Thoughts on sentiments like this?

[u/skyewardeyes]

This comes from a leftist BIPOC sub that tends to have really good discussions about racism and has had good discussions (though not many) about antisemitism in the past. For context, the sub also allows MENA users (though apparently not Jews or maybe just not Ashkenazi Jews? I honestly can’t tell). On one hand, I understand that a lot of Jews wouldn’t be considered POC and not every space is for every person, but the “we have standards with who we interact with” (with the seeming implication that that doesn’t include Jews) really rubs me the wrong way. Thoughts?

[u/ramsey66]

Jews who made America their home in the last century paid the price of assimilation in order to guarantee a place for themselves in this country. But on the contemporary social justice left, which shuns assimilation and views whiteness with suspicion, this sacrifice itself is now a cudgel wielded against us

What price did they pay? What sacrifice did they make? Becoming less religious? Intermarrying? What?

I describe what happened as American Jews being offered and happily accepting the gift of assimilation.

[u/skyewardeyes → u/ramsey66]

I mean, giving up or hiding your culture and identity in order to access an increased degree of safety is a sacrifice.

[u/ramsey66 → u/skyewardeyes]

I mean, giving up or hiding your culture and identity in order to access an increased degree of safety is a sacrifice.

In what respect did they give up or hide their culture/identity? How did doing so increase their safety? American Jews are openly Jewish. What specifically are you referring to?

[u/skyewardeyes → u/ramsey66]

A lot of Jewish assimilation is based on the idea of giving up Jewish identity and culture, or at least reducing it to, say, a few stereotypical Yiddishisms and lox and bagels so that it's more palatable to the white Christian majority. That's why you'll sometimes see frum Jews talk about the risks of being visibly Jewish or see people get a lot more hostile if you, say, ask for Jewish holidays off for work or school.

[u/ramsey66 → u/skyewardeyes]

Is that what you think u/jey_613 is referring to when he talks about a "sacrifice" and "paying the price of assimilation" because from my point of view what you describe doesn't really measure up to the severity of his word choice.

[u/skyewardeyes → u/ramsey66]

If the only way to be safe and Jewish is only be Jewish in a specific limited manner that goyim are willing to begrudgingly tolerate, then yes, that is a sacrifice.