(((Semitism))) : being Jewish in America in the age of Trump /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In the wake of Donald Trump's election and the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, (((Semitism))) is a powerful book that examines how we can fight anti-Semitism in America

A San Francisco Chronicle Reader Recommendation

The Washington Post : "Timely...[A] passionate call to arms."

Jewish Book Council: "Could not be more important or timely."

Bernard-Henri Lévy: "It would be wonderful if anti-Semitism was a European specialty and stopped at the border with the United States. Alas, this is not the case. Jonathan Weisman's new book (((Semitism))) shows why..."

Michael Eric Dyson: "With eloquence and poignancy Weisman shows how hatred can slowly and quietly chew away at the moral fabric of society. We now live in an age where more than ever bigotry and oppression no longer need to hide in fear of reproach. The floodgates have opened. This is much more than a personal response to the bigotry he experienced because of his Jewishness; Weisman has written a manifesto that outlines the dangers of marginalizing and demonizing all minority groups. This powerful book is for all of us."

Anti-Semitism has always been present in American culture, but with the rise of the Alt Right and an uptick of threats to Jewish communities since Trump took office, including the the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, New York Times editor Jonathan Weisman has produced a book that could not be more important or timely. When Weisman was attacked on Twitter by a wave of neo-Nazis and anti-Semites, witnessing tropes such as the Jew as a leftist anarchist; as a rapacious, Wall Street profiteer; and as a money-bags financier orchestrating war for Israel, he stopped to wonder: How has the Jewish experience changed, especially under a leader like Donald Trump?

In (((Semitism))) , Weisman explores the disconnect between his own sense of Jewish identity and the expectations of his detractors and supporters. He delves into the rise of the Alt Right, their roots in older anti-Semitic organizations, the odd ancientness of their grievances--cloaked as they are in contemporary, techy hipsterism--and their aims--to spread hate in a palatable way through a political structure that has so suddenly become tolerant of their views.

He concludes with what we should do next, realizing that vicious as it is, anti-Semitism must be seen through the lens of more pressing threats. He proposes a unification of American Judaism around the defense of self and of others even more vulnerable: the undocumented immigrants, refugees, Muslim Americans, and black activists who have been directly targeted, not just by the tolerated Alt Right, but by the Trump White House itself.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (p. 1)
• 1 Complacency (p. 33)
• 2 The Israel Deception (p. 69)
• 3 The Unheard Thunder (p. 97)
• 4 Stand Up or Ignore (p. 164)
• 5 Toward a Collective Response (p. 191)
• Acknowledgments (p. 225)
• Notes (p. 227)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Weisman (No. 4 Imperial Lane), the New York Times' deputy Washington editor, offers a chilling look at resurgent anti-Semitism in America in the wake of Donald Trump's political ascendancy. Despite feeling only minimally connected to his Jewish heritage, Weisman found himself the target of "alt-right" Trump supporters in 2016 after tweeting an excerpt from an editorial about the rise of fascist tendencies in the U.S.; within minutes, he received a response addressed to "(((Weisman)))," punctuation that he learned was "wrapped around Jewish-sounding names on social media" by online harassers. That response was the precursor to a torrent of online hate he received, which shook Weisman out of his complacency and forced him to face the reality of persistent anti-Jewish bias. He provides a thoughtful and deeply personal account of his struggle to understand what was happening. The hostility Weisman encountered was so overwhelming that his daughter sought reassurance that she didn't "look Jewish," which she feared would put her at risk of being targeted as well. Despite that close-to-home evidence of the effectiveness of the bigots, Weisman concludes forcefully, leaving readers with the message that the best way for Jewish Americans to resist bigotry is to champion "liberal internationalism in the oldest, least partisan sense of that phrase." Agent: Rayhane Sanders, Massie & McQuilkin. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Book Review

After becoming a victim of unhinged anti-Semitic hatred, trolled and cyberstalked by fringe-right bigots, a journalist delivers his forceful response.Weisman (No. 4 Imperial Lane, 2015), the deputy Washington editor of the New York Times, once reported on the activities of a neoconservative, journalism that provoked alt-right activists on social media. Under the cover of "free speech," they openly expressed their prejudice against Jews in general and the author in particular. Certainly, the author notes, anti-Semitism in the U.S. is hardly new. He recalls the lynching of Leo Frank, the bile spewed by Charles Lindbergh, and other examples. Erstwhile good feelings engendered during the civil rights movement eventually collapsed, and Judaism and its adherents became conflated with the State of Israel. Now, anti-Semitism is flourishing in the Trump era, and what was unacceptable once now swims in the mainstream. With reportorial skill, the author brings us up to date on activities of current hate groups and their leaders. The titular memethree parentheses ("echoes") around a proper nounis a dog whistle signaling, for those attuned to it, "Jew." Today, marchers in Nazi regalia parade, and swastikas and graffiti abound; harassment, trolling, and cyberstalking are essential tools in the alt-right kit. So what can be done? What should American Jews do? Weisman issues a call to arms in defense of truth. We must organize and fight, he urges, using the internet and social media. Jews, the "Other," must ally with other Others like African-Americans and immigrants. The author also recommends toning down the obsession with Israel and supporting organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. "The moral response is imperative," writes Weisman. "Morality can inform tactics." For now, though, the value of his brief text remains the light he shines on the current state of bigotry.An urgent and compelling report on the clear and present danger of proto-fascism in the U.S. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

JONATHAN WEISMAN is Deputy Washington Editor of The New York Times and author of the novel, No. 4 Imperial Lane , which was a Chautauqua Prize finalist, Amazon Best Book of the Month, and Great Group Reads Pick at the Women's National Book Association. He has reported for The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and others. He is the father of two teenage daughters, and lives with fellow writer Jennifer Steinhauer in Washington, D.C.