Passover’s Message of Hope in the Aftermath of Oct. 7
5 min read
Adidas and others who have gone out of their way to condemn hatred of Jews should be thanked. Let’s not stop there.
Kanye West was once the biggest hip-hop artist on the planet, with over 160 million records sold and 24 Grammy Awards. But West has been headlining the news recently for his blatant antisemitism. His string of antisemitic comments is not the first for the mega influential artist. Back in November 2013, West stated in a radio interview, “Black people don't have the same level of connections as Jewish people... We ain't Jewish. We don't get family that got money like that."
West has taken his Jew-hatred to another level of vitriol. He suggested in an Instagram post that rapper Diddy is controlled by Jews. The next day, after being criticized for the post, he tweeted "I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew [sic] also ... You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda."
Several influential celebrities have been outspoken against West’s antisemitism, including David Schwimmer, Amy Schumer, Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian (West’s ex-wife), Gwyneth Paltrow, Katie Couric, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, John Legend, Maria Shriver, and more. Each of these celebrities, and many others like them, should be congratulated and praised for speaking out against this hatred. Too often antisemitism takes a back seat to other acts of racism. Those who have gone out of their way to condemn hatred of Jews should be thanked.
Additionally, a number of companies have cut ties with West, including Vogue, Creative Artists Agency, Balenciaga, The Gap, and now Adidas. These decisions have real financial consequences, with Adidas acknowledging that its decision to sever ties with West would have a financial negative impact of at least $250 million in 2022. We should praise these companies that took real action to stand up against antisemitism.
Some may be wondering: Certainly, Kayne’s comments are deplorable, but aren’t we over-reacting? He hasn’t committed any acts of violence or caused damage to anyone personally. He said some hurtful words – is that such a big deal?
“Words matter. A threat to Jewish people ended once in genocide. Your words hurt and incite violence.”
The truth is that the words – especially those of influential people – can have a far-reaching impact. In response to West’s hatred, Jamie Lee Curtis powerfully posted, “Words matter. A threat to Jewish people ended once in genocide. Your words hurt and incite violence.”
Hateful words can give permission and encouragement to others to spread their hatred. Immediately after West’s comments, a group of Neo-Nazis placed banners on the 405 highway in Los Angeles saying, “Kanye is right about the Jews.”
Economist David Yanagizawa-Drott found that approximately ten percent of the participation in the Rwandan genocide could be attributed to radio broadcasts, corresponding to an estimated 50,000 murders.
Hateful words can lead to devastating consequences.
It’s not only influential people whose words can make an impact. Every person has the potential to use their words to hurt or uplift others.
Bullying has become a major problem in schools and online. Studies have shown that those who are bullied are at increased risk for mental health problems and long-term damage to self-esteem. Children and adolescents who are bullies themselves are at increased risk for drug use, academic problems, and violence to others later in life.
Words of encouragement from a parent, teacher, coach, colleague, or friend can instill confidence that lasts a lifetime. Giving a compliment to a co-worker positively impacts their emotional state that affects their interactions, creating a ripple effect of positivity.
We all fall prey to using our speech negatively. Whether it is gossip or unintended hurtful words, our words have less than ideal consequences.
Like the celebrities and companies who have stood up against antisemitism, we too need to take a stand against negative speech – in our own lives. It’s not easy, but by spending a little time each day focusing on our words, we can turn our hurtful speech into “clean speech”.
A great way to make this a part of your daily life is to join the “Clean Speech Initiative”. It’s a 30-day campaign that will deliver a short daily video throughout the month of November, with practical ideas and tips to elevate our speech, all based on Jewish wisdom.
In New York City, 20 diverse organizations are joining together to implement the campaign. The campaign is also running in other cities around the world.
Now is your chance to take a stand. Improve how you speak and create a ripple effect of positivity that will influence your families, friends and community.
Visit www.cleanspeech.com/nyc and join the “Keep it Clean” campaign today.
