Jewish power | #TranslateHate
Jewish power
noun \ 'joōiSH ˈpau̇(-ə)r \
: the claim that Jews have undue influence on others for their benefit
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
For centuries, Jews collectively faced religious discrimination in medieval Europe. They were ostracized as the “other” and blamed for why things went wrong (see poisoning the well). The publication of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion in the early 20th century brought new claims of global Jewish control of governments, economies, and more (see Protocols of the Elders of Zion). Despite centuries of prejudice because of their religion and insularity, Jews again found themselves being painted as the “other”— only this time, they were portrayed at the top of the power structure, wielding authority, instead of at the bottom, being subjugated by others. The worldwide success of the Protocols, not just in Europe but in America, the Middle East, and even in Asia, introduced the notion of Jewish power and manipulation to all corners of the globe, including in places where there were no Jews.
Despite centuries of discrimination and overt hatred of Jews, culminating in their genocide during the Holocaust in which two thirds of European Jews were murdered, Jews in America today have, on multiple occasions, been pushed into the racial binary of “white,” or in the role of “oppressor” — accused of having too much power or “privilege.”
What makes antisemitism a unique form of prejudice is that Jews are discriminated against for being seen as both subhuman and too powerful. Instead of assailing Jews for being inferior, conspiracy theories about Jews blame them for holding too much power. In this form of antisemitism, antisemites “punch up” instead of typical manifestations of bigotry, which “punch down.”
Lastly, the belief in “Jewish power” can have violent consequences. In January 2022, an armed British national stormed a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, taking three congregants and a rabbi hostage. He sought the Jewish community’s “influence” to secure the release of al-Qaeda operative Aafia Siddiqui being held at a nearby federal prison. The perpetrator targeted a Jewish house of worship and sought Jewish hostages because he believed Jews had the power to overturn Siddiqui’s conviction.
