Giving Away Part of Her Liver Saved Three Lives
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Israel’s Eden Golan isn’t the only Jewish artist facing protests and calls for boycott.
When the Israeli singer Eden Golan arrived in Malmo, Sweden, to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, she was “welcomed” by crowds of anti-Israel protestors, numbering in the thousands. Throughout her stay in Malmo, Golan was surrounded by tight security, due to the death threats she had received. The protestors were trying to pressure Eurovision to cancel Golan’s participation and performance. Despite the booing at rehearsals and at the performance, Golan won fifth place at the contest (and second place in the online televoting).
In every sphere of the arts, Jews are being canceled for being Jews. “Zionist” has become a dirty word, used to label anyone who refuses to call for Israel’s destruction.
Since October 7th, Jewish authors have been reporting attempts to “cancel” them in the literary world. They’ve ranged from review bombing – posting a series of negative book reviews, sometimes before the book is even published, to canceled talks and retracted invitations to literary events.
A recent viral X post reached a new low. The poster, Amina, compiled a color-coded spreadsheet, classifying popular contemporary authors by their perceived attitude towards Zionism.
Entitled “is your fav author a zionist?” (sic), the spreadsheet outlines five categories, the worst being “Pro-Israel/Zionist,” marked in red. For writers in this category, says Amina, “it's suggested you do not give them any money (purchasing their books, streaming their shows/movies) or promote their work on any social platforms.”
It doesn’t take much to be labeled in red. One author is deemed Zionist because she “posted multiple pro israel statements,” while another “posted donation link to a pro israel medical service.” Nor do you have to be Jewish.
Jewish writers are concerned.
Author Edie Jarolim wrote, “This censorship list – because that's what it is – chills me to the bone. I have been trying to tell people what the world is like for Jewish writers these days. Apparently expressing anything less than a call for the destruction of Israel puts you on the ‘do not read’ list."
Talia Carner, who writes Jewish-themed historical fiction and whose name appears on the list in red, wrote, “This is the equivalent of burning books in Berlin late 1930s. On the other hand, maybe it would be a good idea for all Jewish authors to add their names in red highlight with pride.”
Author Danielle Solzman shares, “I've been on the receiving end of antisemitic abuse and harassment for signing the [open letter denouncing Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar speech]. I've lost readership, too, which has had an unfortunate impact on my bottom line.”
The literary world had already been thrown in turmoil two months ago, when the respected literary magazine Guernica retracted the British-Israeli writer Joanna Chen’s essay entitled "From the Edges of a Broken World,” where she shared her conflicting emotions on the current war.
Though Chen expressed her concern for Palestinian civilians and described her volunteer work driving Palestinian children in need of medical treatment to Israeli hospitals, the essay triggered an outpouring of anti-Israel sentiments that led to the resignation of multiple Guernica volunteer staff, including its co-publisher.
On her blog1, Chen shared that she wrote the essay “with the idea of encouraging dialogue, a conversation. It is unfortunate that the reaction of the editorial board of the magazine has effectively shut that down.”
In the response to the retraction, the essay was widely shared on social media, both by Jews and non-Jews expressing their support for Chen and for freedom of speech.
Chen’s essay was later picked up and published by the Washington Monthly, with the editorial note stating2, “We emphatically disagreed with the critique and the decision to retract the piece… [W]e found it to be moving and empathetic in the extreme to Gazans and Israelis alike.”
“Zionists in Publishing” is another X account that posts authors’ names and pictures overlaid with the word “Zionist”, urging followers not to buy their books. For example, the account owner claims that the popular children’s author Rick Riordan “is a Zionist who believes in ensuring the safety and security of the colonial settler state of Israel. Buying books from the Rick Riordan Publishing House, or those authored and co-authored by Rick Riordan, gives your money to a Zionist.”
When a follower tried to object to labeling Neil Gaiman a Zionist, the account owner replied, “as long as he believes Israel has the right to exist, he's a Zionist.” In other words, readers should only buy books from authors who publicly denounce the existence of Israel.
“Zionists in Music” calls out “Canadian singer Justin Bieber … is a Zionist” and “Barbadian singer Rihanna … is pro-Israel and consistently anti-BDS.”
In a post from April 26th, the account owner clarifies, “For those unaware: being sympathetic towards Palestinians doesn't make you an anti-Zionist. Believing that Israel has no right to exist makes you an anti-Zionist. Nobody we've posted believes this, and you will not find proof of anyone we've posted denouncing Israel's existence.” Only music produced by musicians who publicly denounce the existence of Israel is kosher.
In the past months, Jewish musicians have been boycotted, and their concerts have been canceled. Matisyahu had cancelations in three different locations on his most recent tour. His concerts that did take place had protestors marching outside and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
A concert venue in Brooklyn canceled the concert of an Israeli band called Hayehudim, which literally means “the Jews.” The venue claimed that the name was “politically charged.”
A black Jewish Israeli rapper, Noah Shufutinsky, spoke to i24 News3 about these cancelations. He said, “I think it’s tragic that something as powerful as music, that has always been a tool for people to come together and hear perspectives and stories that they never would have heard before, is showing up once again as a battleground against Jews.”
Noah Shufutinsky
Of his own experience, Shufutinsky says, “I’ve received threats every day on social media. I wake up to a new death threat surrounding just my relationship to my country, to my homeland, and to my culture… I think it’s important for us to know that no matter what, we have to still show up and we have to still use our voices, because that’s the gift that we’ve been given, the gift we’re able to share with the world.”
Michael Rapaport, an outspoken Jewish comedian, recently had his sold-out performance canceled in Madison, Wisconsin. The venue listed the ongoing protests in the area and concern for the audience’s safety as reasons for cancelation.
Students walk out on Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld recently gave the commencement ceremony at Duke University in Durham, N.C. The university received complaints and requests to replace Seinfeld due to his outspoken support for Israel. Though the ceremony took place as planned, when Seinfeld stepped up to the podium, dozens of students walked out, booing and chanting “Free Palestine.”
The list of antisemitic cancelations goes on and on. Jews in the arts are constantly being asked about their stance on Israel, even if their art has nothing to do with Israel or Judaism. Some are concerned that they would have to hide their views, or even their Jewishness, in order to get published or invited to give a talk or a concert.
At this time, Jewish authors, musicians, artists, and actors need their audience’s support more than ever.
Talia Carner, who experienced review bombing on her recent book release, wrote, “In light of the shower of the one star ‘reviews’ and ratings on GoodReads, I would appreciate if the groundswell of protection by Israel supporters will continue to offset this book bombing by posting honest reviews of my latest novel.”
A beautiful trend that emerged in the past few months is of Jews in arts supporting each other, both through expressing encouragement and through promoting others’ work on their own social media platforms.
Novelist Jamie Brenner says that while such overt antisemitism is unprecedented in our generation, it is not unprecedented in Jewish history. “History has shown that this type of blacklisting doesn’t end well for the blacklisters,” she says.
In an effort to fight antisemitism in literature, the Jewish Book Council (JBC), an organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, has launched “an initiative for authors, publishers, publicists, agents, editors, and readers to report antisemitic literary-related incidents. Antisemitism is defined as prejudice against or hatred of Jewish people4.”
JBC encourages reports of antisemitism on their website, concluding, “Prejudice in our communities can be excised through unity, care, and togetherness.”
Though the arts scene for Jews looks gloomy, Jewish artists refuse to be silenced. Like Eden Golan, they persevere, sharing their creativity and talent with their audiences and bringing their unique light into the world.
There seems to be a COMMON COORDINATED THREAD - across the GLOBE - of CANCELLING - HATING ANYTHING JEWISH. EXCEPT - anything JEWS Made - that PROVIDE HEALTH - or PERSONAL WELL BEING & ENJOYMENT. In some cases - it's brought together - Jews - who were assimilated - as well as Jews - who were straddling the fence - trying to PLEASE OUR JEWISH HATERS. For some Jews - they're presenting the VALIDATED TRUTH - of OUR 4000 YEAR HISTORY IN ISRAEL. There is ONE OTHER COMMON THREAD - WE JEWS NEED TO BE AWARE OF. THAT IS: WHAT WE LEARN IN THE WRITTEN TORAH - of WHAT G-D Said - would happen to us - if WE THE JEWS - (CANCEL HIS COMMANDMENTS) & TREAT HIM CASUALLY.
Maybe it's time the less affiliated Jews the world over start asking themselves what's so special about being a Jew that we've outlasted all our haters for thousands of years-yet they're still at it? I hear so much talk,read so much on the subject since Oct 7 yet I still see enormous chasms between us Jews ourselves.
Maybe we need to work on that first.
I wonder if the anti zionists would be opposed to using anything in the electronic or medical field knowing it was invented by Jewish people?
Such a disservice, not onlyto Ms. Chen, but to Guernica’s readers. I was able to read the piece thanks to the Washington Post. The essay is heartfelt and beautifully crafted. Despite the fact that it was written by an Israeli who could have ignored those Gazans who have suffered, the author shows bravery and compassion in a seemingly incurable age of bias, hate, and rage. One can only wonder if those who boycotted its publication even read the essay.
It's unfortunate that there was an attempt to cancel Eden's appearance for political reasons, as everyone should have the right to express their artistry. That said, it's worth noting the complexity of the situation, as some aspects of her performance may also be seen through the lens of religious guidelines that traditionally discourage women from singing publicly. It's a nuanced issue, typical of the nuanced world and generation we live in.
Max H you have written yet another poignant comment. May you be blessed.
Thanks, and you too.
I'm so glad Eden got the second highest public vote and maximum from the U.K. I'm astounded by the world wide Jew hatred I'm witnessing. I can't believe I'm watching 1930s Germany on t.v. today.
Wonderful article thank you!
Given the contribution of Jews to arts in general and literature in particular the world will certainly be poorer for Jewish exclusion. And you know what? Their loss. As Anne Frank once said, I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness.
When you cannot allow the other side to express its opinions, or even to exist, there must be something that worries you about your own side’s narrative. If your side's story is so “right” and good, you would not be afraid of the possibility of somebody saying something good about the opposition.
To clear-thinking folks, it's obvious that this outrageous, despicable "canceling" of Jewish talent goes beyond "ordinary" antisemitism: The ole green-eyed monster is fueling the odious deeds of these JJGs -- Jew-Jealous Goons!.
I don't wanna say "I told you so.."
This is the way it works. Jews are Jews. Jews are holy. We have a holy way of life proscribed by Hashem in the Torah. And when Jews wander "away" and into the outside culture seeking affirmation and respect... they are always (sometimes rudely) reminded: You are special, you are holy, and you don't belong here. It happened in Germany. "Important" authors and public figures were reminded- you will never be one of us, you have bigger and better things to do.... its a reminder for all of us- take a small step towards Hashem, towards Torah- at the end of the day, THATS who we really are.
Sorry, but I don't think Hashem will help us now anymore than He helped the 6 million in the 1930s and 1940s. We have to be more proactive now before conditions get even worse. We need to fight back more forcefully now!
It's inadvisable to try to do something that Hashem may not want you to do; instead, go ahead and do what you (should) know He wants you to and see what happens!
The Holocaust is clearly predicted in the Torah and a major lesson is that turning away from His word, cv"s, brings on a self-destructive disaster.
If you allow the yetzer hara to convince you that this is religious fanaticism, you've lost the battle before you can even begin to fight!
Belief in God doesn't preclude being proactive.
If that's what you think,than correct your own ways first...
Maybe the time has come to call for an all out boycott of pro Palestinian artists. Unfortunately most American Jews will not stoop so low and will just keep quiet until this blows over. The question is , what happens when it doesn't blow over...It's easy for me to say, I'm writing from Israel. We're only fighting for our lives - and yours.