10 Witty Jewish Responses to Antisemitism
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This Hungarian non-Jew has been advocating for Israel for years – and won’t stop anytime soon.
Growing up in Hungary in the 1980s, it was a taboo to be a Jew. If you were Jewish, you simply didn’t speak about it. Though the country was not officially part of the Soviet Union, it was known as a Soviet satellite state during the Cold War. Jews experienced antisemitism during this time and were not able to freely practice their Judaism. Hungarian Jews were no exception.
While Virág Gulyás is not Jewish, growing up, she was surrounded by Jews. In particular, she went to a specialized ballet school, the Hungarian Dance Academy, with them.
“Only in hindsight did I realize how many of my classmates were Jewish,” she told Aish. “It was just not something that we discussed.”
Still, Virág thought she knew a lot about Jews from the stereotypes she heard in Hungarian society.
“I learned that Jews have big noses, they only help each other, they are the rich ones – you name it,” she said. “In our society, it was acceptable to say Jewish jokes and stereotypes. There were three types of jokes: About blonde women, gypsies, and Jews. Today, none of these would pass the politically correct test.”
However, at the same time, it was mandatory for schools in Hungary to teach about the Holocaust, and Virág ended up going to the Holocaust museum and having a very eye-opening experience.
“I was shocked,” she said. “In America, I often hear that kids are calling Hitler ‘a cool guy’ and ‘a good leader.’ The education I received definitely had an impact on me.”
When Virág started working, she became a diplomat to the EU. She was helping the minister in the financial and economic sector and said she, “understood how decisions are made, and the power game. I learned why the EU is overstretched and possibly not going in a good direction.”
That job was in Brussels, where she met a Jewish man. Though she liked him, she was hesitant at first because of his background. She hadn’t heard good things about his kind.
“I didn’t want to date him because not only was he Jewish, but he was also Israeli,” she said. “He was charming, so I gave it a shot.”
Eventually, she traveled with the man – who became her boyfriend – to Israel for the first time. She saw the truth about Israel and the Jewish community firsthand.
“I was there for two weeks, and people opened their homes to me for Shabbat and treated me like mishpacha, like family,” she said.
Her relationship with the Israeli man ended, but her trip to Israel sparked something inside of Virág. In 2017, she started a blog called Almost Jewish, where she talked about her own experiences and advocated for the Jewish people and state.
“People started to react to my blog posts,” she said. “I got so many emails. I kept writing about it. I was humbled enough to understand I was totally misinformed about Israel, and this was something I could change.”
From there, Virág moved to the United States and got her Master’s in Jewish Studies from Touro College. She began speaking for Jewish organizations about her work, and Jewish National Fund-USA hired her to lead their speaker’s bureau, a job that she has today.
One question that was always on Virág’s mind: Am I actually Jewish? Perhaps, she thought she had some Jewish DNA, which would certainly explain her affinity for the Jewish people and Israel.
“It was the worst day of my life when I found out I had no Jewish DNA,” she said, laughing. “I even hired a company in Hungary to put together my family tree. But there was nothing.”
At this point, Virág has been to Israel 28 times, touring all over.
“I love driving through the Negev and listening to Shlomo Artzi,” she said.
Following Oct. 7, she said she felt “very anxious and stressed. The first couple of months were so bad. I am not Jewish, but I live my life every day as if I am Jewish. Every news item hits me deeply. It’s been really hard. Sometimes, I feel like crying and screaming.”
Virág splits her time between the Bay Area of California, Colorado, and New York, and has seen the antisemitism all over.
“How can people not see the reality that both Jews and non-Jews are under attack?” she said. “This is our future, and we are in it together. Whoever doesn’t see that picture, what can we do?”
Along with running the speaker’s bureau at JNF-USA, Virág is active on social media, posting constantly on her Instagram about the issues of today. Her pinned posts are all about why she supports the Jewish community and Israel.
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After 10 years as an activist – and now working in a post-Oct. 7 world – Virág sometimes has to take a break.
“I burn out,” she said. “The companies I’ve worked with required me to monitor antisemitism 24/7. I didn’t see how much my mental health was suffering from this. It’s harsh and hard.”
Despite all the hate she sees, Virág knows she needs to continue. After all, it’s her life’s mission.
“What keeps me going is something way deeper and beyond me,” she said. “I’ll take a three-day break and then come back again.”
She continued, “I can’t stop.”
I have been following her since October 7 and I find that her words are very helpful to me. I want to thank her for her intelligence and support.
That article is so encouraging for me as a member of the Christian community who endeavours to advocate for Israel. Toda raba.
It is people like Virag that bring hope and light to the world. May god bless her.
My father (blessed be his memory) was a staunch supporter of human rights. As was I, beginning at age 16, in the forefront of desegregation in the South.
My father said to me once that the work for justice and human rights was the work of a lifetime. But it is exhausting. So we need to take vacations now and then.
It appeared as if the Jews had overcome some major obstacles since WWI and WWII. Many Yiddish phrases have become part of the norm in people's responses to one another! Jews were part of mainstream and even restaurants, cookbooks, books, Athletes, Politicians, Hollywood stars, etc etc.etc. have come such a long way in terms of acceptance and being part of the mainstream. It feels like we took a thousand steps backwards into the dark ages again. But this time is different. Why? Jews will never again trade land for peace. It doesn't work. Ever. They have finally stood up to these bullies. It's about time! The work for human rights IS exhausting. No one in this lifetime has witnessed so much vicerol & hatred for a group they don't even know about.
i would love to get her t- shirt.
havesomechutzpah.com 🙂
please God choose somebody else
I respectfully disagree with her support. I’ve witnessed countless times she has “shamed” Jews on social media. In my opinion she is self serving/self promoting has found a lucrative way to popularize herself. She is not very smart and has behaved inappropriately at Jewish functions. What I will commend her on is her ability to capitalize the tragedies, hostilities and make her own story relevant. Lastly, let me note that I have long-long lists of NON Jewish advocates. Many of whom are friends so this is not about her being outside the tribe. It’s about her insincerity.
This is an interesting response, Beth. Can you give some examples of her shaming Jews on social media? I’ve never heard of her so I was immediately impressed. But there may be more to her than what was published in AISH. Thanks
Yes, there is definitely more to me than what we could share in this article, you are welcome to get to know that here: https://www.instagram.com/theviraggulyas/
I won't comment on the lashon hara.
As Shelly wrote, this was an unusual response to this kind of articles, which usually always get only praises. I know nothing of this woman except for what's described in this article, so I can't approve or disapprove what you wrote. Could you please explain what you know, so you won't be guilty of shaming her for nothing? Thank you.
Yes, there is definitely more to me than what we could share in this article, you are welcome to get to know that here: https://www.instagram.com/theviraggulyas/
I won't comment on the lashon hara.
I believe the Torah teaches not to do lashon hara, so me the non-Jew asking you not to that. You do not need to like me, but to lie and attempting publicly slander me will result in my lawyer calling you next. I genuinely hope you had sacrificed from your life as much for a cause as I have done. Heal well!
You cannot accuse someone of something without a concrete explanation.
I'm so proud of you! I'm also not a Jew but have always cared since I was very young. I also feel fatigue and stress from all the ignorance and hate, but we can't stop caring and sharing. You do so much more than me, my acts are much smaller. But now I will be praying for and supporting you as well. God bless your work and stay strong.
She is not the only non-Jew who loves and supports the Jewish people. You have many allies who will do anything for you!
Thank you!! That's uplifting to hear!
She sounds like a doll. Can we clone her? 😂 It is unreal how many years this nonsense has been continuing.....will Jews EVER see a normal existence free from stereotypes and racist comments? So many "normal" Jewish people have been deeply affected by October 7 and the anti-Semitism that ensued still to this day is horrifying. How do you turn around hundreds if not thousands of years of negativity? It's got to stop! Israel needs a PR campaign that teaches facts and the truth. Starting with the very youngest of children. A major overhaul in the way everyday people all over the world view them and then the facts and the truth be taught. We need every bit of help just like this lady has helped and supported Jews and Israel!
Perfect Perfect Comment. Kol Tov. I first saw Virag nearly 2 years ago on instagram. She’s always an amazing, kind, fascinating person. Thank Gd.
Fully empathize with your feeling, but it'll take much more than a PR campaign to enlighten bigots, haters & those who are simply jealous of Jewish success because they don't want to admit the truth even when it smacks them between the eyes and/or proves to be completely irrational.
Of course, that needn't stop us from trying to right the wrongs, expose the lies, etc. for those whose brains haven't been fried, though it would be best for more righteous gentiles to do the convincing.
Not to worry, though, our enemies always get their just desert!
Thanks to a wonderful woman!