Symbols: The Good and The Bad

If symbols weren’t effective, we would have fewer of them. Jewish stars wouldn’t be worn on chains; synagogues wouldn’t have menorahs; seder plates would be empty. Even our own bodies sometimes act as symbols, as new board member Elliot Draznin reminded those assembled at today’s Cincinnati City Hall Trans Day of Visibility ceremony.

We use symbols because they are evocative…and so do our enemies. That’s why the “Save Ireland from the J🔯ws” banner from March 16 replaced its “e” with a Jewish star. It’s also why this week’s Swastika flag is so unsettling. 

Even though such displays can’t in and of themselves physically hurt anyone, that doesn’t mean they don’t hurt. When propagated in the public realm, they are used to: 1) intimidate Jews, 2) alienate us from our peers, and 3) cause us pain. Alas, they are dangerous because they can be effective at accomplishing these goals. Rather than deny reality (or our feelings), let’s acknowledge the truth—that hateful symbols are destructive to the community, and it is vitally important that we find ways to fight back against them. (Dara Horn explained some of these ideas much better than I could, during last week’s annual meeting.) 

In fighting back, I’m not suggesting we advocate for abrogation of forms of 1st Amendment-protected free speech. I don’t believe limiting messages like this, based purely on content, would be wise or pass constitutional muster, anyways. Instead, our Jewish community has an obligation to interrupt the chain of hate I described above. We must 1) be proactive bridge builders, 2) ensuring that when hateful symbols show up, that Jews don’t become “othered,”  and thus that 3) Jews do not experience these (laughably scarce, pitiful) haters’ actions as so painful. Ideally, in such situations, we’d feel supported, proud, and unintimidated.

Today, this vision is more pipe dream than reality; but that doesn’t mean it must remain so. The more outreach we do and relationships we nurture, the closer to it we’ll get.