Category: Books

I have an obsessive personality. At times, it is a great burden because I would prefer that my mind not dwell on unpleasant things—like the rise in antisemitism. Other times, it is a superpower because this obsessiveness made me a decent reporter back in my days as a journalist. Now, my obsession with finding methods of fighting back against antisemitism can take its toll, and sometimes, I need to take a few days off to unwind. A couple of weeks ago, I visited my eighty-nine-year-old father. He was born in Budapest in 1935 and has seen cycles of antisemitism come and go. He says the current climate for Jews is the worst he’s seen since he was a kid. My visit gave me a necessary break to spend time with family, but also reinvigorated me in my mission.

Now, I straddle the line between journalist and activist as I get used to my new role as an author. I’ve been obsessively digging into antisemitism not as a problem—I’ll let other writers cover that—but ways to fight back and come up with practical solutions.

When history is written about this surge in antisemitism, the bravery of many Jews will be remembered. I’ve interviewed many people for my book and am inspired by their Jewish pride despite the dangers to their careers and even their lives.

In writing From Outrage to Action: A Practical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, I’ve been investigating how antisemitism manifests in different spheres and examining what is working and what is not in this fight.

Literary Community

What began as a small section of my book is turning into a lengthy chapter. In fact, I could probably write an entire book about this subject alone. It hits me close to home because I’ve been interviewing many Jewish authors who are facing bigotry in the literary community. I cannot prove a negative, but I wonder how many editing gigs I’ve lost, or agents and publishers have said no because they see how vocal I am against antisemitism.

Even Jews who are not Israeli and don’t write about the Middle East are having doors slammed in their faces. Word in the industry is they just don’t want to hear from Jews now. There’s a great deal of fear among Jewish authors, and they’re afraid of further alienating their agents or publishers, so some choose to be anonymous. The stories are similar. They are losing contracts, calls are not being returned, and books are canceled because of a perception in the industry that there’s no market for Jewish voices unless those voices are of the #AsAJew anti-Zionist variety. In addition, they are being harassed and bullied at literary events.

The pressing need for support systems within the Jewish literary community is a recurring theme. The Jewish Book Council is gathering data but is offering little right now in terms of practical help. Meanwhile, Jewish authors are shocked, disoriented, and feel they have no voice. This is where I’m in talks with others, and we’re soon going to get at least as organized as the anti-Zionist/antisemitic voices.

Education

However bad you think antisemitism is in education, it’s actually worse. I’m discovering this as I collect stories for my book on how to fight it. That makes the brave individuals I’m interviewing even more heroic and amazing. I can’t wait to tell you about them. It’s not news that antisemitism is a problem in educational institutions. And we’re not just talking about college. It’s happening in K-12 schools all over the country. I’ve been interviewing people on the front lines of the fight, including those who have experienced it as students, as faculty, and those handling the legal battles. I’ve discovered a few surprising things about how well the fight is going at some institutions. There are Jews who are finding allies and hitting the administrations where it hurts most, both financially and in the public perception. I’ve learned that legal professionals and advocacy groups play a crucial role in supporting Jewish students, providing guidance and legal assistance to combat antisemitism.

The problem is not limited to individual incidents but points to broader systemic issues within educational institutions. Efforts to tackle these challenges range from public advocacy to discreet interventions that support affected students.

Despite these challenges, there have been successful interventions leading to positive changes. You may be surprised, but in many ways, Jews are learning what it takes to win these fights. I’ll present stories of high school and college students fighting back, in addition to Jewish faculty.

Politics

Much of the political battle against antisemitism is happening at the state level, where legislatures are debating just how to define antisemitism before they can fight it. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition is the template to use, but despite what you may read elsewhere, it does not define any criticism of Israel as antisemitic. It does, however, say that it is antisemitic to deny “the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” That’s where the far left, including a minority of Jews who falsely claim to speak for the rest of us, say that the IHRA definition stifles free speech. It does nothing of the kind. I’ve been interviewing Jews in the political arena on how best to confront those voices and form alliances with other groups to get past these hurdles at the state level.

A significant part of the battle is countering misinformation about antisemitism and educating both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities about the realities and nuances of these issues.

Other Areas

I’m also interviewing journalists, entertainment figures, and others, emphasizing how they’re using their platforms to fight antisemitism. I’m getting answers to questions like, “Which produces better results: confrontation, reasonable engagement, or blocking?” I have practical advice for all. Nearly everybody I interview tells me how necessary this project is. Many Jews are in need of practical advice on dealing with this crisis. Others feel alone and need to know that there is a larger community out there that has their back. One young person told me that they need role models for action.

I am writing all of this in my “spare” time. My Kickstarter campaign gave me a head start, but around $5,000 doesn’t really cover all my time and expenses. That’s why I’m going to run excerpts of my book for paid Substack subscribers. If you get it for free, please consider a paid subscription and let me know you support this work.

Thank you all for your patience as I sift through a great deal of material and my own interviews. Also, if you have any tips for me on individuals who are fighting antisemitism, please contact me. As always, stay safe and know that you are not alone.

I’ve never crowdfunded anything before, so this is a risky experiment for me, but one that I hope will provide the necessary resources and time to properly research, write, and produce my upcoming book, From Outrage to Action: A Practical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. More importantly, this Kickstarter campaign is about creating a community effort with rewards that go beyond the usual offerings.

I found that there are no comparable books on this subject on Kickstarter. While there are Jewish-related comic books, children’s books, religious texts, and some poetry, none tackle the issue of antisemitism in any direct way. So, this is new for Kickstarter, too, and I hope to validate this kind of important crowdfunding campaign.

Kickstarter campaigns feature a series of rewards for backers. While I’ll have the standard rewards like digital downloads, signed paperback books, and an audiobook edition, I wanted to offer something more engaging and interactive. This project is not just about producing a book; it’s about fostering discussion and giving you the opportunity to contribute your own stories and ideas.

Here are some of the rewards I’m considering:

Interactive Q&A on Antisemitism

Access to Early Drafts

Webinar and Discussion on Antisemitism

Most of you know that I’m going to try to crowdfund a book called From Outrage to Action: A Practical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. You can read more about it here or sign up to be notified when the Kickstarter campaign is launched. I’m planning on self-publishing simply because I think the book is urgent, and I’m not sure many traditional publishers really “get it.” I’d rather have control over the product. I may be wrong, though. I did get some interest from a publisher who wanted more details, yet expressed skepticism. I won’t name the publisher, but I will show you the letter I wrote back because I think it’s a good explanation of what I’m trying to accomplish. Here it is.

Thanks for your interest in this project, and I understand the skepticism. What I’m hoping to accomplish in this book is not an answer to more than two thousand years of antisemitism but rather ways that Jews (and non-Jews) can channel their post-October 7 grief and anger into action. Aside from cheering on the IDF in the war against Hamas, I’ve found that many people are eager to do something more. They see the worldwide rise in public expressions of antisemitism during the aftermath of the attack and want to take concrete actions and not feel so helpless.

So, I’m emphasizing this as a practical “how-to” book for those who may not be as immersed in these issues as we are but want to do something in their own lives.

I should add that I’m launching the Kickstarter campaign, in part, to pay for my time while I research and write the book. So, most of it is in notes and outline form right now. But here are my plans.

I’m going to break it down into sections and fill it with background, interviews with people who have found effective ways to fight antisemitism, along with their tips. The book will feature real-life examples of individuals and groups who have made significant strides in combating antisemitism. Their stories are meant not only to inspire but also to guide readers on how they can contribute to these efforts in their own lives. For example:

Colleges and Universities: What sort of combination of legal, social, and policy action can students and faculty take if they are harassed, hounded out of student organizations, fired from their positions, or worse? I have contacts with students and faculty who have experienced antisemitism at many levels and have advice for others who are facing the same kind of discrimination. I will tell their stories but always end with actionable advice. I’ll also relate my personal stories of antisemitism in college.

Workplace: There are policy and legal steps that Jews can take to address antisemitic discrimination in the workplace. I’ll consult with legal experts and interview workers who have faced on-the-job harassment. This will be aimed at informing employers who never thought they’d have to deal with geopolitical issues in the office and employees who don’t feel safe at work.

The Virtual World: Developing the tools necessary to fight online hate. What are the “best practices” when dealing with antisemitic trolls in social media? Do you engage? Report? Block? In fact, one of my sources will be Hen Mazzig, whose Tel Aviv Institute is studying social-media-driven strategies to fight antisemitism. An entire book could be written on this topic alone, but I’m going to focus purely on solutions, with anecdotes, interviews, and tips.

In Arguments: I’ll explain how to properly answer the “genocide,” “apartheid,” “settler-colonial” arguments that Jews constantly have to deal with. I’ll also define antisemitism and go into the linguistic history of the word “Semite.” I go into more detail on all those issues here.

The Media: As you know, most mainstream media outlets are not only biased against Israel but tend to dismiss antisemitism as a problem that can come from the left. There have been successful strategies, though, to get media outlets to issue corrections and retractions, not to mention legal recourse as well. Again, entire books could be written on this topic, but I’m going to focus on methods readers can use, from their local newspapers and TV stations to national and international media outlets.

The Literary Community: As the literary world calls for diverse voices, it seems Jewish perspectives are often excluded. Not only that, but many in the literary community are openly accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. Writers are supposed to see beyond the surface and get at truth. In that way, they have failed. However, groups of Jewish authors are working to change this. I was proud to sign the Open Letter on Antisemitism, Israel, and the Literary Community, which addresses these issues head-on. I write about this in more detail here.

Celebrities: There are Jewish and non-Jewish actors, musicians, politicians, authors, and social-media influencers who have used their platforms to fight antisemitism and to counter the lies about Jews and Israel. I’ll interview a handful of them and get their tips on how to successfully ignore the hate and stay positive.

Other areas include:

• Policy and Legislation
• Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogues
• ·Community Action

Who Am I? I’ve dedicated over three decades to journalism, with a focus on Jewish issues. As the former managing editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, I led coverage of pivotal events such as the 2000 Camp David talks between Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat, the Second Intifada, and initiatives like Birthright Israel that connect young people with their Jewish heritage. A child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I have been studying and writing about antisemitism my entire life. My work has appeared in a variety of publications, including the Jewish Daily Forward, the Jerusalem Post, The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, JTA, and Publishers Weekly, where I’ve written commentaries and in-depth features on Jewish issues. After the rise in antisemitism in 2016, I’ve focused much of my work on understanding the roots of antisemitism, its modern manifestations, and how to effectively fight it. Now, I’m preparing for the release of my debut novel with Vine Leaves Press in 2025. I live in Traverse City, Michigan, with my family and a dog named Henry.

I’m excited about taking this on, and welcome any thoughts you have about this project.

Howard Lovy

We’ll see if this resonates with the publisher. Either way, I hope it is something you can support. Please encourage me by signing up for Kickstarter alerts here!

First, let’s get the linguistic games over with. There is no such thing as a “Semite.” It’s an outdated term based on a misinterpretation of linguistic similarities. This is why the hyphen has been removed in “antisemitism,” which is the word for hatred of Jews. Even those formerly called Semites can be antisemitic. This change was the result of a successful anti-hyphen campaign by US Antisemitism Envoy Deborah Lipstadt.

With the semantics of “Semitic” out of the way, the official definition of antisemitism comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

There’s more to it, but that’s basically it. You can read all the fine print here. One thing that is worth pointing out is that, despite what you may read elsewhere, it does not define any criticism of Israel as antisemitic. It does, however, say that it is antisemitic to deny “the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.”

I’m dwelling on this because an important part of fighting antisemitism is to counter the “straw man” argument that Jews claim antisemitism whenever Israel is criticized. With your help via Kickstarter, my book will break down these definitions even further and provide answers to the mantra that Jews hear a great deal: “Criticism of Israel isn’t antisemitism.” On the surface, no, but what is often heard is not criticism of Israel but rhetoric calling for its destruction.

Criticism of Israeli policy? Fair game. “Criticism” of Israel’s right to exist? Antisemitic. Well, in general. I’d also go a step further and say that obsession over Israel, above all other nations, could also bleed into antisemitic territory.

It can get confusing, but it’s important that we all agree on a definition before we can effectively fight antisemitism.

Check out my Kickstarter prelaunch page.

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