opinions & letters
Both the Left and the Right
Have Turned on the Jews
BY IAN HAWORTH
I ’m a British Jew who works in the world of
American conservative media, and the behavior
of the conservative movement over the past few
days has been honestly terrifying.

As we witness supposedly anti-antisemitism
conservatives brush the open and unapologetic
antisemitism of cultural figures like Kanye West
under the rug in exchange for the second-hand
cultural attention his presence might provide —
as well as cash and clicks — a familiar and brutal
reality has resurfaced for Jews:
No one cares about us.

Both sides of the political aisle are quick to rally
against antisemitism when it is politically conve-
standing firm when doing so presents the possi-
bility of damage — whether that damage is politi-
cal, cultural or financial.

In addition, one must ask: What are principles if
they are so easily cast aside?
Conservatives claim to abhor antisemitism, and
yet foolishly believe they can ride the coattails of
non-conservative loose cannons like Kanye West
and greedily feed off the cultural scraps that fall to
the ground; all while trampling on the supposed
principles that were their “hills to die on” in their
battles with the opposing side.

West, who in a matter of days argued that Jared
Kushner sought peace in the Middle East to make
money, repeatedly promoted the radical Black
Hebrew Israelite conspiracy theory that American
blacks are the “real Jews,” implied that Jews cre-
Both sides will happily throw the fight against
antisemitism — and, by extension, the Jews —
under the bus in exchange for the chance to
engage other (larger) political groups.

nient. On the left, when figures like Marjorie Taylor
Greene engage in antisemitic rhetoric, they wring
their hands and cry to the skies. Meanwhile, on
the right, when figures like Ilhan Omar engage in
antisemitic rhetoric, they wring their hands and
cry to the skies.

Except both sides will happily throw the fight
against antisemitism — and, by extension, the
Jews — under the bus in exchange for the chance
to engage other (larger) political groups they’d
much rather have under their increasingly value-
less banner.

The truth is that there is now no true political
home for Jews in the United States, if there ever
really was one. In recent months and years, both
sides have demonstrated that they care about
Jews right up until a more tempting opportunity
presents itself.

Of course, it’s phenomenally easy to remain
principled in the face of an adversary whose
values are antithetical to your own, an adversary
your audience already loathes. There is no inher-
ent bravery in the left calling out Marjorie Taylor
Greene, and there is no inherent bravery in the
right calling out Ilhan Omar.

There is difficulty, and therefore bravery, in
ated cancel culture and announced that he would
be going “death con 3” on “Jewish people,” has
shown no signs of apologizing.

And yet, days later, conservatives celebrated
West — an open and unapologetic antisemite
— on the red carpet, labeling his very presence
iconic. A line has been crossed.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke with Jeremy
Corbyn and said veiled antisemitic things in the
past, and conservative media — myself included
— never let it go. And quite rightly so.

West, who has far more cultural influence than
Ocasio-Cortez, pushed multiple explicit antise-
mitic tropes, and what was the result?
Many high-profile conservatives shrugged and
moved on that same day. Some didn’t even shrug
at all.

Now, many have responded to my vocal criticism
of this appalling conduct with “whataboutism,”
declaring that the leftist media ignores antisemi-
tism all the time.

Yes, they do. So what?
I was under the impression that we were meant
to be the principled ones. If that is true, where on
earth are our principles?
I do understand the attitude of wanting to bring
culturally powerful people into our tent based on
their supposedly aligned views on single-issue
topics. (Let’s leave aside for now the fact that
West’s “pro-life” views are based on an antise-
mitic conspiracy theory.) However, if there are
no entry requirements to the ideological tent, if
admission numbers are the only metric of value,
what does that tent even represent?
Until our movement is willing to look in the
mirror and stick to their supposed principles, the
Jewish people cast out from this tent will wonder
whether any of this is worth fighting for.

Yet again, Jews are alone. JE
Ian Haworth is the host of “Off Limits with Ian
Haworth.” letters
Court and Torah Law Conflict
With regard to its recent decision to force Yeshiva
University to allow LGBT groups to have their
own club, it seems that the Supreme Court of
New York has overstepped its bounds (“Why
Mainstream Jewish Groups Didn’t Defend Yeshiva
University,” Oct. 13).

The board of the university has the right to
decide if any group should be sponsored by the
university. A group which mainly focuses on the
sexual activity of the group would seem out of
place, even with regard to heterosexual interests.

Torah law forbids men to lie with men as they
would lie with women. This is a matter of our faith.

It must be adhered to, no matter what the current
political dogma dictates.

Until about 50 years ago, homosexuality was
considered a psychological abberation, a failure
to reach developmental milestones (Freud) or mis-
placed sexual attraction (Krafft-Ebing).

Any Supreme Court is on slippery grounds
when it makes up rules for a faith-based insti-
tution. The board of Yeshiva University might
be taking a politically, and financially, incorrect
position in this matter but it is following Torah law
correctly. JE
Aryeh Wood, Philadelphia
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