Since October 7, emboldened Jew-haters have harassed, stigmatised, assaulted and attacked the livelihoods of Jews. Jewish creatives, in particular, have confronted the threat of cancellation in the United States.
Among the year’s numerous examples, Matisyahu had February shows cancelled in New Mexico and Arizona after venue staff bailed over his having “empathy for both Israelis and Palestinians”, according to the reggae singer.
His March show in Chicago was cancelled over related, threatened protests.
Comedian Amy Schumer faced outrage last October, including calls for cancellation, after posting that Western media editors who promoted Hamas’ narrative about an attack on a Gaza hospital should be sacked. In Portland, Oregon, locals launched a campaign to cancel comedy shows by Michael Rapaport in January over his support for Israel post-October 7. Rapaport had subsequent shows cancelled in Wisconsin and Illinois after those clubs were reportedly threatened for platforming him. In May a Manhattan theatre cancelled the four-show run of a play about a Holocaust-era Jewish woman. Playbill reported that Danielle Wirsansky’s subject matter “has become incendiary in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine”.
Calls to boycott Netflix’s Stranger Things and actor Noah Schnapp followed Schnapp’s pro-Israel social media posts, including his friends posing beside him with “Zionism is Sexy” stickers. Fellow Stranger Things actor Brett Gelman saw book tour events cancelled in the Chicago-area, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in early 2024, after speaking out about Israel.
A Manhattan school employee cancelled a December visit by children’s author Adam Gidwitz, citing “the subject matter of Adam’s book [the Kindertransport], the recent events in the world and a few things going on at my school”. Culture site Vulture reported “two acclaimed novelists withdrew from a PEN [America] event citing the organisation’s decision to platform Mayim Bialik, an outspoken “Zionist and actor” at a separate January event. And the New York State Writers Institute made headlines last month when another two authors refused to participate in a “Girls Coming of Age” panel, because the feminist moderator – Elisa Albert – is a Zionist. Tablet magazine described a survey of Jewish poets; all but three of the 70 respondents believed their professional atmosphere has changed since 10/7. An anonymous poet told the researching professor: “‘Writers have been pilloried for openly condemning antisemitism, or for standing with Israel.’” The professor added, “As a result, Jewish writers also report feeling ‘silenced’.”
That silencing is, of course, the point. When antisemites bully Jewish creatives who’ve spoken publicly about anything Jewish or Israel-related they have multiple goals. First, they complicate life for the brave, outspoken few. Second, their harassment is a warning to others. Third, cancellation causes economic harm, and the threat of lost casting opportunities, performances or book deals echoes loudly for anyone crossing the mob.
Fourth, the more attention and support bullies generate, the more they mainstream the notion that Israel, Zionism, and even Jews are beyond the pale. When these efforts don’t scare creatives into quitting, bullies try to keep the American public from seeing the relevant projects – especially those highlighting the horrors of October 7. Actress Gal Gadot hosted a screening of Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre at Los Angeles’ Museum of Tolerance last November; anti-Israel protesters showed up and brawled with Israel supporters.
When the Simon Wiesenthal Centre screened 10/7 documentary Nova in Chicago in March, anti-Israel demonstrators shouted “shame on you!,” blocked the theatre’s entrance and half a dozen of them punched a 50-something Jewish man in the head.
FreedomNews.TV reported anti-Israel protesters used “smoke bombs and flares” while chanting for Intifada outside the Nova Exhibition in Manhattan in June, because they support a “free Palestine” – but freedom of association, not so much.
Art is supposed to be the ultimate form of liberal communication, bringing people together and prompting new ways of thinking.
However, when illiberal gatekeepers insist creative fields exclude Jews, the gatekeepers’ bigotry overshadows artistic endeavours. That’s a loss for American society and something all Americans should cancel this year.
Melissa Langsam Braunstein is a writer based in the Washington DC area
@slowhoneybee
