-haters will not stop until their hate-filled agendas are complete. However, they have forgotten one crucial detail: the Jewish people will never back down, will always fight for truth and peace, and will always be present in the land of Israel.
Am Israel Chai
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