One of the many important national conversations taking place these days involves recognition and awareness of privilege. To some people, privilege is a negative thing and something to be ashamed of. I don’t see it that way.
Privilege is not a dirty word. To be clear, it is critical to be aware of whatever privileges one is blessed with, recognize and appreciate that others do not share that blessing, and incorporate that awareness and recognition while demonstrating care and compassion for others. Nevertheless, one needn’t apologize for privilege or be ashamed or feel guilty for having it. Quite the contrary, privilege is, well, exactly that – a privilege. One should be grateful for, appreciative of, and most of all feel tremendously obligated by the privileges we have.
We Jews are particularly privileged, but not in the way you may think.
For some, privilege means receiving the benefit of the doubt, or the assumption of innocence. For others, privilege means having access, entrée, and opportunity. For yet others, privilege means the comfort of feeling safe, protected, and secure.
By these definitions, in the context of history, and even now, Jews are among the most underprivileged people. We have been the target of libel, false accusations, assumptions of guilt. These aren’t part of ancient history. A blood libel occurred in Massena, New York, in 1928. We have been denied access and opportunity. As recently as the 1970’s Jews and blacks were unabashedly denied entry into country clubs in South Florida, an area thought of today as “so Jewish.” Many had signs that said “No dogs, no colored, no Jews.” And it wasn’t that long ago that Jews were similarly denied or limited to enter universities and graduate schools. In 1935, a Yale dean instructed his admissions committee: “Never admit more than five Jews.” Harvard’s president wrote that too many Jewish students would “ruin the college.”
Safety and security? The Anti-Defamation League reports there were 2,107 hate crimes against Jewish people nationwide in 2019, the highest since the ADL began tallying hate crimes in 1979. Anti-Semitic incidents comprise a majority of reported hate crimes in New York City. According to 2018 FBI data, Jews were 2.7x more likely than blacks, and 2.2x more likely than Muslims to be a hate crime victim.
The current attention to racism in America and the fight for racial justice is important. Racism is an evil we must actively, categorically reject. We should also be aware, and make others aware, that anti-Semitism is on the rise globally and there remain entire nations and countless individuals who seek the extermination and elimination of the Jewish people. Just last week, what are widely considered A-list celebrities with large social media presences praised Louis Farrakhan, a vile, unapologetic anti-Semite. In 2018, Farrakhan warned his 335,000 followers on Twitter about “the Satanic Jew.” As recently as October, 2018 Farrakhan told his followers in a widely-attended and shared speech, “When they talk about Farrakhan, call me a hater, you know how they do – call me an anti-Semite. Stop it, I’m anti-termite!”
In many places around the world, including too many in the United States, a Jew feels the need to remove a yarmulke or outer Jewish symbols to feel safe. There is no privilege to protect him.
I share this all not to make the argument we are more underprivileged or victimized by prejudice than anyone else, but that even today, access and opportunity, assumption of innocence, and especially safety and security, are not privileges the Jewish people can so readily count on and enjoy.
So what do I mean that we are particularly privileged and should be proud of it?
Privilege is not only about the way you are thought of and treated by others, but about how you think of and behave yourself. Privilege is not how others treat you but how you treat others. It isn’t what others do to you, but what you do with what you have.
For a Jew, privilege doesn’t mean access, opportunity, or favors. It means responsibility to live elevated, meaningful lives, to repair the world, to be of service to others.
God wanted to give a zechut , a merit, to the Jewish people so He charged us with an abundance of Torah and mitzvot. What does zechut mean? When we host a distinguished guest or speaker, they are often introduced with “what a zechut it is to have so and so.” Zechut literally means privilege. God wanted us to be privileged so He trusted us and charged us to live virtuous and righteous lives and to transform His world in His vision.
For a Jew, privilege doesn’t mean access, opportunity, or favors. It means responsibility, an awesome responsibility to set an example, to live elevated, meaningful lives, to repair the world in His image, to be of service to others. It means to rise above how we may be treated by others and to treat all with dignity, respect, and honor.
We have the privilege of studying Torah and being inspired by its timeless lessons. We were given the privilege of the instruction manual to life including the 613 commandments. We bear the privilege of being asked and expected to be at the forefront of fighting for justice, equality, fairness, and truth.
Rav Yitzchak Hutner, the great Rosh Yeshiva of Chaim Berlin, once stood before a Torah U’Mesorah convention, a gathering of Jewish educators from across the country. He suggested to them that he could summarize their entire duty, their task, in five Hebrew words. If nothing else, their job, their role, and their mission of inspiring the Jewish future came down to their ability to communicate to the next generation “asher bachar banu mi’kol ha’amim, (Who has chosen us from among all the nations) – we are to be exceptional.” If a Jewish child walks away with nothing else from their Jewish education, minimally they must be made to feel that we are exceptional, privileged to be charged with being different.
Our status as a privileged or exceptional people is not intended to make us feel superior. Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, z”l pointed out that we don’t recite asher bachar banu al kol ha’amim, he has chosen us above all other nations. Rather, we say mikol ha’amim, he has chosen us from among all the nations of the world.
Being privileged should make us feel obligated and bound to live more ethically, act more sensitively, conduct ourselves more honestly, and proclaim our faith in the Almighty with pride and distinction, and never with shame or embarrassment.
A Jew never focuses on his own entitlement, but rather thinks how his resources can be better used to advance good in the world, including for the “underprivileged.”
Part of the responsibility that comes along with our privilege is to use whatever material privileges we have for the good. Despite the many challenges Jews have faced throughout the generations, most of our communities in the 21st century are blessed with the trappings of material and social privilege our ancestors would never dream of. We don’t have to and shouldn’t apologize for that; however, we must recognize that a Jew never focuses on his own entitlement, but rather thinks how his resources can be better used to advance good in the world, including for the “underprivileged.”
Privilege is not a luxury, it’s a legacy; it isn’t a free pass, it is a weighty proposition. Privilege shouldn’t breed entitlement, it should demand exceptional behavior.
I’m proud of my Jewish privilege and I hope my children will be too.
(21) Anonymous, October 12, 2020 6:23 PM
a perfect explanation of the real Jewish privilege
we are privileged, as no other nation is, to be able to pray to God. and this privilege carries with it many obligations. it behooves us to teach the world how a people of privilege tends to those obligations
(20) Anonymous, July 26, 2020 2:35 AM
Most of this article is exceptional, the rest.........................................................
I am trying hard to understand why all the articles I read re the Jews, by Jews all say or hint strongly and we are all well off. Someone even used the figure of $171,000 a yr income. I find this fascinating. There are POOR Jews in Israel, Canada, Britain, Russia, the USA and I am willing to say in every country where Jews live. I have spent most of my 75 years as an adult trying to make sure that my children didn't feel poor and ate good kosher food on a very tight budget. My clothes, well taken care of, are mostly over 20 yrs old. I understand that other people are not happy with us as they think we are so well off. It would be nice. and as long as I can pay the bills and keep food on the table I don't complain but this is getting silly.I taught my children and grandchildren that if you want things work hard and earn them. There are no free rides. They all did hebrew school and are comfortable in shul when they go. Knowledge is wonderful, and culture is special and taking care of yourself and your neighbour is very important. Being kind and thoughtful to all is another privilege for us and those around us. all good, but not all of us are rich!!
(19) Rachel Epstein, July 3, 2020 2:40 PM
Ohr la-goyim
We have the mandate to be a light unto the nations. Privilege is a responsibility.
(18) Jeff White, July 3, 2020 2:24 PM
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Yosi N, July 4, 2020 3:11 AM
Also mention
Let’s also talk about Arab and Muslim privilege in the overwhelming majority of the Middle East, where the privileged Arab/ Muslim majority enforce their privilege by institutional racism in government, police, military, education and more, systematically marginalizing, banning and threatening Jews, as well as other minorities.
While Israel (like all other countries) reserves certain legal rights for their own citizens (whether those citizens are Jewish or not), at least non-Jews can enter Jerusalem at all. In the city of Mecca, non-Muslims are banned from entry, and discrimination, oppression and persecution runs rampant against minorities in the Arab/ Muslim countries.
(17) Marvin Tokayer, June 30, 2020 4:38 PM
excellent
very well written...join the non-existent writers union...kol tuv...marvin tokayer,
proud congregant
(16) M McLaughlin, June 29, 2020 11:21 PM
1928?
The Damascus Affair was 1820s, right? 3 million Jews in the USA next 20 years will abandon the identity.
(15) Miriamscherger, June 29, 2020 9:36 PM
Thanks for your encouragement for all believers
Thanks for all your encouragement to all believers in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
(14) Howard Gillman, June 29, 2020 12:02 PM
Yasher koach
I think these thoughts most every day (my overwhelming gratitude at being Jewish) and I am thankful you have put them into words. I will be sure to share this column with my family. Yasher koach!
(13) David Hes, June 29, 2020 6:49 AM
What we can do now
I agree with much of your article but not all of it.The damage done to this country by taking G-d out of the public sphere is incalculable. Our once righteous values have been sadly destroyed. We are seeing the results of this daily as a once great country is being ripped apart by a power obsessed Democrat Party. As Torah Jews, we need to guide people to see the evil perpetrated by the Democrat Party and if we cannot do so, we will be "forced" to make Aliyah. May HaShem allow us to help restore this country and keep those who would permanently damage it out of power.
(12) Sandra E Price, June 29, 2020 5:42 AM
thank you
Rabbi,
Thank you for this - it's exactly how I feel and try to live. I know AISH is an orthodox site so most Jews who wander across these pages probably don't lean left, but I do. I work with amazing colleagues in my community for social change for the hungry, the homeless, our elderly and more. I would like to repost your article, but there is so much anti-Jewish sentiment right now among my own colleagues - the very same people with whom I'm doing all these mitzvot - that I have to have a lot of energy to deal with the repercussions of posting something like this. So instead, today I will let your words feed me and... as far as my colleagues go... only me. It's a shame, and it's also frightening as heck. I have been fighting back creeping antisemitism for a few years now.
Natan, June 30, 2020 4:50 AM
Refreshing to hear this admission
It's refreshing to hear a leftist clearly admit the growing, rabid anti-Jewish bent on the left.
Kudos to you for your honesty!
(11) Dennis Wright, June 29, 2020 1:11 AM
Respect privilege
Terrific explanation at time when people are treating privilege like a dirty word and something of which to be ashamed
(10) Stanley Beekman, June 29, 2020 12:51 AM
Excellent Article
This is a great article and I will be forwarding this to my friends.
(9) Feigie, June 28, 2020 11:42 PM
Excellent w revisions
I got the point Rabbi. But still best to refrain currently from admitting privilege lest you give weight to Jewish apologists risking covid.spread in large protests for which they have no responsibility re racism. I would change to Jewish rpide. In title. And also your examples re anit privilrge are so old. What anout the 1991 crown hts riots where Black Americans and police were encouraged to murder Jews? What about the lack of charges on people assaulting visible Jews in 2019 and early 2020? Both in America. Hope you decide to revise your article.
(8) Anonymous, June 28, 2020 10:28 PM
Antisemitidm
I don’t see other people coming to the aid of Jewish people when there are hate crimes .
(7) Phillip Nagle, June 28, 2020 7:44 PM
No privilege
Every program by any governmental unit, federal, state or local, that has to do with race, serves blacks or Hispanics. Programs by private universities and corporations that have to with race, serve blacks or Latinos. There is ample evidence that there is discrimination in college admissions against Asians. Yes, there is systematic racism in our nation but blacks are not the victims, they are the beneficiaries.
(6) Cary Sprung, June 28, 2020 4:10 PM
JEWISH LIVES MATTER TOO!
Poignant article-On Point!
Shavua Tov
Todah!
cs
(5) Sara Yoheved Rigler, June 28, 2020 3:26 PM
Superb article
Thank you, Rabbi Goldberg, for such a clear and articulate message, which I hope many Jews will reflect on. I intend to share your article.
(4) Steve Kurtz, June 28, 2020 2:53 PM
Light Skinned Privilege
The ability for light skinned Jews to “fit in” is the privilege as part of the current racial discussion. Because of my skin color, I have never been stopped by police while driving. I have never been harassed while out jogging. I have never felt uncomfortable wearing my kippah the same way a dark skinned person (Jew, Christian or Muslim) feels when they are in a “White” society. I am the most privileged to have my beautiful Jewish history and keenly aware in all interaction with all people that my light skin allows a level of privilege in American society.
Dvirah, June 28, 2020 5:09 PM
Not The Same
Unfair treatment of dark-skinned people is the failing of the secular society you live in, not a tenent of Judaism. The article emphasizes that it is one of the failings we as Jews are obliged to correct.
Steve Kurtz, June 28, 2020 9:43 PM
Obliged...but not taking action
Clearly as Jews we are obliged to speak out against the unfair treatment. But are we? Jews are thrilled as dark skinned people support AIPAC and Israel. But do privileged Jews support groups who speak out against racial injustice and inequalities in policing, education, healthcare, housing? Not so much.
Bunny Shuch, June 29, 2020 10:22 AM
Jews have always been in the forefront of working toward more civil rights for blacks
Jewish groups do take action and always have. The truth is that individual Jews and Jewish organizations for decades have been in the forefront, (marching, fighting and sometimes dying) for civil rights for blacks. Yes, a small number of black people have come out in support of AIPAC. But large numbers of black people and their leaders (Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, etc.) are openly anti-semitic. These leaders who hate Jews and call us “termites” and worse, are highly respected in black communities. When Nazis wanted to march in Skokie, Illinois, where many Holocaust survivors live, where were the blacks? During the riots of black mobs against Jews in Crown Heights in 1991, the black mayor and the mostly black police force allowed this pogrom to continue for three days before stepping in to stop it. I know, because our daughter and her family lived on the street where windows were smashed, Jewish residents were terrorized, and a Jewish talmudic student was murdered by a black man yelling “Kill the Jew!” Jews support people in minority groups all the time, but most of them don't support us, and instead, often revile us. I still believe that all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. should be treated equally and respectfully, and this is how I live and act, but I refuse to shoulder any guilt for my so-called “privilege.”
Anonymous, June 30, 2020 6:31 PM
To commenter Bunny Shuch
You have hit the nail squarely on the head! I attended a predominantly black high school and was pretty much treated like garbage. Don;t get me wrong. I am very saddened by the recent violent deaths of so many black citizens due to police force. Nobody should be shot and killed while going out for a jog or conducting daily business. On the other hand, I can act respectfully toward a person of color without donating time and money to BLM.
Anonymous, June 30, 2020 10:15 PM
To Commenter Steve Kurtz
Didn't a rabbi march along side of Martin Luther King in Selma? Historically MANY Jews have spoken out against maltreatment towards POC. I am extremely saddened that people have been shot and killed merely because of the color of their skin. I believe that many of those police officers should have been in treatment for their mental health issues. However, I do NOT hate the police. I also do not see any evidence that POC are standing up to anti Semitisim. Instead I hear Jews being called termites by these individuals.
(3) Carol, June 28, 2020 1:55 PM
We hear about “rights;” we seldom hear about responsibilities.
Thank you for this essay. It is very well spoken. It’s been my long time concern that the cry of “it’s our right” is what we hear. With rights come responsibilities. We don’t hear about the responsibilities which come with those rights. Responsibilities are spelled out here, at least for Jews. We ALL, however, need to be reminded that we each - every person - have responsibilities to ourselves and to others. These are responsibilties that come with the rights we have as citizens of this country.
(2) Alexandra, June 28, 2020 1:44 PM
Beautiful article, todah rabah. Shavua Tov!
(1) Clifton, June 28, 2020 1:19 PM
Agree
May G-d bless you. This marxist-leninist ideology swirling around is disgusting. You help frame privelaged accurately.