As a young adult I began to embrace life as an Orthodox Jew fully, taking on the internal personal obligations of traditional Judaism and the most notable outward sign by wearing a Kippah (or yarmulke), the head covering worn by Jewish men—my uniform.
With the uniform on, I needed to be sure that my behavior corresponded to the standards I had embraced. I’ll never forget my impulsive anger once of someone cutting me off that almost lead me to flip off the offending driver. But I was “in uniform,” and I resisted because that’s not how an Orthodox Jew should behave. To be sure, I have slipped on some things since then but hold myself to a high standard because my behavior, for good or bad, is a reflection not just on myself.
I thought of this recently after Ann Coulter unleashed the [expletive]. I’m not a prude, but it struck me as very wrong on a host of levels. But because she used the word relating to Jews, I feel obligated to call her out, albeit as uncomfortable as I am using such language even if I’m quoting someone else.
The well-known and often abrasive conservative Christian pundit got into hot water and created a rift at the end of the recent second Republican presidential debate. Ostensibly commenting on four of the 11 candidates mentioning Israel in their closing remarks, she tweeted, “How many [expletive] Jews do these people think there are in the United States?“
Ouch.
Her tweet sparked outrage from Jewish and Christian leaders and organizations, backlash among conservative Americans, as well as support from anti-Semites agreeing with, and standing up for, what Coulter tweeted. It even sparked humor, including a post from one friend doing a mathematical projection of the actual number of American Jews engaged in sexual relations at any one time. (4,513 is the number, you can email me if you want the calculation.)
Necessarily, debate has ranged from whether her comment was anti-Semitic or not, or whether she is anti-Semitic herself. My sense is that yes, her comment is very much anti-Semitic, but I don’t know her to know whether it was rooted in stupidity (ironic for such a bright woman), insensitivity, or an anti-Semitic core belief.
One conservative Jewish Facebook friend insisted her words were being taken out of context. Many others have tried to put them into context suggesting that she was calling out the Republicans for pandering, presumably to American Jews but then she suggested to evangelical Christians as well. Some have said that she’s not only not anti-Semitic, but that she’s very pro-Israel and Jewish, and we shouldn’t make an enemy of her by calling her an anti-Semite.
All I do know is that there’s a broad range of what’s anti-Semitic and there’s no question that her comment was well inside the boundaries of that. Making matters worse, Coulter’s comments triggered an astounding deluge of anti-Semitic remarks from people who support Coulter’s stance, using language overflowing with hate that were not even as “nuanced” as her remark.
Even Iran’s “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Khamenei, used the opportunity to tweet out his support. If the timeless phrase “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are” is true, in this case, “show me who retweets you and I’ll tell you who you are,” therefore Ms. Coulter is not in very good company.
Here are 10 reasons why Ann Coulter’s tweet is wrong.
1. Had she, or anyone else for that matter, used that language about any other ethnic, demographic or religious group (blacks, gays, Muslims, etc.) she would have been called out at once as racist, homophobic or anti-Muslim.
2. It seems she actually wrote “[the expletive with dashes for some of the letters] Jews” and didn’t spell out the word so as not to be offensive. That’s ironic, and poorly executed at best.
3. For a woman whose cross around her neck, her uniform, and is as much a part of her persona as her conservative views and symbol of her faith, use of that word is offensive and wrong.
4. It’s shocking she’d even allow others to think she thinks that way or uses that language. That’s more than public persona to sell books, or get booked on TV. It’s vulgar and bad behavior. A good friend wrote, “Women in general look very unattractive using poor language. Men look undisciplined and weak.”
5. Especially as a Christian, to refer to “[expletive] Jews” is deeply offensive. Of all people who ought to be sensitive to this, it should to be Christians who understand the injunction of Genesis 12:3 to bless, not curse, Israel.
6. Israel and its leadership have been so battered by the current U.S. administration, for a Republican presidential candidate to underscore that this policy is wrong is not only NOT wrong, but essential to underscore that America’s best ally in the region is Israel, not Iran, especially at a time when those lines have been blurred and those values trashed.
7. Demographically, she’s off base because there are far more non-Jews in America (especially evangelical Christians but not exclusively) who support Israel than there are Jews in America. If they are pandering to anyone, that’s the demographic and the swing vote.
8. She suggests that it’s anti-American to show such strong support for Israel, implying that candidates only do that because they pander for support, particularly of Jews, and strengthens the libel that there is something incompatible with being a loyal American and a Jew.
9. Coulter has blown wind into the sail of a dangerous and growing trend to make anti-Semitic slurs and innuendo acceptable in America, not just from David Duke, Louis Farrakhan, but from the New York Times, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. In that way, she minimizes how hateful her words are, and what the consequences could be. If anti-Semites were arsonists, it’d be illegal to say what she did because the theater is far too crowded with them already.
10. Ann Coulter offered no apology, not for her use of the vulgarity, not for sowing into a trend of growing anti-Semitism, and not for offending millions of American Jews and others. She offered an excuse and doubled down. She had the audacity to blame others who were fostering “fake outrage.” That’s inexcusable.
I know being a conservative is not synonymous with being offensive, and I believe being a Christian it is indeed contradictory. I pray that Ms. Coulter will reflect and pray about how she portrays herself and that her heart will be changed so her message—whether one agrees or not—can be received without this sorry of unnecessary and hurtful conflict.
Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. Throughout his life and career, he has been blessed by the calling to fellowship with Christian supporters of Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He writes a regular column for cn.mycharisma.com‘s Standing With Israel. He can be reached at [email protected].
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