"If I criticize Israel, am I an antisemite?" Four guardrails. EDUCATIONAL CONTENT 

Thank you for your voice of reason and for teaching us how to think critically 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙏💝

Your balanced voice, with the academic knowledge underneath it, is much needed and appreciated in the current atmosphere - thank you

Little correction. Israelis are not just Jews and Arabs. There are also Druze, Bedouins, Baha'i, Samaritans, Armenians, Greeks, Cherkessians, Chechens, Russians, and others. There are even some Vietnamese. All have Israeli citizenship with full rights.

Thank you, sir, for helping with these parameters.

Thank you for this video! Your words are as careful and precise as the work of an accomplished surgeon. May they contribute to the healing of the world.

Thank you for your video Professor Abramson. Highly emotive subject, and certainly most folks I know have an opinion about the Gaza conflict. This is a subject that divides many. Thank you for your balanced and thoughtful approach, voicing one’s opinion publicly can be likened to tiptoeing through a minefield. A troubling time for many of us, but behind every storm is the promise of sunny days ahead.

Dr. Abramson what a great framework to base our discussions on. Thank you for these ideas.

There are not enough words to thank you for this balanced and thought provoking video! A prism does in fact have many sides, and the colours it projects are perceived differently by those who view them. The tragedy is that in the end, it is ordinary human beings who suffer the consequences while the 'bigger picture' is played out

As usual very clear and sane teaching. I especially learned from #4. What a very good observation. Thank you for your measured and respectful teaching. I pray those who need to understand - would watch this.

Thank you so much for this sober minded and comprehensive video outlining some very important red flags to keep in our minds. It’s so very heartbreaking to have to have such reminders but thank you for doing it.

Thank you Dr. Abramson

Thank you

Thank you. Wonderful tone and content.

❤ thanks Dr Abramson, for your helpful teaching and words

Your education is necessary and much appreciated Dr. Abramson

Thanks. A historians mind is always essential when looking at current events.

Thank you for all the work you do

Thank you for this video, bless you

Excellent summation; I think this sets the boundaries pretty clearly.

I appreciate your word "visceral", so much here as a useful indicator or guide rail. It reminds me of your analysis of the "hep hep" riots, that perhaps the term "hep hep" was a sign of treating Jews as animals rather than humans. All of us are at risk of viewing our opponents as outright monsters rather than people, and I appreciate the metrics you offer to check ourselves.

Thank you, Dr. Abramson! Incredibly thoughtful and helpful information that I wish we could share on every media site! There are many people affected by this conflict, in various and nuanced ways. But we can all be better at learning respect for each other and ensuring antisemitism does not occur.

Dr. Abramson, I've learned so much from your lectures both about history and about educating wisely. Thank you.

Thank you my brother

Your videos are always so enlightening; It’s always a pleasure to listen to you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and bringing truth and light to your viewers 🙏🏼

Thank you for the thought-provoking video

Great Job: clear and succinct. Rosa, VA, USA

Excellent balanced remarks. Thank you sir.

Thank you for these thoughtful words on an urgent and essential topic

Thanks for all you do always. I personally found this to be a helpful step in the right direction to healthy conversation and debate. All the best.

Thank you.

Thank you, Rabbi. Very helpful. I'm going to share this with Facebook friends.

amazing explanation, as always.

as an American I am weary of borh Isreal and palestine both being such big issues in US it is so tiring when i see Americans by the scores homeless in my nation

Thanks for clarifying such an important issue! It is wise and fair to be less biased, thus engaging our criticism on something better than sensationalism!

A great sagely benchmarks of what constitutes anti-Semitism...Dr Henry Abramson is highly objective, rational and honest in his views, opinions and comments...❤❤💐🙏

Thank you as always

Thank you! Such an important video reflecting another Jewish perspective it’s refreshing during this time to still hear people who can empathize with human suffering as a whole!

Thank you for making this video. The current tragedy has no easy answers, and there is plenty of blame to go around. It is unfortunate that the noncombatants on both sides are getting the worst of it.

Thank you Dr. Abrahamson. Curious to the tape: 132 on your lapel? Unless I've missed a previous clip and any reference to it.

Excellent video. I couldn't agree more with you as someone who is generally on the pro-Palestinian side of the argument [but also enjoys your videos]. Way too often criticism of Israel becomes overtly anti-semitic and has become a "respectable" outlet for people to say the most anti-semitic things while disguising it as anti-zionism/pro-palestinian activism.

Thank you ❤

Thanks for this presentation. It was cogent and gives me something to think about. Someday I would like to see a similar talk on the Palestinians.

I agree with all of your guardrails - excellent work! Though I was a bit disappointed you didn’t address guardrail abuse. I’m sure you’ve seen cynical people who appeal to very good guardrail principles in a nefarious way to deflect legitimate criticism. Your calm balanced voice would do a lot of good to provide this kind of additional nuance to maximize the epistemic quality of all conversations on these sometimes difficult issues.

Thank you Dr. Henry Abramson for being here today. It is a real pleasure and a true honor to follow your channel. All blessings upon you.

Thank you!

Good list of guardrails. You might want to check the definition of Enervated.

Thanks!

What are the borders of the land of Israel in your interpretation?

Antizionism= questioning the jews right to self determination as one people. Being antizionist equals antisemitism since it offers jews no other alternative and also because only jews are being questioned to having a homeland. Also, you should make a video explaining the term “antisemitism”. A lot of people are making claims that they can’t be antisemitic because they themselves are “semites”.

Thank you for your calm discussion at this very painful time. As a Jew I find the suffering of both Palestinians and Jews very difficult to experience and it is hard to listen to people who have no compassion for one side of the issue and who call Biden Genocide Joe when he is really trying to bring peace. Neither side is going anywhere. My grandfather's family disappeared in Babi Yar and I understand why Jews needed a place to live. But I also am horrified by what is happening in Gaza and we need to find a way to honor both peoples.

Thank-you for this. You have such an insightful and compassionate way of communicating. You are clear and calm and this calms my racing thoughts over this crisis.

Great video. Enervated means something other than you think

Well now here’s what I think based on when you said why these supporters seem mostly focused with Israel! Firstly, compared to a lot of other conflicts, this one is one that goes back to beginning of 20th century. Secondly, it’s not necessarily just because it’s Jews, but besides them it’s also . about western support all these years and how biased western media tends to usually be about this! Technically because of this I do feel Americans should definitely speak up given that they’re the largest supporter!

I very much appreciate the informative video. This is good information to use as a tool to identify racism and sexism as well. My response to #4 is that people generally respond to what is the hot topic or being covered heavily in the media. A few weeks ago it was Ukraine/Russia. Currently it’s the Middle Eastern crisis. As an American it should be a right as a citizen to have an opinion on my own government, how it’s spending American taxpayers money and it’s domestic or foreign policy. I don’t see that as selective outrage. I’ve personally encountered threats to myself and my family because I disagree with forever wars and in my opinion what I view as neglecting American citizens in favor of foreign citizens and foreign governments. I’ve noticed that antisemitism, anti Zionism and Islamic-phobia is addressed in the media. However the rampant anti-American rhetoric and blatant xenophobia towards Americans is normalized. It’s scary. I don’t feel safe in my own country. There are so many threats against Americans in terms of picking a side, religious revenge comments, and just inflammatory and offensive statements against Americans that aren’t addressed by my government while foreign governments and foreign nationals are prioritized. Eg. 9/11 has been used as a propaganda tool and internal American conflicts have been weaponized to garner support for external interventions. Basically dragging Americans into external conflicts while expecting Americans to ignore domestic issues. It’s frankly saddening. And, I feel for all innocent people involved that are affected and suffering and have been lost in the political chaos. All I can do is 🙏🏻 pray for a peaceful resolution.

Thanks for once again bringing nuance and reason to what can all too often be a brutal and angry debate. Calm and reasoned discussion are what's needed most at the moment.

Thank you professor. As always your analysis is very thoughtful and balanced. .of course, very helpful too!

On this subject, I heartily recommend a track I discovered by accident (it appeared in my 'recommended' feed) by a British band called UNIT. The track is A Tribute To The Israeli Defence Force and it is excellent - tuneful and forceful without being bombastic combined with a lovely lyric. I know next to nothing about the group but on investigation I see they've recorded a whole batch of Jewish related tracks such as Pesach, Yom Kippur, Bar Mitzvah, Israel Is Real, The 613 Mitzvot and probably others I don’t know about yet. Some of them feature Rabbi Moshe Bryski which is definitely a recommendation in itself.

Your friendly local Palestinian Supporter here 🇵🇸, EXCELLENT lecture, I am in violent agreement on 1-3 (I am in Toronto, and that Mount Sinai incident angers me as well as many others and I mean anger not 'worry'), I have a lightly different view on number '4' but that is OK, Thank you, and last time you replied to my comment you mentioned how many like myself are in the public space, well, there are a few and I am inspired to start a podcast (Can I send you an interview request? ) the world need to be built around humanity and understanding, Hamas and Likud can't do it, but I think people like yourself and others can 🙏

Brilliant. Thank you.

Awesome video I’m not fan of Israel but I’ve always been a fan of your videos on Jewish history glad to see you always keep a level head. All nation states deserve criticism

Great vid!

Your fourth point is worth repeating....I frequently bring up the situation in Yemen, where a civil war over the past ten years has resulted in 400K deaths with 70% of the deaths being children under five years of age. If it's okay for the Houthis to be supporting Hamas, then it must be okay for them to engage in a civil war that has killed over 250 young kids under five.....nobody cares about the lives of innocent Yemeni children because there are no Jews involved in that conflict.... Blessings as always sir.

I am not sure I entirely agree with Prof. Abramson in this video. I welcome his perspective regardless.

To criticize Israel is possible, but unfortunately nowdays every antisemit could cover his antisemetism under Israel criticism.

Thank you (42). Respectfully, NHG

Genuine question. On guardrail #1: Inability to empathize with Israeli suffering. I can see that in action everyday with people on both ends. Some people who are really conditioned to not see Palestinians or people of Arab descent as real people with the capacity of suffering. The way I see is that when one bleeds, we all bleed. It's probably a horrifying time to be Israeli and I'd be mortified by my governments actions and be wondering if it was safe to stay where I live or if I needed to consider leaving. But here is where I am hung up. My understanding is to be semitic or to be a semite has to do with your mother/ancestral tongue and is related to a linguistic family. This set of languages includes Hebrew and Arabic. If definitions mean anything, that would mean Arabic descendants are semites as much as Hebrews. This definition is more consistent historically and goes against every way antisemitism is defined in major news publications recently, and it gives me hope of bridges being built instead of burnt in the future. I really believe Hebrews and Arabic persons have much more in common and are waged against each other to serve the interest of the elites. Am I being delusional or naive? I'd really like your perspective. Is Arabic semitic?

Rabbi I really enjoy your work. I do though have one criticism. I believe that we should strip the veneer of respectability off of false ideas. Therefore I would like you to consider 2 things. One Jew hatred is a more appropriate word for the hatred of Jews it takes away the late 19th century respectability that antisemitism brought to our demonization. 2 the word Palestinian, I prefer to hear Arab because like the first point it is just a more truthful descriptor. Thank you for your fine work.

Thanks for the video, I have been learning a lot from you. Wanted to get your thoughts on whether you think many of the guardrails you set for anti-semitism would be similar for anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment? Can these be more universal guardrails that aren't necessarily unique to just anti-semitism, but racism in general. Also I would like your thoughts on the question of whether you feel anti-zionism is anti-semitic. Thanks.

Thank you for this. Some people are unaware when they do some of these things.

What do you think of the thoughts of Moshe Feiglin upon the matter? Like to know 🙂

A good video. I will send it to an Israeli friend of mine in Germany to send it further to these who make him a representative of attacs in Gazan civilians. By the way, what does this sticker with 132 on you Jacket mean?

Thank you Henry Abramson for being here today. It is a real pleasure and a true honor to follow your channel. All blessings upon you.

Good points all. Thanks much yet again, professor. I know it's gotta be pretty hard for many American/Canadian/European Jews to try to have discussions about the goings-on in Gaza these days., regardless of their take on the situation. The discussions on all sides have got terribly overheated. I would like to say something in regards to your fourh guardrail, though. As an American, I tend to be a bit more vocal about what's going on in Gaza, and Israel's part in that, for a couple of reasons: One is that, as terrible as events elsewhere may be, our outrage against whatever Assad or Xi Jin Peng might be doing is going to be not very effective, because those regimes don't have any values to which we can appeal. (I think of the famous comeback by Josef Stalin when somebody told him that the Pope disapproved of his actions. "The Pope?" he said. "So how many troops does he have?") Israel really is a country that believes in humam values and decency, or at least I hope it does. As such, Israel is at least susceptible to appeals to the better angels of its nature. The other thing here is that--and I'm speaking as a US citizen--Israel is in many ways a client state of the US . The US provides both aignificant amounts of moneitary/military aid, and also diplomati ccover for Israel at the UN and elsewhere,. What this means is that we not only have more influence (indirect though it may be) about Israel's behavior, but we Americans are responsible to some extent for its actions. So for us to pay far more attention to what's going on in Israel than elsewhere can't by itself be taken as evidence of anti-Semitism. The problem is that there are plenty of anti-Semites who are delighted to criticize Israel or Jews irrespective of anything else, and this kind of argument can indeed provide them cover. It's hard.

Well said and balanced, thanks Henry. I have a dear Jewish friend here in Australia who is in an agonizing quandary. He cares greatly about the land of his birth and the Palestinians too though he wanders if the Palestinians can ever be trusted again. Though I am more Pro-Palestinian we both agree what has happened is a catastrophic mess with major grief and trauma on both sides. Both at the moment cannot see past it. Though it is painful for him, he is willing to discuss and argue about it and disagree. My deepest sympathies for all those who are suffering in pain. I think it is too raw for either side to forgive at the moment. I just hope both sides can at least compromise and start the road towards peace. This will require much strength and tenacity because extremists and opportunists on both sides will try and destroy it again and again.

Thanks for this, Dr. Abramson. The first three points you make seem eminently agreeable, but I would like to ask you about the fourth. Some nations today have populations who have made their living in cities for centuries, all that time having large literate minorities and being fully plugged into the main currents of scientific thought and technological development. They may also have long traditions of democratic consultation between people and leaders. Israel and Iran both fall into this category. Many nations today are still mostly inhabited by subsistence farmers and nomadic pastoralists, and two centuries ago had no polities of more than a hundred thousand people, no written traditions and only the barest vestiges of urban life. Both types of nations must now operate government bureaucracies ruling many millions of people. Is it not reasonable, Dr. Abramson, to hold the first type of nation to a higher standard of respect for international law and respect for universal human rights, than the second type? Is it not reasonable to expect nations with high institutional and human capabilities to set a positive example for nations with lower ones?

The most important thing a history teacher can do is to teach us to have a sane dialogue and how to shed the prejudices that obscure the truth, prejudices that act as obstacles on the path of peace. In order to come together, we must leave the extremes and humble ourselves that we may be teachable. Thank you for doing your job, Dr. Abramson! 🙂

Your accent sounds Canadian?

I hope the Israeli leadership and press also refrain from using similar images of guns on babies as well.

mount sanai provides the best medical care ngl

Yes you are!!!

Is a deal with Jordan that involves relocating Gazans to the West Bank and transferring a considerable portion over to Jordan, in exchange for an absolute promise that they will deal with Palestinian issues forevermore, completely impossible or fruitless?🤔

As i am criticize (someone, something), it is important to be aware about how it is with me own inner. Is it, with chessed, is it, i am hurt (or old pain)? If i have this clear, (maybe, need help or can create it on me own self als good), this isn't the same as speak outer as right if it is unbalance. If a human know about who they are, what get stock, what can grow more beautiful, this a good way for a stap to outer an with chessed. If the other want (or as robot) play the boss, an don't show as compassion for live (human, animale, nature), this is signal that say a lot but nothing about me. I have notice as human in idf, gouverment israel, president Isreael an what i have notice is that in this human is chessed (how many, is an other theme). This, also if there is survive, war give room for contact an more as equal...human/live. Sure, we need the right time, room for communication an choice a theme of attention, current an what can be done, in later time. We can find oure connection with patient because oure chessed, because it is important. Who is with narcismm, autismm, etc or temporary without room for this (patient) chessed, it is posseble to say this. How to react in relation can have a sad, or cruel, or dominance/controlled energy an this Isn't what i can approve. You understand, that if the other with make a mistake or with wear a blind spot can be also with goodness, an it is more easy to love this human......or, love to create a bridgebuilder in me. Anitsemitisme can be as compensation.

If it doesn't cause you trouble, can you do a video on Neturei karta, and whether their beliefs are really in line with The Torah, or do they have their own interpretation of it? I'm not Jewish, and often see this group featured on anti-Israeli social media posts, and I would like to get some clarity on whether they hold an authentic position or not - my research suggests they do not, but I want to be as clear as I can be. Thank you. :)

It should be noted that the Orthodox Jewish Palestinians Opposed the formation of the State of Israel on religious grounds. They felt - and still feel - that it is blasphemous to establish a Jewish state before the Messiah comes. They aren't anti-Semitic.

One must carefully examine any assumption that a majority in the region outside Israel wants to live in peace with Israel. I don't know the answer to that one; I cannot find the locus of a peaceful coexistence community in the muslim world, but I'd be happy if it could be plausibly promoted. Another factor you might want to consider is the difference between religious and secular people who adopt a "Jewish identity". Completely secular individuals are certainly also subject to anti-semitic attacks. Just as a side note, make sure you know the semantics of the word "enervated" (unless it was just a slip in live delivery of a lecture).

Wise and rational arguments. Unfortunately here in Brazil antisemitism has been encouraged by some politicians regarding boicot of jewish's business and our people.

🙏 Dr Abrahamson for you logical explanation. Am assuming u know Tanakh well enuf to know layers upon layer of meaning? RUTH (Typology of Bible Christians/ Goyim) said to her mother in law Naomi (Typology of Israel) your Elohim is also mine & where u die, there I also. This is supernatural Love for Israel. As for hate, many forms of וְהָמָ֔ן as history always repeats itself Ecc 1:9

Thankyou for this video! I have lost friends in the Jewish Community as they don't accept any criticism. I am Jewish myself. And yes I am critical of the Israeli government.

I agree with the points in your video but it should also be clarified that disagreeing with specific Israeli policies is not the same as anti-Zionism. Zionism is simply the belief in right for Jews to have self determination and a state in some part of the Jewish historic homeland ( not just historic as there have been Jews living there continuously under others rule). I truly believe that anti-Zionism is anti-semitism. It is like saying that you support Jews but don’t support Jews having rights or any control over their own fate. It should also be clarified that Zionism has nothing to do with Palestinian Arabs and is NOT in contradiction with them also having self determination.

what is 132?!!! it drives me nuts:) are there 132 hostages? what's the significance, someone please tell me.. ok.. it was mentioned in the video that there are still 131.. so I assume it's related to that.

Can other groups use these guard rails tòo? Or this is specific for one group. A lot of the time we are being hammered by " free speach", "have thicker skins" etc. I appreciate your take as free speech must have guard rails.

I can consider any criticism of Israel which fully recognizes Israeli sovereignty. The concept of “secure borders” means much more than a simple geographical demarcation and extends to all aspects of self-determination. The holiness of the Jewish people is vitally connected to their special kind of separateness. The Roman historian Tacitus was very impressed with this quality of Jewish experience. Accepting sovereignty without qualification is the bright line test.

Dear Henry, can you make a lecture about israeli hate speech, zionist calls for genocide of the gaza population, and the daily crimes against of humanity conducted by the israeli army in the occupied territories, and the openly commited war crimes by such in Gaza? That would be welcomed very much! Also please cover the crimes by the settlers. Your opinion matters, and you can show your academic objectivity on that matter. Thank you very much.

To criticize Israel DOES NOT equate anti-Semitism and that can become a weaponized issue

Yes you are..

Fifth guardrail: Denies violent events regarding the Jewish people. I.e. denying Ottoman or Muslim massacres pre-1948. Sixth guardrail: Relates anything involving a minority participation of individual Jews as Israel's bidding. I.e. Colombia's President blaming his own civil war on a single Israeli mercenary trainer. (By his account, many conflicts around the World are Colombia's bidding). Seventh: Denies the connection of Israel with the Jewish people. Eight: Fails to acknowledge the law of Return as affirmative action correcting a worldwide failure to protect Jews (see Evian conference). Ninth: Does adjudication of complex matters in Judaism without subject competency or using token opinion. (I.e. citing Neturei Karta or blatant misrepresentations pf Torah content). Tenth: Uses Jewish tokens of any kind. Eleventh: Deliberately misrepresents teachings of Judaism (G-d's chosen people). Twelfth: Uses conditionals for their outrage against Israel that are merely a cover for hate. ("I'm not against Israel, just Netanyahu", bit dont have a specific policy of Netanyahu they are against). 13th: Exagerates internal criticism of Israel.

Just looking at the title, no. I bellyached about my parents but I loved them.

There was no protest at the Mount Sinai hospital. There was a march that started at the Israeli Consulate and proceeded to the American Consulate. They did not stop at the hospital. There was no protest at the hospital. They passed by because it happens to be along the route.

fair

Qutb's mindless minions, they thought they were so Grand. And soon their bones be dryin' out, a layin' in the Sand.